Tough tests await JDHS boys
The Juneau-Douglas High School boys basketball team's relentlessly arduous schedule takes the squad to Anchorage for four difficult games starting today.
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The Crimson Bears (5-3) will take on undefeated Dimond at 7:30 p.m. tonight. JDHS will then battle three of Anchorage's toughest squads in the Alaska Airlines Classic at West Anchorage High School. JDHS will battle the West Eagles on Thursday, perennial Class 3A state contenders Heritage Christian on Friday and East Anchorage on Saturday.
"It's all about getting better," JDHS coach Steve Potter said. "We do have some older kids, but not a ton of experience. What we're doing is gaining experience against tough, quality opposition. I don't think we've played a bad team yet."
JDHS boys basketball: Alaska Airlines Classic
This week's schedule:
Today: JDHS at Dimond, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday: JDHS at West Anchorage, 7:30 p.m.
Friday: JDHS vs. Heritage Christian (at West H.S.), 6:45 p.m.
Saturday: JDHS vs. East Anchorage (at West H.S.), 5 p.m.
The Lynx (8-0) stand out as Alaska's hottest team. Dimond demolished the competition at its host Dimond Prep Shootout while going all the way to Illinois to capture the Kankakee Tournament.
Dimond players, who made the state tournament last year, are led by juniors Colton Lauwers and Chris Plooy. Both players are capable of scoring in bunches while the team also got back Rylan Whilden, who tore his ACL while playing football in the fall.
JDHS beat Dimond twice last year at home.
"They have a lot of young players but they're really tough and they go to the boards a lot," JDHS senior Dominique Brinson said of playing the Lynx last year. "We need to box out. They have a lot of long guys. They're all pretty strong as well."
In addition to facing tough competition, the Crimson Bears will also be facing a pair of teams known for their intense trapping defense.
Both Dimond and West Anchorage employ trapping defenses that try to force opposing ball-handlers into bad decisions.
Maintaining cool heads and trust in their teammates will be key for JDHS this week.
"We have to go back to the ball on our press breaks," Brinson said.
Throughout the season, JDHS exhibited the ability to score from throughout the court.
Ryan "Bubba" Larson, Shawn Ibesate, Cody Grussendorf, Reese Saviers and Jacob Hotch can all score from beyond the 3-point arc. Inside, Faifo Levale showed ability to stay out of foul trouble and use head and shoulder fakes to create spaces to shoot in traffic.
"I think we're doing really good," Grussendorf said. "We came off that two-game win streak in the (Capital City) Classic then came out slow (in a loss to Tahoma, Wash.) We have to work on coming out strong and starting the first half. We have to be able to play games back-to-back."
This week's four-game stretch should serve as a terrific tune-up for what is sure to be a pair of emotional series at the end of January.
On Jan. 25-26, JDHS will host Colony. The Knights ended the top-ranked Crimson Bears' run at a state title with a stunning 54-51 victory in the state quarterfinal round.
Then on Feb. 1-2, JDHS will open Southeast Conference play at rival Ketchikan.
• Contact sports editor Tim Nichols at 523-2228 or sports@juneauempire.com.