Prep boys hoops: Big man boosts Warriors

JEREMIAH BARTZ/ Frontiersman sports editor

WASILLA - Wasilla junior guard Jesse Bean was absolutely on fire Tuesday night, hitting shot after shot en route to a 22-point performance against Palmer.

But he wasn't the only Warrior junior to stand out.

Center Logan Williams posted double digits in scoring and rebounding, and helped control Palmer's talented corps of post players in a 60-44 boys basketball win over the Moose at Wasilla High School.

Williams scored 10 points, and consistently muscled down the rebounds.

&#8220He was in inside presence. He was aggressive. It was a good all-around effort,” Wasilla head coach Jason Marvel said. &#8220Phenomenal.”

Williams scored four of his team's first eight points. He drew fouls. He gave Wasilla second chances with the offensive rebound. And he occupied space, and attention from the Palmer defense, inside, helping Bean finding openings around the perimeter.

With nine of its 10 players at 6-feet or taller, a primary strength of Palmer is its strength inside. Williams and the Warriors were able to hold the Palmer post players to just 12 first-half points. The Wasilla coaching staff has stressed the need to add a complete inside game to the prolific scoring of the WHS backcourt. Against a tough inside team such as the Palmer Moose, that was certainly a necessity.

&#8220That was our coaches goal,” Williams said. &#8220I just went in there and didn't think about it.”

Williams and his mates inside - forwards Matthew Stearman, Jack Troshynski and Ian Johannes, a trio that combined for 25 points - did that, and fulfilled that duty in the paint. But on at least one play, Williams showed the quickness of a guard.

Early in the third quarter, Williams swiped the ball at half court, drove the ball to the hoop and sent a roaring crowd to its feet by slamming the ball into the basket.

Williams couldn't help but be excited about his first dunk in a varsity game.

&#8220It was sweet,” Williams said. &#8220I've been wanting to get one.”

While Williams was leading the charge inside, Bean was burning the Moose from the outside. The junior sharpshooter scored 19 of his 22 points in the first half. He was a perfect 3-for-3 from three-point land in the first two quarters.

With Wasilla trailing 7-6 midway through the first quarter, Bean caught fire and scored 10 points during a 14-3 run. He hit two fade-away jumpers, and a pair of three -pointers. His second long ball came from about three feet beyond the three-point line just before the buzzer sounded to end the first quarter. As the final seconds of the first period ticked off the clock, Bean passed the ball to Johannes, who stood deep in the corner. With Palmer guard T.J. Fullmer lunging toward Johannes, the senior pushed the ball back to Bean, who put up the shot and gave the Warriors the 10-point lead.

Senior post Trent Berberich led Palmer (13-10 overall, 2-7 in Northern Lights Conference play) with 17 points. He scored nine points in the second half, and was a perfect 5-of-5 from the free throw line.

Fullmer added 10 points. Fullmer gave the Moose a temporary lead, early in the contest, hitting a three-pointer from the top of the arc to give the Moose a 7-4 advantage. That was the final time Palmer led in the game.

Wasilla (10-7 overall, 5-1 in the NLC) starts a four-game road trip tonight with its first of two games at Sitka. The Warriors play the Wolves again tomorrow before hitting Homer on Monday, and Skyview on Tuesday. The games against Homer and Skyview were originally scheduled for early February, but canceled due to the eruption of Mount Augustine. Ash from the volcano filled the air on the Peninsula, prompting the Kenai Peninsula School District to call of a handful of school activities.