Wasilla boys score win over rival Palmer

PALMER — With three starters that stand at least 6-foot-4 and a starting five that can knock down the three at any moment, the Palmer Moose can present issues for opponents. But Tuesday, the Wasilla Warriors defense caused problems for the Moose throughout the night.

Sparked by its defensive effort and buoyed by free throws down the stretch, the Warriors scored a 59-53 win over the Palmer Moose Tuesday at Palmer High School.

“It was a real quality win in a game (we) executed to perfection as far as what I demanded out of them defensively,” Wasilla head coach Ryan Engebretsen said of his squad, which improved to 3-1 in Northern Lights Conference play. “My kids just stinking battled.”

Wasilla held Palmer to only 14 first-half points, and once the Moose made their push in the second half, the Warriors were able to do what they needed to stay just ahead of Palmer.

Most importantly, the Warriors hit their free throws.

“We flat out made free throws when it mattered,” Engebretsen said. “Making those free throws down the stretch, it didn’t matter who they fouled. Every kid was focused.”

Wasilla was 21 of 27 from the free throw line in the game, and 15 of 18 in the fourth quarter. As the Moose began to knock down shots late, those free throws proved pivotal for Wasilla.

After scoring only 14 in the first half, Palmer put together 39 second-half points. Palmer hit seven three pointers in the second half, six in the fourth quarter alone. All six of Palmer’s fourth-quarter free throws cut Wasilla’s lead to a pair of possessions.

But every time Palmer would pull within two possessions, Wasilla would fine an answer.

Typically, it was at the free throw line.

Kobe Brown was 6 of 6 from the line for Wasilla in the fourth and Reilly Devine was 4 of 6 from the stripe late. Isaac Houck and Daniel Headings also hit a pair of fourth-quarter free throws for the Warriors.

Devine led Wasilla with 16 points in the game. Milliron scored 13, and Brown and Headings added a dozen each.

Michael Kluting led Palmer with a game-high 27 points in the loss. Kluting, Palmer’s 6-foot-6 senior, scored all seven of his team’s first-quarter points and 11 of Palmer’s 14 in the first half. Kluting finished with 10 field goals, including four from behind the arc. Clayton Southwick added 11 points in the game, and Payton Martin chipped in nine with his trio of three-pointers.

As Palmer rallied late, Kluting and Martin hit a pair of fourth-quarter threes each. Clayton Southwick and Brady Southwick also had a three-pointer in the fourth quarter.

Palmer, which dropped to 0-2 in the conference, continues NLC play against Soldotna Friday at 7 p.m. at Palmer High.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com

Wasilla 59, Palmer 53

Tuesday, Palmer High School

Wasilla 10-14-10-25 — 59

Palmer 7-7-14-25—53

Wasilla (59) — Brown 2 8-10 12, Headings 3 6-7 12, Devine 6 4-6 16, Houck 2 2-2 6, Milliron 6 1-2 13; 19 21-27 59.

Palmer (53) — Hughes-Duffy 1 0-0 2, Martin 3 0-0 9, B. Southwick 1 0-0 3, Witz 0 1-2 1, C. Southwick 4 2-5 11, Kluting 10 3-4 27; Totals: 19 6-14 53.

3-point field goals: Wasilla 0, Palmer 9 (Kluting 4); Total fouls: Wasilla 14, Palmer 19.