Ratcliff scores triple-double in win

PALMER -- Palmer forward Stanley Ratcliffe just has a way of quietly getting things done.

When he is not rocking the Palmer High School gym with a rim-shaking dunk, Ratcliff calmly works within the Palmer offense and gives the Moose needed points. And on both sides of the court Ratcliff is a rebounding machine.

While his impact on the court is noticed, the degree is often unrealized until taking a look at the box score.

"It's real quiet," Palmer head coach Brandon Blake said. "All the sudden you look and he's got a double-double."

Ratcliff had one of those nights on Friday. The senior collected his first triple-double with 17 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists in an 83-38 win over Homer. It is the first triple-double for a Palmer player during Blake's nine-year tenure as head coach of the Moose.

His feat was unnoticed to fans and even most on the Palmer bench as he quietly and calmly had a career night on the court.

"I had no idea," Ratcliff said.

During Ratcliff's entire career at Palmer, the Moose coaching staff has known it has something special. Ratcliff has always shown the ability to score, rebound and move the ball, but often not at the same time. If there was a knock against the Palmer talent, it was the fact that in his first three seasons in a Moose uniform, Ratcliff had yet to bring it all together. He has satisfied any critic this season.

"He is really playing a complete game," Blake said.

Ratcliff is currently averaging double digitis in both points and rebounds and leads his team in almost every statistical catagory. Blake said there are a lot of players contributing on his team this season, but Ratcliff is pacing everyone statistically.

In Friday's win over Homer, Ratcliff was able to do everything with the ball. He grabbed the rebounds and hit the shots in the paint and was able to move the rock to Palmer's outside shooters with ease.

"He did a lot of creating," Blake said.

Ratcliff said a few extra steps with the ball on his possesions allowed him to create the plays. He gained many of his assists by kicking out the ball to the perimeter in Palmer's inside-outside game.

The following night Ratcliff scored 16 points and pulled down 13 rebounds in a win over Skyview, showing off his abilities inside for the entire game.

Ratcliff displayed his unique style inside where he can twist and turn around defenders in the post, making wicked moves in the paint that are absolutely fluid.

"Its hard to explain," Blake said. "He's got a nice touch around the basket. It helps that he plays above the rim."