Sports

Juneau-Douglas’ Alyxn Bohulano, left, and Caitlin Pusich reach out to block Ketchikan’s Madison Rose Wednesday night at Ketchikan High School. The Lady Kings defeated the Crimson Bears 59-50 and can win the Region V 4A championship with a win on Friday. (Dustin Safranek | Ketchikan Daily News)

Kayhi pulls away late to defeat JDHS

Ketchikan High School junior Ashley Huffine scored the go-ahead layup with three minutes left and the Lady Kings defeated Juneau-Douglas High School 59-50 in the… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas’ Alyxn Bohulano, left, and Caitlin Pusich reach out to block Ketchikan’s Madison Rose Wednesday night at Ketchikan High School. The Lady Kings defeated the Crimson Bears 59-50 and can win the Region V 4A championship with a win on Friday. (Dustin Safranek | Ketchikan Daily News)
Thunder Mountain’s Josh McAndrews dribbles past Kayhi’s Chris Lee Wednesday night in the Region V 4A tournament. The Kings defeated the Falcons 49-47 to advance to the boys championship game on Friday. Thunder Mountain plays JDHS today at 1:15 p.m. today in the loser’s bracket. (Dustin Safranek | Ketchikan Daily News)

Kings defeat No. 1 Falcons in second-round of Region V

The Thunder Mountain High School boys basketball team lost 49-47 Wednesday night to Ketchikan, who can win its first Region V 4A championship in three… Continue reading

Thunder Mountain’s Josh McAndrews dribbles past Kayhi’s Chris Lee Wednesday night in the Region V 4A tournament. The Kings defeated the Falcons 49-47 to advance to the boys championship game on Friday. Thunder Mountain plays JDHS today at 1:15 p.m. today in the loser’s bracket. (Dustin Safranek | Ketchikan Daily News)

JDHS rolls past TMHS in Region V tourney

After allowing just 29 points in a win over Juneau-Douglas High School Saturday, the Thunder Mountain High School girls basketball team had trouble slowing the… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas’ Kolby Hoover attempts to block Ketchikan’s Marcus Lee’s layup as Erik Kelly, left, Luke Mallinger and Kasey Watts look on Tuesday night in the ASAA Region V 4A tournament. Ketchikan won 58-54. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)

Third-quarter run pushes Kayhi past Juneau-Douglas

The Ketchikan Kings knocked off Juneau-Douglas High School 58-54 Tuesday night in the first round of the ASAA Region V 4A basketball tournament in Ketchikan.… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas’ Kolby Hoover attempts to block Ketchikan’s Marcus Lee’s layup as Erik Kelly, left, Luke Mallinger and Kasey Watts look on Tuesday night in the ASAA Region V 4A tournament. Ketchikan won 58-54. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)
Thunder Mountain’s Neal Garcia, left, and Juneau-Douglas’ Sadie Tuckwood chase down a loose ball at JDHS on Friday. TMHS lost 53-33 on Friday but won 33-29 on Saturday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Thunder Mountain upsets poor-shooting Crimson Bears

It’s hard to dream up sweeter circumstances with which the Thunder Mountain High School girls basketball could have ended a 12-game losing streak. Their 33-29… Continue reading

Thunder Mountain’s Neal Garcia, left, and Juneau-Douglas’ Sadie Tuckwood chase down a loose ball at JDHS on Friday. TMHS lost 53-33 on Friday but won 33-29 on Saturday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas’ Alyxn Bohulano, right, attempts to steal the ball from Thunder Mountain’s Kira Frommherz at JDHS on Friday, March 3, 2018. JDHS won 53-33. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Short-handed Crimson Bears win sixth straight

After squandering fastbreak opportunities with missed layups early on, the Juneau-Douglas High School girls basketball team found an offensive rhythm in the fourth quarter to… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas’ Alyxn Bohulano, right, attempts to steal the ball from Thunder Mountain’s Kira Frommherz at JDHS on Friday, March 3, 2018. JDHS won 53-33. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Five Juneau Skating Club members were selected for Team Alaska’s figure skating team for the upcoming Arctic Winter Games in Northwest Territories. L to R: Emily Bowman, Kara Hort, Meredith Fritsch, Katherine Fritsch, Haylee Hill. (Courtesy photo | Kim Hort)

