Sports

Ketchikan senior Jonathan Scoblic shoots under pressure from East Anchorage senior Muhammed Sabally (23) during the Kings’ 43-25 loss to the Thunderbirds on Saturday in the 4A championship game of the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 4A Basketball State Championships in Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Ketchikan gives East Anchorage a run for 4A title

Kings fly close to sun, fall to defending state champ Thunderbirds.

 

Sitka junior Trey Johnson scores past Nome sophomore Stanley Booth during the Wolves’ 62-43 loss to the Nanooks on Saturday in the 3A championship game of the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 3A Basketball State Championships in Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Sitka falls to Nome in 3A state championship

Wolves lead Nanooks in third quarter, but lose 62-43.

 

Mt. Edgecumbe’s Richard Didrickson Jr. (21) shoots from past the arc over Barrow’s Ethan Goodwin (2) during the Braves’ 81-73 win over the Whalers in the 3A boys 3rd/5th-place game Saturday at 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 3A/4A Basketball State Championships in Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Braves win shootout over Whalers for third place

Mt. Edgecumbe earns 81-73 win over Barrow at state tournament.

 

JDHS junior Gwen Nizich hits a shot past the arc over Mountain City Christian Academy’s Jasmine Schaeffer (23) during the Crimson Bears’ 57-37 loss to the Lions in the 3rd/5th-place game Saturday at 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 4A Basketball State Championships in Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

JDHS girls fall to Mountain City to finish state play

Crimson Bears place fifth in 57-37 loss to Lions on Saturday

JDHS junior Gwen Nizich hits a shot past the arc over Mountain City Christian Academy’s Jasmine Schaeffer (23) during the Crimson Bears’ 57-37 loss to the Lions in the 3rd/5th-place game Saturday at 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 4A Basketball State Championships in Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Ketchikan senior Gage Massin (5) hits the game winner in the Kings’ 46-43 semifinal overtime win against the Grizzlies on Friday at the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 3A/4A Basketball State Championships at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Ketchikan boys top Grace to earn championship game

Ketchikan senior Gage Massin hit a fade-away shot in the key with 1.5 seconds remaining to give the Kings a semifinal overtime win against the… Continue reading

Ketchikan senior Gage Massin (5) hits the game winner in the Kings’ 46-43 semifinal overtime win against the Grizzlies on Friday at the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 3A/4A Basketball State Championships at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé sophomore Layla Tokuoka (14) gets a shot off over Colony senior Hallie Clark (22) as JDHS juniors Cambry Lockhart (3) and Gwen Nizich (11) move down court in the Crimson Bears’ 56-34 loss to the Knights in a Friday 4A girls semifinal at the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 3A/4A Basketball State Championships at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

JDHS girls fall to Colony 56-34 in state semifinal game

Crimson Bears will play for third, Knights advance to title contest.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé sophomore Layla Tokuoka (14) gets a shot off over Colony senior Hallie Clark (22) as JDHS juniors Cambry Lockhart (3) and Gwen Nizich (11) move down court in the Crimson Bears’ 56-34 loss to the Knights in a Friday 4A girls semifinal at the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 3A/4A Basketball State Championships at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Zosha Krupa in action at the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 1A/2A Basketball State Championships at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Southeast referee Zosha Krupa picks stripes over clipboards

Former star player giving back to community through officiating gets lead duties at state tournament.

Zosha Krupa in action at the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 1A/2A Basketball State Championships at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears cheer team celebrate after being announced as the Division I 2025 ASAA Cheer State champions Tuesday at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center.

JDHS cheer team wins state championship

Crimson Bears spirit finger dynasty snatches fifth title in a row.

Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears cheer team celebrate after being announced as the Division I 2025 ASAA Cheer State champions Tuesday at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center.
Sitka junior Trey Johnson (24) challenges a shot by Mt. Edgecumbe senior Richard Didrickson Jr (21) during the Wolves’ 64-62 semifinal win over the Braves on Thursday in the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 3A/4A Basketball State Championships at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Wolves tip Braves in epic state semifinal hoops battle

Number two Sitka, number three Mt. Edgecumbe go down to the buzzer

Sitka junior Trey Johnson (24) challenges a shot by Mt. Edgecumbe senior Richard Didrickson Jr (21) during the Wolves’ 64-62 semifinal win over the Braves on Thursday in the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 3A/4A Basketball State Championships at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Hoonah’s Melissa Fisher and Taryn White (24) challenge a shot by Angoon’s Tasha McCoy during their elimination game in the 2015 Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Gold Medal returns with hearty schedules

New division is expected to draw some new fans

Hoonah’s Melissa Fisher and Taryn White (24) challenge a shot by Angoon’s Tasha McCoy during their elimination game in the 2015 Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior Gwen Nizich scores form past the arc over Bartlett senior Kaylee Lealaisalanoa (15) during the Crimson Bears’ 49-44 win over the Golden Bears on Wednesday at the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 4A Basketball State Championships at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

JDHS girls defeat pesky Bartlett 49-44 to open state tourney

Crimson Bears defeat higher-seed Golden Bears in full-court action.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior Gwen Nizich scores form past the arc over Bartlett senior Kaylee Lealaisalanoa (15) during the Crimson Bears’ 49-44 win over the Golden Bears on Wednesday at the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 4A Basketball State Championships at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Ketchikan junior Jozaiah Dela Cruz (11) hits a three-point shot over Dimond sophomore Tavarius Wrice (14) during the Kings’ 52-48 first-round win over the Lynx on Wednesday at the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 3A/4A Basketball State Championships at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Ketchikan opens state with win

Kings survive tough first-round opponent Dimond.

