Nolin Ainsworth

Hoonah’s Richard Moore pumps up the crowd during their B Bracket final against Haines in the Lions Club’s 71st Gold Medal Basketball Tournament at Juneau-Douglas High School on March 25, 2017. Haines won in overtime 79-73. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Haines wins overtime thriller for championship

There was no lack of talent among the eight teams playing in the Gold Medal B Bracket last week. But only one that had all… Continue reading

Hoonah’s Richard Moore pumps up the crowd during their B Bracket final against Haines in the Lions Club’s 71st Gold Medal Basketball Tournament at Juneau-Douglas High School on March 25, 2017. Haines won in overtime 79-73. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

James Gang earns trip to semis

Wearing blue sweats and hunched over a crutch, 37-year-old Anthony Lindoff commented to each of his teammates as they dropped off their white Kake uniforms… Continue reading

Edwin drops 55 points in one game

B Bracket Angoon 84, Yakutat 76 When Clayton Edwin laces up for the Gold Medal Tournament, standby — you might see a 55-point eruption like… Continue reading

Angoon’s Randy Gamble, left, and Hoonah’s Mike Mills compete for a rebound in their Masters Bracket game in the Lions Club’s Gold Medal Basketball Tournament at Juneau-Douglas High School on Thursday, March 23, 2017.Angoon’s Randy Gamble, left, and Hoonah’s Mike Mills compete for a rebound in their Masters Bracket game in the Lions Club’s Gold Medal Basketball Tournament at Juneau-Douglas High School on Thursday, March 23, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Haines advances to championship Saturday

The lean number 32 on Haines was everywhere in the second half — cutting in front and behind defenders, spotting up for a corner three,… Continue reading

Angoon’s Randy Gamble, left, and Hoonah’s Mike Mills compete for a rebound in their Masters Bracket game in the Lions Club’s Gold Medal Basketball Tournament at Juneau-Douglas High School on Thursday, March 23, 2017.Angoon’s Randy Gamble, left, and Hoonah’s Mike Mills compete for a rebound in their Masters Bracket game in the Lions Club’s Gold Medal Basketball Tournament at Juneau-Douglas High School on Thursday, March 23, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Yakutat’s Ahpa Porter, left, has his shot blocked by Juneau James Gang’s Sean Joslyn during the C Bracket game in the Lions Club’s Gold Medal Baseketball Tournament at Juneau-Douglas High School on Wednesday, March 22, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Methodical second half pays off for James Gang

The last 3-pointer James Gang made in Wednesday’s C Bracket contest against Yakutat was less than a minute into the second half. From that point… Continue reading

Yakutat’s Ahpa Porter, left, has his shot blocked by Juneau James Gang’s Sean Joslyn during the C Bracket game in the Lions Club’s Gold Medal Baseketball Tournament at Juneau-Douglas High School on Wednesday, March 22, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Crimson Bears ready for another state tournament run

Seven extra losses against 4A schools and seven new varsity players are just two ways this season has proven different than last for the Juneau-Douglas… Continue reading

Hydaburg’s Vinny Edenshaw, center, wrestles a loose ball away from Kake’s Lance Doake, right, and Shea Jackson during their B bracket game in the 2016 Juneau Lions Club 70th Gold Medal Basketball Tournament at Juneau-Douglas High School on March 24, 2016. Hydaburg won 76-72. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Kake’s Jackson brothers eye championship

Brothers Tracy and Shea Jackson were years away from playing in their first Gold Medal Tournament the last time Kake won the B bracket title… Continue reading

Hydaburg’s Vinny Edenshaw, center, wrestles a loose ball away from Kake’s Lance Doake, right, and Shea Jackson during their B bracket game in the 2016 Juneau Lions Club 70th Gold Medal Basketball Tournament at Juneau-Douglas High School on March 24, 2016. Hydaburg won 76-72. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Juneau-Douglas’ Caitlin Pusich shoots against Ketchikan’s Sarah McClennan during the Region V Basketball finals at JDHS on March 10. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Girls face formidable Dimond in state tourney

It’s the beginning of the end this Thurday at 3:30 p.m. for the Juneau-Douglas High School girls basketball team. The team plays No. 2 Dimond… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas’ Caitlin Pusich shoots against Ketchikan’s Sarah McClennan during the Region V Basketball finals at JDHS on March 10. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Haines cruises behind Fossman’s monstrous first half

Orion Falvey and Kyle Rush will be joining Haines’ Gold Medal B Bracket team on Tuesday in time for Thursday’s quarterfinal with Hoonah. But after… Continue reading

Hoonah wins nailbiter over Kake

Trailing by four points with under 30 seconds remaining, Kake had three chances to cut into Hoonah’s lead before Charles Carteeti stole the ball away,… Continue reading

Kake’s Deion Jackson, right, knocks the ball away from Angoon’s JJ Jack-Nixon in the B bracket on the first day of the Lion’s Club’s Gold Medal Basketball Tournament at Juneau-Douglas High School on Sunday, March 19, 2017. Kake won 86-73. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Jackson brothers pace Kake in Gold Medal B Bracket

