The energy and determination of sisters Nina and Tasi Fenumiai helped Thunder Mountain High School put an end to a multi-year drought of home conference wins.
The duo scored 22 combined points to power the Falcons to a 40-36 win over Juneau-Douglas on Friday night in the first of four conference games between the pair. The teams played again on Saturday night.
“We came out with so much determination, so much heart, so much energy,” TMHS coach Chandler Christensen said. “It was probably the best full game I’ve seen us play this season.”
Sophomore Jenae Pusich and senior Alyxn Bohulano scored eight points respectively in the loss. Senior Caitlin Pusich scored seven points.
Thunder Mountain’s Tasi Fenumiai lays the ball up against Juneau-Douglas’ Sadie Tuckwood and Skylar Hickok at TMHS on Friday, Feb. 1, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Nina Fenumiai made numerous decisive drives to the rim in the second quarter, and her teammates followed suit. After swatting away a Juneau-Douglas shot, the senior went down the court and slithered between two defenders to give the Falcons their first lead of the game at 16-15 with 4:10 left in the half.
Tasi Fenumiai’s 3-pointer with 35 seconds left in the half gave the Falcons a 19-17 cushion at halftime.
The junior was just getting started.
After breaking a 23-23 tie midway through the third quarter, Tasi Fenumiai went on to score four more baskets to help the Falcons pull away.
“In the third quarter, she really kept us alive and kept us going,” Christensen said. “They tied it up there and I was kind of afraid we might fall a little bit but we just kept going and a lot of that credit goes to Tasi.”
Falcon boys lose at home
Later in the night, the Thunder Mountain boys dropped a 56-52 contest to Service High School.
The Cougars, who defeated Juneau-Douglas 46-45 Thursday, outscored the Falcons 21-7 in the third quarter.
Junior Bryson Echiverri led the Falcons with 23 points, including 20 in the first half. Brady Carandang had 11 points.
TMHS and Service played again on Saturday night.
• Contact sports reporter Nolin Ainsworth at 523-2272 or nainsworth@juneauempire.com. Follow Empire Sports on Twitter at @akempiresports.
