Time out

JEREMIAH BARTZ/ Frontiersman sports editor

PALMER - From his spot at the scorer's table, Greg LaWalter has seen a lot of high school basketball.

For the last 28 years LaWalter, a 1980 graduate of Palmer High School, has been involved with Moose basketball in one capacity or another. But now he has decided to take a step away from the court, and let the next generation of Palmer basketball enthusiasts take charge.

He started out as the team manger of the Palmer boys' basketball squad while he was a student at PHS. But even after he graduated, he didn't stray far from Moose basketball. He started doing some scorekeeping and running the clock, and just stuck with it. It was something he enjoyed. For the last five years, LaWalter has been heavily involved with the Moose basketball booster club.

So what kept him involved for so long?

&#8220I like the fans. I like the atmosphere,” LaWalter said. &#8220I like the kids, the sport. I enjoy the people who are involved. I just like being involved with the parents and the kids.”

LaWalter doesn't know exactly how many basketball games he has seen in 19 years.

&#8220Probably 500,” he said.

And that's most likely a conservative estimate.

But regardless of the number, he has had a front row seat for some of the biggest moments in Palmer basketball history.

He was around during the run toward the first basketball state championship in the history of the school. In 1986 the Palmer girls edged the Jeanie Hebert led North Pole Patriots 36-35. He was there when Laura Lee hit a three-pointer to send the Moose into overtime in Palmer's 44-43 win in the 1999 state championship game. He watched as Palmer boys' squads made runs to the state championship game in 1991 and 1995.

He's watched Moose student-athletes such as Paul Reid and Andy Williams graduate from players to coach. He even started to see the second generation of Moose players.

&#8220(Palmer junior) Quentin Fiscus, his dad was on the varsity team,” LaWalter said as he running through the names of his Palmer past. &#8220Same with the Berberichs, (Trent and Jared), their mom and dad graduated in my class.”

Of all of the players who have worn the Palmer white and blue on the Moose basketball court, some of Palmer's most recent stars seem to stick out in LaWalter's memory. He said former Region III players of the year Stanley Ratcliff and C.J. Hooker list among his favorite players he has watched through the years.

LaWalter said he still sees his time working the state tournament games as some of his favorite moments during his time with Palmer basketball. He has volunteered during the state tourney for the last few decades, whether the Moose advanced or not. He started by just making copies of the game statistic sheets, just to be involved. But about 15 years ago, there was a shortage of scorekeepers and clock operators for the tournament, and organizers were looking for people to step in. LaWalter said after he was able to work the state events, tournament officials began to seek others from the Valley.

In one of his fondest moments, LaWalter was called in to work relief.

&#8220In the early 90s the region tournament was down in Homer, and they were having trouble with the scorekeepers and timers,” LaWalter said. &#8220They said, ‘there's this guy from Palmer, get a hold of him.'”

LaWalter was on a flight the next morning, and enjoyed a trip with all expenses paid.

LaWalter has enjoyed his 28 years of involvement with Palmer basketball, but his decided it is time to move on and focus on other things in his life - like his two children. LaWalter has an 8-year-old daughter and a 13-year-old son.

Will they go to Palmer High?

&#8220I would think so,” LaWalter said with a

laugh.