The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé girls basketball team overpowered the host Ketchikan Lady Kings 67-28 on Saturday, completing a two-game sweep and solidifying their place atop the Southeast Conference.
The Crimson Bears jumped out to a 17-2 first quarter lead and took that into a 41-14 halftime advantage behind eight rebounds from senior Cailynn Baxter and five from senior sister Kerra Baxter.
“A much nicer start to the game and high intensity throughout,” JDHS coach Tanya Nizich said. “I thought we did a better job tonight moving our feet on defense and avoiding fouls. We worked on executing our offense, and when we did and were patient good things happened.”
The Crimson Bears’ K. Baxter put the first point on the board with a free throw, junior Cambry Lockhart scored off a steal by classmate Gwen Nizich, Lockhart had a steal and fed K. Baxter for a score, sophomore Layla Tokuoka hit a pair of free throws, C. Baxter grabbed three rebounds before the fourth went in the net and Nizich hit two free throws — all before the Lady Kings scored their first basket of the game with 2:28 left in the first quarter.
The referees allowed a more physical Ketchikan defense, but JDHS persevered.
“I feel like it helps a lot especially when the bench is up and cheering with positive energy,” K. Baxter said. “I always have to expect physicality and take it up as strong as I can.”
Lockhart continued the run with a pair of free throws, K. Baxter and C. Baxter both scored on rebounds, and Lockhart ended the quarter with a put-back inside.
The second quarter began with a Crimson Bears 5-0 run before the Lady Kings scored to pull to 22-5.
JDHS went on a 9-2 run with Tokuoka hitting two free throws, Nizich burying a deep shot, Lockhart feeding K. Baxter and Lockhart earning a basket off a steal to lead 31-7 with three minutes left in the first half.
JDHS would ease into halftime outscoring Kayhi 10-7. Sophomore Bergan Erickson hit from past the arc to finish the Crimson Bears first half scoring and C. Baxter blocked a Kayhi shot at the buzzer to send the teams into halftime.
JDHS limited the Lady Kings to just three field goals while forcing nine turnovers and committing just four themselves in the first 16 minutes of play.
“I think about what my mom tells me, which is to keep the intensity the whole game,” C. Baxter said. “If they play hard I play harder. I just know I always have to be strong with the ball.”
JDHS rotated their roster liberally throughout the second half and still held command of the game, outscoring the Lady Kings 13-10 in the third quarter to lead 54-24 with just one eight-minute outing left to play.
Seemingly in control, the Crimson Bears used their strengths to work on situations that will be needed as the season unfolds.
“When something isn’t working we are a diverse enough team to realize we will have to make changes to try running different plays and capitalize on our strengths in that moment,” G. Nizich said.
The final eight minutes saw a mostly JDHS bench limit Kayhi to just four points while Nizich scored off a steal, senior Addison Wilson scored off a rebound, C. Baxter pulled down her 13th rebound, freshman Athena Warr hit her second bucket of the game, Erickson pulled down her second rebound, Tokuoka did a highlight spin move to score and freshman Sadie Lockhart recorded a steal, two assists, a rebound, a free throw and hit a scoop shot at the buzzer for the final points of the game.
K. Baxter led the Crimson Bears with 19 points, 11 rebounds, two blocks and a steal. C. Lockhart and G. Nizich scored 12 points apiece. C. Lockhart also pulled down six rebounds, had two assists and three steals while Nizich had five assists, four steals and a blocked shot and a rebound. Tokuoka and C. Baxter had six points apiece. C. Baxter pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds and had a block and an assist. Tokuoka had two rebounds, a block and an assist. Warr scored four points, had three rebounds and a steal. Erickson scored three points, had two rebounds and an assist. Wilson scored two points and had three rebounds before fouling out.
JDHS hit 15-23 from the free throw line, Ketchikan 12-29.
Senior Aspen Bauer led the Lady Kings with eight points, junior Kali MacManus added seven, junior Kylie Brendible five, junior Kari Klinger three, senior Shyla Abajian and freshman Peyton Nickich two apiece and senior Lilli Goodwin one.
JDHS improves to 9-2 overall and 2-0 in the Southeast Conference, while Kayhi is 3-6 overall and 0-2 in the conference. The Crimson Bears defeated the Lady Kings 58-27 on Friday.
The Crimson Bears will host Dimond next weekend.
The Lady Lynx are in the top eight of Alaska high school girls teams and lost to Thunder Mountain to open last season’s state tournament 58-47 but defeated North Pole and Service to place fourth. They return three seniors including 6’2” center Evan Hamey, an all-state selection along with classmate Mecca Goldsberry.
“We know from here on out teams that we play will start to get a little more taller, stronger, and faster than what we’ve seen so far,” coach Nizich said. “We still have lots to do to prepare, but each game teaches us something better than the last. We have so much more room to grow which is exciting…Hamey will be the tallest we’ve seen yet. Blocking out and controlling the boards will be key.”
JDHS will also host defending state champion Wasilla on February 7-8. The Warriors feature 6’5” player of the year Layla Hays, her all-state senior teammate Mylee Anderson and seven other returning state tournament players.
• Contact Klas Stolpe at klas.stolpe@juneauempire.com.
