News Archives
Friday February 24, 2012
The best of both worlds collide this weekend as the varsity basketball programs at Juneau-Douglas and Thunder Mountain High Schools meet in a home-and-home regular season ending hoops gala.
The contests will not affect the standings heading into the Region V Championships next weekend at Ketchikan but will be of greater importance in that they will be the final test run before a shot at reaching the state tournament in March.
Possibly of even more importance is the honors that will be bestowed the senior athletes on their final game on their home courts.
The Crimson Bears will honor their seniors involved in the basketball season on Friday at JD gymnasium and the Falcons will honor theirs on Saturday at the Thunderdome.
The night will be a long evening of athletic entertainment and performance.
If the community isn’t already aware of the efforts of the TMHS boys participation in Gov. Sean Parnell’s Choose Respect and Alaska Men Choose Respect campaigns they will be after Saturday evening. A pledge drive will be conducted and JDHS coach Robert Casperson and his Crimson Bears will be signing on. Fans should also look for TMHS soccer coaches Ryan Walters and Sam Greely and members of AWARE and other volunteers who will be offering encouragement and information. Don’t be surprised to see the Mansion Duo of Sean and Sandy spinning a ball on their fingers as well.
Boys Basketball:
JDHS - Lance Ibesate, Tony Yadao, Austin Shoemaker, Alec Calloway, Taylor Swofford, Evan Gross, Jesse Miller, Ryan Kelly, Darien Stanger, Monico Yadao,
TMHS – Camden Thomas, Allen Shaw, Coltin Lanz, manager Janessa Sabei and manager Sarah Neira.
Girls Basketball:
JDHS - Nicole George, Sierra Tagaban.
TMHS - Shale Kibby and Kinsey Marshall.
Basketball Cheer And Stunt Team:
JDHS - Krista Bontrager – Manager, Caitlyn Bossio – Manager, Richielle Corpuz, Lindsey Endicott, Jerick Ibias, Haley Klementson, Chelsea Kilgore, Angela Pintang, Dylan Skrzynski, Rina Soriano.
TMHS – Chaleb Calandra, Alexa Duran, James Gilchrest, and Dawn Shane.
Dance Team:
JDHS - Angela Endicott, Danica Paguio, Vanessa Camba.
TMHS - Megan Clough and Jeslie Villaverde.
Pep Band:
JDHS - Fiona Brown, Colton Welch, Alan Young, Ian Andrews, Zeb Bodine, Jacob Taug, Alex Matheson, Deborah Cordero, Kelsey Savikko, Matthew Staley.
TMHS - Nathalie Aguirre, Krysty Carter, MaKenzie DeRego, Taylor Edwards, Teresa Rose, Wilson Suzuki.
Crosstown showdown for Crimson Bears and Falcons - Juneau Empire by Klas Stolpe
Senior recognition night for Juneau-Douglas on Friday at JD Senior recognition for Thunder Mountain on Saturday at TM
Friday February 17, 2012
“They are very good at what they do and they disrupted anything we tried to get into,†JDHS coach Robert Casperson said. “They controlled the tempo and had a well executed game plan. We did not execute nearly as well with the things we had prepared for. My hat is off to them. They did a really nice job.â€
The Braves, a 3A power, used a patient passing attack to counter the Crimson Bears tenacious defense.
“Most of our guys are becoming more aggressive,†Braves coach Archie Young said. “They are getting more comfortable with being aggressive and we tell them that aggressive teams win ball games.â€
JDHS’ Evan Gross powered in the first bucket of the game but five seconds later Green drove the lane and hit a basket while drawing a foul on the Crimson Bears’ Lance Ibesate. Green hit the free throw to put the Braves up 3-2, it would be their only lead until Dominique Hall buried a jumper with 4:24 remaining in the third quarter for a 29-28 advantage.
JDHS’ Alec Calloway scored inside five seconds later to regain the lead, followed another shot and dished to Phillip Fenumiai for another deuce as the two teams exchanged baskets with the Crimson Bears leading 35-33 starting the final period.
Mt. Edgecumbe’s Hall gave the Braves buried a three at the 5:06 mark to go up two, but seconds later Tony Yadao gave the home team his own triple from deep for the lead again.
Tied at 41, the Braves Jaylin Prince hit a three to take the lead for good. With 1:07 remaining, JDHS’ Ryan Kelly stole the ball and was fouled, sinking a free throw to get the Crimson Bears moving. Yadao stole the next possession and JDHS got three shots at tying the score but failed to convert and Mt. Edgecumbe put the ball in Green’s hands in the final seconds.
The usually terrifying Crimson Bears full court press was not affective against the patient passing Braves and JDHS fell back to zone or man throughout the night.
“We didn’t get much out of it in the first half so we didn’t use it a whole lot,†Casperson said. “When it came down to the end, it end it was too little to late in terms of our effort and our execution of our pressure.â€
JDHS led 13-7 at the end of the first quarter and 26-22 at the half. Dominique Hall hit seven of his team-high 17 points in the second period to keep the Braves on course and buried three from beyond the arch in the contest.
Austin Shoemaker hit two deep shots in the second quarter as well for six of his eight team points to keep JDHS on the move.
Calloway led the Crimson Bears with 10 points, Shoemaker had eight, Gross four, Yadao, Jackson Lehnhart, Fenumiai, and Darien Stanger three each, Ibesate, Kelly, Jeffrey Pusich and Gary Speck two each.
Hall led the Braves with 17 points, Jaylin Prince added 13, Green 11, Cody Sherman four and Leo Ford two. JDHS hit 2-5 at the charity stripe, Mt. Edgecumbe went 14-21.
The Mt. Edgecumbe team was on its way to play Haines on Friday and Saturday.
“Juneau is a very good team,†Young said. “Anytime we can play a good team and have success it really helps our mindset. It is a great learning experience for our kids. We tell them to go into every game with that mindset. We like to play three games in a row, it is the best preparation for the region tournament.â€
The Braves have now beaten JDHS twice in a row, accomplishing the first win in last season’s Region V Crossover Championship game.
Mt. Edgecumbe topples Crimson Bears 47-42 - Juneau Empire by Klas Stolpe
Mt. Edgecumbe’s Kacy Green sank three free throws in the final 13 seconds to stun the Juneau-Douglas Crimson Bears in their own gym on Thursday night 47-42.
Sunday February 12, 2012
The Juneau-Douglas Crimson Bears boy’s basketball team has bought into the team theme. That age-old adage that team is first, last, and all-powerful.
“We are all starting to get into the team concept this year,†JDHS captain Tony Yadao said. “I think we all realize that none of us has to do it all on our own. Together it is easier to get team shots and good percentage shots. The senior leadership is definitely a big part, all ten of us actually, all play a big part in that, we can all be leaders in that way.â€
On Friday night the Ketchikan Kings watched as the Crimson Bears got scoring from 10 different players in a 65-38 JDHS win that wasn’t as close as the lopsided score suggested.
“We came out pretty focused,†JDHS coach Robert Casperson said. “I thought that was the best we moved the ball and looked for each other. We worked to get guys open. We looked in the open court and made the pass when it was appropriate. That was fun for me to watch, I have been waiting to see that come out of our guys. I know it is in there, I see it in practice and in the individual work they do. It is nice for them to have the chance to display it and a nice crowd here tonight to see it.â€
Tony Yadao buried the first jumper of the evening at 7:50 of the first period, taking just eight seconds to retrieve the tip, dribble inside the arch and calmly lift into a straight swish.
Austin Shoemaker kept the ball alive on the next possession, getting two rebounds on his own shot, only to have teammate Alec Calloway tip in what would have been a third rebound. Calloway would end the night with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Shoemaker would score a team-high 16 points.
What is incredible is that those two players probably touched the ball the least when on the floor. Effort has become the Crimson Bears priority.
Yadao would bury another jumper, Lance Ibesate a deep three and Gary Speck scored and was fouled to cap off the 14-6 first period lead.
Ketchikan’s Kyle Day got open looks in the second quarter when the Crimson Bears went to a trapping defense. A pair of three’s from deep outside the arch for the Kings sharpshooter and the JDHS defense went back to straight man.
“He is a good shooter and they work hard to get him open,†Casperson said. “He comes off screens. It was a concern in the first half.â€
Yet Day’s points didn’t come until after the Crimson Bears had gotten blocks from Gross, a Phillip Fenumiai steal and score, and a tip by Yadao. Calloway tipped in two more shots and Ibesate double pumped and dished a pass to Speck who scored at the buzzer for a 33-16 advantage. The Crimson Bears had closed out the half with a 19-point second period.
“The guys are working hard and they believe in their teammates,†Casperson said. “Somebody else can step in and they are encouraged by their teammates. They get in and work just as hard defensively as the last guy.â€
Defensively, the Crimson Bears never let Ketchikan put in a run of more than three points in the second half, winding their lead to 47-27 after three quarters and scoring 18 points in the final stanza.
Ibesate added nine points for JDHS, Yadao eight, Speck seven, Fenumiai five, Ryan Kelly, Jesse Miller, Darien Stanger, and Taylor Swofford two each. Ketchikan’s Day had a game-high 21 points, Travis Taylor added 11, Omar Mendoza five and Brien Auger one. JDHS hit 4-10 at the free throw line, Ketchikan went 3-10.
On Saturday Ketchikan struck first but the Crimson Bears went on an 8-0 run that forced a Kings time out. A Kyle Day reverse layup and free throw gave the Kings momentum and a 15-13 first quarter lead in a back-forth-court race.
JDHS went on another 8-0 spurt in the opening minute of the second period and Yadao applied defensive pressure on Days explosive offense to carry the Crimson Bears into the break up 30-21. JDHS couldn’t put the Kings away in the second half. Up by 20 points in the third period the Kings battled back to 46-33 starting the final stanza. Day then hit a three and three free throws to close the Kings within seven points, 48-41 in the fourth, but Yadao and Ibesate spread the floor. The duo scored 10 points in the stanza and dished passes inside to Speck and Calloway to seal the game 60-43.
Yadao scored a game-high 24 points, Ibesate added 14, Shoemaker eight, Fenumiai, Calloway, and Speck four each, and Gross two.
Ketchikan’s Day had 21 points, Taylor added eight, Dulay five, Lervick four, Seludo three, and Auger two. JDHS hit 22-29 from the line, the Kings went 10-17.
“I was really proud of the way we responded,†Casperson said. “Ketchikan is a tough team and battled back to cut our lead in half, and our guys responded. We break our huddles with “together,†and it seems that is starting to mean more to them now. They are encouraging each other more and we our working to get ‘our’ shots not trying to get ‘me’ a shot.â€
The Crimson Bears face Mt. Edgecumbe on Thursday. The Braves beat JDHS in the Region V tournament last season.
Crimson Bears boys are 'Kings' of the hardwood - Juneau Empire by Klas Stolpe
JDHS tops Ketchikan 65-38 and 60-43
Sunday February 05, 2012
Again the Warriors’ Division 1 prospect Connor Devine swatted a dozen shots as the Crimson Bears drought from outside made them more susceptible to bringing the rock to the rim.
“We had lots of good looks,†JDHS coach Robert Casperson said. “It was one of those nights, and one of those series, where things just wouldn’t fall through for us.â€
After trailing by just three at the half, 21-18, the Crimson Bears were outscored 36-19 in the second half.
Using dribble penetration and pulling up for jumpers in the lane, the Crimson Bears found a lid on the basket. They also found Devine in the paint. The Wasilla mainstay scored 13 points but had another game high in rebounds and blocked shots.
