High School Sports

Tanya Nizich, head coach of Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s girls’ basketball team, gives instructions to players during the closing minutes of a game against Ketchikan High School on Jan. 6 at JDHS. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s Caden Johns (#5), seen here in a Dec. 16, 2023, game against Palmer High School, was the lone JDHS player named to the all-tournament team during the Division II state hockey tournament in that concluded Saturday in Soldotna. Luke Bovitz (#4) was one of two key players missing during the tournament due to injuries. The Crimson Bears finished fourth in the tournament. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Thunder Mountain High School senior Thomas Baxter (30) shown in action against Kodiak on Thursday, scored 30 points to lead the Falcons over the Ketchikan Kings at Kayhi on Saturday. (Klas Stolpe/For the Juneau Empire)

Thunder Mountain boys split series at Ketchikan

Baxter raises Falcons from 54-45 Friday fall to 61-43 win Saturday

Thunder Mountain High School senior Thomas Baxter (30) shown in action against Kodiak on Thursday, scored 30 points to lead the Falcons over the Ketchikan Kings at Kayhi on Saturday. (Klas Stolpe/For the Juneau Empire)
Thunder Mountain High School senior Kara Strong, Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior Nadia Wilson (12), TMHS junior Kerra Baxter (22) and JDHS freshman Layla Tokuoka (14) battle for a rebound during the Falcons 42-28 win over the Crimson Bears on Saturday at the George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe/For the Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas, Thunder Mountain girls split local road games

Crimson Bears win 42-40 at Falcons’ Thunderdome, Falcons win 42-28 at George Houston Gymnasium.

Thunder Mountain High School senior Kara Strong, Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior Nadia Wilson (12), TMHS junior Kerra Baxter (22) and JDHS freshman Layla Tokuoka (14) battle for a rebound during the Falcons 42-28 win over the Crimson Bears on Saturday at the George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe/For the Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior Gavin Gerrin (1) scores from past the arc over Kodiak junior Mac Abellera (00) during the Crimson Bears 75-50 win over the Bears on Saturday at the George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe/For the Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas boys sweep visiting Kodiak

Crimson Bears defend home den against northern island Bears

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior Gavin Gerrin (1) scores from past the arc over Kodiak junior Mac Abellera (00) during the Crimson Bears 75-50 win over the Bears on Saturday at the George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe/For the Juneau Empire)
Thunder Mountain senior Thomas Baxter (30) defends Kodiak junior Kelly Ticman during the Falcons 71-49 home win over the Bears, Thursday at the Thunderdome. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)

Thunder Mountain boys basketball team too fast for Kodiak

Falcons show depth of bench in 71-49 win at home.

Thunder Mountain senior Thomas Baxter (30) defends Kodiak junior Kelly Ticman during the Falcons 71-49 home win over the Bears, Thursday at the Thunderdome. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)
Kenai Central’s Avery Martin tries to split Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kale’s Dylan Sowa and Camden Kovach on Thursday at the Division II state hockey tournament at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna. (Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

JDHS loses 4-2 to Kenai in DII state hockey tournament opener

No. 4 seed Crimson Bears lose chance for title as No. 5 Kardinals get first-ever opening game win.

Kenai Central’s Avery Martin tries to split Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kale’s Dylan Sowa and Camden Kovach on Thursday at the Division II state hockey tournament at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna. (Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Members of Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s hockey team look to get the puck out of their end of the rink during Saturday’s game against Houston High School at Treadwell Arena. (Photo courtesy of Bailey Hensen)

Crimson Bears get tough tuneup entering hockey playoffs

JDHS, ranked fourth, loses final two regular season games to top-ranked Houston High School.

Members of Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s hockey team look to get the puck out of their end of the rink during Saturday’s game against Houston High School at Treadwell Arena. (Photo courtesy of Bailey Hensen)
Nadia Wilson, left, and Layla Tokuoka, right, of Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé fight for possession of the ball with Skylar Morris of South Anchorage High School during Saturday’s game at JDHS. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

JDHS boys, girls deliver matching pair of basketball wins for homecoming

Both Crimson Bears teams score on key plays in closing seconds of back-and-forth contests.

Nadia Wilson, left, and Layla Tokuoka, right, of Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé fight for possession of the ball with Skylar Morris of South Anchorage High School during Saturday’s game at JDHS. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The Thunder Mountain High School Falcons boys basketball team are shown with their championship trophy after winning the Wolverine Classic Tournament at South Anchorage High School on Saturday. (Photo courtesy TMHS)

Falcons boys top Eagle River for Wolverine Classic championship at South Anchorage

The Thunder Mountain High School boys basketball team defeated the Eagle River Wolves 61-57 to win the championship game of South Anchorage High School’s Wolverine… Continue reading

The Thunder Mountain High School Falcons boys basketball team are shown with their championship trophy after winning the Wolverine Classic Tournament at South Anchorage High School on Saturday. (Photo courtesy TMHS)