Sports

Metlakatla’s Drena Hayward (#15) passes the ball to a teammate in their opening game against Yakutat during the 75th Gold Medal Basketball Tournament on Sunday morning at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

75th Gold Medal Basketball Tournament opens with all harboring hopes for week ahead

Winners and losers not reading too much into opening games with some teammates still to arrive.

 

The Thunder Mountain High School Falcons Region V champion girls basketball team pose for a photo during practice at the Thunderdome on Friday. The Falcons begin state tournament play Wednesday at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)

Thunder Mountain girls basketball team ready for back-to-back state tournament play

No. 4 Falcons begin school’s final chase for a title against No. 5 Dimond High School on Wednesday.

 

The Thunder Mountain High School Falcons Region V champion boys basketball team pose for a photo during practice at the Thunderdome on Friday. The Falcons begin state tournament play Wednesday at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)

Thunder Mountain boys basketball team begins final state tournament play

No. 6 Falcons (19-9) open Wednesday against No. 3 West Valley High School from Fairbanks.

 

Hoonah’s Mark Prpich (22) drives the lane against Juneau’s Doug Draowski (5) on Saturday during last year’s Gold Medal championship game for M bracket at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé on March 25, 2023. Prpich finished the game with 10 points. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

75th Gold Medal Basketball Tournament tips off Sunday

25 regional teams to compete for titles in four brackets; no Juneau teams playing this year.

Hoonah’s Mark Prpich (22) drives the lane against Juneau’s Doug Draowski (5) on Saturday during last year’s Gold Medal championship game for M bracket at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé on March 25, 2023. Prpich finished the game with 10 points. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
From left, Lauren Shea, Chantale Bégin, Isabelle Côté and Noelle Helder propel their 28-foot boat Emma off the coast of Florida during a training run for their crossing of the Atlantic Ocean. (Photo courtesy Noelle Helder)

Alaska Science Forum: Marine scientist rows across the Atlantic

The first days were the hardest days, Noelle Helder said. Imagine being as seasick as you will ever be while surfing waves that look like… Continue reading

From left, Lauren Shea, Chantale Bégin, Isabelle Côté and Noelle Helder propel their 28-foot boat Emma off the coast of Florida during a training run for their crossing of the Atlantic Ocean. (Photo courtesy Noelle Helder)
The author and his wife ride a lift at Eaglecrest over the weekend. (Photo by Jeff Lund)

I Went to the Woods: All you can eat pizza

There are times you’re confronted with the culmination of your career as an active human and you end up wishing you’d have had a better… Continue reading

The author and his wife ride a lift at Eaglecrest over the weekend. (Photo by Jeff Lund)
Dallas Seavey sits with his lead dogs Sebastian, left, and Aero after his sixth Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race win on Tuesday in Nome. (Anne Raup/Anchorage Daily News via AP)

Dallas Seavey wins 6th Iditarod championship, most ever in the world’s most famous sled dog race

Dallas Seavey’s path to an Iditarod championship was like none he’s faced before, including killing a moose and overcoming a time penalty that had him… Continue reading

  • Mar 12, 2024
  • By Mark Thiessen Associated Press
  • Iditarod
Dallas Seavey sits with his lead dogs Sebastian, left, and Aero after his sixth Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race win on Tuesday in Nome. (Anne Raup/Anchorage Daily News via AP)
The 2024 Alaska Airlines Region V Basketball Tournament mass pep band, a combined musical extravaganza of Southeast high school pep band members, prepare to play during a game between Haines and Craig last week at the B.J. McGillis Gymnasium in Sitka. (Heather Gluth / MEHS)

Region V Basketball Tournament awards

The conclusion of the Alaska Airlines Region V 2A/4A Basketball Tournament on Saturday at Mt. Edgecumbe High School’s B.J. McGillis Gymnasium in Sitka and the… Continue reading

The 2024 Alaska Airlines Region V Basketball Tournament mass pep band, a combined musical extravaganza of Southeast high school pep band members, prepare to play during a game between Haines and Craig last week at the B.J. McGillis Gymnasium in Sitka. (Heather Gluth / MEHS)
A pine grosbeak munches on some old berries. (Photo by Kerry Howard)

On the Trails: Animal tracks and pine grosbeaks

February had an extra day this year, a cold and gusty one. Those gusts were enough to knock me off balance and make it temporarily… Continue reading

A pine grosbeak munches on some old berries. (Photo by Kerry Howard)
The Thunder Mountain High School Falcons boys basketball team celebrate their 63-58 win over the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears in the championship game of the Alaska Airlines Region V 4A Basketball Tournament on Friday at Mt. Edgecumbe High School’s B.J. McGillis Gymnasium in Sitka. (James Poulson/Daily Sitka Sentinel)

Falcons boys dunk Crimson Bears for schools final Region V basketball title

TMHS steals ball as JDHS seeks tying shot in closing moments, allowing Falcons to prevail 63-58.

The Thunder Mountain High School Falcons boys basketball team celebrate their 63-58 win over the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears in the championship game of the Alaska Airlines Region V 4A Basketball Tournament on Friday at Mt. Edgecumbe High School’s B.J. McGillis Gymnasium in Sitka. (James Poulson/Daily Sitka Sentinel)
Thunder Mountain High School freshman Bergen Erickson (12) cuts the net after the Falcons defeated the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears 56-49 in the championship game of the Alaska Airlines Region V 4A Basketball Tournament on Friday at Mt. Edgecumbe High School’s B.J. McGillis Gymnasium in Sitka. (James Poulson/Daily Sitka Sentinel)

TMHS girls defeat JDHS to repeat as Region V tournament champions

Falcons to play for state title for possibly the final time beginning March 20.