Ketchikan junior Jozaiah Dela Cruz (11) hits a three-point shot over Dimond sophomore Tavarius Wrice (14) during the Kings’ 52-48 first-round win over the Lynx on Wednesday at the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 3A/4A Basketball State Championships at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
The Juneau Capitals 12U Minor Tier I hockey team pose after play in the Alaska State 2025 12U Minors hockey tournament in Fairbanks February 28-March 2. (Photo courtesy JDIA Capitals)

JDIA youth hockey team skates in Fairbanks

Capitals 12-and-under moves up a class in tournament.

The Juneau Capitals 12U Minor Tier I hockey team pose after play in the Alaska State 2025 12U Minors hockey tournament in Fairbanks February 28-March 2. (Photo courtesy JDIA Capitals)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé sophomore Layla Tokuoka drives against Wasilla senior Mylee Anderson during a Feb. 7, 2025, game at the George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Southeast teams prepare for the state basketball tournament

Juneau-Douglas, Ketchikan, Mt. Edgecumbe and Sitka have hearty tasks

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé sophomore Layla Tokuoka drives against Wasilla senior Mylee Anderson during a Feb. 7, 2025, game at the George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
A male peacock showing off its colors. (Jatin Sindhu / CC BY-SA 4.0)

On the Trails: Three observations to ponder

While we are waiting (?patiently?) for spring to really get rolling, here are a few things to think about. • Sexual dimorphism in bird plumage:… Continue reading

A male peacock showing off its colors. (Jatin Sindhu / CC BY-SA 4.0)
Wrangell senior Lucas Schneider (15) fights for a loose ball with Susitna Valley’s Earl Davidson during the Wolves 53-50 loss to the Rams in the 4th/6th-place game Saturday at the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 2A State Basketball Championships at UAA’s Avis Sports Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Wolves battle Rams in 2A state tournament’s final day

Wrangell falls to Susitna Valley in 4th/6th-place game.

Wrangell senior Lucas Schneider (15) fights for a loose ball with Susitna Valley’s Earl Davidson during the Wolves 53-50 loss to the Rams in the 4th/6th-place game Saturday at the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 2A State Basketball Championships at UAA’s Avis Sports Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Kake’s Aiden Clark (25) puts up a shot against Tri-Valley’s Kole Lucas (33), Reid Williams (2) and Henry Miner (34) during their 4th/6th-place game Saturday at the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 1A State Basketball Championships at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Kake boys fourth at state, Clark and Jackson tally double-doubles

Skagway Panthers win consolation final for seventh place over Nunamiut.

Kake’s Aiden Clark (25) puts up a shot against Tri-Valley’s Kole Lucas (33), Reid Williams (2) and Henry Miner (34) during their 4th/6th-place game Saturday at the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 1A State Basketball Championships at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Metlakatla senior Brody Booth (12) scores over Seward’s Lane Petersen and Jack Lindquisst (1) during their 3rd/5th-place game Saturday at the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 2A State Basketball Championships at UAA’s Avis Sports Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Metlakatla Chiefs fall in third-place game at state 2A basketball tournament

Girls from Metlakatla also come up short in 4th/6th-place game.

Metlakatla senior Brody Booth (12) scores over Seward’s Lane Petersen and Jack Lindquisst (1) during their 3rd/5th-place game Saturday at the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 2A State Basketball Championships at UAA’s Avis Sports Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Haines’ Ari’el Godinez-Long (3) scores over Metlakatla’s Saahdia Buffalo during the Glacier Bears 58-34 loss to the MisChiefs on Friday in the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 2A State Basketball Championships at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Metlakatla girls earn fourth place game at state

Hoonah and Klawock girls lose final state games.

Haines’ Ari’el Godinez-Long (3) scores over Metlakatla’s Saahdia Buffalo during the Glacier Bears 58-34 loss to the MisChiefs on Friday in the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 2A State Basketball Championships at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Wrangell’s Trevyn Gillen (22), Jackson Powers and Boomchaine Loucks (4) contain Effie Kokrine ball handler Ryan Strom in the Wolves 75-40 win over the Warriors on Friday in the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 2A State Basketball Championships at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Wrangell boys advance to state’s 2A fourth-place game

Kake boys advance to 1A fourth-place game, Skagway boys to seventh.

Wrangell’s Trevyn Gillen (22), Jackson Powers and Boomchaine Loucks (4) contain Effie Kokrine ball handler Ryan Strom in the Wolves 75-40 win over the Warriors on Friday in the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 2A State Basketball Championships at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)