Nolin Ainsworth

Thunder Mountain’s Chase Saviers, right, as teammate Noah Reishus-O’Brien, right, blocks out Ketchikan’s Shakim Bauer during the 4A Regional V Basketball Tournament at JDHS on Wednesday. Ketchikan won 65-44. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Falcons season ends in 60-47 loss to JDHS

The Juneau-Douglas High School boys basketball team’s fast start eliminated the Thunder Mountain Falcons from the 4A Boys Region V basketball tournament Thursday afternoon. JDHS… Continue reading

Thunder Mountain’s Chase Saviers, right, as teammate Noah Reishus-O’Brien, right, blocks out Ketchikan’s Shakim Bauer during the 4A Regional V Basketball Tournament at JDHS on Wednesday. Ketchikan won 65-44. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Ketchikan High School sophomore Payton Simmons (50) guards Thunder Mountain junior Andee Johnson (22) under the basket Tuesday during the Lady Kings’ 49-31 win against Thunder Mountain in the first round of the Region V 4A tournament in the Juneau-Douglas gym in Juneau.(Taylor Balkom | Ketchikan Daily News)

Kayhi rolls in 4A Region V first round tournament game

The Thunder Mountain girls basketball team’s defense derailed Ketchikan’s offense temporarily Tuesday night. However, the Falcons were unable to slow the King’s fastbreak in the… Continue reading

Ketchikan High School sophomore Payton Simmons (50) guards Thunder Mountain junior Andee Johnson (22) under the basket Tuesday during the Lady Kings’ 49-31 win against Thunder Mountain in the first round of the Region V 4A tournament in the Juneau-Douglas gym in Juneau.(Taylor Balkom | Ketchikan Daily News)
Photo courtesy Scott Balovich The Juneau-Douglas High School girls basketball senior class. Back row (left to right): Rena Nauer, Patricia Enriquez, Maddie Johnson. Front row: Meghna Bathija, Georgia Robinson. Bathija and Robinson will play in 4A Girls Region V Tournament as varsity squad members.

Final games for seniors Robinson, Bathija

With just four losses this season, the Juneau-Douglas Crimson Bears girls basketball team has a great chance to make the state tournament. The Crimson Bears… Continue reading

Photo courtesy Scott Balovich The Juneau-Douglas High School girls basketball senior class. Back row (left to right): Rena Nauer, Patricia Enriquez, Maddie Johnson. Front row: Meghna Bathija, Georgia Robinson. Bathija and Robinson will play in 4A Girls Region V Tournament as varsity squad members.

Crimson Bears’ defense dominant in 58-40 win over Falcons

Headed into last weekend’s regular season finale, the Juneau-Douglas High School boys basketball team had lost five of their six Southeast Conference games this season.… Continue reading

Photo courtesy Sue Reishus-O’Brien Thunder Mountain High School boys basketball seniors pose on senior night with coach John Blasco. Back row (left to right): John Blasco, Justin Sleppy, Mahina Toutaiolepo, Zebadiah Storie, Chase Saviers, Riley Olsen, Garth Tupou, Cale Jenkins, Noah Reishus-O’Brien, John Morris. Front row: Kaiden Ward.

Thunder Mountain seniors recognized

The largest senior class in Thunder Mountain High School basketball history was celebrated Saturday prior to their final regular season game against Juneau-Douglas High School.… Continue reading

Photo courtesy Sue Reishus-O’Brien Thunder Mountain High School boys basketball seniors pose on senior night with coach John Blasco. Back row (left to right): John Blasco, Justin Sleppy, Mahina Toutaiolepo, Zebadiah Storie, Chase Saviers, Riley Olsen, Garth Tupou, Cale Jenkins, Noah Reishus-O’Brien, John Morris. Front row: Kaiden Ward.
Juneau-Douglas’s Kasey Watts, Ulyx Bohulano and Bryce Swofford pile up with Thunder Mountain’s Roy Tupou and Riley Olson during a loose ball at TMHS on Friday, March 3, 2017. JDHS won 46-40. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Hoover powers JDHS to 46-40 win over Falcons