“We could certainly beat their guards off the dribble and curling around screens,†Casperson said. “We got good looks but just didn’t knock them down.â€
The Crimson Bears used a full court defense to stay even in the first half. The Warriors pressured on the perimeter and used Devine’s presence in the paint to take more chances defensively. JDHS experimented with a five guard line up, going with Lance Ibesate, Tony Yadao, Austin Shoemaker, Alec Calloway and Phillip Fenumiai. Calloway got the challenge of defending Devine and, according to coaches, the first ever block out foul for clearing space on the Warriors center.
“I was proud of him for that,†Casperson said. “It was a good block out.â€
Austin Shoemaker led the Crimson Bears with 11 points, Lance Ibesate added eight, Alex Calloway six, Tony Yadao and Aquino Brinson three apiece, Jackson Lehnhart, Gary Speck, and Bruce Jones two each.
JDHS hit 3-8 at the charity stripe, Wasilla went 14-18. Devine and Braydon Kuiper had 13 apiece for the Warriors, and Dane Kuiper added 11.
“We never quit,†Casperson said. “Our guys kept battling and working. We just missed a lot of shots. We have to tip our hat to them, we just got beat.â€
On Saturday the Crimson Bears outscored Palmer 18-6 in the fourth quarter to beat the Moose 51-44.
“It was nice to see we could win on the road,†Casperson said. “It was a great way to end the road trip.â€
The Moose had quarter leads of 7-6, 18-16, and 34-33 before the Crimson Bears picked up their defensive pressure.
Yadao was credited by coaches for defending the Moose’s Connor
Looney, who had scored 40 points in his last game.
The Crimson Bears overall team defensive pressure in the fourth quarter wore the home court off the Moose and many of Palmer’s shots were short, according to coaches.
Ibesate and Yadao led with 12 points apiece, Calloway nine, Fenumiai six each, Ryan Kelly and Jeffrey Pusich four apiece and Gary Speck and Austin Shoemaker two each.
JDHS hit 10-11 at the charity stripe while Palmer went 7-16. James Neisbit led the Moose with 11 points.
The Crimson Bears began the road trip with a 67-60 loss to the Service Cougars and a 64-44 loss on Thursday to the Warriors.
“We are learning,†Casperson said. “That which does not kill us will make us stronger.â€
Rough road trip for Crimson Bears boys hoopsters - Juneau Empire by Klas Stolpe
The Wasilla Warriors, the third-ranked team in the state, bested the Juneau-Douglas High School boys cagers for the second night in a row on Friday, 57-37. The Crimson Bears reversed their fortunes with a 51-40 win over the fifth-ranked Palmer Moose on Saturday.
Friday February 03, 2012
“It wasn’t a 20-point game,†JDHS coach Robert Casperson said. “We trailed by eight going into the fourth quarter. We will make some adjustments and come back tomorrow. That is the beauty of playing an opponent twice in a row.â€
Wasilla got a triple-double from Connor Devine. Devine scored 19 points, 19 rebounds and 11 blocks. Lance Ibesate led JDHS with 16 points, Tony Yadao had nine, Phillip Fenumiai six, Jackson Lehnhart three, Ryan Kelly, Evan Gross, Jeffrey Pusich, Alec Calloway, and Austin Shoemaker two each. JDHS hit 9-13 from the line, Wasilla went 8-13.
Bears drop game to Warriors - Juneau Empire by Klas Stolpe
The Crimson Bears’ boys basketball team ran into a tall and talented Wasilla Warriors team on Thursday and were beaten 64-44.
Thursday February 02, 2012
The Cougars were awarded a fat 38 trips to the charity stripe where they sank 24. The Crimson Bears went to the line 19 times and made 12. Service picked up their fourth foul of the second half with just a minute remaining in the game. In the first half the Cougars committed 15.
JDHS lost the hoops contest 67-60 after leading at the half 36-30.
“I told our guys that you just have to play through it,†JDHS coach Robert Casperson said. “We had our chances to win the game. We missed some layups down the stretch and had some looks at jumpers. They put some pressure on us and we did not execute our press break.â€
Phillip Fenumiai led the Crimson Bears with 17 points, Lance Ibesate, Austin Shoemaker and Alec Calloway had 10 each, Tony Yadao seven, Aquino Brinson and Gary Speck two each, Jeffrey Pusich and Evan Gross one each.
Service led 15-13 after one quarter.
JDHS plays at Wasilla tonight and tomorrow, and finishes with a Saturday game at Palmer.
“The whole point of this trip is too identify where we are at,†Casperson said. “And to get better from here on out. This would be a wasted experience if we didn’t learn from it. Win lose or draw. If we make corrections night-to-night to get better, that is exactly what I am looking for.â€
JDHS boys fall to Service 67-60 - Juneau Empire by Klas Stolpe
Juneau-Douglas High School played a basketball game at Service on Wednesday night, unfortunately for the Crimson Bears their opponents were in a free-throw shooting contest.
Sunday January 29, 2012
The Juneau-Douglas High School boy’s basketball team improved their season record to 12-1 over the weekend with a series sweep of visiting Kodiak. The wins mean the Crimson Bears have yet to lose to an Alaska team this season.
“That is a pretty nice compliment to our guys,†JDHS coach Robert Casperson said. “We have had some quality wins this year.â€
The Crimson Bears speed was put to the test against Kodiak in a down-to-the-wire 59-56 thriller on Friday and a 61-50 win on Saturday.
It appeared the JDHS guard play would be too much for an undersized Kodiak squad on Friday night as Evan Gross scored inside just 10 seconds into the game on a Lance Ibesate assist.
Tony Yadao then tipped a pass in the Crimson Bears press and Alec Calloway tipped in a missed shot for two more.
Kodiak adjusted their press offense by giving guards Jemuel Medina and Josh Obas the dribbling green light and they broke the defensive barrier to feed Austin Frick for two quick scores.
The game became a back and forth affair with JDHS’ Ryan Kelly scoring to end the first period with a 9-8 advantage. Neither team could push the lead past three points and the game was tied 29-29 at the half.
Yadao Calloway collected six of his team-high 19 points in the third period as JDHS held a 45-42 advantage going into the final stanza.
Kodiak’s Tony Will scored all eight of his points in the final period to keep the Bears in the game but bench play from Austin Shoemaker and Gary Speck gave the Crimson Bears a boarding advantage down the stretch.
Ibesate added 11 points for the Crimson Bears, Speck eight, Shoemaker seven, Yadao six, Kelly, Jackson Lehnhart, Phillip Fenumiai and Gross two apiece. Calloway also pulled down nine rebounds.
Kodiak got a game-high 22 points from Jesse Swearingin, Medina added nine, Josh Obas and Elijah Hiner six apiece, Frick four and Josh Bezona one.
Kodiak hit 12-13 form the charity stripe while the Crimson Bears were 11-26 and missed two technical free throws in the final seconds.
After making defensive adjustments throughout the course of Saturday’s game the Crimson Bears stuck with a full court press that took Kodiak out of rhythm.
At one point in the first half JDHS was down by seven and press resulted in a run of three straight scores to close the gap.
“We ended up picking up the tempo a little bit and shot better from the free throw line,†Casperson said. “We had too. They are one of the better high school free-throw shooting teams I have ever seen. They like to beat you off the dribble in the half court, we took that away with our press.â€
Kodiak hit 14-16 at the charity stripe on the night while JDHS went 19-26.
With the score tied at 12-12 starting the second period Kodiak outscored the Crimson Bears 12-3 heading into the half.
That was when the Crimson Bears went away from zones and implemented the straight full court pressure. JDHS outscored Kodiak 16-7 in the third period and 30-21 in the final stanza. Crucial to the runs were the board work of Calloway, Shoemaker and Gross. Gross added eight blocked shots to his seven rebounds.
“What Evan doesn’t do offensively for us, he more than makes up for on the defensive end,†Casperson said. “He is the anchor for our defense on that back line. We came out with intensity. We had guys that came off the bench too that really gave us a lift. Gary Speck played huge for us.â€
Ibesate led the Crimson Bears with 17 points, Yadao added eight, Shoemaker seven, Aquino Brinson, Fenumiai, and Speck six apiece, Calloway five, Kelly two and Jesse Miller one.
Kodiak was led by Swearingin with 20, Medina added eight Frick and Obas six, Will and Hiner four, and Garcia two.
The Crimson Bears travel north to play at Service on Wednesday, Wasilla Thursday and Friday, and at Palmer on Saturday. JDHS’ lone loss this season has been to Christian Life from Texas.
Crimson Bears' boys sweep Kodiak - Juneau Empire by Klas Stolpe
Crimson Bears are undefeated against Alaska teams
Friday January 27, 2012
The Juneau-Douglas Crimson Bears will have some running around to do over the weekend. The Kodiak Bears feature some tough backcourt matchups, even though JDHS beat Kodiak by 20 earlier in the season at the Alaska Airlines Classic.
A feature of Friday’s game will be a halftime exhibition match by Hooptime third and fourth graders.
Many of the JDHS and TMHS roster are former youth Hooptime players, such as: Tony Yadao, Lance Ibesate, Darien Stanger, Ryan Kelly, Jesse Miller, Ty Grussendorf, and Matt Seymour to name a few.
“Hooptime is a program I believe in,†JDHS coach Robert Casperson said. “Their players and coaches have an open invite to come to watch our practices any time.â€
JDHS plays Kodiak at 7 p.m.
JD boys welcome Kodiak - Juneau Empire by Klas Stolpe
Hooptime teams to play at JDHS halftime
Sunday January 22, 2012
Juneau-Douglas High School senior Alec Calloway scored eight of his game-high 17 points in the final three minutes of Friday night’s 48-45 Crimson Bears win over visiting Chugiak, shutting down a late rally that saw the Mustangs fight back from a 26-9 halftime deficit.
“He is very active,†JDHS coach Robert Casperson said. “And we need that to spread. We need more guys to buy into that, it is just pure hustle plays and they make a big difference down the stretch. Our effort was there for the most part but our execution wasn’t the best. If we weren’t getting layups we struggled to score and fortunately Calloway hit some jumpers in the fourth quarter and he got active without the ball.â€
Calloway put in a rebound follow minutes into the first quarter to compliment the guard duo of Lance Ibesate and Tony Yadao and JDHS was off to the races.
While the Mustangs only trailed 11-7 starting the second period, the Crimson Bears had yet to pick up their defensive pressure.
Baskets by Ryan Kelly and Jeffrey Pusich opening the second stanza set the Crimson Bears into a press mentality and Chugiak was held to just two points for the remainder of the half.
Casperson cleared the bench in the third period and Taylor Swofford snatched the biggest rebound of the night, picking a missed Mustang shot off the rim and threw an outlet pass to a streaking Ibesate. Swofford then blocked a shot and challenged a second attempt as the aggressive Chugiak team starting firing farther out side the lane.
Chugiak’s Ryan Harris hit four of his five trey’s in the third period as the Mustangs closed to within seven at 35-28.
“We can’t just let a team’s shooter see the basket for free like that,†Casperson commented.
After a Kelly free throw to open the fourth quarter, Chugiak’s Marquiz Spearman tipped in a shot to bring the Mustangs within six, 36-30.
Twice Chugiak pulled to within one point as the Crimson Bears pulled the ball out in a spread, but missed a shot. Leading by one 40-39, Calloway began his late game heroics with three short jumpers and a blocked shot, and Ibesate kissed in a fast break lay up.
