Sports

JDHS girls sweep 3A Sitka

Early in the third quarter and leading by seven points, Kendyl Carson and Caitlin Pusich traded 3-point attempts, each missing two in a row on… Continue reading

Ketchikan’s Sarah McClennan, left, is fouled by Thunder Mountain’s Kyra Jenkins Hayes at TMHS on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2017. Ketchikan won 55-26. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Falcons no match for Kings as TMHS struggles to score

Give them credit — the Thunder Mountain High School girls basketball team didn’t let up in the fourth quarter after falling 26 points behind Ketchikan… Continue reading

Ketchikan’s Sarah McClennan, left, is fouled by Thunder Mountain’s Kyra Jenkins Hayes at TMHS on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2017. Ketchikan won 55-26. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Falcon teams challenge Ketchikan, JDHS girls face off against Sitka

Falcon teams challenge Ketchikan, JDHS girls face off against Sitka

The Thunder Mountain boys basketball team likes to hoop in Southeast Alaska — and the state has taken notice. On Wednesday the Falcons broke into… Continue reading

Falcon teams challenge Ketchikan, JDHS girls face off against Sitka

Minor league hockey team Alaska Aces to fold at season’s end

ANCHORAGE — The Alaska Aces of the ECHL will shut down after the current season. Terry Parks, managing partner of the Aces ownership group, says… Continue reading

  • Feb 23, 2017
  • By The Associated Press
In this Feb. 18 photo, Euless Trinity’s Mack Beggs, left, wrestles Grand Prairie’s Kailyn Clay during the finals of the UIL Region 2-6A wrestling tournament at Allen High School in Allen, Texas. Beggs, who is transgender, is transitioning from female to male, won the girls regional championship after a female opponent forfeited the match. (Nathan Hunsinger | The Dallas Morning News)

Transgender wrestler’s state bid spotlights Texas policy

EULESS, Texas — A 17-year-old transgender wrestler who qualified for the girls state tournament while transitioning from female to male has become a high-profile test… Continue reading

  • Feb 23, 2017
  • By SCHUYLER DIXON
In this Feb. 18 photo, Euless Trinity’s Mack Beggs, left, wrestles Grand Prairie’s Kailyn Clay during the finals of the UIL Region 2-6A wrestling tournament at Allen High School in Allen, Texas. Beggs, who is transgender, is transitioning from female to male, won the girls regional championship after a female opponent forfeited the match. (Nathan Hunsinger | The Dallas Morning News)
Baker looks for big bounce back year with Cleveland organization

Baker looks for big bounce back year with Cleveland organization

He hasn’t pitched in a baseball game in two years, yet Dylan Baker of Juneau has remained on the 40-man roster for the Cleveland Indians… Continue reading

  • Feb 23, 2017
  • By VAN WILLIAMS
Baker looks for big bounce back year with Cleveland organization
Steve Thompson, of Alaska Goaltending Academy, leads a drill for goaltenders at Treadwell Arena on Wednesday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Home ice advantage: Bringing goalie expertise across Alaska

Two former University of Alaska Fairbanks goalies are tapping into the minds of the state’s next generation of netminders. Steve Thompson, a Nanook between 2009-2014,… Continue reading

Steve Thompson, of Alaska Goaltending Academy, leads a drill for goaltenders at Treadwell Arena on Wednesday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Bohulano, Swofford dazzle on senior night

The Juneau-Douglas boys basketball team saw an early 17 point lead evaporate by the fourth quarter, but summoned just enough strength to win over Ketchikan… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas’s Bryce Swofford, left, and Ulyx Bohulano try to trap Ketchkan’s Chris Lee at JDHS on Friday. Ketchikan won 66-47. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Ketchikan flattens JDHS behind Smith’s 32 points

The Ketchikan JV and C team players have watched senior Jake Smith practice enough times to know when he’s hot. After making his fifth 3-pointer… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas’s Bryce Swofford, left, and Ulyx Bohulano try to trap Ketchkan’s Chris Lee at JDHS on Friday. Ketchikan won 66-47. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
An Auke Bay Elementary School student competes in the 1-foot high kick as part of the Native Youth Olympics Friday at Riverbend Elementary. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)

Photos: Native Youth Olympics at Riverbend Elementary

Riverbend Elementary School hosted three other elementary schools as several dozen grade schoolers competed in Native Youth Olympics on Friday.… Continue reading

An Auke Bay Elementary School student competes in the 1-foot high kick as part of the Native Youth Olympics Friday at Riverbend Elementary. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)
Thunder Mountain pitcher Philip Wall smiles after signing a national letter of intent to play baseball at University of Northwestern-St. Paul on Wednesday in the Thunder Mountain High School auditorium. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)

