The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé girls basketball team is back for a brand-new season with a brand-new coach.
“I am very excited to be the head coach here at JDHS,” said head coach Tanya Nizich. “It always is an incredible opportunity to coach kids in a sport that you are so passionate about.”
Nizich, born and raised in Juneau, led JDHS to back-to-back Region V titles as a sophomore and junior, and she now looks for the same success as head coach. After high school, Nizich went on to have a successful basketball career at University of Alaska Anchorage and later served as the girls basketball head coach at Thunder Mountain High School for seven years. It’s a sport that means a lot to her, and Nizich said she’s excited to be back at a school that means just as much.
“The feelings that rush through me walking into that gym everyday is just something else,” Nizich said. “The wood floor, the lights, the smell. I can hear the whistle blow, the buzzer sound and the fans cheer for the Crimson Bears. It takes me back to some of the most memorable times of my life.”
JDHS head coach Tanya Nizich stands between junior Mila Hargrave (black) and senior Ashley Laudert (red), with #13 junior Chloe Casperson nearby on a Wednesday night practice. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Last year, the girls ended their season with an 18-8 record, but ultimately fell to Ketchikan in the Region V Tournament with a 32-24 loss. The JDHS girls were second-best in the conference right behind Ketchikan.
Nizich is joined this year by coaches Nicole Fenumiai and Jasmine James. According to Nizich, the team has been especially focused on intensity and communication throughout the off season and they’re now excited to apply what they’ve been working on into actual games. Additionally, Nizich said she believes having a strong senior class returning to the lineup will be instrumental in winning games this season, but at the same time, winning isn’t the only goal in mind.
“We have incredible leadership from all of our seniors this year and I believe that will be key for us. They keep practices intense and push each other to give it their best everyday. They lead by example,” Nizich said. “One of my goals at JD is to help give these players great memories and instill a hard work ethic in each of them to be successful in wherever life may take them.”
Roster
3: Carlynn Casperson, senior
4: Kiyara Miller, senior
5: Rayna Tuckwood, junior
10: Chloe Casperson, junior
11: Mariah Schauwecker, senior
13: Skylar Tuckwood, senior
15: Gwen Nizich, freshman
24: Mila Hargrave, junior
25: Ashley Laudert, senior
40: Izzy Waters, senior
JDHS Girls Basketball varsity schedule
Dec. 19-22 Tarkanian Classic in Las Vegas
Dec. 27 Bettye Davis East Anchorage home tournament
Dec. 28 West Valley Fairbanks home tournament
Dec. 30 Anchorage Christian home tournament
Jan. 20-21 Ketchikan away conference
Jan. 26-28 Soldotna tournament
Feb. 1 Service away, non-conference
Feb. 2-4 Dimond tournament
Feb. 10-11 Mt. Edgecumbe home, non-conference
Feb. 14 Thunder Mountain home
Feb. 21 Thunder Mountain away
Feb. 24-25 Ketchikan home, conference
Feb. 28 Thunder Mountain away, conference
March 1 Thunder Mountain home, conference
March 8-11 Region V Tournament at TMHS
• Contact reporter Jonson Kuhn at jonson.kuhn@juneauempire.com.