Chugiak’s Skyler Fullmer hit a trey at the buzzer to end the scoring in a losing effort.
Ibesate added 12 points for the Crimson Bears, Yadao seven, Kelly and Jackson Lehnhart three each, Pusich, Darien Stanger, and Evan Gross two apiece.
Harris led Chugiak with 15 points, Steven Puterbaugh and Fullmer eight apiece, Matt Oldenkamp five, Spearman four, Kenny Peques three, and Wade Snell two.
JDHS hit 10-15 at the charity stripe, Chugiak went 7-13.
Yadao led the Crimson Bears with 20 points on Saturday night, burying three straight baskets in the first period and three straight triples in the second as JDHS opened a 31-16 halftime advantage.
JDHS scored in double figures in each period while the Mustangs tallied 17 points in the final stanza after the game’s outcome was set.
The Crimson Bears were up 45-22 starting the final period.
Ibesate, Lehnhart and Austin Shoemaker added six points each, Pusich and Calloway four, Aquino Brinson and Phillip Fenumiai three apiece, Gary Speck two and Gross one.
Skyler Fullmer led the Mustangs with nine points, Puterbaugh and Harris six apiece, Spearman five, Roger Jorgensen four, Snell three, Plumb and Oldenkamp two each, and P. Fullmer one.
JDHS went 17-28 from the line, Chugiak hit just 12-32.
The JDHS JV lost to Hydaburg’s varsity 49-46 on Friday.
Brinson led with 19 points, Nathan Klein eight, Bruce Jones seven, Monico Yadao, Adam Empson and Kevin Guimmayen four each. Francis McKinley led Hydaburg with 20, Anthony Edenshaw added 17, Donald Edenshaw nine, Andrew Kashaverof two and Tyrel Edenshaw one.
Crimson Bears' Calloway cools Chugiak comeback - Juneau Empire by Klas Stolpe
JDHS sweeps series 48-45 and 55-39
Friday January 20, 2012
“We are looking forward to Chugiak’s arrival,†JDHS coach Robert Casperson said. “It has been a long time since they have been to the Capital City, if ever, and we appreciate that we have this opportunity to play an Anchorage school at home. I am hopeful that we will be able to include more Anchorage schools on our schedule next season, too. Playing in Juneau is a unique opportunity for anyone.â€
The Juneau basketball fan base alone, both at JDHS and TMHS, makes the trip worth it for the Anchorage schools. Northern schools traditionally don’t play in front of 800-plus fans that enjoy and appreciate quality basketball, except when the state tournament is at the Sullivan Arena.
“It is a luxury that we cannot take for granted,†Casperson stated.
The Crimson Bears are coming off an impressive tournament at the Alaska Airlines Classic, hosted by West Anchorage, where in two wins and one loss they played their best basketball against the toughest competition to date.
JDHS gave up a season high 74 points to Texas’ Christian Life Center in the tourney opening loss, then turned around and limited North Carolina’s Mt. Zion to 55 in a win and forcing Kodiak into 25 turnovers and allowing just 35 points in another victory.
Chugiak recently lost to Palmer by 20 points and beat West Valley by one before playing Thunder Mountain on Thursday. The Mustangs feature a 6-foot-7 post and some quickness.
“I believe that Chugiak will provide a strong test for us coming off a successful weekend at the Alaska Airlines Classic,†Casperson said. “Our team is making strides in the right direction. We have had a laser-like focus on defense in practice this season and it is starting to pay off. We need to keep moving forward in this direction and continue to improve this weekend.â€
Unfortunately, the most recent media poll shows that voters had their head’s in the sand and dropped the Crimson Bears from the top 5.
The Juneau JV will play the Hydaburg boys’ varsity at 5 p.m. today before the Crimson Bears battle the Mustangs at 7 p.m.
On Saturday the Juneau boy’s C team will take on the JDHS girls varsity at 5 p.m., again as a preliminary to the boys varsity and Chugiak at 7 p.m.
The JDHS boys’ basketball team and JDHS administrative staff have invited representatives from Cancer Connection, including Ruth Johnson and Alex Viteri, who will be donating their time, to make themselves available in the lobby to raise the awareness of men's prostate and testicular cancer.
While women’s issues are important it has been shown that men are often not as proactive as women when it comes to their health. As with many types of cancer, early detection is essential in the successful treatment and possible cure in these diseases.
Men are encouraged to stop by the tables in the JDHS lobby and obtain information, brochures and ask questions. Men often intend to have their health checked but often don’t so women are asked to help encourage sons, husbands, fathers or grandfathers to become aware of the risks and benefits of early testing and detection for prostate and testicular cancer.
JDHS cagers get to ride the Mustangs next - Juneau Empire by Klas Stolpe
The Juneau-Douglas Crimson Bears boys’ basketball team will host the Chugiak Mustangs tonight and Saturday.
Sunday January 15, 2012
The Juneau-Douglas Crimson Bears boy’s basketball team saw just how far they needed to improve during the 2012 Alaska Airlines Classic over the weekend.
The answer: A lot and not much.
JDHS took fourth place at the prestigious gathering of high school hoopsters, opening tourney play with a 74-48 loss to Christian Life Academy from Humble, Texas on Thursday, then beat North Carolina power Mt. Zion 66-55 on Friday; and trashing Kodiak 61-35 on Saturday.
“It was a good win for us for sure,†JDHS head coach Robert Casperson said of the Crimson Bears defeat of the Warriors from Durham. “Not to take anything away from the teams we have played up to this point but Mt. Zion is the best team we have played and won. Texas is the best team we have played.â€
Mt. Zion fields a varsity team and a national prep team. The prep team attracts players such as current pro Tracy McGrady, the varsity team was at Anchorage.
Against Christian Life on opening day, the Crimson Bears struggled in the final three minutes of the first period but only trailed 22-10 starting the second period and aside from the first two minutes of that period, JDHS played the Texas power even.
“I am proud of our kids,†Casperson said. “They accepted the challenge and went after them.â€
Tied at 10 midway through the first period the team from Humble, Texas switched from a man to a zone press and their size and length resulted in some errant JDHS passes. When they did break the press the Crimson Bears missed some layups. The result was a 36-18 halftime disadvantage. JDHS was outscored only 16-11 in the third period and 22-19 in the final stanza.
Tony Yadao led JDHS with 17 points, Austin Shoemaker and Phillip Fenumiai seven apiece, Lance Ibesate, Alec Calloway and Evan Gross four each, Jeffrey Pusich three, and Jackson Lehnhart two. Jonathan Doss scored 20, Josh Johnson added 18 and Myles Robinson 11 for Christian Life. JDHS hit 3-5 at the charity stripe, CLA went 4-10.
“Our guys played through the final nine seconds,†Casperson said. “They just wanted to keep going. I like our competitive nature.â€
Mt. Zion had more athletes top to bottom in Friday’s action.
“But our athletes are pretty good,†Casperson said. “They stick their nose in there and get after it.â€
The two teams were tied 11-11 starting the second period and the Crimson Bears led at the half 28-24. The teams were even at 42 starting the final stanza.
The Crimson Bears went with five guards midway through the fourth to spread the floor and create one-on-one drives to the rim. Alec Calloway was also on the court and the five went 13-14 from the free throw line in the period.
“Between Lance, Tony, Austin and Phillip, those four guards did most of the ball handling down the stretch,†Casperson said.
The Crimson Bears went with a zone to stop the dunking of Mt. Zion’s Michel-Ofik Nzege, a prep team member.
“Our guys weren’t fazed,†Casperson said. “They consider a dunk just two points. We inbounded the ball and went the other way, fast. I feel very fortunate to have as many options as I do on this team.â€
Fenumiai led with 20 points, Yadao 13, Ibesate 12, Calloway and Shoemaker nine apiece, Darien Stanger two, and Gross one. Nzege led the Warriors with 21. JDHS hit 15-19 at the line, Mt. Zion 9-19.
Against Kodiak the Crimson Bears led 15-10 after one period and pressed into a 31-16 halftime advantage. After an even third period JDHS outscored the Bears 12-4 in the fourth.
Calloway led JDHS with 16 points, Fenumiai had 14, Ibesate 13, Yadao seven, Stanger three, Ryan Kelly, Lehnhart, Pusich and Gross two each. Austin Frick led Kodiak with nine points. JDHS hit 6-10 at the line, KHS 8-15.
Tourney scores day 1: Christian Life (TX.)74 JDHS 48, Bartlett 79, Mt. Zion (N.C.) 67, West 84 Delta 35, East Hall (Georgia) 87 Kodiak 65. Day 2: Bartlett 82 CL 73, East Hall 79 West 78, JDHS 66 Mt. Zion 55, Kodiak 69 Delta 47. Day 3: 7th place game Mt. Zion 72 Delta 37, 4th JDHS 61 Kodiak 35, 3rd CL 87 West 63, Championship East Hall 87 Bartlett 74.
“The tournament was a great test for us,†Casperson said. “To see where we are at and identify areas of strength and weakness. There is always something to work on. This has been incredible. It was everything we hoped for and more.â€
The Crimson Bears were also able to watch a UAA men’s basketball practice and then watch the Seawolves play Western Washington University. UAA features southeast’s own Kyle Fossman from Haines while Western has Petersburg’s Cameron Severson.
Up next for JDHS is a visit form Chugiak on Jan. 20-21 and Kodiak on Jan. 27-28.
JDHS boys fare well on national stage - Juneau Empire by Klas Stolpe
Crimson Bears open eyes and have eyes opened by competition
Wednesday January 11, 2012
“It would have been a fun time,†JDHS coach Robert Casperson said of the Crimson Bears’ original first round match up in the 8th annual Alaska Airlines Classic 2012 Basketball Tournament at West Anchorage High School. “We were looking forward to it. We still are. The field is phenomenal.â€
On Thursday the Crimson Bears were scheduled to play Arlington County Day from Jacksonville, Florida, the 14th best high school basketball team in Obama’s world according to major sports ranking organizations such as Five Star Basketball, ESPN, and Max Preps, among others. Their ranking has been noted as far down as 37th in the nation.
The ACD Apaches feature two players 6-foot-8 and inch their way down to the smallest at 6-foot-2. They have six Division I scholarship athletes ready to receive a free education due to their ability to play the game of basketball better than most junior college athletes and many top college prospects.
Unfortunately, according to tournament director C. David Williamson, the West High School athletic director, ACD pulled out of the tournament on Monday.
Williamson said they received an email message from head coach Rex Morgan stating, “due to unforeseen circumstances†his team would be unable to participate.
Williamson said they spent hours trying to contact ACD. They finally reached the school’s principal who said he was unaware of the basketball teams plans and stated, “They operate their affairs separately, and independently, from the rest of the schools activities.â€
The ACD athletic director is also the coach. The assistant principal refused to interrupt the team’s practice to inquire about the canceled trip to Alaska.
“Of course we are disappointed about them pulling out,†Casperson said. “We will play anybody anytime.â€
In fact, the replacement team for the tournament just happens to be the defending champions from last year. They just happen to be ranked in the top 10 of the second biggest state. They just happen to have a top 50 national caliber roster.