Playing ball in St. Paul: 17-year-old TMHS pitcher signs letter of intent

Seventeen-year-old Thunder Mountain High School pitcher Philip Wall won’t have a long offseason this year. Wall signed a letter of intent to play baseball at… Continue reading

Thunder Mountain pitcher Philip Wall smiles after signing a national letter of intent to play baseball at University of Northwestern-St. Paul on Wednesday in the Thunder Mountain High School auditorium. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas boys basketball seniors pose before practice Wednesday, Feb. 15 at the JDHS gym. Left to Right: Ulyx Bohulano, Hunter Beelitz, Bryce Swofford, Jordan Milligan, Marshall Shapland-Murray, Luis Lozada. Not pictured Alison Ford, David Timothy, John Williams. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)

Weekend preview: Kayhi and JDHS face off in big series

The prep basketball season is quickly winding down with just four regular season games remaining for each of Juneau’s four high school squads. The boys… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas boys basketball seniors pose before practice Wednesday, Feb. 15 at the JDHS gym. Left to Right: Ulyx Bohulano, Hunter Beelitz, Bryce Swofford, Jordan Milligan, Marshall Shapland-Murray, Luis Lozada. Not pictured Alison Ford, David Timothy, John Williams. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas sports star Swofford to play college baseball at Central Arizona

Juneau-Douglas senior Bryce Swofford has the size and skill to play basketball in college. But he’s also got potential to play professional baseball. No wonder… Continue reading

  • Feb 17, 2017
  • By VAN WILLIAMS

Mariners’ Iwakuma ready to shoulder load again if needed

PEORIA, Ariz. — Pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma was a major reason the Seattle Mariners stayed in the race for an American League wild-card playoff spot until… Continue reading

  • Feb 16, 2017
  • By JOSE M. ROMERO

Juneau Ski Club teens takes to Girdwood, earn four podium finishes

Fifteen of Juneau’s fastest teenage ski racers returned Monday after racing in the the Alyeska Cup State Championships Feb. 8-12 in Girdwood. Approximatley 100 racers… Continue reading

Matt Hall drives his team down the finish chute as he wins the 2017 Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race on Tuesday in Fairbanks. The 1,000 race began in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada just over 10 days ago. (Eric Engman | Fairbanks Daily News-Miner)

Alaska man wins Yukon Quest

FAIRBANKS — A 25-year-old Alaska man on Monday won the Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race. The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reported Matt Hall of Two… Continue reading

  • Feb 14, 2017
  • By The Associated Press
Matt Hall drives his team down the finish chute as he wins the 2017 Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race on Tuesday in Fairbanks. The 1,000 race began in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada just over 10 days ago. (Eric Engman | Fairbanks Daily News-Miner)
Thunder Mountain High School guard Chase Saviers slips between Ketchikan’s Brent Taylor and Robert Seludo during the Falcons’ win over the Kings on Saturday, Feb. 11 at Thunder Mountain High School. (Lance Nesbitt | For the Juneau Empire)

Falcons continue to roll with statement win over Kayhi

Thunder Mountain head coach John Blasco knew his team had to limit its turnovers in a rematch with the Ketchikan Kings on Saturday. They had… Continue reading

Thunder Mountain High School guard Chase Saviers slips between Ketchikan’s Brent Taylor and Robert Seludo during the Falcons’ win over the Kings on Saturday, Feb. 11 at Thunder Mountain High School. (Lance Nesbitt | For the Juneau Empire)

Thunder Moutain upsets Ketchikan in raucous affair

Twenty-four hours removed from a triple overtime win, the Thunder Mountain high school boys basketball team finished off the Ketchikan Kings in regulation Friday night.… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas’ Kolby Hoover, right, wrestles with Lathrop’s Jake Carlson for the ball at JDHS on Friday, Feb. 10, 2017. JDHS won 50-43. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Photos: JDHS defeats Lathrop, 50-43

… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas’ Kolby Hoover, right, wrestles with Lathrop’s Jake Carlson for the ball at JDHS on Friday, Feb. 10, 2017. JDHS won 50-43. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan answers questions during an NFL football press conference Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017, in Santa Clara, Calif. (Marcio Jose Sanchez | The Associated Press)

49ers hope hiring of Shanahan ends revolving door at coach

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — For the third straight offseason, San Francisco 49ers CEO Jed York hired a new head coach and introduced him with a… Continue reading

  • Feb 9, 2017
  • By JOSH DUBOW
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan answers questions during an NFL football press conference Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017, in Santa Clara, Calif. (Marcio Jose Sanchez | The Associated Press)