Top youth athletes prepare to compete in Arctic Winter Games

Twenty-three Juneau youth will be receiving new winter Team Alaska jackets and hats this weekend. And given where they’re going in two weeks — the… Continue reading

Five Juneau Skating Club members were selected for Team Alaska’s figure skating team for the upcoming Arctic Winter Games in Northwest Territories. L to R: Emily Bowman, Kara Hort, Meredith Fritsch, Katherine Fritsch, Haylee Hill. (Courtesy photo | Kim Hort)
Maxie Saceda-Hurt, right, hugs Thunder Mountain High School softball coach Brittany Gladsjo on Sunday at TMHS after signing a national letter of intent to play at Simpson College next season. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)

Saceda-Hurt signs with Simpson College

Thunder Mountain High School senior Maxie Saceda-Hurt will soon be trading her blue-and-black for maroon-and-yellow. On Sunday, the standout Falcons shortstop signed a national letter… Continue reading

Maxie Saceda-Hurt, right, hugs Thunder Mountain High School softball coach Brittany Gladsjo on Sunday at TMHS after signing a national letter of intent to play at Simpson College next season. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)
Player of the Week: Juneau-Douglas’ Caitlin Pusich

Player of the Week: Juneau-Douglas’ Caitlin Pusich

Juneau-Douglas High School junior Caitlin Pusich is the Juneau Empire’s player of the week. The Crimson Bears shooting guard led the girls basketball team to… Continue reading

  • Feb 28, 2018
  • By Juneau Empire
Player of the Week: Juneau-Douglas’ Caitlin Pusich
The sixth-grade travel team from Juneau’s Hoop Rat Basketball Club pose with their first-place medals after defeating Kent Elite 63-50 in the sixth-grade championship game Monday, Feb. 19, in Seattle. L to R: Lamar Blatnick, Lance Nierra, Alwen Carrillo, TJ Guevarra, Ernel Penalosa, Sean Oliver, DeAndrew Pittman, Antone Araujo. Not pictured: Coaches Todd Araujo and Larry Cooper. (Courtesy Photo | Jaeleen Kookesh)

Youth sports teams shine in recent competitions

Griggs qualifies for regionals The Juneau Ski Club’s JoJo Griggs qualified for the U16 Western Region Championship Series after two top-5 finishes in the Super… Continue reading

The sixth-grade travel team from Juneau’s Hoop Rat Basketball Club pose with their first-place medals after defeating Kent Elite 63-50 in the sixth-grade championship game Monday, Feb. 19, in Seattle. L to R: Lamar Blatnick, Lance Nierra, Alwen Carrillo, TJ Guevarra, Ernel Penalosa, Sean Oliver, DeAndrew Pittman, Antone Araujo. Not pictured: Coaches Todd Araujo and Larry Cooper. (Courtesy Photo | Jaeleen Kookesh)
Thunder Mountain’s Roy Tupou dives for a loose ball against Ketchikan at TMHS on Friday, Feb. 23, 2018. TMHS lost 57-31 Friday but won 59-54 Saturday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Falcons overcome Kings on senior night

The Thunder Mountain High School student section came out in force to cheer on the boys basketball seniors one last time Saturday night. The seniors… Continue reading

Thunder Mountain’s Roy Tupou dives for a loose ball against Ketchikan at TMHS on Friday, Feb. 23, 2018. TMHS lost 57-31 Friday but won 59-54 Saturday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Soldotna’s Danica Schmidt squeezes between Juneau-Douglas’ Caitlin Pusich and Cassie Dzinich for a shot Friday, Feb. 23, 2018, at Soldotna High School. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Juneau girls nip Soldotna twice

The role players of Juneau-Douglas did their job so Crimson Bears playmaker Caitlin Pusich could do her job. Pusich scored five points in the final… Continue reading

Soldotna’s Danica Schmidt squeezes between Juneau-Douglas’ Caitlin Pusich and Cassie Dzinich for a shot Friday, Feb. 23, 2018, at Soldotna High School. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Thunder Mountain’s Bryson Echiverri, center, is heavily guarded by Ketchikan’s Kyle Smith, left, Kristian Pihl, background, and Cody Kemble at TMHS on Friday, Feb. 23, 2018. Ketchikan won 57-31. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Thunder Mountain stumbles in home loss to Kings