“We made one phone call,†Williamson said. “And Christian Life from Texas were delighted to return to the tournament. I have to give kudos to them, and major kudos to the very fine people at Alaska Airlines who worked closely with the administration at West to make all of the ticket changes in an expedient manner. We are indebted to them.â€
The Crimson Bears now face the Cougars from Christian Life Center in Humble, Texas. They feature 6-foot-9 power forward Joe Burton. Burton has been getting mail from prospective colleges seeking his skills. Burton is just a sophomore. The team returns six players who traveled to Alaska last year. One is 6-foot-10 center Mike Lewis, another is 6-foot-2 deadeye Josh Gray, and another is 5-foot-9 captain P J Hardwick. All have major colleges ringing their doorbells.
Anybody anytime.
“We obviously have to pay attention to any opponents abilities and tendencies,†Casperson said. “But this is just a great opportunity to see some high-caliber competition and see how we stack up. See what we need to work on and move forward.â€
If the Crimson Bears get past Cougars, there is the small task of a possible meeting with another team that used that same motto when contacting Williamson, the Mt. Zion Christian Academy Warriors from Durham, North Carolina.
Or JDHS may move on to play the East Hall Vikings from Gainesville, Georgia, or the defending Alaska state champion Bartlett Golden Bears or state runner-up West Thunderbirds, the tournament host.
Mt. Zion is noted for NBA alumni Tracy McGrady, Brandon Rush, Marquis Daniels and Amare’e Stoudemire and feature 6-foot-11 Tobe Okafor this season. Year in and year out they play one of the most difficult schedules in the nation.
East Hall is noted for winning the past three Georgia state titles in their division, one of the most competitive in the state, and travel to multiple prestigious tournaments each year. They have multiple players being recruited by division one colleges in both basketball and football. Two of last seasons graduates are playing at Georgia and Georgia Tech.
Bartlett and West reload each season with some of the Anchorage area’s best talent and have strong senior guards this season. Kodiak and Delta Junction are also at the tourney. It is expected that West’s entire student body, over 2,000 students, will be watching their first game against Delta.
“I think it is going to be a good experience for the team,†JDHS senior Alec Calloway said. “And for everyone individually. I am excited to get on the court with some of these teams. We just want to show that we can play against teams we have never seen before and play hard and come out with W’s. We just get in the right mindset to play, get ready to play, and think we are going to win the game from the very beginning.â€
The tournament teams will also be treated to an Alaska Heritage class at West, visit museums and get to experience the outdoors, temperature and weather permitting.
East Hall coach Joe Dix stated that 11 of his players have never flown before and only one member of the coaching staff has. The trip is over 3,400 miles, a bit longer than previous years where the longest trip for game time was just a 50-minute flight away. An additional 40 fans are traveling with the team because it is “The trip of a lifetime.â€
“It will be more than just a basketball tournament,†Dix said on Tuesday. “And the kids are excited to go. It is a once in a lifetime experience. Most of the players have never been far from this rural area. I think one of my coaches took a cruise to Alaska once. We are looking forward to the cultural experience and how it will help us develop as a basketball team.â€
Dix stated they don’t see much snow.
“We have a dusting and everything shuts down,†Dix said. “You guys still wear shorts. We have talked daily about the trip with the kids and we still know we will not be prepared for the weather. We are hoping we have the right gear for that climate. We don’t want to be indoors the whole time, but man, the weather channel is scary right now showing all that snow in Cordova. We are reassuring the kids that Anchorage is 150 miles away from there. The talk of the town here is about our team going up to Alaska.â€
The appeal of a match up between Alaska preps and ‘down south’ preps has dated back to when East High School’s 6-foot-3 guard Trajan Langdon led his Thunderbirds to a near upset of the nation’s top team at the time, Oak Hill Academy, from Mouth of Wilson Virginia, and their 6-foot-four superstar Jeff McInnis.
Langdon went on to play at Duke University, McInnis to the University of North Carolina. Langdon went on to play professionally for the Cleveland Cavaliers then on to win championships or honors with Italian League club Benetton Treviso, Turkish League club Efes Pilsen, and Russian League clubs Dynamo Moscow and CSKA Moscow; McInnis went on to play for the Denver Nuggets, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Clippers, New Jersey Nets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Portland Trail Blazers, Charlotte Bobcats, in Greece and in the CBA.
Even JDHS coach Casperson played in a tourney field with Science Hill from Johnson City, TN, and St. Raymond’s from Bronx, NY.
“It is a one in a lifetime opportunity,†Casperson said. “Our guys may never experience this again. We just hope to play as hard as we can and execute the things we have been working on in practice at a high enough level to come away with a few wins. I can’t imagine our group of guys will back down from anybody. From what I have seen in practice so far, I would expect this team to play as hard if they were up 20 as if they were down 20. That is just how our practices have gone. They just enjoy playing and getting after it.â€
Said Williamson, “We started the tradition with Juneau a few years ago and are very pleased to continue it as part of the tournament. I have a gut feeling that Juneau is going to do very well this year with a strong chance to contend for the title. I wish the Bears the best of luck.â€
Play begins Thursday as West opens against Delta at 12:45 p.m., Juneau plays Christian Life at 2:30, Bartlett faces Mt. Zion at 6 p.m., and Kodiak plays East Hall at 7:30 p.m.
The JDHS girls play West Valley tonight at JDHS gym, while the TMHS boys and girls await the Thunder Dome tourney to begin at TMHS Thursday.
Crimson Bears opponent flees, another fills in - Juneau Empire by Klas Stolpe
The Juneau Douglas Crimson Bears boys are ranked first in the Southeast Conference and fourth in the state. Their next opponent was ranked 14th. In the nation, as in, the United States of America, as in, anywhere someone can put up a hoop and toss the rock through it.
Monday January 09, 2012
From the opening tip to the sound of the final buzzer an army of swarming Juneau Douglas High School boys basketball players pressured visiting Colony into two non-conference losses on homecoming weekend, sweeping the Knights 75-69 on Friday and 67-54 on Saturday.
“Definitely everybody played hard,†JDHS head coach Robert Casperson said after Friday’s win. “It was the culmination of a big week at school for these kids with all the activities going on during the week. It was a great crowd with great fan support.â€
That support showed with five minutes remaining in the third quarter as the Crimson Bears, trailing 38-35, went on a 21-5 run to end the period.
Senior guard Lance Ibesate started the onslaught with a break-a-way layup, then turned around to draw Colony’s Nathan Umbarger into his third foul and hit two free throws for a lead the Crimson Bears never relinquished.
Ibesate’s backcourt classmate Tony Yadao hit a free throw, Ibesate drew Umbarger’s fourth foul to hit two more free throws, and Alec Calloway scored on a put back and again on an Austin Shoemaker steal for a 46-40 lead at the 2:49 mark.
Shoemaker stole the next possession from Colony and hit a streaking Ibesate to make it 48-40 and the duo repeated the same scenario 15 seconds later for a 10-point advantage.
Ibesate created his own larceny on the next Colony possession and fed Calloway for two, Evan Gross notched two free throws and Ibesate finished the period with a breaking layup on an assist from Phillip Fenumiai for a 56-43 lead.
Ibesate scored 12 of his team high 20 points in the run.
“The crowd got excited,†Casperson said. “It seemed to fuel our guys. A lot of guys came in and did some nice things for us. That is a nice luxury to have as a coach.â€
After Friday’s game, Casperson said the Crimson Bears would have to defend better if they wanted to repeat the win.
JDHS allowed Colony’s leading scorer, Hunter Eisenhower, to connect for a game high 22 points and the Knights’ guards Tim Smith and Jared Turner added 11 and 10 respectively.
Colony’s guards combined for five connections from beyond the arch to keep the Knights in a close first half game. JDHS trailed after the first quarter 16-13
The second period saw solid efforts off the Crimson Bears bench as six different players scored including reserves Ryan Kelly and Fenumiai from deep and Jeffrey Pusich inside. In addition the JDHS rotation allowed Austin Shoemaker to spell hard-working Darien Stanger and Taylor Swofford to grab two of the game’s most emphatic rebounds in his brief stint on the floor.
Ibesate scored on a lay in with two seconds remaining but Colony’s Eisenhower took the inbounds pass and threw a length of the court three-pointer to put the Knights on top at the break 30-29.
The Knights were forced to turnover their entire line up as well due to JDHS’ full court man pressure.
Yadao especially made life unbearable for the opposing backcourt as he chested dribblers for 84-feet. The result carried over to the second wave of defenders who could pick off errant passes or double team.
“I really enjoyed Tony’s defense,†Casperson said. “I thought he put a lot of effort on the defensive side of the ball and that is going to pay off for us. We have three or four guys who can put that kind of pressure on. We just have to commit to doing it and build the trust that our teammates are behind us if we get beat.â€
Calloway netted 16 points for the Crimson Bears, Yadao and Fenumiai 10 points apiece, Gross had nine points, Stanger and Kelly three points, Pusich and Shoemaker two apiece. Calloway and Gross, who were selected to the 2010 State Tournament Good Sport Team, showed they had more meanness now as seniors, each totaling nine rebounds in the game.
JDHS hit just 17-35 from the charity stripe while Colony connected on 15-22.
Saturday’s first half was the calm before the storm for the Knights.
The Crimson Bears chose not to implement their full court man press, but instead rotated through the entire roster in a patient offense.
Each Crimson Bears jersey wearer had an opportunity to score.
Notched at 13-13 after one period of play, both teams ran patient sets for a 28-27 Colony first half lead.
As the third quarter began, so did the Crimson Bears press, the fan enthusiasm, the student body yell section, the pep band and half of downtown Juneau.
“We ratcheted up our defense,†Casperson said. “We started pressing and trapping like we normally like to do.â€
Yadao and Ibesate prevented each ballhandler from getting farther than five feet during a dribble.
Help defense from Calloway, Fenumiai, Stanger and Shoemaker filled the gaps.
Strong boards from Gross, Jeffrey Pusich and Jesse Miller stopped any second shot attempts.
When the third period ended the Crimson Bears had a 52-39 advantage.
Calloway led the Crimson Bears with 12 points, Shoemaker added 10, Ibesate and Yadao nine each, Fenumiai eight, Pusich six, Stanger three, Jackson Lehnhart, Aquino Brinson, Gary Speck, Gross and Miller two each.
JDHS hit 11-18 from the charity stripe, Colony was 19-23.
Hunter Eisenhower led the Knights with 14 points, 10 of which came from the free throw line as he was unable to get clean, open looks at the basket under the JDHS pressure.
“Everybody contributed in the time they got,†Casperson said. “I told our guys they are not on the team because they look good in travel gear, they are on the varsity because they can play. I was very pleased with our effort this weakend.â€
Casperson stated that Calloway had an outstanding defensive weekend.
“As talented as some of our defenders are, like Tony and Lance, he is right in there every night having to guard one of the toughest scorers on the other team,†Casperson said. “He is stepping up to that challenge and it is pretty fun to watch. All of our guys are beginning to take it upon themselves to demand more of each other.â€
Casperson also acknowledged the crowd.
“I know I have been preaching to the choir, but, man the crowd great,†Casperson said. “And I think they got to see some great basketball this weekend. I am really proud of our guys. To see the progress we are making from the first four weeks, I think we are heading in the right direction. I appreciate the fans that came out to see that because our guys are fun to watch, and I think the fans are finding that out.â€
JDHS boys get all medieval on Knights - Juneau Empire by Klas Stolpe
Crimson Bears win battles in homecoming hoops war
Friday January 06, 2012
The Juneau-Douglas High School boys and girls basketball teams are hosting the Colony Knights tonight and Saturday in the Crimson Bears’ annual homecoming series.
