Prep boys' basketball: Third-quarter run sparks Warriors

Feb. 11, 2007

By Jeremiah Bartz/ Frontiersman

PALMER - It was a long week for the Wasilla Warriors.

In addition to the normal route in of classes, practices and homework, the Warriors had to throw in a two-day trip to Kodiak Island in the mix, for a rare mid-week series at Kodiak High School.

Early in Wasilla's win over Palmer on Friday, it looked like the Warriors had a long week.

But sparked by an 11-1 run in the third quarter, the Warriors rebounded to score a 49-29 win over the Moose at Palmer High School.

&#8220Our legs weren't really under us, but we can't make excuses,” Wasilla senior Jesse Bean said after the win. &#8220Palmer came out to play.”

Wasilla, now 8-0 in Northern Lights Conference play, held just a two-point advantage with two minutes remaining in the first half.

Junior Matt Stearman hit a pair of free throws, and Bean and fellow senior Logan Williams hit buckets on consecutive possessions to give the Warriors a more comfortable eight-point lead. But after Wasilla took the lead two minutes into the game, the Warriors were never able to get up by more than three until the final two minutes of the half.

&#8220(Palmer) played hard,” Bean said. &#8220We weren't playing our best game, but I think they took us out of it. They were playing pretty good defense.”

Bean led the Warriors with a game-high 16. Junior Dexter Pearce added 13, and Williams chipped in 10.

Pearce rocked the Palmer High gym with a rim-shaking dunk midway through the third period. Pearce picked up the loose ball at mid-court, and coasted to the basket. Pearce did not have a Palmer player within five feet of him when he slammed the ball home.

That dunk capped the 11-1 run that proved to be the pivotal part of the win.

Senior Quintin Fiscus and junior T.J. Fullmer each scored seven points to lead the Moose.

Fiscus, who team's with Nate Svedin to form Palmer's potent duo of posts, has averaged double digits in both scoring and rebounding. Bean said playing the likes of Fiscus and Svedin was a good test for the Warriors.

&#8220I really like those two big guys,” Bean said. &#8220It's a good challenge for our guys, and their guard play isn't bad

either.”

Wasilla (12-3 overall), is in the middle of a six-game road trip. After playing two at Kodiak and another at PHS, the Warriors head north to the Interior for a three games against the Fairbanks-area teams.

Wasilla plays West Valley on Thursday, North Pole on Friday and Lathrop on Saturday.

The Warriors were slated to travel to Kodiak in late January, but the team was not able to make the trip because of poor weather on the island.

The series was moved to the following week, but once again had to be scrapped because of weather.

Finally on Tuesday, the Warriors were able to make it to Kodiak.

With the loss, the Moose dropped to 0-6 in NLC play.

Palmer starts a five-game road trip next week. The Moose head to Valdez, for the three-game Valdez Elks Tournament.

On Feb. 23, Palmer is at Homer.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.