Despite arriving in Juneau approximately five hours before tipoff, Tracy Jackson still managed to score 28 in Kake’s first round win in the 71st Lion’s… Continue reading

Kake’s Deion Jackson, right, knocks the ball away from Angoon’s JJ Jack-Nixon in the B bracket on the first day of the Lion’s Club’s Gold Medal Basketball Tournament at Juneau-Douglas High School on Sunday, March 19, 2017. Kake won 86-73. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Gold Medal is here

The Juneau Lions Club 71st Gold Medal Tournament begins today at Juneau-Douglas High School — the host site since 1960. A total of 270 players… Continue reading

Susan Macaulay, an Air Force Veteran from Juneau, speaks with Rep. Justin Parish, D-Juneau, at the Capitol on Wednesday. Macaulay is wearing her National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic’s 30th Anniverary medal. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

‘More fulfilling lives in the face of disabilities’

Applause filled the Alaska House chambers. Seated in her wheelchair near the back of the room, 51-year-old Susan Macaulay was recognized by state Rep. Justin… Continue reading

Susan Macaulay, an Air Force Veteran from Juneau, speaks with Rep. Justin Parish, D-Juneau, at the Capitol on Wednesday. Macaulay is wearing her National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic’s 30th Anniverary medal. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Chase Saviers, a stand-out starting guard for the Thunder Mountain High School boys varsity basketball team, talks about his years of playing for the team during an interview at TMHS on Wednesday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

TMHS’ team captain weighs in on suprising season, basketball life

Thunder Mountain High School senior Chase Saviers was named Thursday second-team all-state by the Alaska Association of Basketball Coaches. Erik Kelly (JDHS) and Marcus Lee… Continue reading

Chase Saviers, a stand-out starting guard for the Thunder Mountain High School boys varsity basketball team, talks about his years of playing for the team during an interview at TMHS on Wednesday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas competes against Ketchikan during the Region V Basketball finals at JDHS on Friday, March 10, 2017. Ketchikan won 41-39 to force a playoff game on Saturday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Kayhi girls storm Region V championship

Six girls basketball were named to the 4A Girls Region V All-Conference team around 11 p.m. Saturday night: three from Juneau-Douglas, and three from Ketchikan.… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas competes against Ketchikan during the Region V Basketball finals at JDHS on Friday, March 10, 2017. Ketchikan won 41-39 to force a playoff game on Saturday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Kelly and Swofford deny Kings Region V championship

It was a SportsCenter Top 10-like play and the Juneau-Douglas High School basketball fans loved every second of it. Early in the fourth quarter of… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas Alyxn Bohulano, right, breaks away from Ketchikan’s Madison Rose, left, and AJ Dela Cruz during the Region V Basketball finals at JDHS on Friday. Ketchikan won 41-39 to force a playoff game on Saturday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Lady Kings can take Region V championship after 41-39 win over JDHS

Short-term memory can be a gift and curse in basketball. It was a gift Friday night for Ketchikan’s Brittney Slick. With her team leading by… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas Alyxn Bohulano, right, breaks away from Ketchikan’s Madison Rose, left, and AJ Dela Cruz during the Region V Basketball finals at JDHS on Friday. Ketchikan won 41-39 to force a playoff game on Saturday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Ketchikan’s Marcus Lee passes to his brother, Chris, around Juneau-Douglas’ Bryce Swofford during the Region V Basketball finals at JDHS on Friday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

JDHS one win away from second consecutive Region V championship

Two hours, five minutes of game time. 106 total points. 51 total fouls. Five players fouled out of the game. And 1.5 seconds that took… Continue reading

Ketchikan’s Marcus Lee passes to his brother, Chris, around Juneau-Douglas’ Bryce Swofford during the Region V Basketball finals at JDHS on Friday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas’ Georgia Robertson, right, evades Ketchikan’s Hannah Maxwell during the 4A Regional V Basketball Tournament at JDHS on Wednesday. Juneau won 52-45. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

JDHS can take Region V with win tonight

Ketchikan’s Brittney Slick scored 19 points as the Kings eliminated the Thunder Mountain Falcons from the 4A Girls Region V tournament Thursday. For the second… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas’ Georgia Robertson, right, evades Ketchikan’s Hannah Maxwell during the 4A Regional V Basketball Tournament at JDHS on Wednesday. Juneau won 52-45. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Thunder Mountain fans celebrate after a basket Tuesday during the Falcons 56-40 win against Juneau-Douglas during the first round of the Region V 4A tournament in the Juneau-Douglas gym in Juneau. (Taylor Balkom | Ketchikan Daily News)

Region V: TMHS boys soar over JDHS in first round

Late in Tuesday’s 4A Boys Region V basketball tournament first round game, Thunder Mountain High School’s Noah Reishus-O’Brien drove baseline and sent a high-arching floater… Continue reading

Thunder Mountain fans celebrate after a basket Tuesday during the Falcons 56-40 win against Juneau-Douglas during the first round of the Region V 4A tournament in the Juneau-Douglas gym in Juneau. (Taylor Balkom | Ketchikan Daily News)