High School Sports

The Thunder Mountain High School Falcons boys basketball team celebrate their 63-58 win over the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears in the championship game of the Alaska Airlines Region V 4A Basketball Tournament on Friday at Mt. Edgecumbe High School’s B.J. McGillis Gymnasium in Sitka. (James Poulson/Daily Sitka Sentinel)

Falcons boys dunk Crimson Bears for schools final Region V basketball title

TMHS steals ball as JDHS seeks tying shot in closing moments, allowing Falcons to prevail 63-58.

The Thunder Mountain High School Falcons boys basketball team celebrate their 63-58 win over the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears in the championship game of the Alaska Airlines Region V 4A Basketball Tournament on Friday at Mt. Edgecumbe High School’s B.J. McGillis Gymnasium in Sitka. (James Poulson/Daily Sitka Sentinel)
Thunder Mountain High School freshman Bergen Erickson (12) cuts the net after the Falcons defeated the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears 56-49 in the championship game of the Alaska Airlines Region V 4A Basketball Tournament on Friday at Mt. Edgecumbe High School’s B.J. McGillis Gymnasium in Sitka. (James Poulson/Daily Sitka Sentinel)

TMHS girls defeat JDHS to repeat as Region V tournament champions

Falcons to play for state title for possibly the final time beginning March 20.

Thunder Mountain High School freshman Bergen Erickson (12) cuts the net after the Falcons defeated the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears 56-49 in the championship game of the Alaska Airlines Region V 4A Basketball Tournament on Friday at Mt. Edgecumbe High School’s B.J. McGillis Gymnasium in Sitka. (James Poulson/Daily Sitka Sentinel)
(Juneau Empire file photo)

JDHS girls eliminate Kayhi Lady Kings from Region V tournament

Top-seed TMHS Falcons await Crimson Bears on Friday.

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Sean Oliver of Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé during a Capital City Classic game Dec. 27, 2023, at JDHS. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Oliver’s army of Crimson Bears eliminates Ketchikan from Region V tournament

Juneau’s two high schools will play each other for boys’ basketball title.

Sean Oliver of Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé during a Capital City Classic game Dec. 27, 2023, at JDHS. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Sandi Wagner, the Alaska School Activities Association associate director, was honored with the first annual Coach George Houston Service Award on Wednesday during the Alaska Airlines Region V 4A Basketball Tournament at Mt. Edgecumbe High School’s B.J. McGillis Gymnasium in Sitka. Wagner is shown with Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Activities Director Chad Benz and JDHS boys basketball coach Robert Casperson. (Photo courtesy Andrew Friske / MEHS)

ASAA’s Sandi Wagner receives inaugural Coach George Houston Service Award

Wagner served as a teacher, activities director and coach in the Juneau School District for decades.

Sandi Wagner, the Alaska School Activities Association associate director, was honored with the first annual Coach George Houston Service Award on Wednesday during the Alaska Airlines Region V 4A Basketball Tournament at Mt. Edgecumbe High School’s B.J. McGillis Gymnasium in Sitka. Wagner is shown with Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Activities Director Chad Benz and JDHS boys basketball coach Robert Casperson. (Photo courtesy Andrew Friske / MEHS)
Thunder Mountain High School senior Samuel Lockhart (14) shoots a 3-pointer during a Feb. 1 game at TMHS. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire file photo)

Falcons’ Lockhart sinks Kings in TMHS’ 66-63 win over Ketchikan to earn Region V championship game

The 3-point “Lockhart Line” arrived at the Alaska Airlines Region V 4A Basketball Tournament at Mt. Edgecumbe High School’s B.J. McGillis Gymnasium in Sitka on… Continue reading

Thunder Mountain High School senior Samuel Lockhart (14) shoots a 3-pointer during a Feb. 1 game at TMHS. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire file photo)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Mila Hargrave (24) shoots under pressure from Thunder Mountain High School senior Ashlyn Gates (2) during a Feb. 3 game at JDHS. (Klas Stolpe/Juneau Empire file photo)