Nothing came easy Friday night for the Thunder Mountain Falcons — not even lay ups. TMHS recorded its lowest point total of the season and… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas’s Kasey Watts, Ulyx Bohulano and Bryce Swofford pile up with Thunder Mountain’s Roy Tupou and Riley Olson during a loose ball at TMHS on Friday, March 3, 2017. JDHS won 46-40. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Bob Hartt, Betsy Fischer, Bonnie O’Day take a break from classic cross country skiing at the Snow Mountain Ranch in Grandby, Colorado during the 2017 Ski For Light International Feb. 5-12, 2017. (Photo courtesy Betsy Fischer)

Skiing Into The Unknown

Longtime Juneau cross country ski enthusiasts Scott and Betsy Fischer have joined the family. So have Carl and Lauren Heine. Ken Leghorn and spouse Julie… Continue reading

Bob Hartt, Betsy Fischer, Bonnie O’Day take a break from classic cross country skiing at the Snow Mountain Ranch in Grandby, Colorado during the 2017 Ski For Light International Feb. 5-12, 2017. (Photo courtesy Betsy Fischer)
John Sleppy and his son, Justin, 18, photographed at the Thunder Mountain High School gymnasium on Feb. 1. John is an assistant coach for the Juneau-Douglas High School boys varsity team and Justin is a student team manager for the Thunder Mountain High School boys varsity team. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Father and son are cross-town basketball rivals

Last year, John Sleppy became the Juneau-Douglas High School assistant boys basketball coach. “First words I told him were I’m proud to be his assistant… Continue reading

John Sleppy and his son, Justin, 18, photographed at the Thunder Mountain High School gymnasium on Feb. 1. John is an assistant coach for the Juneau-Douglas High School boys varsity team and Justin is a student team manager for the Thunder Mountain High School boys varsity team. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Jackson Lehnhart plays in the New England Small College Athletic Conference Men’s Soccer Championship between Hamilton College and Amherst College Nov. 6, 2016 in Amherst, Massachusetts. (Courtesy Jackson Lehnhart)

Juneau soccer alum gets All-American nod

In 2013, Jackson Lehnhart capped his high school soccer career with the Gatorade Alaska Player of the Year Award. Now, the 5 foot, 10 inch… Continue reading

Jackson Lehnhart plays in the New England Small College Athletic Conference Men’s Soccer Championship between Hamilton College and Amherst College Nov. 6, 2016 in Amherst, Massachusetts. (Courtesy Jackson Lehnhart)
Thunder Mountain senior Zebadiah Storie (2) makes a move around Ketchikan High School freshman Chris Lee (11) on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017, during the Falcons’ 68-67 loss to the Kings in the Clarke Cochrane Gym. (Taylor Balkom | Ketchikan Daily News)

Senior Night: Ketchikan sweeps TMHS with 68-67 Saturday win

Last Saturday, the Juneau-Douglas High School Crimson Bears celebrated their senior night with a wild, 63-54 win over the Ketchikan Kings. The Kings liked the… Continue reading

Thunder Mountain senior Zebadiah Storie (2) makes a move around Ketchikan High School freshman Chris Lee (11) on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017, during the Falcons’ 68-67 loss to the Kings in the Clarke Cochrane Gym. (Taylor Balkom | Ketchikan Daily News)

JDHS girls sweep 3A Sitka

Early in the third quarter and leading by seven points, Kendyl Carson and Caitlin Pusich traded 3-point attempts, each missing two in a row on… Continue reading

Ketchikan’s Sarah McClennan, left, is fouled by Thunder Mountain’s Kyra Jenkins Hayes at TMHS on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2017. Ketchikan won 55-26. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Falcons no match for Kings as TMHS struggles to score

Give them credit — the Thunder Mountain High School girls basketball team didn’t let up in the fourth quarter after falling 26 points behind Ketchikan… Continue reading