“They are a good team,†JDHS head coach Robert Casperson said. “And they play in a very good conference. They are always in the hunt. I expect them to be a very tough opponent.â€
The traditionally tough Knights (2-3) play in the Northern Lights Conference, which includes powers Wasilla, Palmer, Soldotna, Kodiak, Kenai, Homer and Skyview.
The Colony boys have made the state tourney four of the past five years, losing the title game in 2007, and finishing third in 2008. They boast two returning all-conference senior players in 6-foot-2 Blake Hightower and 5-foot-10 guard Antonio Bush, and rally around 6-foot-4 junior guard Hunter Eisenhower.
The Crimson Bears lost a scrimmage against a group of hot shooting perimeter alumni during one Christmas break practice and are working on improving defense to the three-point line. Lance Ibesate, Tony Yadoa and Alec Calloway are currently the top three go-to scorers on JDHS.
“My main concern is if we are going to be able to defend them,†Casperson said of the Knights. “Keep them out of the lane and challenge any shots. Our focus will be on defense, we need to be better than we have been if we want to be successful against Colony.â€
The Colony girls have been to the state championships the past three years and lost in the championship game in 2009.
The Knights are led by all state selection Mary Klapperich, a 6-foot junior guard and 5-foot-10 seniors Saige Stefanski and Leroya Simmons.
“The team has worked extremely hard over the last couple of weeks focusing on some items that we need to improve on,†JDHS girls head coach Dee Boster said. “Things that were obvious from the Wasilla trip. Some of that is believing that we can win and having confidence as a team; not just improving on the fundamentals of basketball.â€
Boster stated the team is definitely on the road of improvement.
“If we keep attacking the items needed to improve on as we have the last couple of weeks, throughout the season and not only learn from our mistakes but make adjustments where needed, then I believe we will gradually become more confident in our play and therefore successful,†Boster said. “We are looking forward to this weekend with the goal of taking what we have worked on and applying it in a game situation.
“I think the girls have realized that winning is going to take a lot of hard work and won’t be handed to us; this weekend will be a good test on that concept. There’s a lot of basketball left in the season; so we need to take one game at a time and work from there.â€
Students at JDHS have decked the halls, the commons, the gymnasium and just about every nook and cranny of the school in spirit decorations.
That alone should be worth the price of a basketball ticket. There will also be homecoming court and king and queen crowning during Saturday’s dance in the high school commons after the boys game.
“It’s homecoming,†Casperson said. “The atmosphere should be great, especially if we can get the fans out in full force. A lot of fanfare goes into this weekend and it is a lot of fun.â€
Local radio station KINY 800 AM will broadcast the JDHS boys’ game Friday at 8 p.m.
JDHS to court Knights in homecoming series - Juneau Empire by Klas Stolpe
KINY to broadcast JDHS boys Friday and TMHS boys Saturday.
Friday December 23, 2011
After at tight 38-33 win against Hydaburg in pool play, JD JV faced the Thunder Mountain JV team in the semi final of bracketed play. The Bears beat their crosstown foes handily 40-20, and moved into the championship game. There the Crimson Bears faced the Glacier Bears from Haines and won going away, 40-26, to claim the tournament championship.
JDHS JV Repeats as Champion!
The boys JV team did it again. They conquered all at the Thunder Mountain Southeast Holiday Hoops Tournament. This is the second year of the tournament and the second time that the Juneau-Douglas JV team has emerged victorious.
Sunday December 18, 2011
A rebound laden Juneau-Douglas High School boys’ basketball team proved to be too big of an obstacle for the cross-town rival Thunder Mountain High School to overcome this weekend.
The Crimson Bears had a bevy of second shots in the first period of Friday’s 63-40 win over the Falcons.
“We have to find a way to run our defense effectively and box out so they don’t get second shots,†TMHS head coach John Blasco said after Friday’s loss. “They are pretty big inside.â€
The wear and tear of battling inside took an early toll on the Falcons as Juneau’s 6-foot-7 Evan Gross, although not making every put back, was active on the glass and opened up the key for his teammates.
Alec Calloway prospered most from attacking the glass, leading the Crimson Bears with 18 points in the game.
The Falcons started in a man-to-man defense in the first quarter, switching to zone midway as rebounding became a factor.
“It was just a different look,†Blasco said. “Something we were trying in the game plan. It had its effectiveness but it can still be improved.â€
The Falcons battled inside to stay close 12-10 after one period of play and went into halftime trailing just 23-14.
“The jitters generally play a part in terms of adrenaline,†Blasco said. “It is the first time putting on the uniforms, first time playing in front of the home crowd, it is JDHS. There are a lot of things to put into it but those things all went away after halftime. It is just a matter of getting into a comfortable offense and getting the right looks to score.â€
An 18-10 third quarter scoring advantage gave the Crimson Bears the 41-24 cushion that allowed them to coast into the final period of play.
“When they started pulling away in the second quarter we got on our heels,†Blasco said. “Their defense pushed us further from the perimeter than we wanted to be, and we played on our heels at times and had a hard time getting into the flow of the offense. We probably shot a pretty low percentage.â€
Tony Yadao added 16 points for the Crimson Bears, Austin Shoemaker 10, Gross seven, Taylor Swofford four, Lance Ibesate and Darien Stranger three apiece and Jesse Miller two.
Sam Jahn 10, Matt Seymour eight, Ben Jahn seven, Avery Stewart six, Travis Johnson four, Allen Shaw and Ty Grussendorf two apiece, and Coltin Lanz one.
JDHS hit 19-25 from the charity stripe and TMHS was 10-17.
“Thunder Mountain is a tough matchup for us,†JDHS head coach Robert Casperson said. “They play extremely hard. I expect more games like this weekend when we play them down the road.â€
On Saturday night it was the Crimson Bears turn to defend their home court and the Falcons were worthy adversaries once again, taking a 19-17 halftime lead.
Gross’ third foul at the start of the third quarter should have meant an advantage to the Falcons but JDHS’ Yadao and Ibesate began to spread the floor on offense and distribute the ball for open jumpers or slashing layins.
“We have a lot of guys that are waiting for the opportunity to step up and support their teammates,†Casperson said. “And that is exactly what happened this weekend.â€
Gross drew his fourth foul before the period ended and Gary Speck provided quality relief inside.
After a put back inside by TMHS’ Sam Jahn, the Crimson Bears duo of Ibesate and Yadao scored and assisted on three straight possessions and JDHS led going into the final period 35-32.
Calloway and Yadao pushed the lead to 39-32 at quarter’s start and the tempo on defense was increased to full court.
The Falcons would draw to within four at the 6:08 mark on a Ben Jahn three pointer but a key shot by Calloway on the next possession and a Stanger trey kept the momentum with the Crimson Bears for the win.
“It’s a work in progress for us,†JDHS head coach Robert Casperson said. “I wasn’t surprised by tonight at all, in regards to how hard they played and how tight it was all the way. In all honesty I was more surprised with the margin of victory Friday.â€
Ibesate led JDHS with 15 points, Yadao had 10, Speck seven, Stanger six, Gross five, Calloway four, Shoemaker three, Ryan Kelly, Jesse Miller and Aquino Brinson two each.
The Falcons’ Ben Jahn led with 15 points, Seymour and Travis Johnson eight apiece, S. Jahn had four, Vili Tupou and Stewart three each, Lanz and Grussendorf two apiece.
Thunder Mountain hit 9-18 at the charity stripe while Juneau-Douglas was 14-21.
The Falcons missed guards Josh Tupou and Keith Ainsworth, both out with injuries and awaiting clearance to play.
“Our game plan is effective,†Blasco said. “We just have to make some adjustments to it and utilize the guys we have in the game and continue to be aggressive. The good news is there is room for us to improve and we can get better.â€
The JDHS Junior varsity won on Saturday 53-47 behind 23 points from Brinson. Trent Uddipa scored 13 for the TMHS JV.
Juneau-Douglas boys run over Thunder Mountain - Juneau Empire by Klas Stolpe
Crimson Bears win 63-40 on Friday and 56-45 Saturday
Thursday December 15, 2011
The Juneau-Douglas High School teams are not overlooking their up and coming neighbors, but are buying into two new coaches with old philosophies of basketball wisdom.
The Falcons will host both the girls and boys teams on Friday and the Crimson Bears will return the favor on Saturday.
“Fans will see a brand new squad in a way,†Falcons head coach Tanya Nizich said. “The same faces but, overall, everybody has really come together over the last few years and fans will see some really hard workers out there and a competitive game.â€
The TMHS girls graduated Janie White and lost Mellissa Fisher to Mt. Edgecumbe, but return an entire roster of competitors.
Shale Kibby, Kinsey Marshall, Makayla Pierce, Ashley Young, Jonelle Staveland and Ashley Young have the height needed to compete with a traditionally physical JDHS roster. Staveland can also move to the wing, where she led the team in three-pointers last season.
“We have been working hard and running a lot so hopefully we won’t get too tired our first set of games,†“I think this first set of games are very important. They set the stage as how we have been practicing and if we need to make any changes. It gives us a preview on what needs to be done for the rest of the season. Hopefully we have covered all our bases and we can make a strong opening weekend.â€
Eyerus Tingley, Shayla Reeves, Kylie Ibias, Michaela Demmert and Sarah Morris will be perimeter threats.
“As a ball club I definitely notice that everybody seems a little bit more mature in the sense that we are a little bit more court smart,†Nizich said. “Most of the girls have been together since freshmen and we finally have the chemistry down, we know where we are on the court.â€
The JDHS girls graduated a talented arsenal that included Hannah Swofford, Taylor Larson, Maria Weyhrauch, Sara Tarver, Nani Ostrom, Olivia Henderson and Karli Brakes. Coach Leslie Knight stepped down, but in her footprints is a disciple that came into the JD system in 2003.
“I think our strength is our speed,†JDHS girl’s head coach Dee Boster said. “Hopefully that will make up for our loss of size in the key. We will have to work harder on rebounding and blocking out inside.â€
The Crimson Bears return Esra Sideek, Marissa Brakes, Nicole George and Kaitlin Fagerstrom, players who all found time last year; and Ari Gross, Gabi Fenumiai and Kayla Balovich are expected to fill the front line.
“Marissa will be our leader, on and off the court,†Boster said. “I don’t expect her sister, I expect Marissa. She makes very good decisions on the court.â€
Fagerstrom is a raw sophomore who only lacks confidence; all the other skills are in the Crimson Bears’ uniform.
Sideek will be the first option on offense, and the first person the defense keys on, so Fagerstrom, Gross, Fenumiai, lightning guard T Jae Garcia and senior Sierra Tagaban will be vital.
Replacing the speed, off-guard, and forward components will also come from Tori Gogg, Kymberlee Kelly, Rachelle Roldan, Amberli Fitka and Rolonda Scaife.
“We don’t want to change the program,†Boster said. “It has been successful for a long time. We are a really young team. I am a little nervous, a little excited. There are big shoes to fill, the expectations of keeping that success alive.â€
Boster said she expects her kids to wear the Crimson Bears uniform with pride.
“The girls work hard in practice and are excited to be here,†Boster said. “Their expectations, and ours, are high.â€
The Falcons’ boy’s graduation of John Correa, Josh Jones and Jimmy Mota will not affect their athleticism on the court of nine returning players.
