Saturday’s rematch between the Juneau Douglas Crimson Bears and the Ketchikan High School Kings saw a repeat of the results.
Just as on Friday, Juneau built a double-digit lead in the second quarter, only to see it evaporate en route to a loss.
On Saturday, Kayhi scored 27 points in the fourth quarter to defeat the Bears 78-68. Juneau led at halftime, 35-26.
Both teams applied full-court pressure for most of the game, but it was Kayhi that deployed its offense better. The Kings were able to draw 31 free-throw attempts to Juneau’s 20. They made 22 of those shots; the Crimson Bears made just nine
In the third period, Kayhi’s Jake Smith hit four 3-pointers on his way to a team-leading 23 points. His last three-pointer completed the Kayhi comeback and put the Kings up 51 to 48.
Juneau tied the game at 51 with a three-point play by Kasey Watts at the end of the third quarter. The play energized the Bears, but Kayhi started the fourth period with the ball and took advantage.
The Kings slowed the game down on that first possession and made several passes before getting Chris Lee an open shot. He was fouled and made both free throws to begin a Kayhi run of 14 straight points.
During that stretch, the Bears lost Bryce Swofford to foul trouble. Ketchikan’s Marcus Lee was instrumental in breaking down the Juneau press, at one point making a determined coast-to-coast rebound and driving score to put the Kings up 59- 51. He finished with 21 points for the Kings.
Juneau’s tall guys had another tough game. Erik Kelly and Bryce Swofford were held scoreless in the fourth period and both fouled out of the game. Ulyx Bohulano had success shooting the ball from the outside; he hit five 3-pointers and had a team high 17 points. Kolby Hoover scored 11 points and Jordan Mulligan scored nine.
JDHS head coach Robert Casperson said he saw some positives from the game in the effort of his players: they were able to implement some of the adjustments he made in practice.
“It’s a long season,” he said.
The trip to Ketchikan last weekend was a long one for the Bears, who will get another chance at the Kings at home in two weeks.
The Juneau-Douglas High School boys basketball team shouts encouragement to a teammate during the Crimson Bears’ game at Ketchikan High School on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017. (Larry Johansen | For the Juneau Empire)
