High School Sports

Juneau's Orion Dybdahl (20) forces a jump ball with Kayhi's Jared Rhoads (15) during Juneau's 71-52 loss to Kayhi on Friday at the Clarke Cochrane Gymnasium. (Christopher Mullen / Ketchikan Daily News)

JDHS boys secure first seed after win in Ketchikan

Crimson Bears boys record at 15-8.

Juneau's Orion Dybdahl (20) forces a jump ball with Kayhi's Jared Rhoads (15) during Juneau's 71-52 loss to Kayhi on Friday at the Clarke Cochrane Gymnasium. (Christopher Mullen / Ketchikan Daily News)
TMHS sophomore Cailynn Baxter (center) is swarmed by teammates following a last-second, game-winning shot against JDHS Tuesday night. The teams have met two times so far this season and each game has come down to the wire. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

TMHS secures another close win against JDHS

The Juneau teams will meet again on Feb. 28 and March 1.

TMHS sophomore Cailynn Baxter (center) is swarmed by teammates following a last-second, game-winning shot against JDHS Tuesday night. The teams have met two times so far this season and each game has come down to the wire. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
JDHS junior Sean Oliver takes a free throw shot during a game against Thunder Mountain High School on Thursday, Feb. 2. Oliver finished with a total of 20 points against the Crimson Bears’ most recent game against Palmer High School on Friday, Feb. 17. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file)

JDHS notches win against Palmer ahead of conference play

Crimson Bears now sit with a 14-7 record.

JDHS junior Sean Oliver takes a free throw shot during a game against Thunder Mountain High School on Thursday, Feb. 2. Oliver finished with a total of 20 points against the Crimson Bears’ most recent game against Palmer High School on Friday, Feb. 17. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
Thunder Mountain’s Thomas Baxter (30) prepares to shoot the ball as Kayhi’s Archie Dundas (22), Jared Rhoades (15), and Andrew Kleinschmidt-Guthrie (13) try to block him during Thunder Mountain’s 54-56 loss to Kayhi on Friday at Ketchikan High School. On Saturday, the Falcons won the rematch 60-58. (Christopher Mullen / Ketchikan Daily News)

TMHS boys bounce back against Kayhi

Another day, another 2-point game.

Thunder Mountain’s Thomas Baxter (30) prepares to shoot the ball as Kayhi’s Archie Dundas (22), Jared Rhoades (15), and Andrew Kleinschmidt-Guthrie (13) try to block him during Thunder Mountain’s 54-56 loss to Kayhi on Friday at Ketchikan High School. On Saturday, the Falcons won the rematch 60-58. (Christopher Mullen / Ketchikan Daily News)
Anna Dale, a senior and the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears Varsity hockey team’s assistant captain, goes above and beyond on and off the ice. Dale talked with the Empire about her love for the game and how hockey will continue to play a role in her future after high school. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire) Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Transcending Treadwell: Anna Dale hopes to play hockey at the next level and inspire others to get on the ice

“She’s somebody who takes some risks, keeps people together and goes to bat for the team.”

Anna Dale, a senior and the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears Varsity hockey team’s assistant captain, goes above and beyond on and off the ice. Dale talked with the Empire about her love for the game and how hockey will continue to play a role in her future after high school. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire) Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears hockey team played against Houston High School’s Hawks Friday evening at Houston’s home, one of three weekend of away games for the team. (Courtesy / Judy Campbell)

Crimson Bears hockey takes home mixed results from away games

The team preps for upcoming weekend home tournament and #LivelikeMatthewC game

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears hockey team played against Houston High School’s Hawks Friday evening at Houston’s home, one of three weekend of away games for the team. (Courtesy / Judy Campbell)