Juneau-Douglas returns a balanced and deep track and field team looking to improve on last year’s eighth- and 12th-place finishes for the girls’ and boys’ teams at the state track and field championships.

JDHS has about 55 kids this year, and coach Janette Gagnon thinks the Crimson Bears boast a lot of depth and balance to cover nearly every event. This year’s captains on the boys’ side are seniors Zach Bursell, Andre Bunton and Jesse Miller. And Maya Rieselbach, Karissa Jackson, and Emily and Samantha Sharp will lead the girls.

ANCHORAGE — The Juneau-Douglas girls’ basketball team wasted little time eliminating the doubt over a return to the Class 4A state title game.

The Bears steamrolled Colony with an 18-2 run to open the game, earning trip to the finals with a 47-34 win in the semis of the ASAA/First National Bank Alaska Basketball State Championships Friday at Anchorage’s Sullivan Arena.

JDHS held the Knights without a field goal through the first 10 minutes, building a 16-point lead and never looking back.

ANCHORAGE — It wasn’t easy or pretty, but the Juneau-Douglas boys’ basketball team kept its season alive Friday.

The Crimson Bears overcame a dismal first half and survived a late rally to knock off Kodiak 55-49 in a loser-out game at the ASAA/First National Bank Alaska Basketball State Championships at Anchorage’s Sullivan Arena.

JDHS, seeded fourth, advanced to the fourth-place game against Wasilla at the University of Alaska Anchorage’s Wells Fargo Arena. No. 8 Kodiak was eliminated.

ANCHORAGE — The champs aren’t ready to move over quite yet. Not after the opening round of the ASAA/First National Bank Alaska Basketball State Championships.

Second-seeded Juneau-Douglas opened defense of its 4A girls’ basketball state title by steamrolling No. 7 South Anchorage 60-22 Thursday morning at Anchorage’s Sullivan Arena.

Senior Sarah Tarver showed no ill effects from a severely sprained ankle suffered less than two weeks ago, scoring a game-high 14 points on 7 of 14 shooting while pulling down nine rebounds in 19 minutes.