The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé boys varsity basketball team earned their first win of the season Thursday with a defensive shutdown of Henderson, Nevada’s Coral Academy of Science, 65-32, at the Tarkanian Classic in Las Vegas.
“We played with a lot more aggressiveness,” JDHS head coach Robert Casperson said. “Which led to more confidence on both sides of the ball.”
Playing at the Las Vegas Basketball Center, the Crimson Bears rebounded from Wednesday’s 57-36 loss to South Summit High School of Kamas, Utah, with a resounding display of defense.
“I liked our balanced attack on offense and how we moved the ball, too,” Casperson said. “We got out and ran a little in the first half, which gave us a cushion going into the break.”
The Crimson Bears shared the ball and the basket throughout the game.
JDHS seniors Ahmir Parker and Pedrin Saceda-Hurt, juniors Brandon Casperson and Elias Dybdahl, and sophmore Logan Carriker all found baskets in the first eight minutes for a 13-12 lead.
Parker, B. Casperson and Saceda-Hurt found longer shots in the second quarter, and juniors Joren Gasga, Tyler Frisby and Dybdahl padded their stats as well, but it was the Crimson Bears’ burst of defensive energy that gave them a 36-24 lead at the half.
The Crimson Bears would hold the Falcons to just six points in the third quarter and one lone bucket in the final eight minutes of action.
JDHS’ Casperson and Saceda-Hurt hit from deep in the third quarter, and junior Kurt Kuppert joined Parker, Gasga and Frisby in the scorebook as the Crimson Bears led 52-30 heading into the final eight minutes.
Frisby would net five points in the final quarter, Parker four and freshman Keaton Belcourt and Carriker banged in a bucket apiece for the 65-32 final.
“Everyone contributed and played well with their minutes,” coach Casperson said. “I’m pleased with the progress from game one to game two on the season, and I would like to see it continue. We had balanced scoring and eagerly shared the ball. I liked our activity on the glass, too. We don’t have a lot of size, so we’re going to have to rebound hard like that every game.”
Parker led the Crimson Bears with 15 points, Saceda-Hurt 12, Casperson 11, Frisby nine, Gasga six, Dybdahl and Carriker four apiece, Kuppert and Belcourt two apiece.
JDHS went 0-2 at the charity stripe, Coral Academy 2-8.
Senior Caleb Wingate led the Falcons with nine points, senior Michael Phillips added seven, juniors Erman Gunyil and Dominic Escobedo six apiece, and junior Jason Dolfinger four.
JDHS will play Oregon’s Reynolds High School a 56-25 winner over Southeast Career Tech (NV).
In Wednesday’s loss to South Summit, Casperson scored 11 points, Saceda-Hurt and Parker nine apiece, Efergan three and Dybdahl and Frisby two apiece.
• Contact Klas Stolpe at klas.stolpe@juneauempire.com.
