By Kevin Schuster
sports.desk@theindependent.com

The Tigers missed their first 10 shots in the final period and Mead took advantage with a 16-2 run en route to a 56-46 victory in Class D-1 quarterfinal action Thursday at Lincoln East.

"We're used to scoring 20 points a quarter," Palmer coach Matt Koehler said. "We had a quarter with 29 points. It just seemed like the kids were a little nervous. When we're playing our best basketball, we pass, shoot."

Passing and shooting were Palmer's problems down the stretch. Senior Collins Haag's basket with seven seconds left in the third quarter pulled the Tigers (20-4), ranked fifth by the state's two metropolitan newspapers, within 33-32. But Palmer shot 20 percent (4-of-20) and committed five turnovers in the final eight minutes to ruin its first state appearance since it won the first D-1 boys state basketball title in 1984.

"We got down about six points (early in the fourth), we just panicked," Koehler said. "Their defensive pressure really stepped up."

The third- and fourth-ranked Raiders (20-3) scored 18 of their 23 final-period points from the free throw line as Palmer piled up 29 fouls. Haag was the lone Tiger starter who did not foul out.

However, Mead allowed Palmer to stay in the game as it missed 15 free throws in the final 6 minutes, 9 seconds. On the season, the Raiders shoot 69 percent from the line, but they made just 19-of-43 (44 percent) against the Tigers.

"That was disappointing," Mead coach PJ Quinn said. "We could have had the game put away a lot sooner had we made some of those free throws."

Mead's savior and Palmer's downfall was rebounding. The Raiders grabbed six offensive rebounds off missed free throws down the stretch.

"Those are just inexcusable," Koehler said. "When you're only guarding four and have long rebounds, you have got to chase them down."

Mead had 13 of its 38 rebounds in the fourth quarter to limit Palmer's offensive opportunities.

"Fortunately, we shot them so bad that they came to us on the rebound," Quinn said of the missed free throws. "I think our defense was absolutely the key in the fourth quarter. They struggled to score."

These wild card state qualifiers were locked in a good battle through three quarters. The game featured 10 lead changes and five ties in the initial 24 minutes.

"I thought the key coming into this game was who set the tempo," Koehler said. "The tempo was where they wanted it."

Senior forward Neil Kilchriste had all 18 of his game-high points in the opening three frames for Palmer. Haag joined Kilchriste in double digits with 10 points and added eight rebounds, while senior guard Nick Dukat scored nine points and contributed four assists.

Sophomore Nathan Raver, a 5-foot-11 backup guard, scored a team-high 15 points to pace Mead, which faces No. 1 Fremont Bergan (25-0) in a semifinal game at 9 a.m. Friday at the Pershing Center. Raver averaged 3.8 points in the Raiders' first 22 games.

"That's not that really of a big surprise to me," Quinn said of Raver's output. "We worked a lot with four guards in practice. To his credit, he did a really good job."

MEAD 56, PALMER 46

MEAD (20-3)

Moline 0-1 4-10 4, Johnson 4-11 2-6 13, Coady 1-4 4-6 7, Taylor 1-6 7-16 9, Charles 4-4 0-2 8, Raver 6-10 2-3 15. Totals 16-36 19-43 56.

PALMER (20-4)

Dukat 3-7 2-2 9, Kilchriste 8-18 0-2 18, McDermott 0-5 0-0 0, Saltzgaber 0-2 0-0 0, Haag 3-12 2-2 10, Friedrichsen 2-10 0-0 6, Doggett 1-1 0-0 3.

Totals 17-55 4-6 46.

Mead 6 16 11 23 56

Palmer 7 14 11 14 46

3-point goalsMead 5-10 (Johnson 3-6, Raver 1-1, Coady 1-3), Palmer 8-23 (Kilchriste 2-4, Friedrichsen 2-6, Haag 2-7, Doggett 1-1, Dukat 1-4, McDermott 0-1). Fouled outDukat, Kilchriste, McDermott, Saltzgaber. ReboundsMead 38 (Charles 9), Palmer 31 (Haag 8). AssistsMead 13 (Moline 6), Palmer 12 (Dukat 4). TurnoversMead 10, Palmer 12. Total foulsMead 12, Palmer 29. TechnicalsNone.