Juneau-Douglas’ Cooper Kriegmont, left, attempts a steal against Colony’s Sullivan Menard at JDHS on Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019. Colony won 66-40. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas’ Cooper Kriegmont, left, attempts a steal against Colony’s Sullivan Menard at JDHS on Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019. Colony won 66-40. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

JDHS falls to streaking Colony Knights

Knights play Thunder Mountain next two nights

A rough-shooting first half played into the Juneau-Douglas High School boys basketball team’s 66-40 demise against Colony High School on Thursday night at JDHS.

JDHS sophomore Cooper Kriegmont scored 19 points and senior Krishant Samtani scored seven as the visiting Knights defense stood tall — literally — with several players listed at 6-foot-3-inches or above.

“I think as a team we need to be more aggressive on our shots, maybe work a little bit longer to take better shots,” Kriegmont said. “I can blame myself for that a little bit.”

Sophomore Patrick McMahon finished with a game-high 20 points and senior Kyle Dearborn had 11 points for Colony, who play against Thunder Mountain on Friday and Saturday night.

It was the fourth win in a row and ninth of the season for the Knights (9-1), who have come to feel at home on road. Colony High School’s gymnasium sustained damage during the Nov. 30 magnitude 7.0 earthquake, leaving it “closed indefinitely as engineers assess structure damage,” according to the Frontiersman.

“We don’t have our home gym this year because of the earthquake,” McMahon said. “So all our games are on a different court so we’ve just gotten used to it.”

Colton Spencer and Jeremiah Hersrud knocked down 3-pointers in the first quarter as the Knights raced out to a 18-7 advantage.

JDHS coach Robert Casperson said there was too little passing by his team in the first quarter.

“I felt like the few times we did move the ball well, and relocated offensively, we got some open shots, but never made them,” Casperson said. “Those could turn the tide a little bit — at least keep you in it, let you feel better about yourself. But sometimes that basket can get a little smaller if you end up missing a couple in a row.”

McMahon started to heat up in the second quarter, scoring six points, before pouring it on in the third with 10 points. McMahon’s coast-to-coast drive and layup gave the Knights their largest lead of the game, 41-13, in the first two minutes of the second half. The rangy sophomore didn’t stop there, scoring his team’s next four field goals over the rest of the quarter.

“Our team chemistry is really high, and all us are really skilled I think,” McMahon said. “We play really hard every day, and we practice really hard every day, too.”

Kriegmont matched McMahon almost point for point in the third period, keeping the Crimson Bears’ deficit from getting any worse.

“Coming into this game, I wanted to prove myself a little bit as another sophomore that can compete in the state,” Kriegmont said.

The short intermission between the third and fourth quarters was one of the few times play stopped in the second half. The Knights didn’t commit a single foul in the third quarter, and none in the first six minutes of the fourth either. The clean play worked to the victor’s advantage, said Casperson.

“There’s no free throws; there’s no regrouping,” the coach said.

JDHS made six of 10 free throws; Colony made seven of 11.

JDHS (4-4) finishes out the week with Southeast Conference matchups against Ketchikan 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday night.


• Contact sports reporter Nolin Ainsworth at 523-2272 or nainsworth@juneauempire.com. Follow Empire Sports on Twitter at @akempiresports.


Juneau-Douglas’ Garrett Bryant, center, attempts a steal against Colony’s Patrick McMahon, left, at JDHS on Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019. Colony won 66-40. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas’ Garrett Bryant, center, attempts a steal against Colony’s Patrick McMahon, left, at JDHS on Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019. Colony won 66-40. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Colony’s Patrick McMahon, center, finishes a dunk between Juneau-Douglas’ Brock McCormick, left, and Krishant Samtani at JDHS on Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019. Colony won 66-40. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Colony’s Patrick McMahon, center, finishes a dunk between Juneau-Douglas’ Brock McCormick, left, and Krishant Samtani at JDHS on Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019. Colony won 66-40. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

More in Home

U.S. Rep. Nick Begich III, R-Alaska, talks with supporters during a campaign meet-and-greet Oct. 12, 2024, at the Southeast Alaska Real Estate office near the Nugget Mall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
‘This is no town hall. This is propaganda’; Begich takes heat at first virtual constituent forum

Congressman set to deliver his first joint address to the Alaska Legislature on Thursday.

Thunder Mountain Middle School’s Minali Reid works a pin on Schoenbar Knights grappler Loriel Zapanta in the girls 106-pound championship match during the Southeast Middle School Regional Wrestling Tournament on Saturday at TMMS. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Falcons claim Southeast Middle School Championship

Inspired by heroes, wrestlers grapple for medals and titles.

Local organizers and speakers at a “No Kings on Presidents Day” protest lead a drum chant and dance Monday in front of the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
‘No Kings on Presidents Day’ protest of Trump draws more than 400 to Alaska State Capitol

Firing of federal workers, elimination of DEI and LGBTQ+ policies among objections of participants.

Juneau School District Superintendent Frank Hauser testifies in support of a Base Student Allocation increase on Jan. 29, 2025, at the Alaska State Capitol. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
Superintendent suggests Juneau school board assume a $400 BSA increase in district’s budget

Some board members hesitant to depart from no-increase policy, express concern about Trump’s actions.

Runners start the Sweetheart Relay on Saturday at Sandy Beach. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Sweetheart race, a run for love and waffles

Saturday race features appetites aplenty in diverse field.

Juneau Douglas’s Elias Dybdahl makes a layup during Juneau Douglas 58-53 loss to Ketchikan at the Clarke Cochrane Gymnasium on Saturday. (Christopher Mullen/ Ketchikan Daily News)
Crimson Bears split road series, fall to Kings in Ketchikan on Saturday after win on Friday

JDHS finishes 1-3 in conference, will return to Ketchikan in three weeks for Region V tournament.

Members of the Alaska State Employees Association and AFSCME Local 52 holds a protest on the steps of the Alaska State Capitol on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Alaska state employees rally for more pay and benefits on same day mass federal firings occur

Participants at state Capitol seek revival of pensions, release of state salary data withheld by governor.

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters before boarding Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. President Trump shared a quotation on social media, making it clear it was one he wanted people to absorb: “He who saves his Country does not violate any Law.” (Al Drago/The New York Times)
Trump: ‘He who saves his Country does not violate any Law’

Quote sometimes attributed to Napoleon posted on White House’s official X account.

A U.S. Forest Service office sign in Juneau on Feb. 14, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Trump’s federal layoffs hit wide range of Alaska agencies on Friday, with fears of many more to come

Murkowski: “Trying to get answers about the impact…but the response so far has been evasive and inadequate.”

Most Read