When playing the talented and well-meshed Chugiak Mustangs, an opponent can’t lose focus for one minute.
That’s what appeared to happen in the first minute of the second half of Saturday’s Capital City Classic Saturday night game between the Mustangs and Crimson Bears.
After doing a laudable job disrupting the Mustangs’ offense for the first two quarters, JDHS came out from halftime flat and didn’t rebound.
“They got eight offensive boards that they scored off and that just opened it up,” JDHS head coach Lesslie Knight said. “We have struggled in all our games to block out. Every game we lose it’s because (the other team) is getting offensive boards and putbacks. We’re clearly going to work on block out more.”
Chugiak scored 37 points in the second half, finishing the tournament with a 72-46 win over JDHS.
JDHS senior Cassie Dzinich scored in every quarter of the game and finished with 18. Caitlin Pusich and Sadie Tuckwood had 9 and 5 points respectively.
Chasity Horn followed up her 24 and 21-point outings at the tournament this week with 28 points.
For much of the game, JDHS freshman Janae Pusich guarded Horn, who scored eight points in the opening frame despite missing most of her shots.
With just over a minute into the second quarter, Patricia Houser gave the Mustangs a 16-14 lead. Ari Lewis, Caitlin Wachmann and Horn steadily increased the Mustang lead the rest of the quarter, scoring 19 of the next 29 points to lead 35-24 at halftime.
The Mustangs started the second half on a 6-0 run, pushing their lead to 18 points just two minutes into the half.
JDHS seemed to lose its step from there, as Horn scored with increasing frequency. Horn’s 3-pointer from the left wing midway through the third quarter put Chugiak up by 20, 48-28. The Mustangs led 57-30 at the start of the fourth quarter.
“When you get people in foul trouble, it’s easy for them to get deflated and we had several people with three fouls,” Knight said. “We’re a little thin on the bench.”
JDHS will regain Morgan Balovich by the TMHS series.
East Anchorage 66, Friday Harbor 19
East Anchorage took home the Princess Cruises Capital City Classic girls title Saturday afternoon at JDHS, blowing out Friday Harbor.
Skye Miller led the Thunder Birds with 22 points while Kiersten Haines and Kiersten Porter paced the Wolverines with five points apiece.
CCC Girls All-Tournament Team
Chastity Horn, Chugiak
Caitlin Pusich, JDHS
Skye Miller, East
Ari Lewis, Chugiak
Kiersten Haines, Sutherlin
Cassie Dzinich, JDHS
Kimora Nikado, East
Patricia Houser, Chugiak
MVP: Azaria Robinson, East
• Contact reporter Nolin Ainsworth at nolin.ainsworth@juneauempire.com or 523-2272.
Juneau-Douglas’ Cassie Dzinich, center, goes for a basket against Chugiak’s Patricia Houser, right, and Layla Beam, left, during their Capital City Classic Basketball Tournament game at JDHS on Saturday, Dec. 30, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas’ Sadie Tuckwood, right, drives against Chugiak’s Caitlin Wachmann during their Capital City Classic Basketball Tournament game at JDHS on Saturday, Dec. 30, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
