State hoops: Warrior boys move past Moose

March 23, 2007

By MATT TUNSETH/ Frontiersman

ANCHORAGE - Wasilla showed why it's the state's top-ranked boys basketball team, jumping out to a big lead and never looking back en route to a 62-32 win over the Palmer Moose Thursday night at Service High School.

The Warriors outscored the Moose 20-6 in the first quarter, including a 15-2 run to finish out the first eight minutes that put an early end to Palmer's hopes of a miracle run through the state tournament.

Wasilla's defense was the story early on, as the Warriors forced 12 Palmer turnovers and held the Moose to just 25 percent shooting from the field.

Led by guards Jesse Bean and Jeremiah Collins, the Warriors weren't so giving, turning the ball over just three times in the opening half.

Collins was particularly effective on the defensive end, limiting Palmer guard T.J. Fullmer - who averaged nearly 20 points a game during the regular season - to just four points on 1-of-10 shooting.

&#8220To hold their best player to four points is phenomenal,” Wasilla coach Jason Marvel said. &#8220He shut him down.”

Bean overcame a sluggish start to lead all scorers with 15 points, while Tyler Johannes and Shane Green each added 10. Dexter Pearce scored eight points to go along with five rebounds and five assists.

Bryce Jacobson and Quinton Fiscus each scored seven points to pace the Moose.

Palmer coach Greg Fullmer said Palmer entered the game in hopes of duplicating the upset performance shown by the Colony Knights, who knocked off No. 2 Juneau earlier in the day.

&#8220Our goal was to keep things close and have a chance to win it at the end,” Fullmer said.

Following the game, Fullmer had nothing but praise for Wasilla, who he said is the favorite to win the entire tournament.

&#8220They've got a lot of weapons,” Fullmer said. &#8220I picked them to win it from the start of the season.”

Bean said Wasilla had the Colony game in its mind as they took the floor, and said it was their top priority not to overlook the scrappy Moose, whose third-place finish at the Northern Lights Tournament was one of the biggest stories of the year.

&#8220We saw that Colony-Juneau game and knew that if you let a team stay around they're going to fight back,” he said.

Next up for Wasilla is Dimond in the semifinals today at 8:30 p.m. at Sullivan Arena. Palmer will play Service today at 1 p.m. at Sullivan Arena in the consolation round.

Fullmer said his team knows adversity and promised the Moose will come out today ready to battle for third.

&#8220We're playing for blue and white now,” he said.

Although Wasilla has to now be considered the tournament favorites, Marvel said nothing is assured at state, and his team will need to play its best basketball to have a chance of claiming a first-ever boys state title.

&#8220We've got to have a little luck and also be very fundamental,” he said.

As for today's game against Dimond, Marvel said Wasilla isn't taking anything for granted.

&#8220It's zero-zero and you've got to go to work.”

Dimond scored a 51-50 win over Service in the late game Thursday. Wasilla is 1-1 in two meetings against the Lynx this season.

Contact Matt Tunseth at 352-2265 or matt.tunseth@frontiersman.com