Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé boys were down after a loss to West Valley, but they’re not out after notching a win against Colony High School on Friday during this year’s Alaska School Activities Association March Madness Basketball State Championships in Anchorage.
The eighth-seeded Crimson Bears managed to pull off a 73-64 win against the third-seeded Colony Knights after a hard fought battle in the auxiliary gym at the Alaska Airlines Center. JDHS coach Robert Casperson said it was a solid game all around with nice contributions from the entire team.
“It was nice we were able to play out in front for the entire game. I think Kai (Hargrave) had one of his best all-around games of the season with nine rebounds, Casperson said. “Colony has been a tough matchup for us traditionally because they’re very well coached and they execute at a very high level, so it was just nice to be able to come out of that game with a win today. We’re really happy with where we’re at, and we know tomorrow presents a massive challenge, but like any other game this season, we’re ready for it. We’re grateful we get to keep playing, for some teams their season ended today, so we’re happy and hoping we can end with another win.”
The Bears got off to a decent start early with a 6-point lead with roughly two minutes remaining in the first quarter. And after scores from junior Sean Oliver, senior Orion Dybdahl and senior Joseph Aline, JDHS finished the first quarter with the lead, 12-5.
Colony struggled to put points on the board in the second quarter in part due to stingy defense from the Crimson Bears and in part due to shooting woes from both the field and the free-throw line. Colony’s Jayce Underwood would eventually score four minutes into the quarter, putting the score at 16-8, still with the Bears lead. Underwood heated up quickly and pushed his team back into the game.
With one minute left in the quarter, Oliver put down a 3-point shot to bring the score up to 24-20. Aline went to the line after getting fouled and scored 2-points while Oliver sank another 3-pointer followed by senior Alwen Carrillo making a drive for a mid-range jump shot, putting the score at 31-22 at the end of the half.
Juneau started with the ball for the third quarter, but quickly handed it over to Colony after a traveling call. However, the Knights were unable to score and Dybdahl would eventually make it to the net for 2 points, bringing the score up to 33-22. Colony would answer back with a 3-point shot but It would be Dybdahl to the rescue again with some assistance to Aline for a score, putting the score at 37-28.
With a 3-point shot from Carrillo, followed by a shot from Dybdahl and another point from Carrillo from the line, JDHS found themselves with a 12-point lead by the end of the quarter, 49-37.
For the fourth quarter, Colony started with the ball and sank a 3-point shot followed by a turnaround shot from JDHS senior Hargrave. Frequent fouls on both teams kept the pace slow in the fourth, but a flurry of action unfolded after Oliver managed to swipe the ball, only to have his shot at the hoop chased down and blocked by Colony’s Underwood. Underwood would follow up the block with a circus shot that was immediately answered by Dybdahl for 2.
Underwood brought the score up to 71-64 after scoring at the line and sinking a deep 3, but unfortunately for Colony the damage was done, and after one last score for JDHS, the Bears took the win.
For Juneau, Dybdahl led in scoring with 18 points and was named player of the game. For Colony the honor went to Underwood who led all scorers with 28 points.
JDHS will now play for fourth or sixth place on Saturday against Dimond.
• Contact reporter Jonson Kuhn at jonson.kuhn@juneauempire.com.
