Last week against Marysville High School’s full court press, Juneau-Douglas High School girls basketball turned the ball over 29 times.
The girls have emphasized taking care of possessions since, and in Wednesday’s 51-38 win over West Valley, the young team may have found their footing, turning the ball over just 11 times.
“We talked and rebounded, worked together as a team,” guard Alyxn Bohulano said. “We were pretty patient (moving the ball) and calmed down.”
Freshman Kendyl Carson and junior Cassie Dzinich led the team with 14 points each.
Carson hit four threes in the game, three of which came in the first quarter, which JDHS closed 17-10. Dzinich prefers to work in the paint, tallying up six field goals and two free throws on two attempts.
Bohulano backed JDHS’ top scorers with six steals and four assists on her way to seven points of her own.
Coach Lesslie Knight, who emphasizes defense, said Bohulano — just a sophomore — contributed just as much to the game as Dzinich and Carson.
“Cassie and Kendyl were the high scorers, but to complement, Alyxn (Bohulano) was really smart with her defensive pressure,” she said.
West Valley was led by Gillian Winkleman with 10, Jozey Martellaro with seven and Erica Yarde with six.
Like Knight, Wolfpack coach Jessie Craig has been trying to build her young team.
“Juneau has some serious size inside, and they pretty much destroyed us on the boards,” she said. “We’ve been working hard and we have a young team. I had some good young players step up and do some good things. … We’re looking good, we’re building.”
Coverage of the JDHS girls second game against West Valley, played Thursday night, didn’t make Friday’s print deadline. Look for a game story at the Empire online at juneauempire.com.
CRIMSON BEARS 51, WOLFPACK 38
Juneau-Douglas 17 15 10 9 —51
West Valley 10 10 9 9 —38
Juneau-Douglas (51) — Carson 14, Dzinich 14, Bohulano
7, Pusich 6, Hickok 4, Tuckwood 2, Robinson 2, Bathija 2
West Valley (38) — Winkleman 10, Martellaro 7, Yarde
6, Weckwerth 5, Silva 4, Wing 2, Tate 2, Dick 2
Free throws — Juneau-Douglas 3-5, West Valley 1-8
3-point goals — Juneau-Douglas 4, West Valley 3
Team fouls — Juneau-Douglas 14, West Valley 8
