Palmer girls run to Elks Showdown crown

PALMER — It’s no secret. The Palmer Moose want to run.

Over the weekend, the Moose ran all the way to a tournament title.

Palmer used victories over Thunder Mountain, Bartlett and Eagle River to win the Palmer Elks Showdown at Palmer High School.

The Moose used the same strategy each night to score the wins, and improve to 5-1 overall. The Moose consistently pushed the tempo, and used every player they had. Each of the 11 players in uniform played in all three games.

“If I can keep throwing out more fresh bodies than you have, that helps us out,” Palmer first-year head coach Elgin Hollins said after his team’s win over Thunder Mountain Thursday. “We want to run. We’re going to put pressure on you. We’re going to make you make a hard decision out there, and when you turn it over, we’re going to score. That’s the pace we want to keep.”

Palmer capped its weekend with a 66-7 drubbing of Eagle River on Saturday. Kaylee King led the Moose with 14 points during the 66-7 win over the Wolves. Abrianna Busbey added 11, and Kali Bull chipped in seven.

Palmer held Eagle River to three field goals in the game. The Moose led 17-2 in the first and 24-6 at halftime. The Wolves had only one point in the second half.

Friday, Emma Uschmann scored seven of her team-high 13 points in the fourth quarter to help Palmer hang on to grab a 54-52 victory over Bartlett. Palmer led 40-29 after the third quarter. Bartlett stormed back into the game late, with 23 fourth-quarter points. Brandee Hawley hit a pair of fourth-quarter three-pointers for the Golden Bears, and scored 11 of her game-high 21 during the final frame.

In addition to Uschmann’s 13, Busbey added 10. Bull chipped in nine for the Moose.

Kiana Till, Palmer’s senior captain, was named the girls’ MVP of the tournament. Till and Busbey were named all-tournament. Bartlett’s Damaiya Ward, Tiffany Michaels and Brandy Hawley, and Thunder Mountain’s Ava Thompkins and Nina Fenumiai were also named all-tournament.

Palmer opens Northern Lights Conference play Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Palmer High School.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com

Palmer girls 54, Bartlett 52

Palmer Elks Showdown

Friday, Palmer High School

Bartlett 9-7-13-23—52

Palmer 10-17-13-14—54

Bartlett (52) — D. Townes 1 0-0 3, Wood 7 3-3 18, Tosi 0 1-4 1, C. Townes 0 1-2 1, Lauvale 1 0-0 2, Sereyko 1 0-0 2, Hawley 7 0-3 21, Camel 1 0-2 2, Moyong 1 0-0 2; Totals: 19 5-14 52.

Palmer (54) — Pettinggill 1 0-0 2, Busbey 4 2-4 10, Benshetler 1 2-6 4, Bull 3 3-4 9, Venzke 2 2-4 6, King 1 0-1 2, Bradford 1 0-2 2, Uschmann 4 5-10 13, Till 3 0-0 6; Totals: 20 14-31 54.

3-point field goals: Bartlett 6 (Hawley 4), Palmer 0; Total fouls: Bartlett 23; Palmer 17.

Palmer 66, Eagle River 7

Palmer Elks Showdown

Friday, Palmer High

Eagle River 2-4-1-0--7

Palmer 17-17-24-8--66

Eagle River (7) — Yow 2 0-0 4, Willis 1 1-2 3; Totals: 3 1-4 7.

Palmer (66) —Pettingill 1 0-0 2, Busbey 5 0-0 11, Lee 3 0-0 6, Benshetler 3 0-0 7, Venzke 2 0-0 4, King 6 2-2 14, Bradford 2 2-2 6, Uschmann 1 0-0 2, Till 2 0-0 4, Dixon 3 0-0 6; Totals: 29 6-6 66.