The seniors on Thunder Mountain High School’s boys basketball team showed up to play on senior night.
All six of the seniors scored points in an 84-54 win against visiting Mt. Edgecumbe High School. The win in what will be the last home game of TMHS’ season nudges the Falcons’ record past .500 and to 11-10.
“Those seniors had a lot of fun making the most of their moment, their night, and it was really special to watch,” said coach John Blasco.
Seniors combined to score all 20 of Thunder Mountain’s first-quarter points. Isiah Nelson and Storm Aguirre each scored 7 in the first frame. Every senior on Thunder Mountain’s roster scored in the game. Sophomore Sam Lockhart would lead all scorers with 18 points —13 in the second half —in the game.
Blasco praised the team’s younger members for making it a point to incorporate the old guard into the game.
“It’s something a coach loves to see is the younger guys making sure the older guys get their chance to score,” Blasco said. “It was just a special night all around.”
Prior to the game, seniors were recognized at center court and Blasco spoke glowingly of what the players have brought to the program over the years. Senior Wallace Adams followed those remarks with kind words for his coach.
Adams spoke effusively about Blasco’s ability to forge connections with his players.
Thunder Mountain’s 30-point margin of victory was fueled by a hot 3-point shooting night.
“We just shot really well last night,” Blasco said. “On a normal night, we’re normally in the 50s.”
Blasco said it’s a good time to be playing well with the end of the season and the Region V Tournament insight.
“This is the time you want to be building momentum and confidence and get the guys playing their bet,” Blasco said.
Up next for Thunder Mountain will be a pair of games at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé, who will be coming off two games against Ketchikan High School at Ketchikan.
The crosstown games, which include Juneau-Douglas’ senior night on Saturday, March 5, could impact seeding for the Region V Tournament to be played in Ketchikan. The Falcons and Crimson Bears split their first two games of the season, which were played at TMHS.
As of Friday morning, TMHS’ in-conference record sat at 2-4, JDHS’ at 3-1 and Kayhi’s at 3-3.
“We will see what happens this weekend, and we will see what happens our weekend,” Blasco said.
• Contact Ben Hohenstatt at (907)308-4895 or bhohenstatt@juneauempire.com. Follow him on Twitter at @BenHohenstatt.
Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire TMHS sophomore Thomas Baxter sends a behind-the-back pass to senior Isaiah Nelson, who would go on to hit the open shot.
Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire Coaches John Blasco (far right) and Matt Seymour (far left) flank seniors (from left to right) Noah Chambers, Isaiah Nelson, Matthew Johns, Wallace Adams, Matthew Hartsock and Storm Aguirre.