“The first series for us is going to be much like Juneau’s first game last weekend,†TMHS head coach John Blasco said. “It will probably be a little sloppy at first until we settle down from the adrenalin of the first game and of playing our cross-town conference rival. We have had three good weeks of practice and I am excited to see how we perform in these games and how we react to facing a very tough opponent.â€
Third year players Ty Grussendorf as a shooting wing with range and Sam Jahn in the pivot are impact players. Junior Keith Ainsworth, a varsity player since his freshman year, is the team leader. Travis Johnson is a hustler on the court and the Tupou brothers, Josh and Vili, are a competitive point guard combo.
Throw in Matt Seymour and Ben Jahn, who saw significant minutes as freshmen, and Avery Stewart and Coltin Lanz who know the program, plus football quarterback Camden Thomas with athletic leadership qualities, and the Falcons will hunt bear. Mike Uddipa will see back up point guard duties and Allen Shaw is a defensive workhorse off the bench.
“We got to see them play against Ketchikan and we know that they have a lot of strong players,†Blasco said. “We know we will have our hands full Friday. We haven’t beaten them yet but that is definitely on our minds. They have a strong senior class and size in side. They will be tough. I think fans will see, as they have the past two years, our group of young guys that are not going to quit until the buzzer goes off. We will play hard every possession and play an up-tempo kind of game. They are an exciting group for sure.â€
The Crimson Bears’ boys graduated Ryan Baldwin, Nino Crisostomo, Travis Godfrey, Colin Gozelski, Eddie Hurtte, and De’Andre King but seem hardly affected. They too lost a retiring legend in Steve Potter, but JDHS filled the hole with a 12-year assistant.
“I think it is going to be a fun season,†JDHS head coach Robert Casperson said. “It will be a little bit more of a traditional look, a little more high school size and a rededication to doing the work.â€
Lance Ibesate and Tony Yadao are two of the state’s top guards and have quality postman Evan Gross to work around, plus big men bench play from Jeffrey Pusich, Taylor Swofford, Bruce Jones and Gary Speck.
“We are very excited,†Ibesate said. “New coach, new system, it’s going to be fun. I am just going to try and be tough this year, be pesky and in people’s grills playing good defense. I just want us to learn from every game.â€
Added Yadao, “We are looking to have good chemistry this year. As seniors we have to lead by example and bring our strengths to help make the team do better.â€
Alec Calloway and Darien Stanger were starters at Ketchikan last weekend but Ryan Kelly, Jesse Miller, Austin Shoemaker and Aquino Brinson found time on the court. Calloway can go inside or outside and, being left handed, makes it hard on defenders. Phillip Fenumiai is still involved in all-star football practices each weekend in Anchorage, but when he joins the team he will be a starter at basically any position. Jackson Lehnhart is recovering from an ankle injury.
“A lot of guys did more off-season work than before,†Casperson said. “We talk about what it means to be a Crimson Bear and the responsibility that comes with it. When we passed out the uniforms you could see that light in their eyes, they are excited.â€
Crimson Bears tradition, Falcons exuberance - Juneau Empire by Klas Stolpe
The Thunder Mountain High School basketball programs went 0-8 last season against their cross-town rivals from Juneau-Douglas, but their opponent’s graduations and their own maturity seem to play into evening out the competition level this season.
Sunday December 11, 2011
Trailing by one point entering the fourth quarter of the first game in the 2011-12 season on Friday night, the Juneau-Douglas High School boys basketball team needed to make a statement that they were still going to be the class of the southeastern conference.
A barrage of 3-pointers in the fourth quarter triggered a 20-4 Crimson Bears run that turned a tense game into a big 69-55 win over Ketchikan on Friday at the Clarke Cochrane Gymnasium.
“Definitely it was great to hit some shots,†JDHS head coach Robert Casperson said. “But we put some pressure on their defense that created those shots with dribble penetration. Lance (Ibesate) was able to get into the paint quite a bit.â€
With the score tied 43-43 early in the fourth, Ibesate penetrated multiple times and was either fouled, made a layup or kicked out to teammates for open jump shots.
JDHS’ Austin Shoemaker, playing in his first varsity game, drained an open look from outside to start the run. Ibesate added his own triple, and Tony Yadao drained two more clean looks from outside to finish off the scoring streak by the Crimson Bears senior guards. Juneau scored 20 points in four minutes to break the game open.
“We started to get guys open. We started taking higher percentage shots,†Yadao said. “We worked the ball around more and were getting open.â€
Ketchikan coach Eric Stockhausen said the focus of the Kings was to stop penetration and then close out on the outside shooters.
JDHS coach Robert Casperson stated point guard Ibesate was instrumental in the comeback and the attitude of the Crimson Bears was always up beat.
“Our guys are buying in to playing the type of basketball that the community will enjoy watching,†Casperson said. “We had instances where guys were taking charges.
Six-foot-seven, 220 pound Evan Gross keyed the momentum swing late in the third quarter by taking a charge in the lane.
“All four of his teammates ran over to pick him up,†Casperson said. “All four. It was awesome. The game was still tough and back and forth at the time.â€
Casperson also mentioned the Crimson Bears’ unselfishness, especially on the receiving end of assists.
“We have been working a lot in practice on thanking the passer,†Casperson said. “And the screener. When Tony buried that three in the fourth quarter on a kick out from Lance you could here him yelling and complimenting Lance for that pass. That is stuff that is important if we are going to continue to build and do the things we want to do this year. To see that in the first game is encouraging.â€
Continued Casperson, “Ketchikan is a tough place to play. It certainly is a big win. It’s the opener, but I don’t want to downplay it too much, because these are conference games.â€
Added Yadao, “Most of us have been playing together since fifth grade and I think that will help us a lot this year.â€
Despite numerous turnovers, foul trouble, and horrendous shooting from the foul line, the Kings kept battling back from deficits in the first three quarters. The Kings took a one-point lead into the fourth quarter on Fred Seludo’s 3-point basket, but then were overwhelmed by Juneau’s outside shooting in the fourth.
Juneau-Douglas had four players in double figures, led by Ibesate, who scored 20 points. Yadao added 16, Alex Calloway 13, and Shoemaker 11. Gross added four points, Jeffrey Pusich and Gary Speck two each, and Darien Stanger one.
Kyle Day led the Kings with 18 points, sparking several key runs in the first three quarters with strong drives to the basket. Day’s outside shooting wasn’t falling, however, and like most of his teammates, he struggled from the free-throw line. Ketchikan guard Mark Dulay tallied 13 points.
Juneau hit just 19 of 30 at the charity stripe, while Ketchikan was a dismal 7-19.
Despite six turnovers and seven fouls in the first four minutes of the game, Kayhi held a 7-4 lead before Juneau went on an 11-3 run to end the quarter. Yadao scored six points in less than a minute to key the run.
Ketchikan battled back to jump in front 18-17 in the second quarter on a layup by Auger, but again Juneau responded with an 8-2 run to go up by five. The Crimson Bears held a 28-23 advantage at the break.
The Crimson Bears looked like they might pull away early in the third quarter, claiming a 35-28 advantage after a three-point play by Shoemaker, but once again Ketchikan responded. The Kings finished the quarter on an 11-3 run, taking a 39-38 lead on a 3-pointer by Fred Seludo after a flawlessly executed offensive series.
“It’s a Stockhausen-coached team,†Casperson said. “You know they are going to come back on you, that they are never going to give up. That’s how he coaches them.â€
The game was tied 43-43 with 6:14 left to play after Day hit a floater on a good drive down the lane, but Juneau-Douglas took over from there.
“I would imagine after the first-game nerves are out of the way, the teams will settle in a little more and it will be a little cleaner brand of basketball,†Casperson said.
Bruce Jones led the JDHS JV with 13 points in a tough 71-49 loss to Ketchikan JV on Friday and Adam Empson added 12. The Ketchikan junior varsity used a 13-1 run at the end of the second quarter to take a 38-25 halftime lead, then pushed the advantage to as much as 25 points in the second half. Empson also scored 13 points as the JDHS C team lost to the Ketchikan C 51-49.
“It is still pretty early in the season,†Casperson said. “We are still figuring things out. And when I say ‘we’ that is myself included in terms of rotation and which groups and combinations play best together. We were able to put runs together and Ketchikan responded right back with their own. In order to create separation on someone we have to have consistency defensively during those runs. I think more so down the stretch we were making the shots and getting the stops.â€
On Saturday the Crimson Bears took Casperson to heart and made all the right defensive choices, taking a lead in the first quarter and stretching it into a 75-60 win. Juneau-Douglas took control with a 13-0 first quarter run, then kept the Kings at bay the rest of the game. The Kings led 8-6 early, but then Juneau-Douglas went on a 13-0 run to take command. Juneau-Douglas led 28-14 at the end of the first quarter and Kayhi never got closer than seven points the rest of the night.
Juneau-Douglas seniors guards Lance Ibesate, Tony Yadao and Austin Shoemaker combined for 40 points, and senior forward Alex Calloway added 11 points, as the experienced Crimson Bears had the upper hand in both games. Juneau-Douglas used a 20-4 fourth-quarter run to win 69-55 on Friday.
Ibesate lead JDHS with 21 points, Yadao had 13, Alec Calloway 11 and Gary Speck eight.
“He did everything he needed to do to help us win tonight,†Casperson said of Ibesate. “As a team, the things we have worked on in practice are being executed on the court...and the things we haven’t worked on we handled very well.â€
Kayhi played Juneau-Douglas relatively evenly after the first quarter, but it wasn’t enough for the Kings to seriously climb back into the game. The Kings scored the first five points of the second half, and had a chance to cut the lead to four points, but a 3-point attempt from Day went in-and-out. Following the 3-point miss, the Crimson Bears went on a 12-2 run to push a 48-41 lead up to 60-43.
The Kings never gave up, and the crowd cheered them on each time they got the score under 10 points, but the veteran Crimson Bears didn’t allow Kayhi to put together any long rallies.
“They’ve got two all-state guards that have started for three years for them, and it showed,†Stockhausen said. “Besides Kyle, all of our guards just got done playing their second varsity game.â€
Ibesate and Yadao have had starting roles or major playing minutes since they were sophomores.
“A lot will start with our guards,†Casperson said. “Lance and Tony have a considerable amount of basketball knowledge. They know how to control situations.Once we got that early lead it was important to keep it. We know what the Ketchikan guys can do. They keep coming at you, they are not going to quit.â€
Juneau-Douglas hit three 3-point baskets in its first-quarter explosion, but also did a better job of rebounding the ball and scoring on offensive putbacks. Yadao drained a 3-point basket from the right corner 40 seconds into the game, a sign of what was to come from the Crimson Bears.
“We definitely made a few more shots today than we did yesterday,†Casperson said. “But so did Ketchikan. It was a cleaner game, which I was expecting, but that spurt we had in the beginning I wasn’t really expecting.â€
In the first quarter, it looked like the Kings might get run out of their own gym. Kayhi regained its composure, but showed it still has some growing to do to get to where Juneau-Douglas is right now.
Shoemaker scored only six points for the Crimson Bears, but is an explosive presence off the bench for a JDHS team with three quick, talented guards and a deep rotation of solid big men.
