West beats Palmer in first round

ANCHORAGE — Palmer’s five seniors were all freshman the last time the Moose advanced to the state tournament. While the Moose are new to the state tournament experience, the West Anchorage Eagles are seasoned veterans. And that experience showed Thursday night.

West used a quick start to get by the Palmer Moose 75-31 during the first round of the ASAA/First National Bank 4A State Championships at the Sullivan Arena in Anchorage.

“We kind of had that deer-in-the-headlight look,” Palmer head coach Jason Marvel said.

West fired nine three-pointers and shot 55 percent from the field en route to moving into a semifinal match with Cook Inlet Conference rival Service today at 8:30 p.m.

Palmer’s loss also pushes the Moose into a match with their rival. The Moose face Wasilla, who suffered a 71-50 loss to Service in the nightcap Thursday.

Palmer and Wasilla will play today at 1:15 p.m. with the winner advancing to the tournament’s fourth-place game.

In a match of teams with contrasting styles, West was able to dictate the pace, turning the game into a virtual track meet by the second quarter.

Dominique Queen and Kendall Brown each hit four three-pointers and scored 24 points and 19 points respectively. Alaska 4A Player of the Year Devon Bookert added 18.

Palmer senior Trey Fullmer led the Moose with nine.

West used the long shots to build the early lead. Queen and Brown each hit a pair of first-half three-pointers, as West built a 42-20 halftime lead.

West led just 10-7 at the halfway point of the first, but Brown nailed a shot from the left corner to give his team the six-point advantage. That also sparked a 13-2 West Anchorage run.

West also started the third with a big run, outscoring the Moose 22-0 during the first five minutes of the quarter.

Junior Jared Straight, who scored eight points, tallied all five of Palmer’s third-quarter points late in the period.

West Anchorage 75, Palmer 31

ASAA boys quarterfinals

Thursday, Sullivan Arena

West 26-16-23-10—75

Palmer 9-11-5-6—31

West (75) – Norman 2 0-0 5, Queen 10 0-0 24, Bookert 8 2-2 18, Bowser 1 0-0 2, Hernandez 2 1-1 5, Brown 7 1-2 19; Totals: 31 4-5 75.

Palmer (31) – Odom 1 2-2 4, Looney 1 0-0 2, Straight 3 0-0 8, Buresh 1 1-2 3, Niekamp 1 3-3 5, Fullmer 3 2-2 9; Totals: 10 8-9 31.

Three-point field goals: West 9 (Queen, Brown 4), Palmer 3 (Straight 2); Total fouls: West 10, Palmer 10.