Juneau-Douglas’ Sadie Tuckwood, left, scrambles for the ball with Sitka’s Tawny Smith at the Princess Cruises Capital City Classic at Juneau-Douglas High School on Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018. Juneau-Douglas won 52-25. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas’ Sadie Tuckwood, left, scrambles for the ball with Sitka’s Tawny Smith at the Princess Cruises Capital City Classic at Juneau-Douglas High School on Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018. Juneau-Douglas won 52-25. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Crimson Bears cruise to home tourney wins

Whalers await JDHS on Friday

Juneau-Douglas High School’s basketball teams had their way on the opening day of the Princess Cruises Capital City Classic tournament.

The girls and boys teams built 20-point leads in the first three quarters to garner easy wins on Thursday night at JDHS. In the first game of the night, senior Caitlin Pusich scored 19 points, including nine in the third quarter, to lift JDHS to a 52-25 win over Sitka. In the second game, Israel Yadao (15 points) and Krishant Samtani (16 points) played well in a 69-45 rout of Lathrop.

Sitka’s Abby Forrester went out with an injury in the second quarter of the girls game, and the Lady Wolves were not the same without her, mustering just six points over the next 12 minutes.

The Crimson Bears grew their lead throughout the third quarter. Pusich and Alyxn Bohulano put the game away with a 9-0 run in the final minute, giving their team a commanding 43-20 advantage heading into the fourth. Pusich drilled a 3-pointer, Bohulano stole the ball for a layup and Pusich added two close-range scores all in roughly 45 seconds.

Later, in the boys game, Yadao went on a similar late-quarter run, scoring nine points in the final minute and 30 seconds of the first. Yadao converted three layups before burying a high-arcing 3-pointer at the buzzer that put JDHS ahead 21-2. JDHS already had a 12-0 lead prior to Yadao’s heroics.

“He did a great job in getting out and running the lanes,” JDHS coach Robert Casperson said. “Other guys were feeding him, so it was a little role reversal.”

Lathrop’s Jhon Rones scored 10 points and Tyriq Luke had eight in the loss.

Both Juneau squads now take on Barrow. The girls play at 5 p.m. and the boys play at 7 p.m. Friday. JDHS attended the Whaler Invitational at Barrow High last season. In that tournament, both the boys and girls teams lost to the Whalers.

“We’re ready for a tough game tomorrow (Friday),” Casperson said. “They got quickness at the guard spot, they have some talent inside. So they’re a very nice, well-balanced team.”

View a livestream of the tournament at https://www.juneauempire.com/bignews/watch-live-pincess-cruises-capital-city-classic-basketball-tournament/


• Contact sports reporter Nolin Ainsworth at 523-2272 or nainsworth@juneauempire.com.


Juneau-Douglas’ Caitlin Pusich, center, blocks a shot by Sitka’s Makenna Smith at the Princess Cruises Capital City Classic at Juneau-Douglas High School on Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018. Juneau-Douglas won 52-25. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas’ Caitlin Pusich, center, blocks a shot by Sitka’s Makenna Smith at the Princess Cruises Capital City Classic at Juneau-Douglas High School on Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018. Juneau-Douglas won 52-25. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Lathrop’s Jhon Rones lands on Juneau-Douglas’ Tad Watson during a loose ball at the Princess Cruises Capital City Classic at Juneau-Douglas High School on Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018. Juneau-Douglas won 69-45. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Lathrop’s Jhon Rones lands on Juneau-Douglas’ Tad Watson during a loose ball at the Princess Cruises Capital City Classic at Juneau-Douglas High School on Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018. Juneau-Douglas won 69-45. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas’ Israel Yadao lays the ball up over Lathrop’s Jakobee Johnson at the Princess Cruises Capital City Classic at Juneau-Douglas High School on Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018. Juneau-Douglas won 69-45. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas’ Israel Yadao lays the ball up over Lathrop’s Jakobee Johnson at the Princess Cruises Capital City Classic at Juneau-Douglas High School on Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018. Juneau-Douglas won 69-45. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

More in Home

Media members and other observers gather at the Alaska Division of Elections office on Wednesday evening as the results of all ballots, including ranked choice tabulations, were announced. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Ranked choice voting repeal fails by 0.2%, Begich defeats Peltola 51.3%-48.7% on final day of counting

Tally released Wednesday night remains unofficial until Nov. 30 certification.

Current senior Kerra Baxter (22) shoots a free throw for now defunct Thunder Mountain High School in last season’s ASAA state championship 4th/6th place game against the Mountain City Christian Academy Lions. Baxter has signed to play Division II college basketball with the University of Alaska Anchorage Seawolves. Baxter will play for Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé this season. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Kerra Baxter signs to play for UAA Seawolves

Twin tower elects to stay in state and close to home fan base

Looking through the dining room and reception area to the front door. The table will be covered with holiday treats during the afternoon open house. The Stickley slide table, when several extensions are added, provides comfortable seating for 22 dinner guests. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire)
The Governor’s House: Welcoming Alaskans for more than 100 years

Mansion has seen many updates to please occupants, but piano bought with first funds still playable.

Glacier Swim Club members, left-to-right, Cora Soboleff, Clara Van Kirk, Natalie MacKinnon, Ellie Higgins, Leon Ward, coach Lisa Jones, Zach Holden, Josh Ely and Henry Thatcher during the 2024 November Rain swim meet at Petersburg last weekend. (Photo courtesy Glacier Swim Club)
Glacier Swim Club competes at Petersburg’s November Rain

Juneau’s Glacier Swim Club participated in the November Rain Invitational swim meet… Continue reading

A butter clam. Butter clams are found from the Aleutian Islands to the California coast. They are known to retain algal toxins longer than other species of shellfish. (Photo provided by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife)
Among butter clams, which pose toxin dangers to Alaska harvesters, size matters, study indicates

Higher concentrations found in bigger specimens, UAS researchers find of clams on beaches near Juneau.

An aerial view of people standing near destroyed and damaged buildings in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene flooding on Oct. 8, 2024 in Bat Cave, North Carolina. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Members of U.S. Senate back disaster aid request amid increasing storm severity

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration’s request for nearly $100 billion in natural… Continue reading

The language of Ballot Measure 2 appears on Alaska’s 2024 absentee ballots. The measure would repeal the states open primary and ranked choice voting system. (Andrew Kitchenman/Alaska Beacon)
Count tightens to 45-vote margin for repealing Alaska’s ranked choice system going into final day

State Division of Elections scheduled to conduct final tally at 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Juneau Assembly members confer with city administrative leaders about details of a proposed resolution asking the state for more alcohol licenses during an Assembly meeting Monday night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Petition seeking one-third expansion of alcohol-serving establishments gets Assembly OK

Request to state would allow 31 licensees in Juneau instead of 23; Assembly rejects increase to 43.

The drive-through of the Mendenhall Valley branch of True North Federal Credit Union, seen on June 13, is where a man was laying down when he was fatally struck by a truck during the early morning hours of June 1. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police: Driver of CBJ truck not at fault in death of man struck in drive-through lane of bank

Victim laying on pavement during early-morning incident in June couldn’t be seen in time, JPD chief says.

Most Read