“We are definitely blessed to have the quickness at guard that we do,†Casperson said. “Then we have a guy like Austin coming off the bench. He is a very dynamic player as a sixth man. He wants to lead the team in rebounding and I think he did that tonight. Alec also rebounded very well. I can see that rebounding and the players coming off the bench are going to be key for us this season.â€
“We’ve got three strong teams in Southeast. Thunder Mountain is going to be tough, too,†Ibesate said. “I think the (Southeast) teams will surprise some people this year.â€
Crimson Bears devour Ketchikan's Kings by Klas Stolpe and Richard Larson
JDHS sweeps season opening hoops series 69-55 and 75-60
Friday December 09, 2011
JDHS got the #1 seed going into the Region V Tournament on a coin flip or blind draw from a hat or something after multiple tie-breakers were employed.
JDHS was then 2-0 against them in the Reg. V Tournament (5-2 overall).
Our JV’s were 4-0 against Ktn. last year and a lot of those players have moved into varsity roles for both teams.
Scouting - Juneau Empire by Klas Stolpe
Coach Robert Casperson says the JDHS boys, who play in Ketchikan tonight and Saturday, played the Kings 7 times last year for an overall record of 5-2. The Crimson Bears beat them at the Dimond Prep Shootout (1-0); Twice at home for conference wins (3-0, 2-0 conf); Lost to them two times down in KTN (3-2, 2-2 conf).
Thursday December 08, 2011
As elementary age lads carrying physical education class red rubber balls larger than our torsos we were drawn to the extreme squeaks and squeals of old converse high tops on freshly polished floors, the sound of which would escape out through cracked gymnasium doors and windows as the high school boys practiced.
In middle school we wrapped double scarves around our necks and walked through snow drifts to one of the only outside courts, shoveled it off, and played until our toes felt like thumbs; and then crammed along the side lines of the high school gym to watch our local Vikings team against a variety of behemoths and wizards and shape-shifters that left our mouths agape.
When it was finally our turn, when the first whiskers of adolescence and pimply maturity was upon us, we knew what had to be done and why.
We had to practice; at all times, at all hours, and in all weather. Why? Because in my day… well basketballs were still round, but the league was all one smorgasbord of hoops. Small schools played large schools, and more often than naught, the competitions were even and fierce and came down to the final minutes.
And the largest school was Juneau.
With Juneau, we knew what would come. We saw it when we traveled as ‘middlers’ to Floyd Dryden and Dzantik’I Heeni.
We knew the Crimson Bears would be physical inside and fast outside, that they would have a man inside your uniform on defense as soon as the referee put the ball into the center jump circle.
That center jump begins again on Friday in Ketchikan. If you could see me now you would notice the horned Vikings helmet is pushed forward on my head, my converse are double knotted, and my inseams have been let out a notch or two over the years.
But the excitement and fear is still there.
The Juneau-Douglas and Thunder Mountain teams are part of a new fangled triangle of schools seeking an automatic bid to the state basketball tournament in Anchorage. To do that they have to win the region tournament or amass the newly implemented Alaska Scholastic Activities Association’s WPI schedule.
The WPI, or Winning Percentage Index, is decided by a team’s win-loss record against 4A teams and their opponent’s win-loss record. If you balance your checkbook as bad as I do, this is roughly what can happen:
Beating a team with a bad record can hurt your ranking; Losing to a team with a good record leaves you safe on the surface; and beating a team with a good record helps you move to the top of the heap.
Now, the champions of the Southeast, and the Mid Alaska, and the top two teams in the Cook Inlet and Northern Lights automatically qualify for state. The remaining two berths, which had previously gone to third place teams in the CI and NL, are awarded to the two teams with the top WPI’s that don’t automatically qualify.
The Crimson Bears have been snatching regional titles left and right, boys and girls, since James Naismith dreamed up this kooky game in 1891 (FYI, he was Canadien and is also credited with inventing the first football helmet).
The Falcons are just on the verge of making a point as to where the round ball rolls best.
JDHS travels to West Anchorage, Service, Wasilla and Palmer; and hosts Chugiak, Kodiak and Mt. Edgecumbe. Don’t giggle, the MTE Braves pulled a number on “us†during the regional championships crossover game last season, remember? The Braves are considered a power. They may not factor into the WPI but they still pack some OMG.
The Falcons travel to Anchorage Christian and Kodiak and host Palmer, West Valley and West. Yes, ACS is a 3A school (but refer to OMG above).
The JDHS boys are the team that I feared growing up. Tony Yadao and Lance Ibesate will be in your shorts 24-7. A week from any game you play against the Crimson Bears it will still feel like 10 games. Yadao can shoot as well, and at 5-foot-11 he can post if needed on smaller guards. And here is just a giggle: they could start 6-foot-9 Taylor Swofford, 6-foot-7 Evan Gross (both over 230 pounds),6-foot-5 Bruce Jones, 6-foot-4 Alec Calloway, and 6-foot-3 Phillip Fenumiai. And have four more 6-foot-somethings ready and waiting. By the way, Jones is a freshman. It has been a while sine a freshman has made the adjustment to varsity ball.
New head coach Robert Casperson has brother Kevin, Steve Houlihan, Greg Huebschen and Akeem Micheli to assist.
Oh, and did I say fast? Like in your shorts? Just wanted to make sure you were listening Thunder Mountain.
The Falcons meanwhile, are no slouches. Think football, minus the helmet and pads and there you go. Coach John Blasco has Camden Thomas, Josh and Vili Tupou, and Sam and Ben Jahn looking pretty darn smooth off the grass and on the hard wood. Keith Ainsworth, Ty Grussendorf and Matt Seymour are three of the streakiest shooters on the planet and will present an interesting matchup in southeast.
The girls are another matter. JDHS graduated what should have been the second straight state championship team. Their final game at Anchorage’s Sullivan Arena last year was just a total miscue. It happens.
This season new coach Dee Boster features Nicole George and Sierra Tagaban as the only graduates to be, and George brings the competiveness of lots of time spent watching what to do right. Junior Esra Siddeek is possibly one of the top shooters in the state and classmate Marissa Brakes brings breakneck speed and leadership. Surprises loom as the season progresses and two to keep an eye on are rapidly improving sophomore post Ari Gross and lighting quick T Jae Garcia.
The Falcons’ girls are also young, but heavy on experience. Shale Kibby and Kinsey Marshall are the lone seniors; Jonelle Staveland, Eyerus Tingley, Shayla Reeves and Kylie Ibias are juniors with plenty of game time; Michaela Demmert and Makayla Pierce are impact players; and Ashley Young and Sarah Morris are freshman that have made the cut. Coaches Tanya Nizich, Arnold Ibias and Danielle Larson are at the helm.
The JDHS boys are in Ketchikan this weekend. On Dec. 16 the Falcons host the Crimson Bears in a double header boys and girls games, then travel down Glacier Highway to the JD gym on Dec. 17. If you can’t wait until then, check out the middle school madness beginning today at Floyd Dryden and Dzantik’i Heeni; or check out the junior varsity and ‘c’ team games at JD beginning tommorrow.
Don’t forget your calculators though. There is something to find exciting about each of our four teams. It may be size, speed, hustle, ball control, or just the colors blue and silver and red and black.
What matters is when the color maroon comes to town. Then I can wear my black/blue/silver/red armbands high enough to cover my old PHS Vikings tattoo…and I can start to figure out the WPI index, because only one of my two teams gets the automatic bid.
H.S. Hoops - Juneau Empire by Klas Stolpe
Nothing struck such excitement, and fear, in my youth along the panhandle in Alaska as the opening of the high school basketball season.
Monday December 05, 2011
It doesn't matter what sport they like, each item and design is almost 100% customizable. Pick the style, color, logo, and team of your desire. Then wear you Crimson cool to the gym for home games with pride!
Holiday Happiness...
Get into the swing of things and do your holiday shopping on line with the Crimson Bears. Be sure to click on the "Gear Up for Game Day" image to buy that special someone all the latest and greatest team apparel.
Sunday December 04, 2011
Click on the link in the drop-down menu above to see a list of this season's varsity team members. Junior varsity will follow, as will team photos...
Varsity Team Selected
As the Crimson Bears prepare for an early season match-up against conference foes in Ketchikan December 9th and 10th, you can see the group of young men that will represent Juneau's Red and Black this year.
Monday November 28, 2011
Alaska High School Basketball Has Officially Begun
Check back often to view news and other information on the 2011-2012 Crimson Bears, such as rosters and photos of this season's varsity, JV, and C teams.
Friday October 21, 2011
This year the FBC has three membership levels.
White: $50.00 includes 1 FBC Crimson Bears window decal.
Black: $75.00 includes 1 FBC Crimson Bears window decal & 1 FBC apparel item of your choice.
Crimson: $125.00 includes 2 FBC Crimson Bears window decals & 2 FBC apparel items of your choice.
In addition, each paying member will receive his/her name on the Fast Break Club banner located above the basketball office in the main gym and on the FBC link on the team’s website showing your personal support to the program. Names will be posted two times during the season. Payments received by December 10, 2011 will be posted before the first home game against TMHS on Saturday, December 17th. Payments received after December 10, 2011, but before January 13, 2012 will be posted before the January 20th games. Any membership payments received after January 13, 2012 will be posted as time allows.
Remember, your paid membership provides opportunity to our youth in many ways and is also tax deductible!
Click on the "Fastbreak" link in the above drop-down menus for the new registration form.
Thank you for your membership to the Fast Break Club. Your support is very important and very much appreciated. We look forward to seeing you around town and at our home games.
Please visit Facebook and look for Juneau-Douglas Crimson Bears Boys Basketball to keep up with the team!
New Fast Break Club Membership Drive... Join the Team!
It’s time to become a member (or renew your membership) in the Juneau-Douglas Crimson Bears Fast Break Club. The club’s purpose is to give financial support to the Bears boy’s basketball teams while helping other Bears activity groups.
Monday October 17, 2011
Holy Cow, the Bears are on FACEBOOK!
That's right, we've gone "high-tech" and joined the 2000's with our very own Facebook page. Please visit Facebook and look for Juneau-Douglas Crimson Bears Boys Basketball to keep up with the team!
Tuesday September 27, 2011
Click on the "Printer Friendly" version to get your copy and mark your calendars so you can show your support at all the home games.
See you at the gym!
New Schedule Released
Catch all the action with your 2011-2012 Crimson Bears this season. You won't want to miss a single minute of game time as the team takes on regional and statewide opponents under first year head coach Robert Casperson. With a strong group of varsity candidates working hard in the off season, this year should be an exciting one to watch.
Wednesday September 21, 2011
It may seem as though Robert Casperson was destined to become the head coach of the Juneau-Douglas High School Crimson Bears Boys Basketball team, but look a little closer and it is easy to see that it was hard work and dedication that got him here.
Born and raised in Juneau, Casperson follows a strong family tradition on to the JDHS basketball court. His parents, JDHS graduates, both spent their fair share of time in the gym. His father, Bruce, played high school basketball for Juneau in the 50’s and mother, Christine, was a cheerleader for JDHS. Bruce even spent time coaching Junior Varsity basketball and teaching history at JDHS.
The youngest of five children, Casperson grew up watching his older brothers play and coach the sport of basketball. His oldest brother, Kevin, was the Crimson Bears Boys Basketball Junior Varsity coach for 12 years.
“As someone that was born and raised in the capital city, I am honored and humbled to be chosen as the new head coach for the boy’s basketball team at Juneau-Douglas High School,†says Casperson, “I could not have reached this point without the support of my family, friends, and the community, and for that I am very thankful.â€
The family ties come full circle - one of the players on Bruce’s JV team in the 60’s was George Houston, who then became Robert’s high school coach. When Robert got into coaching at JDHS (under Coach Houston), he had another well-known basketball name on his team – Thunder Mountain Head Basketball Coach John Blasco.
