Palmer’s early lead deals Kodiak a vicious blow

PALMER — Like two heavyweight boxers, the Palmer and Kodiak boys’ basketball teams traded proverbial punches — some of them seemingly knockouts — Saturday in a consolation-bracket game. But when the final bell sounded, the Moose took the unanimous decision.

The Moose dealt the Bears a vicious blow with a 20-2 run midway in the game, but the Bears responded, erasing a 19-point deficit to tie the game in the fourth quarter.

Palmer was just too much for Kodiak, however, and the Moose pulled out a 68-60 victory.

“I told the guys that there is no such thing as a bad win. There are ugly wins, but no bad wins. It may not have been pretty, but we got the job done and that’s all that matters,” Palmer coach Greg Fullmer said.

The teams traded the lead throughout the first and second quarters, with neither team trailing by more than four points at any moment. Palmer relied on its overwhelming height advantage, with Jake Hillis and Bryce Jacobson having their way on the boards. Jacobson was on fire throughout the game, scoring a game-high 23 points and dominating the paint.

Hillis added 15 points for the Moose.

With four minutes to play in the first half, Palmer began a 14-2 run to take an 11-point lead into the locker room. The Moose continued the run with six more points to open the half, and they appeared to have the game firmly in control.

Then, the Bears went on a run of their own, putting up nine points before Palmer could respond. After trailing by 19, the Bears were only down nine going into the fourth quarter. Three quick three-pointers later, and the teams were deadlocked 55-55 with 3:19 to play. David Cratty hit four threes for the Bears, leading the way with 21 points.

“We have eight or nine guys who were on [junior varsity] last year, and this is their first region tournament,” Fullmer said. “It was a good learning experience. I’d rather have a good learning experience with a win than a good learning experience with a loss. I think they learned that you have to play good defense and play hard for the entire game. The guys thought they had already won the game and it was only the third quarter.”

With a trip to the third-place game on the line, the Moose went back to their height. Jacobson scored two quick baskets from inside the paint, and the Moose defenders were able to shut down the three-point shooting from the Bears.

“Bryce hitting those late was huge,” Fullmer said.

The victory not only earned the Moose a shot at a trip to the state tournament in the third-place game against Wasilla, it avenged two tough losses earlier this season to Kodiak. The Bears beat Palmer twice in Kodiak, one on a buzzer-beater.

On their home court, however, the Moose held the advantage.

Palmer 66, Kodiak 60

NLC consolation semifinals

Saturday, Palmer High School

KODIAK (60) — Cratty 8 1-1 21, Eggemeyer 0 0-0 0, Diocares 3 3-5 9, Polum 0 0-0 0, D. Diocares 6 1-3 13, Domingo 3 0-0 9, Galindo 0 0-0 0, Odell 4 0-0 8. Totals 24 5-9 60.

PALMER (66) — Draughon 3 0-1 7, Gatto 1 0-0 2, Fullmer 2 4-4 10, VanHoomissen 0 0-0 0, Hillis 7 1-2 15, Swetzof 1 0-0 3, Bohman 0 0-0 0, Bergeron 0 0-0 0, Odom 4 0-0 8, Jacobson 10 3-4 23. Totals 28 8-11 68.

Three-point goals — Cratty 4, Domingo 3, Fullmer 2, Swetzof, Draughon. Total fouls — Kodiak 14, Palmer 12. Fouled out — D. Diocares.