"Palmer is a very strong team, that shoots the basketball very well," Heartland Lutheran coach Lloyd Wagnitz said.

The Red Hornets, who finished their season at 10-10, played with the Tigers (19-2) in the last three quarters of play, but the first-quarter blitz by Palmer was too much to overcome.

"I was very proud of the guys the way we stood in there and hung tough after the first quarter," Wagnitz said. "We never quit, this is a special bunch of kids.

The seniors on the team were freshmen when Heartland Lutheran started the basketball program.

"They were on the team that got us our first varsity win, and our first winning season," Wagnitz said. "They really got the program on the right track."

Matthew Wagnitz playing in his final game as a senior led Heartland Lutheran with 16 points.

Neil Kilchriste paced the Tigers with 23 points, while Collins Haag added 18.

Palmer (19-2) 29 15 12 1874

HLHS (10-10) 9 12 15 1450

PALMERDukat 11, Kilchriste 23, Fredrichsen 12, Haag 18,

McDermott 5, Salzgaber 5, Stopkotte 2.

HEARTLAND LUTHERANSeltzer 7, Bartels 6, Sein 3, J.Messersmith 6, Wagnitz 16, A.J. Messersmith 6, Rauert 4, Kreutzer 6.