Six girls basketball were named to the 4A Girls Region V All-Conference team around 11 p.m. Saturday night: three from Juneau-Douglas, and three from Ketchikan.
One party was not as thrilled as the other.
The Kayhi Kings routed the Crimson Bears 42-24 to claim their fourth consecutive 4A Girls Region V championship.
“They’ve improved a lot. They work so hard and you can see it,” JDHS forward Cassie Dzinich said. “They beat us fair and square.”
Ketchikan’s AJ Dela Cruz, Brittney Slick and Ashley Huffine outplayed their yet-to-be-announced all-conference teammates Dzinich, Caitlin Pusich and Alyxn Bohulano in the championship game.
The three Crimson Bears combined nine points paled in comparison to Dela Cruz, Slick and Huffine’s combined 35 points.
“At first the energy was good, and then I think that we just stopped talking, they hit some nice shots, and they got the momentum and we just couldn’t get it back,” Dzinich said.
The Crimson Bears scored three points in the entire second quarter as passes missed their intended recipients and several travel calls were made.
Slick’s three with seven seconds remaining in the half put Kings up 23-9 at the break.
With a comfortable lead, Ketchikan slowed down its offense in the second half, letting over 30 seconds tick off the clock on many possessions.
Bohulano collided hard with Slick while going for a rebound midway through the third quarter. The sophomore guard walked off the court on her own strength and was assessed by a trainer (she would play several minutes in the fourth quarter).
Down 33-14 in the fourth quarter, there would be no dramatic comeback for the Crimson Bears, and Kayhi players began hugging one another with a minute left in the game to celebrate their accomplishment.
Contact sports reporter Nolin Ainsworth at 523-2272 or nolin.ainsworth@juneauempire.comk
