The accolades continue to pile up for Juneau’s high school basketball teams.
On the heels of strong showings at state for the Thunder Mountain High School girls team and both the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé boys and girls teams, a handful of local athletes were named to Alaska Association of Basketball Coaches All-State Teams.
Skylar Tuckwood, a JDHS senior, was named first team all-state for 4A girls. Others receiving the honor include Sayvia Sellers, Anchorage Christian; Mylee Anderson, Wasilla; Hallie Clark, Colony; and Layla Hays, Wasilla. Sellers was named player of the year and Colony’s Chandice Kelly was named coach of the year.
“What an accomplishment to be recognized as one of the best basketball players in Alaska,” JDHS coach Tanya Nizich said. “Her hard work and dedication paid off. first team all-state, congratulations.”
While Tuckwood was the capital city’s lone first team selection, she wasn’t Juneau’s only all-state girls basketball player.
Cailynn Baxter, a TMHS sophomore, was named as a second team all-state selection.
TMHS’ Cailynn Baxter (23) drives while guarded by JDHS’ Gwen Nizich (15) during a Region V Tournament game at TMHS. Baxter earned second team all-state honors for her play this season.
“I think she would tell you it’s a ‘team’ award, but she is an incredibly hard worker, amazing teammate and a joy to coach,” said TMHS girls coach Andy Lee in a Wednesday morning message. “The future for her and our team is reflected in this honor.”
Others named to the second team included Chloe Auble, Anchorage Christian; Bree Johnson, Ketchikan; Maile Wilcox, Dimond; and Jordan Zackery, West Anchorage.
Third team selections include Maliyah Alex, Anchorage Christian; Lindsay Byron, Ketchikan; Emma Hopkins, Colony; Alycia Shelley, Colony; and Lalaine Suaava, Colony.
Two boys players also made all-state teams.
TMHS junior Thomas Baxter (30) takes a tough shot in traffic late in a Friday night 64-59 win against Ketchikan High School. For the second year in a row, Baxter earned second team all-state honors. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Thomas Baxter, a TMHS junior, was named second team all-state. This is the second year in a row he’s secured that honor.
“Making it last year as a sophomore to second team all-state was an incredible feat, and to repeat that amongst the talent that’s in the state, I’m very proud of Thomas and all he was able to accomplish,” said TMHS boys coach John Blasco, adding that Thomas Baxter maintained a high level of play all season long. “I’m happy the coaches recognized him in giving him all-state honors again.”
Other second team honorees were Malachi Bradley, West Valley; Maguire Hamey, Dimond; Parker Kroon, Wasilla; and Muhammed Sabally, East Anchorage.
JDHS senior Orion Dybdahl finishes a dunk with authority as teammate Alwen Carrillo (3) and Kayhi’s, Marcus Stockhausen (34) and Andrew Kleinschmidt (13) look on. Dybdahl earned third team all-state honors with his play this season. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Orion Dybdahl, a JDHS senior, was named third team all-state.
“That is very exciting and well deserved,” said JDHS coach Robert Casperson. “It is the culmination of his years of hard work to improve during his time in high school and it has been great to see his steady rise to this point in his career. He absolutely held his own against some of the best post players in the state this year, but I still believe his best basketball is ahead of him. Orion is such a great kid. I’m very happy for him.”
Others receiving the third team all-state distinction were Julius Adlawan, West Anchorage; Kash Luce, Colony; Trevor Mahler, Monroe; and Willie Zamora, West Anchorage.
Stewart Erhart of West Valley was selected as 4A boys player of the year, and East Anchorage coach Chuck Martin, whose team recently won the state championship, was selected as coach of the year.
The 4A boys first team included: Erhart, Xzavier Baker, Dimond; Luke Johnson, Dimond; Akeem Sulaiman, East Anchorage; Jayce Underwood, Colony.
Below is a list of all-state honorees from non-4A divisions.
3A boys
Player of the Year: Sloan Lentfer, Grace Christian
Coach of the Year: Jason Boerger, Grace Christian
First team: Sloan Lentfer, Grace Christian; Payton Gage, Valdez; Finn Gregg, Nome; Hayden Howard, Houston; Kellen Jedlicka, Grace Christian.
