High School Sports

Alwen Carrillo, a senior at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé, signs a letter of intent on Monday to play college basketball at Edmond College in Lynnwood, Washington. (Photo courtesy of Annie Lazo-Chappell)

Alwen Carrillo signs letter of intent to play basketball for Edmond College

All-state JDHS guard averaged 16.2 points, 5.2 assists during senior season.

Alwen Carrillo, a senior at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé, signs a letter of intent on Monday to play college basketball at Edmond College in Lynnwood, Washington. (Photo courtesy of Annie Lazo-Chappell)
Thunder Mountain High School coach John Blasco, shown in action at the state tournament opening game against West Valley last week, was selected the 2024 4A Boys Coach of the Year by the Alaska Basketball Coaches Association. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)

Blasco, Young and Brock selected respective divisional state coaches of the year

Thunder Mountain, Mt. Edgecumbe, Petersburg coaches note the award is about the kids, communities.

Thunder Mountain High School coach John Blasco, shown in action at the state tournament opening game against West Valley last week, was selected the 2024 4A Boys Coach of the Year by the Alaska Basketball Coaches Association. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)
The Thunder Mountain Falcons boys basketball team poses with their runner-up trophy after falling to East Anchorage 60-34 in the title game of the 2024 ASAA March Madness Alaska 4A Boys Basketball State Championship game on Saturday at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)

Thunder Mountain boys fall to East 60-34 in state title game

Falcons’ historic final season ends after surprising run at championship, but journey will continue.

The Thunder Mountain Falcons boys basketball team poses with their runner-up trophy after falling to East Anchorage 60-34 in the title game of the 2024 ASAA March Madness Alaska 4A Boys Basketball State Championship game on Saturday at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)
Thunder Mountain High School senior Jenna Dobson (5) defends Mountain City senior Morgan Maldonado during the Falcons’ 52-37 loss to the Lions in the 3rd/5th-place game of the 2024 ASAA March Madness Alaska 4A Girls Basketball State Championships on Saturday at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)

Thunder Mountain High School girls end historic final season at state tournament

Falcons battle, but fall 52-37 in third-place game loss to Mountain City.

Thunder Mountain High School senior Jenna Dobson (5) defends Mountain City senior Morgan Maldonado during the Falcons’ 52-37 loss to the Lions in the 3rd/5th-place game of the 2024 ASAA March Madness Alaska 4A Girls Basketball State Championships on Saturday at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)
Thunder Mountain High School junior Cailynn Baxter (23) powers a shot against Colony junior Tonya Karpow, freshman Jericho Wuestenberg and junior Alycia Shelley during the Falcons 69-35 semifinal loss to the Knights at the 2024 ASAA March Madness Alaska 4A Girls Basketball State Championships on Friday at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)

Fourth-ranked Thunder Mountain girls fall to top-ranked Colony in state semifinals

Coach Lee says Falcons “built for competition, have earned the right to play tomorrow.”

Thunder Mountain High School junior Cailynn Baxter (23) powers a shot against Colony junior Tonya Karpow, freshman Jericho Wuestenberg and junior Alycia Shelley during the Falcons 69-35 semifinal loss to the Knights at the 2024 ASAA March Madness Alaska 4A Girls Basketball State Championships on Friday at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)
Thunder Mountain celebrates their 48-45 overtime win against the Service Cougars in a semifinal at the 2024 ASAA March Madness Alaska 4A Boys Basketball State Championships on Friday at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. The Falcons will play East Anchorage for the state championship Saturday. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)

Thunder Mountain boys defeat Service, will play top-ranked East Anchorage for state title Saturday

Sixth-ranked Falcons score second upset of tournament, defeating second-ranked Cougars 48-45 in OT.

