Juneau Douglas' Tona Fogg (23) defends as Ketchikan's Eliah Andaerson (32) gets a pass Friday afternoon during the 4A championship game of the Region V Tournament in Sitka.

Juneau Douglas' Tona Fogg (23) defends as Ketchikan's Eliah Andaerson (32) gets a pass Friday afternoon during the 4A championship game of the Region V Tournament in Sitka.

Kayhi girls win title

Points were hard to come by in the girls Region V 4A title game, as Ketchikan High School won a low-scoring match against Juneau-Douglas High School on Friday.

The Kings beat the Crimson Bears 37-27. Kayhi’s 10-point margin proved a huge gap in the game as neither team could find room to shoot. Ketchikan applied a full-court press in the second quarter that stifled JDHS’ offense and led to 30 turnovers for the Crimson Bears.

Kayhi senior Courtney Kemble gobbled up a ton of rebounds, at times earning two or three attempts on a possession. Kemble credited JDHS’ defense for keeping the game close.

“They played really good defense, and we were expecting that, so we were just trying to get the ball inside,” she said. “We didn’t get as many outside shots as we wanted. … We did really well rebounding, and I think that’s why the game ended up how it did.”

Ketchikan senior Eliah Anderson scored 12 points, senior Charley Edwardson had 10, and Kemble added six.

JDHS senior Cristina Arehart led Juneau Douglas with 10 points, followed by seniors Tona Fogg and Kallen Hoover with four each.

JDHS head coach Lesslie Knight enjoyed her team’s inspired defense but felt they lacked experience on offense.

“Our kids played really, really hard,” she said. “I think we did an amazing job keeping Ketchikan under 40 points … Ketchikan is tough, they put a lot of pressure on us. We have a lot of young kids, and we threw the ball away more than we should have. Defensively we did a great job. Offensively, we panicked, and our inexperience showed.”

Ketchikan started the game looking like they would run away with it, jumping to a 9-1 lead. JDHS bounced back before the end of the first to head into the second down 14-10. Kayhi applied their patented full-court press in the second to force turnovers and push the game to 24-14 by halftime.

JDHS played better on the glass in the third, as Cristina Arehart clamped down on the boards to spur a 6-0 Crimson Bears scoring run. Freshman Alexyn Bohulano picked Kayhi senior Charley Edwardson for a couple of steals in the period.

Up 30-24 in the fourth, Ketchikan looked to trap JDHS’ young ball handlers in the open court and close the door on JDHS’ title hopes.

Ketchikan head coach Kelly Smith’s girls are heading to the state tournament as the Region V 4A representatives.

“When you require as much work and discipline as our basketball program does, and you win things like this, it validates what we require,” Smith said. “If the one thing our kids leave this program with is that you get what you’ve earned, then we’ve done our job.”

The March Madness Alaska Basketball State Championships begin March 24 in Anchorage.

Ketchikan's Courtney Kemble (33) shoots as Juneau-Douglas' Cristina Aehart defends Friday afternoon during the 4A championship game at the Region V Tournament in Sitka.

Ketchikan’s Courtney Kemble (33) shoots as Juneau-Douglas’ Cristina Aehart defends Friday afternoon during the 4A championship game at the Region V Tournament in Sitka.

More in Sports

Sitka junior Caleb Calhoun pitched a perfect game, striking out all 15 batters he faced in a 24-0, five-inning Sitka win over Kayhi at Norman Walker Field on Saturday. (Photo by Christopher Mullen / Ketchikan Daily News)
Sitka pitcher Caleb Calhoun throws perfect outing

Wolves ace one part of team’s march toward state title.

Western toads are terrestrial except during the spring mating season. (Photo by Deana Barajas)
On The Trails: Spring birds and toads

In late April, a male yellow-rumped warbler began coming regularly to my… Continue reading

In this file photo Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé freshman Bella Connally, Ketchikan senior Clara Odden and Sitka junior Adalyna Moore race to the finish of the 4x100 relay during the Capital City Invitational Track & Field Meet in Juneau on April 26. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire file photo)
JDHS track team rises in the rain to challenge at Sitka

Crimson Bears compete with defending state champs Wolves.

The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears softball team pose with their third-place trophy Saturday at the 2025 Blue & Gold Softball Tournament in Anchorage. (Photo courtesy JDHS softball)
Crimson Bears place third in Blue & Gold play

JDHS gets taste of possible state tournament matchups.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior first baseman Riley Fick (22) attempts to catch an errant throw as Petersburg senior Brian Peterson (7) runs out a hit during the Crimson Bears’ 12-7 win over the Vikings on Friday at Mort Fryer Ball Park in Petersburg. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas sweeps road games at Petersburg

Crimson Bears best Vikings in rainy two-game series.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Kai Ciambor (14) has his shot blocked by Soldotna junior keeper Luke Hillyer during the Crimson Bears’ 3-0 win over the Stars on Thursday at Adair Kennedy Memorial Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
JDHS Crimson Bears boys outshine Soldotna Stars in 3-0 home win

Two keepers, one new and one old, one wins and one loses, both highlight.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior Peyton Wheeler (5) has a shot stopped by Soldotna sophomore keeper Ryan Queen (55) as Stars senior Kendra Rose trails the play during the Crimson Bears’ 2-1 loss to the Stars on Thursday at Adair Kennedy Memorial Park. (Klas Stolpe/ Juneau Empire)
JDHS soccer girls fall 2-1 to Soldotna

Crimson Bears dampened by Stars in home loss.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Pedrin Saceda-Hurt signed an NCAA Division III student-athlete form on Wednesday in the JDHS commons to attend Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, and play for the Norse basketball team. At left is mother Nickie Saceda-Hurt and at right is father Frank Hurt. (Klas Stolpe/Juneau Empire)
Saceda-Hurt signs to play basketball at Iowa’s Luther College

JDHS senior exchanging mountains for rolling hills and cornfields.

Steelheading with a baby is no excuse for getting shut out. (Photo by Jeff Lund)
I Went to the Woods: It’s not fishing, its neuroscience

The payoff was coming. There was no doubt that with the high… Continue reading

Most Read