Thunder Mountain High School freshman Bergen Erickson (12) cuts the net after the Falcons defeated the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears 56-49 in the championship game of the Alaska Airlines Region V 4A Basketball Tournament on Friday at Mt. Edgecumbe High School’s B.J. McGillis Gymnasium in Sitka. (James Poulson/Daily Sitka Sentinel)
Kara Haeussler skis back to an airstrip on Kahiltna Glacier in 2014 with Denali in the far background and the Kahiltna Peaks in the foreground right. (Photo by Peter Haeussler)

Alaska Science Forum: Why is Denali so tall?

Denali, North America’s highest peak at 20,310 feet above sea level, always seemed abnormally high to Peter Haeussler. He is a geologist who has studied… Continue reading

Kara Haeussler skis back to an airstrip on Kahiltna Glacier in 2014 with Denali in the far background and the Kahiltna Peaks in the foreground right. (Photo by Peter Haeussler)
(Juneau Empire file photo)

JDHS girls eliminate Kayhi Lady Kings from Region V tournament

Top-seed TMHS Falcons await Crimson Bears on Friday.

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Sean Oliver of Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé during a Capital City Classic game Dec. 27, 2023, at JDHS. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Oliver’s army of Crimson Bears eliminates Ketchikan from Region V tournament

Juneau’s two high schools will play each other for boys’ basketball title.

Sean Oliver of Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé during a Capital City Classic game Dec. 27, 2023, at JDHS. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Sandi Wagner, the Alaska School Activities Association associate director, was honored with the first annual Coach George Houston Service Award on Wednesday during the Alaska Airlines Region V 4A Basketball Tournament at Mt. Edgecumbe High School’s B.J. McGillis Gymnasium in Sitka. Wagner is shown with Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Activities Director Chad Benz and JDHS boys basketball coach Robert Casperson. (Photo courtesy Andrew Friske / MEHS)

ASAA’s Sandi Wagner receives inaugural Coach George Houston Service Award

Wagner served as a teacher, activities director and coach in the Juneau School District for decades.

Sandi Wagner, the Alaska School Activities Association associate director, was honored with the first annual Coach George Houston Service Award on Wednesday during the Alaska Airlines Region V 4A Basketball Tournament at Mt. Edgecumbe High School’s B.J. McGillis Gymnasium in Sitka. Wagner is shown with Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Activities Director Chad Benz and JDHS boys basketball coach Robert Casperson. (Photo courtesy Andrew Friske / MEHS)
Thunder Mountain High School senior Samuel Lockhart (14) shoots a 3-pointer during a Feb. 1 game at TMHS. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire file photo)

Falcons’ Lockhart sinks Kings in TMHS’ 66-63 win over Ketchikan to earn Region V championship game

The 3-point “Lockhart Line” arrived at the Alaska Airlines Region V 4A Basketball Tournament at Mt. Edgecumbe High School’s B.J. McGillis Gymnasium in Sitka on… Continue reading

Thunder Mountain High School senior Samuel Lockhart (14) shoots a 3-pointer during a Feb. 1 game at TMHS. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire file photo)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Mila Hargrave (24) shoots under pressure from Thunder Mountain High School senior Ashlyn Gates (2) during a Feb. 3 game at JDHS. (Klas Stolpe/Juneau Empire file photo)

Falcons girls top Crimson Bears to earn Region V championship game

A free throw-shooting contest with a bit of basketball mixed in went in the favor of the Thunder Mountain High School Lady Falcons in a… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Mila Hargrave (24) shoots under pressure from Thunder Mountain High School senior Ashlyn Gates (2) during a Feb. 3 game at JDHS. (Klas Stolpe/Juneau Empire file photo)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s Sean Oliver brings the ball up the court during the team’s regular season finale game against Thunder Mountain High School at JDHS on Feb. 24. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

TMHS boys stop JDHS in Region V tournament opener

Thunder Mountain High School senior Samuel Lockhart hit four free throws in the final 20 seconds to secure a Falcons 62-54 win over the Juneau-Douglas… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s Sean Oliver brings the ball up the court during the team’s regular season finale game against Thunder Mountain High School at JDHS on Feb. 24. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Tanya Nizich, head coach of Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s girls’ basketball team, gives instructions to players during the closing minutes of a game against Ketchikan High School on Jan. 6 at JDHS. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

JDHS girls slip past Kayhi 50-47 at Region V tournament

Seniors Mila Hargrave, Rayna Tuckwood, Chloe Casperson and sophomore Gwen Nizich saved the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears from a first-round loss to… Continue reading

Tanya Nizich, head coach of Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s girls’ basketball team, gives instructions to players during the closing minutes of a game against Ketchikan High School on Jan. 6 at JDHS. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
A Region V tournament game featuring the Mt. Edgecumbe Braves and Sitka Wolves begins at Mt. Edgecumbe High School’s B.J. McGillis gymnasium in 2019. (Photo by Klas Stolpe)

What’s at stake for Region V basketball tournament teams and fans

JDHS, TMHS and Ketchikan face each other in 4A division starting Tuesday.

A Region V tournament game featuring the Mt. Edgecumbe Braves and Sitka Wolves begins at Mt. Edgecumbe High School’s B.J. McGillis gymnasium in 2019. (Photo by Klas Stolpe)