Sports

TMHS junior Thomas Baxter rises for a layup on a fastbreak during a Saturday night game against Ketchikan. Baxter on Feb. 9 became the fastest Falcon to reach 1,000 points and is now the school's third leading scorer. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Baxter passes 1K points, now eyes Thunder Mountain’s scoring summit

He’s the fastest in school history to hit 1,000-point mark.

TMHS junior Thomas Baxter rises for a layup on a fastbreak during a Saturday night game against Ketchikan. Baxter on Feb. 9 became the fastest Falcon to reach 1,000 points and is now the school's third leading scorer. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Caleb Scussel from Floyd Dryden Middle School and Luke Bell from Haines Glacier Bears square off against each other for the first of the final matches for this year’s Southeast Alaska Middle School Regional Wrestling Tournament on Saturday at Floyd Dryden Middle School. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

Southeast Alaska Middle School Regional Wrestling Tournament comes to Floyd Dryden

Over 200 wrestlers from 13 different schools.

Caleb Scussel from Floyd Dryden Middle School and Luke Bell from Haines Glacier Bears square off against each other for the first of the final matches for this year’s Southeast Alaska Middle School Regional Wrestling Tournament on Saturday at Floyd Dryden Middle School. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
TMHS junior Thomas Baxter (30) rolls the ball off his fingertips and into the hoop while defended by Ketchikan junior Andrew Kleinschmidt-Guthrie in the first half of a home loss to Kayhi. Baxter scored 19 of his 21 total points in the first half.(Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

TMHS dealt a loss at home

Falcons win one, lose one with Ketchikan to split the regular season series.

TMHS junior Thomas Baxter (30) rolls the ball off his fingertips and into the hoop while defended by Ketchikan junior Andrew Kleinschmidt-Guthrie in the first half of a home loss to Kayhi. Baxter scored 19 of his 21 total points in the first half.(Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Klukwan’s Michael Ganey, center, shoots against Hydaburg’s Ben Young in the C final at the 2019 Gold Medal Basketball Tournament. The tournament returns this March after a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

After a 3-year break, Gold Medal basketball is almost here

“This tournament is a generational thing.”

Klukwan’s Michael Ganey, center, shoots against Hydaburg’s Ben Young in the C final at the 2019 Gold Medal Basketball Tournament. The tournament returns this March after a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
TMHS junior Lance Nierra (3) races toward the hoop while defended by Palmer senior Chad Landon (22). Nierra finished the game with 6 points. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

TMHS wins handily against Palmer

Falcons never looked back after a 26-point first quarter.

TMHS junior Lance Nierra (3) races toward the hoop while defended by Palmer senior Chad Landon (22). Nierra finished the game with 6 points. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
The Thunder Mountain High School boys returned from a four-game road trip with a new win and three losses. The Falcons on Thursday were set to start a three-game homestand with a game against Palmer and two conference games against Ketchikan. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

The Falcons have landed: TMHS boys to play three home games after four on the road

Palmer Thursday, Ketchikan on Friday and Saturday.

The Thunder Mountain High School boys returned from a four-game road trip with a new win and three losses. The Falcons on Thursday were set to start a three-game homestand with a game against Palmer and two conference games against Ketchikan. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
TMHS junior Mikah Caradang puts up a 3-point shot in the second quarter Tuesday night during a conference game against JDHS. Caradang would finish the game with a total of 6 points. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

TMHS girls win a close cross-town contest

Both Juneau teams play again on Feb. 21.

TMHS junior Mikah Caradang puts up a 3-point shot in the second quarter Tuesday night during a conference game against JDHS. Caradang would finish the game with a total of 6 points. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
If the author had cash to burn, he wouldn't rent a truck to go hunt the Haul Road, he'd buy a new truck just for the trip. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)

I Went to the Woods: Spending spree

Hunting expos are a lot like soccer in that I’m not experienced enough to know the hierarchy.

  • Feb 15, 2023
  • By Jeff Lund For the Juneau Empire
If the author had cash to burn, he wouldn't rent a truck to go hunt the Haul Road, he'd buy a new truck just for the trip. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)
Thunder Mountain’s Cailynn Baxter (23) and Kiara Endicott (14) guard Ketchikan’s Kali MacManus (1) during Saturday’s game at Ketchikan High School, which Thunder Mountain won 60-38. (Christopher Mullen / Ketchikan Daily News)

Thunder Mountain girls split 2 with Kayhi

They followed a Friday loss with a 22-point win.

Thunder Mountain’s Cailynn Baxter (23) and Kiara Endicott (14) guard Ketchikan’s Kali MacManus (1) during Saturday’s game at Ketchikan High School, which Thunder Mountain won 60-38. (Christopher Mullen / Ketchikan Daily News)
JDHS junior Sean Oliver puts up a tricky lay up against Ketchikan High School during a conference game Friday night. Oliver was second in leading his team in scores for a total of 16 points. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

JDHS boys win 2 against Ketchikan

Crimson Bears girls finish 1-1 agaisnt Mt. Edgecumbe.

