Palmer girls win Valdez Elks Tournament; boys finish third

VALDEZ — The Palmer Moose are on a run.

Palmer continued its midseason tear with three wins and a tourney title during the Valdez Elks Basketball Tournament at Valdez High School over the weekend.

The Moose followed wins over Nome and Cordova with a 45-20 win over Glennallen in the Elks championship game.

Senior Kelsey Campbell fired seven three-pointers and scored a game-high 23 points to lead the Moose to the lopsided win over Glennallen.

“She put on a pretty phenomenal shooting display,” Palmer head coach Paul Reid said of Campbell’s performance.

Campbell hit six of her seven shots from beyond the arc during the first half, sinking three long shots in each of the first two quarters, and helped Palmer scored 32 of its 45 points in the first half.

Campbell was one of three Palmer players named to the all-tournament team. Senior Mikaela Bolling, who scored eight in the win over the Panthers was also named all-tourney.

Junior Jaimi Cox was honored as the tournament’s most valuable player. Cox scored only two points in the championship game, but Reid said the work of the junior throughout the weekend certainly warranted the honor.

“She stood out in all three games,” Reid said of Cox.

The play of Cox was especially key during Palmer’s 51-31 semifinal win over Cordova.

Cox posted a game-high 16 points, and scored nine during a key 23-point third-quarter run.

“She was pretty dominant,” Reid said of Cox, who also grabbed a handful of steals against the Wolverines. “She looked like a woman among girls.”

Palmer held only a four-point lead before the Cox and the Moose outscored Cordova 23-7 in the third.

Bolling added seven points in the victory.

In the opening round, Bolling and Campbell combined for 23 points to lead the Moose to a 44-27 win over Nome.

The Palmer defense did not allow more than 31 points during any game in the tourney.

Palmer boys third

at Valdez tourney

VALDEZ — The Palmer Moose scored third place in the Valdez Elks Basketball Tournament with a 52-38 win over Glennallen on Saturday.

Senior Mitch Swetzof scored a game-high 17 points in the win. Sophomore Sean Niekamp added 14 points, while senior Jake Hillis chipped in 12.

On Friday, Hutchison snapped Palmer’s nine-game winning streak with a 41-36 win over the Moose in the tournament’s semifinals.

Hutchison standout Cole Daniels scored all of his game-high 13 points in the second half. Kevin Rima added 12 for the Fairbanks school.

Swetzof led the Moose with nine points and Hillis added eight.

Palmer opened tourney play with a 60-49 win over Nome.

Hillis, one of four Palmer players to hit double digits in scoring, posted a team-high 15. Swetzof, Kyle Titus and Shaq Odom each added 11.

Swetzof and Hillis were each named to the all-tournament team.

Palmer girls 45, Glennallen 20

Valdez Elks Tournament final

Saturday, Valdez High School

Palmer 15-17-8-5—45

Glennallen 4-4-4-8—20

Palmer (45) — Cox 1 0-0 2, Campbell 8 0-0 23, LaMere 1 0-0 2, Mangelsdorf 3 0-0 6, Thein 1 0-0 2, Bolling 3 2-4 8, Venzke 1 0-0 2; totals 18 2-4 45.

Glennallen (20) — Peters 0 2-4 2, Sutherland 3 4-4 12, Fallcher 1 2-4 4, Savel 1 0-0 2; Totals: 5 8-12 20.

Three-point field goals: Palmer 7 (Campbell 7), Glennallen 2 (Sutherland 2); Total fouls: Palmer 12, Glennallen 6.

Palmer girls 51, Cordova 31

Valdez Elks Tournament semifinal

Friday, Valdez High School

Palmer 9-14-23-5—51

Cordova 5-14-7-5—31

Palmer (51) — Cox 7 1-2 16, Mitchell 1 2-2 4, Campbell 1 0-0 2, LaMere 0 1-2 1, Mangelsdorf 2 1-2 5, Thein 1 1-2 3, Bolling 5 1-2 12, Zimmer 0 2-2 2, Venzke 2 2-2 5; Totals: 19 12-16 51.

Cordova (31) — Collins 1 3-4 5, Roemholdt 1 0-0 2, Webber 2 0-0 6, M. Webber 1 0-0 2, Kelly 4 0-0 9, Murell 3 0-2 7; Totals: 11 3-6 31.

Three-point field goals: Palmer 2 (Cox, Bolling 1), Cordova 4 (Webber 2), Total fouls: Palmer 15, Cordova 17.

Palmer girls 44, Nome 27

Valdez Elks Tournament quarterfinals

Thursday, Valdez

Palmer 8-13-13-10—44

Nome 2-4-11-10—27

Palmer (44) — Cox 3 0-0 6, Campbell 4 0-0 11, LaMere 1 1-2 3, Mangelsdorf 1 1-2 3, Thein 1 0-0 2, Bolling 2 6-9 12, Zimmer 1 1-4 3, Venzke 1 0-4 2, Smith 1 0-0 2.

Nome (27) — Lammer 0 2-2 2, Luce 1 1-2 3, Bauraa 1 0-0 2, Horner 3 1-1 7, Olsen 0 2-2 2, Tahbone 3 5-5 11.

Three-point field goals: Palmer 3 (Campbell 3), Nome 0.