Palmer wins Kona, Hawaii tournament

PALMER — Palmer hurdled an unexpected foe to win a tournament title in Hawaii on Thursday.

The Moose edged fellow Alaska squad Point Hope 42-40 to win the WYBT Holiday Invitational in Kona, Hawaii.

“I wouldn’t say I’m disappointed, maybe a little surprised,” Palmer head coach Paul Reid said of the matchup by cellphone from Kona on Thursday evening. “I really thought Hawaii Prep would beat them.”

But 2A Point Hope upset Hawaii Preparatory Academy to move into the final to face 4A Palmer.

Moose senior Kasara Brandenburg tallied 14 points and nine rebounds to lead the Moose to the win.

“Kasara had a big second half. She made some big free throws,” Reid said.

Brandenburg finished 6 of 8 from the line.

Tress Whitfield finished with eight points and 12 rebounds. Eight of her boards came off the offensive glass.

Palmer finished 4-0 in the tourney, beating three teams from Hawaii and Point Hope.

“I really didn’t know what to expect. A lot of outside trips you don’t know what to expect from opponents,” Reid said. “Three games were really competitive. Only one game wasn’t competitive. We shot really well in two games, and didn’t shoot really well in two games.”

Palmer used a buzzer-beater to move into the final. Whitfield posted the rebound and putback at the buzzer to lift Palmer to a 36-34 win over Waimea High of Kona.

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