JDHS junior Sean Oliver puts up a tricky lay up against Ketchikan High School during a conference game Friday night. Oliver was second in leading his team in scores for a total of 16 points. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
A high school basketball rests on a gym floor. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

TMHS girls win at home; boys lose on the road

A single point gave the Thunder Mountain High School girls basketball team its 12th win of the season. Thursday, TMHS hosted Mount Edgecumbe High School… Continue reading

A high school basketball rests on a gym floor. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Sophomore twins Cailynn and Kerra Baxter, outside, and juniors twins Jaya and Mikah Carandang, inside, smile for a picture after their Monday night practice at Thunder Mountain High School. ( Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Double-double trouble: It’s a win-win to have two sets of twins for TMHS girls basketball

Sophomores Kerra and Cailynn Baxter and juniors Jaya and Mikah Carandang talk chemistry, advantages

Sophomore twins Cailynn and Kerra Baxter, outside, and juniors twins Jaya and Mikah Carandang, inside, smile for a picture after their Monday night practice at Thunder Mountain High School. ( Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Courtesy Photo / Tanya Nizich JDHS girls basketball team poses for group photo during their four-game road trip in Anchorage. The Crimson Bears played one solo game against Service High School with the remaining three games being part of the Dimond Tournament against Lathrop, Colony and Dimond High Schools.

JDHS girls basketball goes 3-1 at Dimond Tournament

Crimson Bears beat Service High School in pre-tourny game.

Courtesy Photo / Tanya Nizich JDHS girls basketball team poses for group photo during their four-game road trip in Anchorage. The Crimson Bears played one solo game against Service High School with the remaining three games being part of the Dimond Tournament against Lathrop, Colony and Dimond High Schools.
The Crimson Bear’s took home second place at the 2023 Alaska DII Hockey State Championships over the weekend to round off another successful season. (Courtesy / Judy Campbell)

Crimson Bears hockey makes history at state tournament

The team finished second and was honored with the tournament’s sportsmanship award.

The Crimson Bear’s took home second place at the 2023 Alaska DII Hockey State Championships over the weekend to round off another successful season. (Courtesy / Judy Campbell)
JDHS senior Orion Dybdahl (20) shoots over the outstretched arms of TMHS junior James Polasky early in a Crimson Bears comeback win at Thunder Mountain High School. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

‘What a battle’: Fierce fourth quarter propels JDHS to narrow win over TMHS

Second game between Juneau teams went a lot like the first.

JDHS senior Orion Dybdahl (20) shoots over the outstretched arms of TMHS junior James Polasky early in a Crimson Bears comeback win at Thunder Mountain High School. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
JDHS senior Kai Hargrave sets up to take the first of two free throw shots with 1.7 seconds left in Wednesday night’s game against Thunder Mountain High School. Hargrave’s last second shot secured the win for the Crimson Bears in their first conference game of the season. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

JDHS wins first conference game in the last second

JDHS and TMHS play again Thursday night.

JDHS senior Kai Hargrave sets up to take the first of two free throw shots with 1.7 seconds left in Wednesday night’s game against Thunder Mountain High School. Hargrave’s last second shot secured the win for the Crimson Bears in their first conference game of the season. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
The Thunder Mountain High School girls basketball team poses for a photo after winning the Ocean View Invitational. (Courtesy Photo)

Lady Falcons fly high in California tournament

TMHS girls now 7-0.

The Thunder Mountain High School girls basketball team poses for a photo after winning the Ocean View Invitational. (Courtesy Photo)
JDHS junior Sean Oliver and senior Orion Dybdahl share all-tournament honors at the conclusion of this year’s 3-game Al Howard Shootout tournament in Soldotna. (Courtesy Photo / Robert Casperson)

JDHS boys finish 2-1 in Al Howard Shootout tournament

Next, they play two cross-town games.

JDHS junior Sean Oliver and senior Orion Dybdahl share all-tournament honors at the conclusion of this year’s 3-game Al Howard Shootout tournament in Soldotna. (Courtesy Photo / Robert Casperson)
JDHS girls and boys basketball team pose for a photo outside after traveling to Soldotna for a 3-game tournament. (Courtesy Photo / Tanya Nizich)

JDHS girls win 2, lose 1 in tournament play

Next up, is an away game against Service High School.

JDHS girls and boys basketball team pose for a photo outside after traveling to Soldotna for a 3-game tournament. (Courtesy Photo / Tanya Nizich)
TMHS sophomore Kerra Baxter (22) dribbles while surveying the court during a loss to Wasilla. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

TMHS loses two to Wasilla

Similar final scores, but two very different games.

TMHS sophomore Kerra Baxter (22) dribbles while surveying the court during a loss to Wasilla. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)