Falcons girls top Crimson Bears to earn Region V championship game

A free throw-shooting contest with a bit of basketball mixed in went in the favor of the Thunder Mountain High School Lady Falcons in a… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Mila Hargrave (24) shoots under pressure from Thunder Mountain High School senior Ashlyn Gates (2) during a Feb. 3 game at JDHS. (Klas Stolpe/Juneau Empire file photo)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s Sean Oliver brings the ball up the court during the team’s regular season finale game against Thunder Mountain High School at JDHS on Feb. 24. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

TMHS boys stop JDHS in Region V tournament opener

Thunder Mountain High School senior Samuel Lockhart hit four free throws in the final 20 seconds to secure a Falcons 62-54 win over the Juneau-Douglas… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s Sean Oliver brings the ball up the court during the team’s regular season finale game against Thunder Mountain High School at JDHS on Feb. 24. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Tanya Nizich, head coach of Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s girls’ basketball team, gives instructions to players during the closing minutes of a game against Ketchikan High School on Jan. 6 at JDHS. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

JDHS girls slip past Kayhi 50-47 at Region V tournament

Seniors Mila Hargrave, Rayna Tuckwood, Chloe Casperson and sophomore Gwen Nizich saved the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears from a first-round loss to… Continue reading

Tanya Nizich, head coach of Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s girls’ basketball team, gives instructions to players during the closing minutes of a game against Ketchikan High School on Jan. 6 at JDHS. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
A Region V tournament game featuring the Mt. Edgecumbe Braves and Sitka Wolves begins at Mt. Edgecumbe High School’s B.J. McGillis gymnasium in 2019. (Photo by Klas Stolpe)

What’s at stake for Region V basketball tournament teams and fans

JDHS, TMHS and Ketchikan face each other in 4A division starting Tuesday.

A Region V tournament game featuring the Mt. Edgecumbe Braves and Sitka Wolves begins at Mt. Edgecumbe High School’s B.J. McGillis gymnasium in 2019. (Photo by Klas Stolpe)
The Thunder Mountain High School Falcons girls basketball team comes onto the floor Saturday. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)

Falcons girls soar over North Pole in final home court game at Thunder Mountain High School

Team at top of conference entering playoffs for last time, as merger with JDHS set for next year.

The Thunder Mountain High School Falcons girls basketball team comes onto the floor Saturday. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)
Thunder Mountain High School’s Thomas Baxter and Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s Alwen Carrillo embrace at their end of Saturday’s game at JDHS that may have been the final local game between the two schools due to a consolidation of them tentatively approved by the school board starting next year. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

In Juneau’s potentially final crosstown basketball showdown, both schools win

TMHS girls and JDHS boys prevail on night filled with dual-school spirit as consolidation looms.

Thunder Mountain High School’s Thomas Baxter and Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s Alwen Carrillo embrace at their end of Saturday’s game at JDHS that may have been the final local game between the two schools due to a consolidation of them tentatively approved by the school board starting next year. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Thunder Mountain High School seniors for the boys’ basketball team, their families and other supporters fill the Thunderdome for a Senior Night recognition before Friday’s game against Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. It was possibly the final home game for the Falcons team due to a pending decision to put all high school students at JDHS starting with the next school year. The Falcons girls’ team will play their final home games of the season — and possibly ever — next Friday and Saturday against North Pole High School. (Screenshot from NFHS Network)

TMHS boys prevail in possibly their final home game ever against JDHS, with merger of schools pending

Girls play final home games next weekend; both local schools play each other again tonight at JDHS.

Thunder Mountain High School seniors for the boys’ basketball team, their families and other supporters fill the Thunderdome for a Senior Night recognition before Friday’s game against Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. It was possibly the final home game for the Falcons team due to a pending decision to put all high school students at JDHS starting with the next school year. The Falcons girls’ team will play their final home games of the season — and possibly ever — next Friday and Saturday against North Pole High School. (Screenshot from NFHS Network)
Thunder Mountain High School’s Thomas Baxter (#33) takes a shot under the basket against Ketchikan High School’s Jonathan Scoblic during Saturday’s game at TMHS. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Fit to be tied: TMHS and Ketchikan split weekend games, leaving all Southeast region teams at .500

Falcons and JDHS, after splitting games last week, face each other again on Friday and Saturday.

