Juneau-Douglas’ Sadie Tuckwood, left, scrambles for the ball with Sitka’s Tawny Smith at the Princess Cruises Capital City Classic at Juneau-Douglas High School on Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018. Juneau-Douglas won 52-25. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas’ Sadie Tuckwood, left, scrambles for the ball with Sitka’s Tawny Smith at the Princess Cruises Capital City Classic at Juneau-Douglas High School on Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018. Juneau-Douglas won 52-25. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Crimson Bears cruise to home tourney wins

Whalers await JDHS on Friday

Juneau-Douglas High School’s basketball teams had their way on the opening day of the Princess Cruises Capital City Classic tournament.

The girls and boys teams built 20-point leads in the first three quarters to garner easy wins on Thursday night at JDHS. In the first game of the night, senior Caitlin Pusich scored 19 points, including nine in the third quarter, to lift JDHS to a 52-25 win over Sitka. In the second game, Israel Yadao (15 points) and Krishant Samtani (16 points) played well in a 69-45 rout of Lathrop.

Sitka’s Abby Forrester went out with an injury in the second quarter of the girls game, and the Lady Wolves were not the same without her, mustering just six points over the next 12 minutes.

The Crimson Bears grew their lead throughout the third quarter. Pusich and Alyxn Bohulano put the game away with a 9-0 run in the final minute, giving their team a commanding 43-20 advantage heading into the fourth. Pusich drilled a 3-pointer, Bohulano stole the ball for a layup and Pusich added two close-range scores all in roughly 45 seconds.

Later, in the boys game, Yadao went on a similar late-quarter run, scoring nine points in the final minute and 30 seconds of the first. Yadao converted three layups before burying a high-arcing 3-pointer at the buzzer that put JDHS ahead 21-2. JDHS already had a 12-0 lead prior to Yadao’s heroics.

“He did a great job in getting out and running the lanes,” JDHS coach Robert Casperson said. “Other guys were feeding him, so it was a little role reversal.”

Lathrop’s Jhon Rones scored 10 points and Tyriq Luke had eight in the loss.

Both Juneau squads now take on Barrow. The girls play at 5 p.m. and the boys play at 7 p.m. Friday. JDHS attended the Whaler Invitational at Barrow High last season. In that tournament, both the boys and girls teams lost to the Whalers.

“We’re ready for a tough game tomorrow (Friday),” Casperson said. “They got quickness at the guard spot, they have some talent inside. So they’re a very nice, well-balanced team.”

View a livestream of the tournament at https://www.juneauempire.com/bignews/watch-live-pincess-cruises-capital-city-classic-basketball-tournament/


• Contact sports reporter Nolin Ainsworth at 523-2272 or nainsworth@juneauempire.com.


Juneau-Douglas’ Caitlin Pusich, center, blocks a shot by Sitka’s Makenna Smith at the Princess Cruises Capital City Classic at Juneau-Douglas High School on Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018. Juneau-Douglas won 52-25. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas’ Caitlin Pusich, center, blocks a shot by Sitka’s Makenna Smith at the Princess Cruises Capital City Classic at Juneau-Douglas High School on Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018. Juneau-Douglas won 52-25. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Lathrop’s Jhon Rones lands on Juneau-Douglas’ Tad Watson during a loose ball at the Princess Cruises Capital City Classic at Juneau-Douglas High School on Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018. Juneau-Douglas won 69-45. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Lathrop’s Jhon Rones lands on Juneau-Douglas’ Tad Watson during a loose ball at the Princess Cruises Capital City Classic at Juneau-Douglas High School on Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018. Juneau-Douglas won 69-45. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas’ Israel Yadao lays the ball up over Lathrop’s Jakobee Johnson at the Princess Cruises Capital City Classic at Juneau-Douglas High School on Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018. Juneau-Douglas won 69-45. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas’ Israel Yadao lays the ball up over Lathrop’s Jakobee Johnson at the Princess Cruises Capital City Classic at Juneau-Douglas High School on Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018. Juneau-Douglas won 69-45. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

More in Sports

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior Riley Fick delivers a pitch against Sitka during the Crimson Bears 4-1 loss to the Wolves on Saturday at Adair Kennedy Memorial Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
JDHS in two battles Saturday with Sitka

Crimson Bears fall to Wolves in pair of pitching duels.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior Gwen Nizich is celebrated at home plate after hitting a home run against visiting Lathrop during the Crimson Bears’ 16-1 win over the Malemutes on Saturday at Melvin Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
JDHS’ sweeps Lathrop Saturday at Melvin Park

Crimson Bears securing conference standings over Malemutes

In this file photo JDHS junior keeper Alba Muir defends the goal against West Valley. Muir earned the Crimson Bears Hard Hat award for her play in Friday’s road game against Colony. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire file photo)
JDHS soccer girls find Colony road series bumpy

Crimson Bears fall in two hard-fought matches against Knights

The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé boys soccer team play to a 2-2 tie in their white travel jerseys against Colony on Friday in Palmer. (Photo courtesy Troy Bennetsen)
JDHS soccer boys play strong on the road at Colony

Crimson Bears battle Knights for conference lead

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Cailyn Baxter won the girls long jump with a 16’1” effort during Saturday’s Capital City Invitational Track and Field meet at Juneau’s Thunder Mountain Middle School field. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Capital City Invitational ends with Saturday flourish

Athletes got funky as times shortened and distances lengthened

Gastineau Channel Little League players listen as Juneau Police Chief Derek Bos speaks during Saturday’s GCLL Opening Day, and field grand reopening and rededication at Adair Kennedy Memorial Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
73rd opening day of Little League in Juneau honors namesakes at new Adair Kennedy Memorial Park

More than 430 players on 37 GCLL teams revisit tragic day in history with a field of dreams.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé batter Cassie Chenoweth eyes a pitch against Lathrop during the Crimson Bears’ 6-3 win over the Malemutes on Friday at Melvin Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
JDHS’ softball team splits with Lathrop

Crimson Bears top Malemutes 6-3, fall 11-1 at Miller Park.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé shortstop Brandon Casperson tags out Sitka runner Tyson Bartolaba on a throw from catcher JJ McCormick during the Crimson Bears’ 5-1 loss to the Wolves on Friday at Adair Kennedy Memorial Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
JDHS nine hold their own against Sitka

Crimson Bears fall to Wolves in opening home game 5-1.

Sitka’s Marina Dill leads the girls 3,200 during the Capital City Invitational on Friday. At far left is Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé freshman Sigrid Eller and junior Siena Farr. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Personal records set in opening day of Capital City Invite

Track athletes from around Southeast will compete through Saturday.

Most Read