Second team: Jade Green, Nome; Jakob Kvasnikoff, Kenai; Luke Lentfer, Grace Christian; Cole Taylor, Houston; Bryce Tucker, Valdez.
Third team: Tyler Binder, Grace Christian; Kaison Hermann, Mount Edgecumbe; Josh Ivanoff, Grace Christian; Utahouse Tui’ifua, Barrow; Ranen Wassillie, Mount Edgecumbe.
3A girls
Player of the Year: Sophie Lentfer, Grace Christian
Coach of the Year: Pete Johnson, Grace Christian
First team: Sophie Lentfer, Grace Christian; Emma Beck, Kenai; Ella Boerger, Grace Christian; Shannel Kovalsky, Monroe; Margaret Zaveri, Monroe.
Second team: Ava Brady, Sitka; Lena Jagielski, Seward; Naia Nelson, Sitka; Carliese O’Brien, Mount Edgecumbe; MJ Van der Horst, Grace Christian.
Third team: Tessa Anderson, Mount Edgecumbe; Kiara Burnell, Barrow; Cadence Dull, Mount Edgecumbe; Masen Holmes, Valdez; Miranda Wilkerson, Monroe.
2A Boys
Player of the year: Joelian Lane, Tikigaq.
Coach of the year: Albert Green, Hooper Bay.
First team: Joelian Lane, Tikigaq; Shayne Anderson, Metlakatla; Latrell Lake, Hooper Bay; Cole Moore, Ninilchik; Jaylin Scott, Ninilchik.
Second team: Jack Engell, Petersburg; Cameron Gaube, Metlakatla; Jacen Hay, Wrangell; Benjamin Lane, Tikigaq; Johnny Soderstrom, Unalakleet.
Third team: Kyle Biggers, Petersburg; Paxson Commack, Unalakleet; Eric Gillham, Haines; Stephen Nguyen, Unalaska; Jaykob Thorne, Cordova.
2A girls
Player of the year: Jennifer Nash, Tikigaq.
Coach of the year: Romona Rock, Tikigaq.
First team: Jennifer Nash, Tikigaq; Bree Chavez, Metlakatla; Alissa Durgan, Craig; Kiara Harrison, Wrangell; Jadyn Lane, Tikigaq.
Second team: Ryley Booth, Metlakatla; Reena Bucaneg, Unalaska; Grace Godinez-Long, Haines; Aryana Ivanoff, Unalakleet; Ce’Anika Palacios, Glennallen.
Third team: Alana Barron, Susitna Valley; Alison Benda, Haines; Kennedy Cook, Metlakatla; Tatyana Nashookpuk, Tikigaq; Alexis Lawnicki, Craig.
1A boys
Player of the Year: Ian McGarry, Cook Inlet Academy.
Coach of the Year: Anthony Ross, Kake.
First team: Ian McGarry, Cook Inlet Academy; Jäger Brandell, King Cove; Marcus Gallagher, Katovik; Stewie Sundown, Scammon Bay; Josh Renshaw, Tri-Valley.
Second team: Ethan Kadake, Kake; Billy Killbear, Katovik; Marley Kness, Klawock; Justus Malachy, Nunamiut; Paul Okpeaha, Alak.
Third team: Tyler Hugo, Nunamiut; Riley Koso, King Cove; Michael Renshaw, Tri-Valley; Ryan Steeves, Aniak; Josiah Sundown, Scammon Bay.
1A girls
Player of the year: Aileen Lester, Newhalen.
Coach of the year: Kenny Barker, Lumen Christi.
First team: Aileen Lester, Newhalen; Natalie Grubba, Lumen Christi; Emily Ross, Lumen Christi; Kayleigh Sagoonick, Shaktoolik; Ellah Wardell, Tanalian.
Second team: Marnie Crooks, Kake; Eva Johnson, Noorvik; Ella Phillips, Birchwood Christian; Tatum Rozak, Cook Inlet Academy; Naomi Savetilik, Shaktoolik.
Third team: Autumn Barr, Shishmaref; Arianna Hart, Nunamiut; McKinley Holien, Klawock; Pagen Lester, Newhalen; Ali Voran, Tanalian.
• Contact reporter Jonson Kuhn at jonson.kuhn@juneauempire.com. Ben Hohenstatt contributed reporting to this article.