While playing under Coach Houston, Casperson and the Bears were 93-15, including a since unmatched 25-2 season his senior year. He graduated from JDHS in 1996, a three-year letterman in basketball and two-year varsity letterman in baseball.
Robert Casperson began working with the JDHS basketball program in 1999, and took over the freshman team in 2000, amassing 85-12 win-loss record. He has led the JDHS JV team since 2006-2007, and has a cumulative record of 92-20. During that same tenure, Coach Casperson had been the head Boys Basketball Coach at Floyd Dryden Middle School until 2009, and worked with the local Hooptime organization in an advisory role during its formative years.
Coach Casperson is proud to be a part of the program that he grew up with and enjoys the opportunity to give back to his community. “Throughout the years, Juneau basketball has established a long history of young men focused on dedication, discipline, and teamwork. It is my intent to build upon these pillars of success. I look forward to the continued support of the community as we work together to maintain a program that Juneau will be proud of on, and off the court,†he says.
Casperson takes over from Coach Steve Potter who spent 18 years with the JDHS basketball program – five of those as head coach. Potter enjoyed a 91-45 record and led his team to five consecutive Region V 4A Tournament Championships.
Coach Casperson is a Member of the Alaska Association of Basketball Coaches. He earned his Associates in Arts and Sciences at Shoreline Community College, and Bachelor of Liberal Arts Degree with an emphasis in Social Science from the University of Alaska Southeast. He also holds a Master of Arts in Teaching degree from the University of Alaska Southeast. He is a 6th grade Language Arts/Social Studies teacher Floyd Dryden Middle School. Casperson is married and has two children.
JDHS announces the appointment of Robert Casperson to the head coach position of the Crimson Bears Boys Basketball team
For Immediate Release 9/21/11:
Sunday September 18, 2011
JDHS Boys Basketball Gives Back
Varsity candidates recently participated in the Juneau Parks & Recreation 2nd annual Day of Play. 12 student-athletes donned the Crimson and Black and played basketball with community youth. This free, community based event was well received by the city of Juneau and the session that the Bears participated in was well attended by children of all ages.
Thursday March 17, 2011
Since 2006, JDHS has lost five straight opening-round games, with four losses coming by an average of just 3.5 points, one in overtime. Wasilla rolled to a 69-46 win in the first round last year and edged the Crimson Bears for the No. 3 tournament seed this season, even though JDHS swept the Warriors in a weekend series Feb. 4-5.
Joining fourth-seeded Juneau-Douglas, who plays No. 5 North Pole on Thursday at 11:30 a.m., on the top half of the bracket in the 2011 ASAA/First National Bank Alaska State High School Basketball Championships is No. 1 Bartlett against No. 8 Kodiak.
No. 2 West faces No. 7 Palmer and No. 3 Service takes on the aforementioned Warriors in the bottom of the bracket.
“I think that it’s pretty much wide open,†JDHS coach Steve Potter said of the tournament draw. “As long as we weren’t coming in as the seven or eight seed, then we’ve got to be pretty happy with what we got.â€
North Pole boasts All-State first-teamer Jesse Ward at forward, second-team guard Eli Sponseller and forward Kody Broderick, an All-State Honorable Mention, as its top players.
Potter said the Patriots aren’t very deep, but Ward, who puts up 17.7 points per game, is a southpaw stud at 6-foot-6 who can run the floor and shoot from the perimeter.
“They have some big guys that are pretty talented, but they don’t play a lot of guys. It’s going to be important for us to be sound defensively, first and foremost,†he said. “Jesse Ward ... is a 6-6 left-handed kid and he’s a shooter — not just big, but he shoots it, too.
“We’ll probably start with Colin (Gozelski) on him because he can go out on the floor and guard guys,†he continued. “We’ve seen him before because he’s been starting for them since he was a sophomore, but he’s still good. Just because we’ve seen him before doesn’t mean it’s any easier.â€
The 6-foot Sponseller, who averages 8.1 points and 4.2 assists, is the Patriots’ big threat out of the backcourt.
“The word that we’ve gotten is he’s pretty good if you let him go right, so we’ll try to limit that,†Potter said of defending Sponseller. “They have some other guards that aren’t renowned for their ball handling abilities, so hopefully we can put some pressure on them.â€
Broderick, a 6-foot-6, 190-pound post who averages 11 points and eight boards, controls the lane for the Patriots and is a good rebounder, Potter said.
“He’s a double-figure rebound guy (most nights) and it’s important to stop him,†he said. “We certainly have the size to (control the glass). It will be different for us after playing so many games against Ketchikan and Thunder Mountain. It’s the opposite end of the spectrum — they’re small and North Pole is not small.â€
The Patriots beat the visiting Crimson Bears 54-46 last season.
“We play them once every three years or so,†Potter said. “The times that we’ve played them in the past (their style of play) was trapping and pressing, change defense every possession and try to confuse you. I think this year they’ve backed off that and they sag like Ketchikan and Thunder Mountain were doing this year. The difference is they’re sagging with bigger guys on the inside.
“Hopefully we can get some stuff in transition, but we’ve just got to make sure we’re patient on the offensive end. We’ve got to make them work,†he continued. “As long as we’re moving well, making hard cuts and doing our best to keep them off the boards, then we’ll be alright.â€
The Crimson Bears will face either Kodiak or Bartlett in the second round, and JDHS has already put a 75-54 thumping on Kodiak this season.
“We played Kodiak at their tournament this year and beat them by around 20,†he said. “They tried to up-tempo everything. The first time you could see the basket was a good shot. And they had some kids that could shoot the ball, but the game they won to get in the (state) tournament, they won 32-30, so apparently they’ve altered that style a little bit.â€
JDHS has not played Bartlett this season.
“They’re super athletic, they play a lot of guys and are definitely up-tempo,†Potter said of Bartlett. “It would be exciting for us to get the opportunity to go up against those guys.â€
JDHS faces tough task in Round 1 - Juneau Empire by Shaun T. Cox
The Juneau-Douglas boys’ basketball team tips off in its sixth straight state tournament appearance Thursday, but the Crimson Bears haven’t exactly had the best of luck in recent years.
Wednesday March 16, 2011
Players come, players go. Others unexpectedly grow into contributors and leaders, as is the case for Juneau-Douglas guard Eddie Hurtte.
The final buzzer had just sounded as the Crimson Bears capped a two-game sweep of then-No. 4 Wasilla, and the JDHS senior guard was celebrating his 18th birthday the best way a player could — with a win — but the night would only get better.
Hurtte was elevated to captain by his teammates immediately following the game, validating a year of hard work he had dedicated himself to after not playing much on last year’s Southeast Conference championship team.
“That was a good birthday for me,†Hurtte said with a smile spreading across his face.
Last year’s squad had a logjam in the backcourt with Victor Wilson and Alex DeRocher, now college freshmen, playing a lot of minutes with up-and-coming guards Lance Ibesate and Tony Yadao.
Hurtte said he knew he’d have a shot his senior year.
“I guess in the offseason I noticed there would be some playing time left, so I knew I needed to step up,†he said. “It feels good to actually be helping out the team, to contribute.
“Going from last year where I’d play scarce minutes to being in there, knowing you can have a big game and affect how the team does, that’s a motivator.â€
And Hurtte has contributed significantly as one of coach Steve Potter’s first players off the bench. Now his team has recorded its sixth consecutive state tournament bid and will face North Pole on Thursday in the first round of the ASAA/First National Bank Alaska 2011 State Basketball Championships at Anchorage’s Sullivan Arena.
Hurtte said it’s nice to see the process come full circle after playing such a limited role last season.
“It definitely showed if you’re willing to work hard, you’ll be rewarded,†he said. “Hard work really does pay off if you come together and work as a team.â€
As for what that moment felt like when his status was elevated to that of team captain, Hurtte said it felt good knowing his teammates supported him in that role.
“It was something the team wanted. They wanted another person to represent the team as a captain,†he said. “I guess they thought I fit that role, so I took it.â€
Potter said Hurtte being named a team captain in the middle of the season was certainly out of the ordinary in comparison to his previous years as coach.
“In the past we’ve had the guys pick captains before the season, and we were missing guys at the beginning of the year and I didn’t think we’d be doing it that way,†he said. “As the year progressed, Eddie was certainly giving us a lift. Actually, it was Ryan (Baldwin) who brought it up and the guys all supported it.â€
Potter also said Hurtte epitomizes perseverance in high school hoops. He said it didn’t always go well for his senior guard.
“Eddie struggled last year. It was difficult for him,†Potter said. “But if you put your work in you’ll get your opportunity, and Eddie is a classic example of that.â€
Next on the captain’s agenda: help prepare his teammates for what lies ahead. But despite the fact they won the conference tournament once again, the Crimson Bears walked off their court for the final time with a bitter taste in their mouths.
After defeating Ketchikan to win the 4A boys’ bracket of the 2011 Region V 3A/4A Basketball Tournament, the Bears were upended by a determined Mt. Edgecumbe team in the 3A-4A crossover game on Saturday night.
A last-second attempt to tie by Colin Gozelski fell short as Juneau-Douglas lost a 44-42 slugfest for its only home loss of the season.
Hurtte said neither he nor his teammates will forget that night.
“It fired us up. That was a big loss, our only loss on our home court,†he said. “I was ticked off. I knew we could have won the game. I definitely felt disappointed but, once again, I definitely think this game fired us up for what we need to do at state.â€
Despite the loss, Hurtte said the team played hard that night against a team JDHS had already split two games with during the season. But the Bears have to eliminate mistakes in tight games such as these, he said.
If the Bears are to have a shot at winning the state title, they’ll have to be on top of their game both mentally and physically.
“It showed when we want to play, we can play hard. But if we zone out we can play really bad,†he said. “It’s up to us how well we do in the state tournament.â€
Hurtte said the team is confident, not only in its chances to beat North Pole on Thursday, but to win the whole thing. Still, he and his teammates know it will take a lot of preparation and a little luck to accomplish their ultimate goal.
“North Pole is tough and coach has been really focusing our practices on how they play and how we need to come out against them,†Hurtte said. “We’ve been working on communication because when we play poorly, it’s because of a lack of communication.
“That doesn’t bring a unity to the team,†he continued. “When we do talk, we play a lot better.â€
Juneau-Douglas’ strength going into the season was its interior size, and it’s remained that way throughout the year. But the Bears will be tested come Thursday morning against the Patriots, a team that boasts a big front line as well. Potter said North Pole will run a sagging zone defensively, hoping to crowd the Bears’ bigs and force the guards to make shots.
He said that style is similar to what Ketchikan and Thunder Mountain like to do against the Juneau-Douglas offense, but the Patriots are much bigger in the paint.
Hurtte said the team has been going full-bore in practice.
“We’ve been practicing with high intensity and playing the best we can so we are focused and prepared for state,†he said. “It just depends on whether this team is ready to get to work.
“I definitely think we can go all the way if we play to our potential. When we play as hard as we can we’re a very good team, but if we zone out it’ll be like the Mt. Edgecumbe game,†he continued. “It all comes down to how we want to play, and it’s a big week ahead of us.
Hurtte takes leadership role - Juneau Empire by Matthew Tynan
The roles of individual players on a basketball team are ever-evolving entities, especially when you consider how fleeting a student-athlete’s varsity career can be.