Thunder Mountain celebrates their 48-45 overtime win against the Service Cougars in a semifinal at the 2024 ASAA March Madness Alaska 4A Boys Basketball State Championships on Friday at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. The Falcons will play East Anchorage for the state championship Saturday. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)
Thunder Mountain senior Jaya Carandang defends Dimond senior Maile Wilcox (5) during the Falcons 58-47 win over the Lynx in the 2024 ASAA March Madness Alaska 4A Girls Basketball State Championships on Wednesday at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)

Thunder Mountain girls open state tournament with 58-47 win over Dimond

Falcons earn season rematch against top-ranked Colony in Friday semifinals

Thunder Mountain senior Jaya Carandang defends Dimond senior Maile Wilcox (5) during the Falcons 58-47 win over the Lynx in the 2024 ASAA March Madness Alaska 4A Girls Basketball State Championships on Wednesday at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)
Thunder Mountain senior Samuel Lockhart (14) passes to senior Kasen Ludeman (13) under pressure from West Valley senior Sawyer Petersen (24) during the Falcons 53-51 overtime win against the Wolfpack in the 2024 ASAA March Madness Alaska 4A Boys Basketball State Championships on Wednesday at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)

TMHS boys rally from 11 down in 4th quarter, open state tournament with OT win against West Valley

No. 6 Falcons top No. 3 Wolfpack, next face second-ranked Service Cougars in Friday’s semifinal.

Thunder Mountain senior Samuel Lockhart (14) passes to senior Kasen Ludeman (13) under pressure from West Valley senior Sawyer Petersen (24) during the Falcons 53-51 overtime win against the Wolfpack in the 2024 ASAA March Madness Alaska 4A Boys Basketball State Championships on Wednesday at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)
The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears and Thunder Mountain Falcons cheer teams pose with their champion and runner-up trophies on Tuesday at the 2024 ASAA/First National Bank Alaska Cheer State Championships at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage. (Klas Stolpe, For the Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas wins fourth state cheer title in a row

Thunder Mountain Falcons earn highest finish with second

The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears and Thunder Mountain Falcons cheer teams pose with their champion and runner-up trophies on Tuesday at the 2024 ASAA/First National Bank Alaska Cheer State Championships at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage. (Klas Stolpe, For the Juneau Empire)
The Thunder Mountain High School Falcons Region V champion girls basketball team pose for a photo during practice at the Thunderdome on Friday. The Falcons begin state tournament play Wednesday at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)

Thunder Mountain girls basketball team ready for back-to-back state tournament play

No. 4 Falcons begin school’s final chase for a title against No. 5 Dimond High School on Wednesday.

The Thunder Mountain High School Falcons Region V champion girls basketball team pose for a photo during practice at the Thunderdome on Friday. The Falcons begin state tournament play Wednesday at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)
The Thunder Mountain High School Falcons Region V champion boys basketball team pose for a photo during practice at the Thunderdome on Friday. The Falcons begin state tournament play Wednesday at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)

Thunder Mountain boys basketball team begins final state tournament play

No. 6 Falcons (19-9) open Wednesday against No. 3 West Valley High School from Fairbanks.

The Thunder Mountain High School Falcons Region V champion boys basketball team pose for a photo during practice at the Thunderdome on Friday. The Falcons begin state tournament play Wednesday at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)
The 2024 Alaska Airlines Region V Basketball Tournament mass pep band, a combined musical extravaganza of Southeast high school pep band members, prepare to play during a game between Haines and Craig last week at the B.J. McGillis Gymnasium in Sitka. (Heather Gluth / MEHS)

Region V Basketball Tournament awards

The conclusion of the Alaska Airlines Region V 2A/4A Basketball Tournament on Saturday at Mt. Edgecumbe High School’s B.J. McGillis Gymnasium in Sitka and the… Continue reading

The 2024 Alaska Airlines Region V Basketball Tournament mass pep band, a combined musical extravaganza of Southeast high school pep band members, prepare to play during a game between Haines and Craig last week at the B.J. McGillis Gymnasium in Sitka. (Heather Gluth / MEHS)
The Thunder Mountain High School Falcons boys basketball team celebrate their 63-58 win over the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears in the championship game of the Alaska Airlines Region V 4A Basketball Tournament on Friday at Mt. Edgecumbe High School’s B.J. McGillis Gymnasium in Sitka. (James Poulson/Daily Sitka Sentinel)

Falcons boys dunk Crimson Bears for schools final Region V basketball title

TMHS steals ball as JDHS seeks tying shot in closing moments, allowing Falcons to prevail 63-58.

