In the first of a two-game homecoming weekend series Friday, the Juneau-Douglas boys basketball team scorched visiting Kodiak from behind the 3-point line.
Though the hot shooting of JDHS’ seniors led the Crimson Bears (8-2) to victory, sophomore Erik Kelly put the exclamation point on the 75-40 win. With three minutes to go, Kelly stripped his man of the ball at the half-court line and stormed to the other end to throw down a slam dunk and reward the student section with a homecoming highlight.
Hot-handed senior Guy Bean hit five 3-pointers in the contest to lead the Crimson Bears to an emphatic win.
With the help of Bean, the Bears opened up a 25-point lead in the first half and never looked back.
“They started with a 1-3-1 zone, so our team was out on the line,” Bean said. “We had a lot of ball movement, looking for the open man. I was open in the corners a lot.”
Bean led all scorers with 21 points.
Kodiak ((1-4) was led in defeat by senior guard Billy Alcaide with 14.
Though the Bears operated with a big lead most of the game, they never let up their defensive pressure. To JDHS coach Robert Casperson, maintaining intensity on defense is a priority, especially when his team has a big lead.
“Defensively our focus is to maintain our intensity and try to limit their shots,” he said. “How do we maintain that? They know there’s a guy waiting to come in for them if they take plays off. Everyone on this team can play, so everyone is always ready.”
The game started as a shootout as Bean hit three shots from beyond the arc to open competition but was matched on two of them by Kodiak’s Alcaide. JDHS’ Kaleb Tompkins scored two more 3-pointers in the first quarter to build a 12-point lead for the home team. Senior Hunter Hickok added six in the second quarter and the Crimson Bears went to the locker room up 43-18.
In the third quarter, Casperson’s guys limited Kodiak’s possessions and the offensive pace slowed (a bit) for both teams. Kelly and junior Ulyx Bohulano kept up the defensive energy and built the Bear’s lead to 30 going into the final period.
Read Saturday night’s game story at juneauempire.com.
Juneau-Douglas’s Molo Maka drive’s against Kodiak’s Louis Rochelan, right, and Ryan Bezena, left, during their game at JDHS on Friday. Juneau won 75-40.
Juneau-Douglas’s Kaleb Tompkins shoots against Kodiak’s Keith Osowski during their game at JDHS on Friday. Juneau won 75-40.
