With homecoming for Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaat.at Kalé this weekend, it’s set to be a big weekend for boys and girls basketball.
“I throw records out the window when we play our crosstown rival,” said John Blasco, Thunder Mountain High School boys varsity team coach. “The crosstown games always bring a whole new element of energy and excitement from the team and the crowd.”
JDHS and TMHS boys will square off at 8 p.m. Friday and 7 p.m. Saturday, after the girls varsity matches at JDHS. JDHS girls varsity will be competing against Mt. Edgecumbe, while TMHS girls varsity will travel to go up against Ketchikan in an away game.
The JDHS girls team beat Ketchikan at home last week in a pair of hard-fought matches, winning 51-46 and 66-40.
“I don’t really know much about them this year. We typically would have crossed paths with them this year,” JDHS girls coach Steve Potter said, speaking about Mt. Edgecumbe.
He added, “We’ve had some competitive games with them in the past few years. We’d like to go against someone else’s press rather than ours in practice. Sometimes they have really good shooters.”
Potter said the shooters to watch out for are seniors Sadie Tuckwood and Kendyl Carson.
“They’ve been our leading scorers all year,” Potter said. “They’re our leaders, they’re our seniors.”
For TMHS, facing their local opposition, the field is less sure.
“They’re capable of putting together a strong performance on the night of,” Blasco said. “We’re trying to figure out some game plans that might work to minimize the impact.”
Blasco was particularly worried about neutralizing one of JDHS’ standout players, Cooper Kriegmont.
He said TMHS has been working on plans to deal with the Kriegmont, who has shown a solid performance this season.
Potter added, “I think that we’re fun to watch and I expect us to continue to be fun to watch.”
Cooper Kriegmont works on his jump shot during boys varsity basketball practice at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé on Dec. 10. Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File
Ready to see some basketball?
All matches to be played at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaat.at Kalé Gymnasium
Friday
The girl’s basketball games for Friday have been cancelled, and the boy’s game will now start earlier.
JDHS boys Varsity vs. TMHS- 6 p.m.
Saturday
JDHS girls Junior Varsity vs. Mt. Edgecumbe- 3:15 p.m.
JDHS girls Varsity vs. Mt. Edgecumbe- 5:15 p.m.
JDHS boys Varsity vs. Thunder Mountain- 7 p.m.
• Contact reporter Michael S. Lockett at 757.621.1197 or mlockett@juneauempire.com.
