<\/a>Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s Kerra Baxter makes a layup during Juneau-Douglas’s 65-43 victory over Ketchikan, winning the Region V 4A Basketball Tournament at the Clarke Cochrane Gymnasium on Friday. Juneau-Douglas eliminated Ketchikan and will advance to play at state. (Christopher Mullen \/ Ketchikan Daily News)<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
C. Baxter would score inside off an assist by senior sister Kerra Baxter, Lockhart would steal a ball and pass to K. Baxter who fed Tokuoka for a score, and Tokuoka stole a ball and fed C. Baxter for a 20-6 lead after eight minutes.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
“We did a very good job with our inside-outside game, even better tonight,” coach Nizich said. “Both Baxters were owning the inside and nothing was getting in their way. Mary (Johnson) hit a quick shot for us to keep the momentum in the beginning. Addison (Wilson) was grabbing some big boards for us and delivered some really great passes. Gwen was keeping it lit up on the outside and the court awareness between Layla and Cambry is just so natural to them.”<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
JDHS continued their dominance into the second quarter on an 8-0 run and pushed that into a 35-14 lead at the half.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
Tokuoka opened the second half with a score and Kayhi senior Aspen Bauer answered with back-to-back scores past the arc, but Tokuoka scored again, Nizich hit a shot and was fouled and made the free throw, C. Baxter spun inside to score and senior Mary Johnson hit inside off an assist by Nizich for a 49-19 lead with 2:10 left in the stanza.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
JDHS would lead 54-27 after three quarters.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
“I’ve never played in front of that big of a crowd,” G. Nizich said after the game. “So naturally the stakes and emotions were on a whole new level. This was the first time I’ve got to cut down the net, but what means the most is that I got the opportunity to do it with my amazing team. Our team chemistry continues to strengthen and I’m looking forward to seeing where it will take us within the next month.”<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
C. Baxter opened the final stanza with a basket, but the next three minutes belonged to Kayhi as they went on a 13-0 run behind a deep shot from Bauer, another from junior Kali Macmanus, two shots inside from senior Kylie Brendible and another from the arc by Macmanus to pull to 56-40.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
<\/a>Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s Gwen Nizich shoots the ball during Juneau-Douglas’s 65-43 victory over Ketchikan, winning the Region V 4A Basketball Tournament at the Clarke Cochrane Gymnasium on Friday. Juneau-Douglas eliminated Ketchikan and will advance to play at state. (Christopher Mullen \/ Ketchikan Daily News)<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
JDHS righted the ship and closed the stanza with scores by K. Baxter inside, Nizich inside and a pair of free throws and freshman Athena Warr inside for the 65-43 final.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
“I’m so proud of my girls, for giving their all and just staying humble,” JDHS’ K. Baxter said. “This week was insane! It was the loudest I’ve ever heard a gym before. I’m proud of the Ketchikan girls too, and happy they gave us two good and tough games. It feels so surreal. Job’s not finished yet though!”<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
Nizich led the Crimson Bears with 23 points, K. Baxter added 18, C. Baxter eight, Lockhart five, Johnson three, senior Addison Wilson, Tokuoka and Warr two each. Nizich had three steals, three assists and three rebounds. C. Baxter had seven rebounds and two assists. K. Baxter 10 rebounds and three assists. Lockhart had four steals, four assist and four rebounds and Tokuoka had three steals, two assists and five rebounds.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
JDHS hit 14-21 at the free throw line, Kayhi 4-16.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
Bauer led the Kings with 12 points, Brendible nine, Macmanus eight, senior Lilli Goodwin six, freshmen Claire Ruaro and Lauren Tucker three apiece, and freshman Peyton Nickich two.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
This is the JDHS’ sixth win over Kayhi this season. They opened regions with a 64-36 win and won 58-27, 67-28 at Ketchikan Jan. 17-18, and 52-23 and 51-23 at home Feb. 13-14.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
The Crimson Bears advance to the ASAA 3A\/4A Basketball State Championships March 19-22 at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. JDHS is 19-6 overall and 6-0 in the Southeast Conference. Kayhi ends their season at 8-17 overall, 0-6 SEC.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
“Ketchikan did an amazing job hosting this tournament,” coach Nizich said. “It was a packed house every night and so fun seeing all the teams, fans, cheer, dance, and band being so loud. What a unique and incredible atmosphere we get to play in. We want to thank Ketchikan for their wonderful hospitality this week.”<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t