Ketchikan’s Sarah McClennan, left, is fouled by Thunder Mountain’s Kyra Jenkins Hayes at TMHS on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2017. Ketchikan won 55-26. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Falcon teams challenge Ketchikan, JDHS girls face off against Sitka

Falcon teams challenge Ketchikan, JDHS girls face off against Sitka

The Thunder Mountain boys basketball team likes to hoop in Southeast Alaska — and the state has taken notice. On Wednesday the Falcons broke into… Continue reading

Falcon teams challenge Ketchikan, JDHS girls face off against Sitka
Steve Thompson, of Alaska Goaltending Academy, leads a drill for goaltenders at Treadwell Arena on Wednesday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Home ice advantage: Bringing goalie expertise across Alaska

Two former University of Alaska Fairbanks goalies are tapping into the minds of the state’s next generation of netminders. Steve Thompson, a Nanook between 2009-2014,… Continue reading

Steve Thompson, of Alaska Goaltending Academy, leads a drill for goaltenders at Treadwell Arena on Wednesday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Bohulano, Swofford dazzle on senior night

The Juneau-Douglas boys basketball team saw an early 17 point lead evaporate by the fourth quarter, but summoned just enough strength to win over Ketchikan… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas’s Bryce Swofford, left, and Ulyx Bohulano try to trap Ketchkan’s Chris Lee at JDHS on Friday. Ketchikan won 66-47. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Ketchikan flattens JDHS behind Smith’s 32 points

The Ketchikan JV and C team players have watched senior Jake Smith practice enough times to know when he’s hot. After making his fifth 3-pointer… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas’s Bryce Swofford, left, and Ulyx Bohulano try to trap Ketchkan’s Chris Lee at JDHS on Friday. Ketchikan won 66-47. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
An Auke Bay Elementary School student competes in the 1-foot high kick as part of the Native Youth Olympics Friday at Riverbend Elementary. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)

Photos: Native Youth Olympics at Riverbend Elementary

Riverbend Elementary School hosted three other elementary schools as several dozen grade schoolers competed in Native Youth Olympics on Friday.… Continue reading

An Auke Bay Elementary School student competes in the 1-foot high kick as part of the Native Youth Olympics Friday at Riverbend Elementary. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)
Thunder Mountain pitcher Philip Wall smiles after signing a national letter of intent to play baseball at University of Northwestern-St. Paul on Wednesday in the Thunder Mountain High School auditorium. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)

Playing ball in St. Paul: 17-year-old TMHS pitcher signs letter of intent

Seventeen-year-old Thunder Mountain High School pitcher Philip Wall won’t have a long offseason this year. Wall signed a letter of intent to play baseball at… Continue reading

Thunder Mountain pitcher Philip Wall smiles after signing a national letter of intent to play baseball at University of Northwestern-St. Paul on Wednesday in the Thunder Mountain High School auditorium. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas boys basketball seniors pose before practice Wednesday, Feb. 15 at the JDHS gym. Left to Right: Ulyx Bohulano, Hunter Beelitz, Bryce Swofford, Jordan Milligan, Marshall Shapland-Murray, Luis Lozada. Not pictured Alison Ford, David Timothy, John Williams. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)

Weekend preview: Kayhi and JDHS face off in big series

The prep basketball season is quickly winding down with just four regular season games remaining for each of Juneau’s four high school squads. The boys… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas boys basketball seniors pose before practice Wednesday, Feb. 15 at the JDHS gym. Left to Right: Ulyx Bohulano, Hunter Beelitz, Bryce Swofford, Jordan Milligan, Marshall Shapland-Murray, Luis Lozada. Not pictured Alison Ford, David Timothy, John Williams. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)

Juneau Ski Club teens takes to Girdwood, earn four podium finishes

Fifteen of Juneau’s fastest teenage ski racers returned Monday after racing in the the Alyeska Cup State Championships Feb. 8-12 in Girdwood. Approximatley 100 racers… Continue reading