The Thunder Mountain High School Falcons boys basketball team celebrate their 63-58 win over the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears in the championship game of the Alaska Airlines Region V 4A Basketball Tournament on Friday at Mt. Edgecumbe High School’s B.J. McGillis Gymnasium in Sitka. (James Poulson/Daily Sitka Sentinel)
Thunder Mountain High School freshman Bergen Erickson (12) cuts the net after the Falcons defeated the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears 56-49 in the championship game of the Alaska Airlines Region V 4A Basketball Tournament on Friday at Mt. Edgecumbe High School’s B.J. McGillis Gymnasium in Sitka. (James Poulson/Daily Sitka Sentinel)

TMHS girls defeat JDHS to repeat as Region V tournament champions

Falcons to play for state title for possibly the final time beginning March 20.

Thunder Mountain High School freshman Bergen Erickson (12) cuts the net after the Falcons defeated the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears 56-49 in the championship game of the Alaska Airlines Region V 4A Basketball Tournament on Friday at Mt. Edgecumbe High School’s B.J. McGillis Gymnasium in Sitka. (James Poulson/Daily Sitka Sentinel)
(Juneau Empire file photo)

JDHS girls eliminate Kayhi Lady Kings from Region V tournament

Top-seed TMHS Falcons await Crimson Bears on Friday.

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Sean Oliver of Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé during a Capital City Classic game Dec. 27, 2023, at JDHS. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Oliver’s army of Crimson Bears eliminates Ketchikan from Region V tournament

Juneau’s two high schools will play each other for boys’ basketball title.

Sean Oliver of Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé during a Capital City Classic game Dec. 27, 2023, at JDHS. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Sandi Wagner, the Alaska School Activities Association associate director, was honored with the first annual Coach George Houston Service Award on Wednesday during the Alaska Airlines Region V 4A Basketball Tournament at Mt. Edgecumbe High School’s B.J. McGillis Gymnasium in Sitka. Wagner is shown with Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Activities Director Chad Benz and JDHS boys basketball coach Robert Casperson. (Photo courtesy Andrew Friske / MEHS)

ASAA’s Sandi Wagner receives inaugural Coach George Houston Service Award

Wagner served as a teacher, activities director and coach in the Juneau School District for decades.

Sandi Wagner, the Alaska School Activities Association associate director, was honored with the first annual Coach George Houston Service Award on Wednesday during the Alaska Airlines Region V 4A Basketball Tournament at Mt. Edgecumbe High School’s B.J. McGillis Gymnasium in Sitka. Wagner is shown with Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Activities Director Chad Benz and JDHS boys basketball coach Robert Casperson. (Photo courtesy Andrew Friske / MEHS)
Thunder Mountain High School senior Samuel Lockhart (14) shoots a 3-pointer during a Feb. 1 game at TMHS. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire file photo)

Falcons’ Lockhart sinks Kings in TMHS’ 66-63 win over Ketchikan to earn Region V championship game

The 3-point “Lockhart Line” arrived at the Alaska Airlines Region V 4A Basketball Tournament at Mt. Edgecumbe High School’s B.J. McGillis Gymnasium in Sitka on… Continue reading

Thunder Mountain High School senior Samuel Lockhart (14) shoots a 3-pointer during a Feb. 1 game at TMHS. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire file photo)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Mila Hargrave (24) shoots under pressure from Thunder Mountain High School senior Ashlyn Gates (2) during a Feb. 3 game at JDHS. (Klas Stolpe/Juneau Empire file photo)

Falcons girls top Crimson Bears to earn Region V championship game

A free throw-shooting contest with a bit of basketball mixed in went in the favor of the Thunder Mountain High School Lady Falcons in a… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Mila Hargrave (24) shoots under pressure from Thunder Mountain High School senior Ashlyn Gates (2) during a Feb. 3 game at JDHS. (Klas Stolpe/Juneau Empire file photo)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s Sean Oliver brings the ball up the court during the team’s regular season finale game against Thunder Mountain High School at JDHS on Feb. 24. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

TMHS boys stop JDHS in Region V tournament opener

Thunder Mountain High School senior Samuel Lockhart hit four free throws in the final 20 seconds to secure a Falcons 62-54 win over the Juneau-Douglas… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s Sean Oliver brings the ball up the court during the team’s regular season finale game against Thunder Mountain High School at JDHS on Feb. 24. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)