Thanks to temperatures of about 45 degrees below zero, the Crimson Bear men's basketball team couldn't get a rental car when it arrived in Fairbanks on Thursday.
No matter. Carlos Boozer was more than capable of carrying his team.
The Juneau-Douglas High School standout scored a career-high 42 points - just two of the school record - including 14 in the fourth quarter, to help the Bears motor past Lathrop High School, 77-67, in the opener of their three-game road trip.
"He looks like a man, he plays like a man," said Lathrop coach Milo Griffin.
"He obviously had a good night," Juneau coach George Houston said. "But you've got to have other players."
Senior guard James Wilson was one of those other players, adding 19 points to the Juneau attack as the Bears improved to 14-2 overall. Juneau faces West Valley tonight at 6 p.m., then squares off with the Malemutes again on Saturday at 7:30.
It turned out to be a matchup of the state's No. 2 and No. 3 teams - Juneau and Lathrop - according to the first sportswriters' basketball poll of the season released Thursday. East Anchorage was given the No. 1 nod.
Because they couldn't get wheels - the rental car companies won't allow rentals in such cold weather - the Bears couldn't get to the gym for even as much as a light shoot-around prior to Thursday's game.
But when they finally did arrive at the gym, they quickly warmed up to the occasion.
The Malemutes (12-2) jumped out to an 11-2 lead and took a 20-12 advantage after one quarter thanks in part to four treys in the first eight minutes - they hit 10 on the night overall.
But the Bears scrambled back. Boozer, who finished with 20 first-half points, scored 10 points in a 14-5 Juneau run to end the second quarter, giving JD a 35-34 lead at the intermission.
The game went back and forth early in the third quarter. Boozer's sixth of nine dunks on the night made it 45-40, and the Bears retained their five-point lead after three quarters, 53-48.
Juneau went on an 8-3 run to start the final quarter - punctuated by back-to-back Boozer slams - extending Juneau's lead to 10 points.
"We played a great three and a half quarters and then we laid down and didn't do some fundamental things," Bailey said. "I think fatigue set in, and some of our passes and moves weren't as crisp as the first half."
The Malemutes made a run at Juneau, closing the gap to four points with two minutes left, but the Bears fended off the rally. Christian Carpeneti (6 points) came up with two big baskets in the homestretch, including a drive to the hoop following a Wilson steal, giving JD a 71-65 lead and some breathing room.
Grady Treston (5 points), Evan Tromble (3) and Nick Tyner (2) also scored for Juneau. For Lathrop, Jesse Whitt (20), Kyle Bailey (16) and Ryan Broker (12) all scored in double figures.
"We need to play all four quarters strong (on Saturday)," said Lathrop sophomore Norman Edwards. "We broke down in the fourth quarter. Everyone was trying to do individual things and we missed some shots.
"We just need to find the weak man on the floor and leave him open so we can double team Boozer."
The Malemutes might consider a triple-team after Boozer's performance on Thursday.
"We need to not let down tomorrow," Houston said, referring to tonight's game against West Valley (2-8). "I told my guys it would be a mistake to look past tomorrow's opponents."
