The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé girls varsity basketball team won their second game in a row at the Tarkanian Classic in Las Vegas on Thursday, defeating Colorado’s Castle View High School 47-39.
“Today’s game was a little more physical than yesterday, but we thrived off it,” said JDHS head coach Tanya Nizich. “Castle View came out hard, we played harder, they were loud and we got louder. We are all a very competitive group and hungry to succeed.”
The game was played at Durango High School (Nevada) with a 35-second shot, which hasn’t been a problem for the Crimson Bears.
“Nope, we haven’t had an issue with the shot clock,” Nizich said. “We caused them to turn it over twice as their shot clock expired.”
The game started with the Crimson Bears trailing the Sabercats 12-9 after eight minutes. JDHS junior Gwen Nizich and sophomore Layla Tokuoka both hit shots past the arc in the stanza, Tokuoka added a free throw and senior Kerra Baxter scored a basket.
In the second quarter, JDHS junior Cambry Lockhart hit from deep, Nizich added a shot and senior Cailynn Baxter worked for two more, but the Crimson Bears trailed 21-16 going into the half.
“The first two games were great,” C. Baxter said. “I picture Vegas as our bonding and team-building trip and I think as the season goes on we’ll play even more amazing together. I thought our strengths for today were that we didn’t give up. We were down for three quarters and kept pushing and pushing.”
The two teams played an even third quarter, with Sabercats junior Kenzie Tosch notching all nine of her team’s points and Crimson Bears’ Tokuoka hitting from deep, sophomore Bergen Erickson and Lockhart getting shots and G. Nizich hitting a pair from the charity stripe to trail 30-25.
JDHS would hold the Sabercats to another quarter of nine points while ramping up their offensive aggression with six players finding the basket. JDHS senior Addison Wilson found range from deep and added three free throws, G. Nizich hit another bomb, Lockhart added a score, the Baxters found points and Tokuoka made three physical shots that resulted in trips to the free throw line, and the Crimson Bears were on top 47-39.
“I think the first two games were pretty good,” Wilson said. “We still have some things to work on, but the first two games were a great way to start our season. I think our communication on the court has been good and being able to trust our teammates with the ball as well. Any of us can handle the ball and we all know that.”
Tokuoka led the Crimson Bears with 11 points, G. Nizich 10, Lockhart eight, C. Baxter six, Wilson six, K. Baxter four and Erickson two.
JDHS hit 13-17 at the free throw line, Castle View 5-10.
Tosch led the Sabercats with 18 points, while junior Sophi Pinello had 10, senior Lizzy Mroz six, senior Annabelle Pedersen two, senior Gracie Richie two and senior Casey Garner one.
“For the first games overall, we did pretty good with being a team and communicating with each other on the court,” Tokuoka said. “I know over the season we will start to have more chemistry and mend together. This last game started off strong, but a little hesitant with the team’s energy. The other team brought energy, but we brought even more. Just gaining control over the second half really helped everyone out and I think if we bring that tomorrow we will do even better.”
JDHS next faces California’s Santa Monica High School in a semifinal. On Thursday, the Vikings defeated Spring Valley (Nevada) 58-22 and Alta (Utah) 51-45.
On Wednesday, JDHS defeated Nevada’s Cimarron-Memorial Spartans 45-21. Nizich scored 11 points, K. Baxter nine, Lockhart eight, Wilson six, C. Baxter five and Mary Johnson and Tokuoka three apiece.
• Contact Klas Stolpe at klas.stolpe@juneauempire.com.
The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears girls basketball team pose in the bleachers at Durango High School in Las Vegas during the Tarkanian Classic Tournament. (Photo courtesy JDHS Crimson Bears)
