The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears girls basketball team eliminated the Ketchikan Lady Kings 49-37 from the Alaska Airlines Region V 4A Basketball Tournament on Thursday at the Mt. Edgecumbe High School’s B.J. McGillis Gymnasium in Sitka.
JDHS seniors Chloe Casperson and Mila Hargrave scored the first two baskets of the game, and the Crimson Bears never trailed in the contest.
“The key tonight was moving the ball and executing our plays,” JDHS coach Tanya Nizich said. “And being patient on offense to find a good scoring opportunity.”
Kayhi senior Bree Johnson hit a pair of free throws and a basket to tie the score at 4-4, but the Lady Kings would not find the net again in the quarter.
JDHS closed the quarter on a 9-0 run, with sophomore Gwen Nizich scoring her eighth point of the quarter on a steal and layup for a 13-4 lead.
Hargrave controlled the inside throughout the first half with help off the bench by junior Nadia Wilson, while Nizich and senior Rayna Tuckwood, with help off the bench from freshmen Layla Tokuoka and June Troxel were in charge of anything outside the key.
“We got into some foul trouble and our bench was huge for us and played strong,” coach Nizich said.
JDHS held a 28-10 lead at the half with Troxel, Tuckwood and Wilson closing out the stanza with baskets.
The Crimson Bears looked to have control of the game with a 38-19 advantage after three quarters but the Lady Kings, minus two starters who fouled out, rallied to cut the lead to 42-34 as Johnson hit a pair of free throws then stepped up on defense for a steal and score.
Tuckwood stopped the run with two free throws for 44-34.
Johnson hit another free throw for Kayhi to close to nine, 44-35.
Tuckwood would foul out, but Nizich would make two free throws for a 46-35 lead.
Johnson stole another ball and scored for Kayhi with 1:59 remaining to close to 46-37, but JDHS’ Casperson hit a free throw to push the margin back to 10 points, 47-37, and added two more free throws seconds later for a 49-37 lead with 1:11 left to play.
JDHS missed four free throws in the final minute, but Kayhi could not capitalize and the Crimson Bears ran the clock out for the final 49-37 score.
Nizich led JDHS with 19 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals. Casperson added nine points and a game-high 12 rebounds (1 BLK), Tuckwood had eight points (3 RB, 2 ST), Hargrave seven points and eight rebounds (2 BLK), Wilson four (6 RB) and junior Mary Johnson two. Troxel and Takuoka had two rebounds and two steals apiece.
The Crimson Bears hit 18-29 from the charity stripe, the Lady Kings 13-22.
Johnson led Kayhi with 15 points, sophomores Kali MacManus and Lauren Tucker had six apiece, and junior Shyla Abajian and sophomore Kylie Brendible five apiece.
JDHS will play Thunder Mountain at 3 p.m. Friday in the Region V championship game. TMHS wins the title outright with a win and earns a trip to the state tournament. A win by the Crimson Bears would force an if-necessary title game against the Falcons on Saturday for the state berth.
“Tomorrow we need to focus on our game,” coach Nizich said. “Focus on our tempo and work hard defensively.”
JDHS opened tourney play with a 50-47 win over Kayhi on Tuesday, then fell to Thunder Mountain 54-35 on Wednesday.