Thunder Mountain High School’s Thomas Baxter (#33) takes a shot under the basket against Ketchikan High School’s Jonathan Scoblic during Saturday’s game at TMHS. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Thunder Mountain High School’s Kerra Baxter (#22) tries to penetrate Colony High School’s defense during Saturday’s game at TMHS. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

No. 4 TMHS girls, hit by injuries and illness, can’t keep up with No. 2 Colony

Falcons recover from 71-31 rout Friday, keep Saturday’s game even until fourth quarter in 57-48 loss.

Thunder Mountain High School’s Kerra Baxter (#22) tries to penetrate Colony High School’s defense during Saturday’s game at TMHS. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Brenda William-See attempts a fast-break layup for Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé during Thursday’s game against Colony High School at JDHS. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

JDHS girls take early lead, but lose at home to No. 2 Colony 73-20

No. 4 THMS plays visting Knights at home Friday and Saturday.

Brenda William-See attempts a fast-break layup for Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé during Thursday’s game against Colony High School at JDHS. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Samuel Lockhart (#14) of Thunder Mountain High School tries to get past Sean Oliver of Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé during Wednesday night’s game at JDHS. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

TMHS, JDHS boys’ basketball teams get dominant victories on each other’s courts

Crimson Bears win 64-45 on Tuesday, Falcons rebound to prevail 56-35 on Wednesday.

Samuel Lockhart (#14) of Thunder Mountain High School tries to get past Sean Oliver of Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé during Wednesday night’s game at JDHS. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Mila Hargrave (24) shoots under pressure from Thunder Mountain High School senior Ashlyn Gates (2) as JDHS sophomore Gwen Nizich (15) blocks out TMHS junior Cailynn Baxter (23) during the Crimson Bears 42-28 loss to the Falcons on Feb. 3 at the George Houston Gymnasium. The two teams split games during the weekend. (Klas Stolpe/Juneau Empire file photo)

THMS girls basketball rank fourth, boys fifth in first ASR/Class 4A Coaches Poll

Falcons only team ranked in both polls; both JDHS teams among those “also receiving votes.”

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Mila Hargrave (24) shoots under pressure from Thunder Mountain High School senior Ashlyn Gates (2) as JDHS sophomore Gwen Nizich (15) blocks out TMHS junior Cailynn Baxter (23) during the Crimson Bears 42-28 loss to the Falcons on Feb. 3 at the George Houston Gymnasium. The two teams split games during the weekend. (Klas Stolpe/Juneau Empire file photo)
Thunder Mountain High School’s Kara Strong keeps the ball away from Ketchikan High School’s Kylie Brendible during Saturday night’s game at TMHS. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

TMHS girls weather challenge from Ketchikan, prevail with two more wins

Falcons, now 15-1, prepare for test of state supremacy against 16-2 Colony at home this weekend.

Thunder Mountain High School’s Kara Strong keeps the ball away from Ketchikan High School’s Kylie Brendible during Saturday night’s game at TMHS. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s Caden Johns (#5), seen here in a Dec. 16, 2023, game against Palmer High School, was the lone JDHS player named to the all-tournament team during the Division II state hockey tournament in that concluded Saturday in Soldotna. Luke Bovitz (#4) was one of two key players missing during the tournament due to injuries. The Crimson Bears finished fourth in the tournament. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Crimson Bears finish hockey season with pair of wins to finish fourth at DII state tournament

Caden Johns makes all-tournament team as JDHS rebounds from opening loss that thwarted title hopes.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s Caden Johns (#5), seen here in a Dec. 16, 2023, game against Palmer High School, was the lone JDHS player named to the all-tournament team during the Division II state hockey tournament in that concluded Saturday in Soldotna. Luke Bovitz (#4) was one of two key players missing during the tournament due to injuries. The Crimson Bears finished fourth in the tournament. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)