Basketball is normally a game of momentum. Friday night’s Southeast Conference boys basketball game between Thunder Mountain (12-10, 4-3 SEC) and Ketchikan (12-9, 4-3 SEC)… Continue reading

Thunder Mountain’s Bryson Echiverri, center, is heavily guarded by Ketchikan’s Kyle Smith, left, Kristian Pihl, background, and Cody Kemble at TMHS on Friday, Feb. 23, 2018. Ketchikan won 57-31. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Sasquatch snowshoe race is Saturday

The Southeast Alaska Land Trust is hosting the first annual Sasquatch Scramble 5K & Fun Run on Saturday. The 5-kilometer race will begin at 3… Continue reading

  • Feb 23, 2018
  • By Juneau Empire
Floyd Dryden Middle School eighth grader Kadin Messmer, center, shows off his winning 90-pound weight class bracket next to Craig’s Keegan Hanson, left, and Ketchikan’s Brayden Gentry. Messmer pinned Hanson in the finals in just 16 seconds to come out on top. (Courtesy photo | Ken Brown)

Southeast Wrestling Championships return to Juneau

The Floyd Dryden Middle School wrestling team hosted nine other schools from around Southeast Alaska this past weekend for the Southeast Wrestling Tournament. It was… Continue reading

Floyd Dryden Middle School eighth grader Kadin Messmer, center, shows off his winning 90-pound weight class bracket next to Craig’s Keegan Hanson, left, and Ketchikan’s Brayden Gentry. Messmer pinned Hanson in the finals in just 16 seconds to come out on top. (Courtesy photo | Ken Brown)
Juneau-Douglas’ Erik Kelly, left, attempts a steal from Ketchikan’s Cody Kemble at JDHS on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2018. JDHS won 59-41 on Wednesday but lost 81-69 on Thursday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Kayhi takes down Crimson Bears on Lee’s historic night

One night after senior Kolby Hoover’s big game, it was teammate Erik Kelly’s turn to dominate against the Ketchikan Kings — pouring in 32 points… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas’ Erik Kelly, left, attempts a steal from Ketchikan’s Cody Kemble at JDHS on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2018. JDHS won 59-41 on Wednesday but lost 81-69 on Thursday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Thunder Mountain High School junior Puna Toutaiolepo.

Player of the week: Puna Toutaiolepo

Puna Toutaiolepo Thunder Mountain High School junior Puna Toutaiolepo is the Juneau Empire’s player of the week. The 5-foot-11, 220-pound forward is averaging 11 points… Continue reading

Thunder Mountain High School junior Puna Toutaiolepo.
Juneau Ski Club’s JoJo Griggs races in the giant slalom at the Alyeska Cup/Alaska State Championships on Saturday at Alyeska Resort in Girdwood. (Bob Eastaugh | Courtesy Photo)

Griggs and Caputo strong at Alyeska Cup

Juneau Ski Club’s JoJo Griggs finished in the top-5 of her age class in four races over the weekend at the Alyeska Cup/Alaska State Championships… Continue reading

Juneau Ski Club’s JoJo Griggs races in the giant slalom at the Alyeska Cup/Alaska State Championships on Saturday at Alyeska Resort in Girdwood. (Bob Eastaugh | Courtesy Photo)
Juneau-Douglas’ Kolby Hoover passes over Ketchikan’s ER Caparas at JDHS on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2018. JDHS won 59-41. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Hoover lifts Crimson Bears past Kings

The Juneau-Douglas High School boys basketball team led Ketchikan by nine points at the beginning of the fourth quarter Wednesday night at JDHS. When playing… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas’ Kolby Hoover passes over Ketchikan’s ER Caparas at JDHS on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2018. JDHS won 59-41. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas High School senior Erik Kelly goes up for a dunk against Thunder Mountain at JDHS on Friday, Feb. 2. Kelly surpassed 1,000 career points in a JDHS uniform the following night against TMHS. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Nearing end of time as a Crimson Bear, Kelly checks off 1,000 points

It takes more than being an exceptional high school basketball player to score over 1,000 career points. Longevity playing at the varsity level, qualifying for… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas High School senior Erik Kelly goes up for a dunk against Thunder Mountain at JDHS on Friday, Feb. 2. Kelly surpassed 1,000 career points in a JDHS uniform the following night against TMHS. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)