From Deseret News archives:
SLCC basketball: Palmer and Bruins celebrate birthday
Despite giving up about 4 inches in height to his man not counting Palmer's kind of poofy hairdo the 6-foot-5 power forward from Pine View High scored a dozen points and grabbed a team-high six rebounds in the Bruins' 68-50 NJCAA semifinal victory over Three Rivers Community College.
The starter's scoring spurt early on really gave SLCC a lift and some unexpected offense in the paint against Baylor-bound 6-9 Artem Valov.
Palmer scored eight points in the first five minutes helping turn a 4-2 Three Rivers lead into a 13-6 SLCC advantage. A couple of his shots opened up when the Pirates closed in on a driving Vassy Banny, who alertly found Palmer alone underneath. He also battled for a putback bucket and then made a strong drive and ensuing free throw to put SLCC up 51-40 midway through the second half.
Palmer, a sophomore who's leaning toward going to Dixie State next season, said he has been used to being undersized at the position. It's happened in almost every game.
"It's not a big shock," he said.
"I'm freaking old," he said.
The Bruins celebrated his birthday earlier in the day. His mom even made him a cake.
"I blew out the candles, and I just told them, 'You guys know what I'm wishing for,'" he said.
Not to jinx it, but Palmer's wish is like the rest of the Bruins. He said the fifth-place banner hanging in the Bruins' gym from SLCC's last visit to the NJCAA tourney in 1994 needs "some company." Like, say, a 2007-08 national championship banner.
"That's what we're here to do," Palmer said. "We've had that goal since the first of the season to be national champs."
They'll get their shot tonight at 7 against South Plains College.
GOING GREEN: He might be just 5-11, but SLCC shooting guard Brian Green has had a big tournament. Heading into tonight's championship, the Davis High product is in the running for multiple awards: MVP, the all-tournament team and the outstanding small-player award.
Depending on what he does tonight, he could even get them all.
Green scored 19 points Friday right on his tournament average and hit five 3-pointers. The shooting guard also somehow managed to grab five rebounds in another intense, energetic outing.
Comments
- RSL trails 1-0 at half 7:53 p.m.
- Plenty on line for rivalry game 7:51 p.m.
- Grand Canyon permit changing 7:48 p.m.
- Astronaut's daughter is born 7:47 p.m.
- Investors look to data-heavy week 7:36 p.m.
- Bird, Magic inducted into college hall 7:21 p.m.
- Haslem's jumper gets Heat win 7:19 p.m.
- Carter finds 'Magic' touch in win 7:01 p.m.
- Garnett's jumper gives Boston win 6:59 p.m.
- Kansas State beats No. 18 Dayton 6:56 p.m.
- Glenn Beck to enter politics?
- BYU records with win
- Jazz outlast Pistons in overtime
- Cougars turn focus to dreaded rivals
- Cougars put the fun back in football
- Former BYU professor remembered
- Kirilenko heating up for the Jazz
- Police link alcohol to murder
- Wendover airfield's legacy lost?
- Florida No. 1, TCU 4 in AP Top 25
- Buttars wants to limit gay rights laws
201 - Glenn Beck to enter politics?
181 - Palin plans tour stop in Utah
178 - BYU records with win
127 - Palin's book shows she's unqualified
125 - Officer cleared in Cardall Taser case
103 - BYU cuts Women's Research Inst.
100 - Jazz finally win in San Antonio
98 - Utes knock off rival Aggies
93 - Huntsman pleased with Obama
87
The Utah basketball team expected to win Saturday night, but not like this.
Real Salt Lake fans have watched first hand the evolution of Jason Kreis...
You MWC fans need to back off the SEC. They are the second rated conference...
It is about time we had a good article about anything at BYU! I wish more...
Seem like people love to shout "socialism" to scare every sane person around....
Totally agree with you on Fes... we have enough scorerers. Sometimes it's...
David, it seems we have been depending on insurance companies to make our...
strap 'em up and let's play some football. This time next week, we'll know...
Oregon has lost twice. It's nice to think of them in the Rose Bowl against a...
I am so sick and tired of environmentalists making issues of everything. The...
I agree 100%. Thanks for saving me the time of having to type that out. A...
Sarah Palin is a smart conservative woman who loves this country. The Left...



You can be the first to comment on this story.