Sports

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)
An infection of dwarf mistletoe has caused the deformation of tree branches, making what is called a witch’s broom. (Photo by Bob Armstrong)

On the Trails: Witch’s brooms and gumboots

Local creatures have often been given the names of early explorers and naturalists that visited our northern shores and forests. So (until the names are… Continue reading

An infection of dwarf mistletoe has caused the deformation of tree branches, making what is called a witch’s broom. (Photo by Bob Armstrong)
The Thunder Mountain High School Falcons girls basketball team comes onto the floor Saturday. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)

Falcons girls soar over North Pole in final home court game at Thunder Mountain High School

Team at top of conference entering playoffs for last time, as merger with JDHS set for next year.

The Thunder Mountain High School Falcons girls basketball team comes onto the floor Saturday. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)
Hydrologist Heather Best rides her fat bike in the White Mountains National Recreation Area north of Fairbanks. (Photo by Ned Rozell)

Alaska Science Forum: Wet overflow a winter hazard in Alaska

While following a snowmachine trail recently, my dog and I came to a low spot that looked like a swimming pool filled with ice water.… Continue reading

Hydrologist Heather Best rides her fat bike in the White Mountains National Recreation Area north of Fairbanks. (Photo by Ned Rozell)
As a teenager, shooting hoops was a major stress reliever for the author. (Photo courtesy of Jeff Lund)

I went to the woods: The reward of risk

One of the easiest things for athletes, coaches, former athletes, former coaches and parents to say is that sports teach you about life. True, but… Continue reading

As a teenager, shooting hoops was a major stress reliever for the author. (Photo courtesy of Jeff Lund)
Sapsucker wells on willows attract hummingbirds as well as insects. (Photo by Bob Armstrong)

On the Trails: Willows and the ecosystem

I recently found willow catkins just emerging from their bud covers, getting ready to shed and receive pollen and be visited by foraging insects. That… Continue reading

  • Feb 26, 2024
  • By Mary F. Willson
Sapsucker wells on willows attract hummingbirds as well as insects. (Photo by Bob Armstrong)
Thunder Mountain High School’s Thomas Baxter and Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s Alwen Carrillo embrace at their end of Saturday’s game at JDHS that may have been the final local game between the two schools due to a consolidation of them tentatively approved by the school board starting next year. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

In Juneau’s potentially final crosstown basketball showdown, both schools win

TMHS girls and JDHS boys prevail on night filled with dual-school spirit as consolidation looms.

Thunder Mountain High School’s Thomas Baxter and Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s Alwen Carrillo embrace at their end of Saturday’s game at JDHS that may have been the final local game between the two schools due to a consolidation of them tentatively approved by the school board starting next year. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Thunder Mountain High School seniors for the boys’ basketball team, their families and other supporters fill the Thunderdome for a Senior Night recognition before Friday’s game against Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. It was possibly the final home game for the Falcons team due to a pending decision to put all high school students at JDHS starting with the next school year. The Falcons girls’ team will play their final home games of the season — and possibly ever — next Friday and Saturday against North Pole High School. (Screenshot from NFHS Network)

TMHS boys prevail in possibly their final home game ever against JDHS, with merger of schools pending

Girls play final home games next weekend; both local schools play each other again tonight at JDHS.

Thunder Mountain High School seniors for the boys’ basketball team, their families and other supporters fill the Thunderdome for a Senior Night recognition before Friday’s game against Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. It was possibly the final home game for the Falcons team due to a pending decision to put all high school students at JDHS starting with the next school year. The Falcons girls’ team will play their final home games of the season — and possibly ever — next Friday and Saturday against North Pole High School. (Screenshot from NFHS Network)
Iditarod winner Brent Sass poses for photos with lead dogs Morello, left, and Slater after winning the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Nome, Alaska, March 15, 2022. A second musher has been disqualified from the world’s most famous sled dog race. The governing body of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race said in a one-sentence statement late Thursday night, Feb. 22, 2024, that it has withdrawn 2022 champion Brent Sass just days before the start of this year’s race. (Anne Raup/Anchorage Daily News via AP)

Assault claims roil Iditarod sled dog race as 2 top mushers are disqualified, then 1 reinstated

Claims of violence against women are roiling the world’s most famous sled dog race — Alaska’s Iditarod — with officials disqualifying two top mushers this… Continue reading

Iditarod winner Brent Sass poses for photos with lead dogs Morello, left, and Slater after winning the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Nome, Alaska, March 15, 2022. A second musher has been disqualified from the world’s most famous sled dog race. The governing body of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race said in a one-sentence statement late Thursday night, Feb. 22, 2024, that it has withdrawn 2022 champion Brent Sass just days before the start of this year’s race. (Anne Raup/Anchorage Daily News via AP)
Forest Wagner visits Kanuti Hot Springs, located in Interior Alaska not far from the Arctic Circle. (Photo by Ned Rozell)

Alaska Science Forum: Alaska hot springs, far and wide

After a few hours of skiing through deep snow, Forest Wagner and I smelled a tuna sandwich. We knew we were closing in on warm… Continue reading

Forest Wagner visits Kanuti Hot Springs, located in Interior Alaska not far from the Arctic Circle. (Photo by Ned Rozell)
Thunder Mountain High School’s Thomas Baxter (#33) takes a shot under the basket against Ketchikan High School’s Jonathan Scoblic during Saturday’s game at TMHS. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Fit to be tied: TMHS and Ketchikan split weekend games, leaving all Southeast region teams at .500

Falcons and JDHS, after splitting games last week, face each other again on Friday and Saturday.

Thunder Mountain High School’s Thomas Baxter (#33) takes a shot under the basket against Ketchikan High School’s Jonathan Scoblic during Saturday’s game at TMHS. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A female varied thrush pauses to look around during her foraging bout. (Photo by Helen Unruh)

On the Trails: Early signs of spring

The ground is heavily blanketed with snow. The snow berms in my driveway (and, dangerously, at some street intersections too) are still over six feet… Continue reading

A female varied thrush pauses to look around during her foraging bout. (Photo by Helen Unruh)