PUTTING IT TOGETHER

PALMER — The Palmer girls’ basketball squad graduated only two seniors last year. The Palmer boys return only two starters. But both teams boast promising depth this season.

“We’ve shown we’re deeper, a little more athletic,” Palmer boys basketball head coach Chuck Martin said earlier this week. “At the high school level, I’d rather be deeper and more athletic than just big.”

Martin said the Moose have been able to consistently play nine or 10 athletes, and give them significant minutes. After primarily holding to the starting five last season, Martin said this year the Moose are able to play a style of basketball he favors.

“We’re playing a style more suited to what I like. Playing a little faster, man-to-man (defense),” Martin said. “The last two years we were forced to zone.

It’s the only way we could win games late in the season.”

Palmer has one of the top players in the state, senior Clayton Southwick.

Martin said a key is fitting the right pieces around Southwick, who was named first-team all-state last season. The Moose have sophomore point guard Dae Osiensky, who saw big minutes as a freshman. There is also senior Jared Hawkins, a contributor last year. Otherwise, Martin said the Moose are looking to a group of players who had success at the junior varsity level last season.

Jacob Titus and Isaac Atkins have both emerged early in the season for the 5-2 Moose. The Moose also have Ronnie Marshall, Joe Rankin and Jared Oviok.

Martin said staying healthy is going to be a big key. Southwick is working to overcome a nagging injury and Osiensky is recovering from an early-season injury of his own. The coaching staff is also working to put the right pieces in the right position to allow Southwick to be the dangerous player he can be, and give the Moose a chance to succeed as a whole.

“Collectively guard and rebound,” Martin said. “Take care of the ball.”

Like Martin’s boys, Palmer girls basketball head coach Elgin Hollins should also be able to go deep into his bench in a program full of guards.

“We’ve got a lot of returners this year. We lost two seniors and brought everybody else back,” Hollins said early in the week.

In addition to key pieces such as Abrianna Busbey, Kassidy Bowman and Avery Pettingill, the Moose have also been boosted by the return of Julia Benshetler, who missed last season with a knee injury.

“That’s a huge added bonus for our program. Her tenacity is awesome to have on the court,” Hollins said.

The Moose also have Sophia Benshetler, who is contributing as a sophomore.

Palmer’s leaders — players such as Busbey, Bowman and Pettingill — have enjoyed ample playing time throughout their varsity careers.

“To have the core kids back in your program helps out tremendously,” Hollins said. “The veteran leadership and sprinkle in the younger kids.”

Senior Bekkah Alley is another key for the Moose.

“Bekkah will have to come up big a lot for us,” Hollins said. “She’s our only post player.”

Hollins said the Moose will look to players such as Julie Benshetler to help out inside, but overall, rebounding will be a team responsibility.

“Just because we have one post player doesn’t mean she’s the only one who should be getting rebounds,” Hollins said. “Everybody needs to get in there and mix it up and get rebounds.”

** Editor’s note: This is the second part of a five-piece series previewing the 2017-18 seasons of the Mat-Su Valley 3A and 4A basketball programs. For more on the Colony Knights, see frontiersman.com/sports. For more about the Houston Hawks, Wasilla Warriors and Redington Huskies, see upcoming editions of the Frontiersman. Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.