Editor’s note: Scoresheets for Friday’s game were not received in time for this edition.
If high school basketball coaches gave out grades to their student-athletes, Thursday’s Juneau-Douglas High School versus Sitka game saw some A+ work and some flunked assignments.
The Juneau-Douglas High School boys basketball team clung to the remnants of a 31-point lead at home to come out on top of the Sitka Wolves, 71-60. Both teams went on huge runs during the game, with JDHS’s coming in the first and the third, while Sitka pushed hard in the third and fourth quarters.
JDHS senior guard Guy Bean started the game red-hot, hitting three 3-pointers in the first quarter on the way to a team-high 23 points. Senior Bryce Swofford brought a defensive intensity in the second half, and spurred his team’s biggest run, as Juneau-Douglas put up 15 points in the third before Sitka was able to score.
“I think we just came out hot and they came out flat,” Swofford said. With a big lead, the junior forward added, JDHS might have “got a little bit cocky,” allowing 3A Sitka back in the game.
Swofford had 11 points on the night. Senior guards Kaleb Tompkins and Treyson Ramos had 15 points and nine points, respectively.
Sitka senior Tevin Bayne led his team with 23, followed by junior Trevan Coleman with 14 and junior Jesse Lantiegne with 13.
Down 31, Sitka called a timeout with a little over two minutes to go in the third and began to look for the trap out of a 3-2 zone. JDHS looked to slow the ball down with its big lead, but instead “sat back, flat-footed,” according to JDHS coach Robert Casperson, allowing Sitka to be the aggressor. The Wolves went on to outscore JDHS 23-3 at the end of the third and beginning of the fourth, cutting Crimson Bears’ lead to 11.
“Sitka withstood a pretty strong run from us at the start of the third quarter,” Casperson said. “They kept their heads about them and stayed aggressive… That really changed the momentum of the game and put us back on our heels.”
Sitka would come within nine points in the final period. As the clock became a factor for Sitka, JDHS simply tried to dribble the clock down and pass the ball on their way to the 11-point win.
The teams have met once already this year, with a Capital City Classic bout ending in JDHS’ favor 81-63. Sitka Wolves coach Andy Lee sees his 4A matchups as “measuring sticks,” to see how far his team has come.
“Our resiliency came through,” Lee said. “We didn’t care that we were down 30. We know who we are and we believe in each other.
“If they’re (JDHS) the number two team in the state, the number two team in all the land, than it’s a heck of a measuring stick.”
Juneau-Douglas’ Treyson Ramos drives to the basket against Sitka’s Oliver Moore-Baker, right, and Braden Case at JDHS on Thursday. JDHS won 71-60.
Juneau-Douglas’ Kaleb Tompkins passes under pressure against Sitka’s Branden Case, center, and Trevan Coleman at JDHS on Thursday. JDHS won 71-60.
