Basketball

Haines seniors, left-to-right, Ari’el Godinez Long, Ashlyn Ganey and Emma Dohrn pose at the AABC Alaska Senior All-Star Game on Saturday at Anchorage’s Grace Christian High School. (Photo courtesy Ashlyn Ganey)

Local senior hoopsters play last minutes as all-stars

AABC 16th annual event showcases Alaska basketball talent

 

Yakutat's Rose Fraker is presented with the Walter Soboleff Award at the 2025 Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament by Steve Brandner, a previous winner, and Lions Club president Tim Wilson. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Saving Yakutat one basket at a time

Rose Fraker honored for Walter Soboleff Award

 

Jean Jackson made Gold Medal history in the 2025 Juneau Lions Club basketball tournament as the first woman inducted into the GMT Hall of Fame. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Jackson makes history as first woman player in Gold Medal tournament’s Hall of Fame

Klawock resident was star high school player and title-winnng coach; four-time Gold Medal MVP.

 

Metlakatla senior Brody Booth (12) scores over Seward’s Lane Petersen and Jack Lindquisst (1) during their 3rd/5th-place game Saturday at the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 2A State Basketball Championships at UAA’s Avis Sports Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Metlakatla Chiefs fall in third-place game at state 2A basketball tournament

Girls from Metlakatla also come up short in 4th/6th-place game.

Metlakatla senior Brody Booth (12) scores over Seward’s Lane Petersen and Jack Lindquisst (1) during their 3rd/5th-place game Saturday at the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 2A State Basketball Championships at UAA’s Avis Sports Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Hydaburg’s Devin Edenshaw looks for a move against Hoonah’s (#2) during a C bracket game Sunday at the the 76th Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament on Sunday, March 23, at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Opening day of 76th Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament sets the bar high

Big games, little games, games of all shapes and sizes are underway at weeklong tournament at JDHS.

Hydaburg’s Devin Edenshaw looks for a move against Hoonah’s (#2) during a C bracket game Sunday at the the 76th Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament on Sunday, March 23, at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Sitka’s Syd Eubanks (13) scores between Klukwan’s Andrew Friske (12) and Dave Buss (22) during the Masters Bracket Championship Saturday at the 76th Annual Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Masterful win by Sitka earns Gold Medal Championship

Sitka tops Klukwan 73-59 for tournament title.

Sitka’s Syd Eubanks (13) scores between Klukwan’s Andrew Friske (12) and Dave Buss (22) during the Masters Bracket Championship Saturday at the 76th Annual Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Hydaburg’s Darren Edenshaw is pressured by Metlakatla’s Bryan Hayward and Chris Bryant during the C Bracket Championship on Saturday at the 76th Annual Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Hydaburg tops Metlakatla 85-70 for C Bracket title

MVP Darren Edenshaw scores 31 in Gold Medal Championship

Hydaburg’s Darren Edenshaw is pressured by Metlakatla’s Bryan Hayward and Chris Bryant during the C Bracket Championship on Saturday at the 76th Annual Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Angoon’s Dominic Brinson (21) scores over Haines’ Kyle Rush (13) and James Hart during the B Bracket Championship on Saturday at the 76th Annual Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Angoon defends B bracket Gold Medal championship

Repeat champions ball out in 79-66 win over Haines

Angoon’s Dominic Brinson (21) scores over Haines’ Kyle Rush (13) and James Hart during the B Bracket Championship on Saturday at the 76th Annual Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Craig’s Nani Weimer (10) hits a shot past the arc during the Women’s Bracket Championship on Saturday at the 76th Annual Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

MVP Weimer leads Craig women to Gold Medal title

Craig runs past Hooper Bay for Womens Bracket Championship

Craig’s Nani Weimer (10) hits a shot past the arc during the Women’s Bracket Championship on Saturday at the 76th Annual Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Juneau-AML’s Mahina Toutaiolepo (24) scores over Mt. Edgcumbe’s Jaylin Prince (42) during the Open Bracket Championship on Saturday at the 76th Annual Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

MVP Tompkins leads Juneau to Gold Medal title

Juneau-AML tops Mt. Edgecumbe 90-84 in Open Bracket

Juneau-AML’s Mahina Toutaiolepo (24) scores over Mt. Edgcumbe’s Jaylin Prince (42) during the Open Bracket Championship on Saturday at the 76th Annual Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Filcom’s Tony Yadao runs Mt. Edgecumbe defender Tyrell Cromer through a screen by Garrett Bryant (31) during Mt. Edgecumbe’s 86-79 A Bracket elimination game win Friday at the 76th Annual Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Championships set for Gold Medal tournament on Saturday

Juneau v. Mt. Edgecumbe; Craig v. Hooper Bay; Sitka v. Klukwan; Metlakatla v. Hydaburg; Angoon v. Haines.

Filcom’s Tony Yadao runs Mt. Edgecumbe defender Tyrell Cromer through a screen by Garrett Bryant (31) during Mt. Edgecumbe’s 86-79 A Bracket elimination game win Friday at the 76th Annual Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Klukwan’s Andrew Friske (12) blocks a shot by Metlakatla’s Danny Marsden as Klukwan’s Stuart Dewitt and Brian Friske look on during their 65-63 Masters Bracket elimination game win over Metlakatla on Thursday at the 76th Annual Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Thursday Gold Medal play features semifinal action

Big guns fill half the championship final berths, four more teams exit tourney

Klukwan’s Andrew Friske (12) blocks a shot by Metlakatla’s Danny Marsden as Klukwan’s Stuart Dewitt and Brian Friske look on during their 65-63 Masters Bracket elimination game win over Metlakatla on Thursday at the 76th Annual Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Mt. Edgecumbe’s Zach Anderson (50) scores on a screen by Brian Friske (33) as Southeast Boys’ Ryan Lee (40) closes out during Mt. Edgecumbe’s 81-55 A Bracket elimination game win Wednesday at the 76th Annual Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Shakeout of teams underway as Gold Medal hits halfway point on Wednesday

You don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here.

Mt. Edgecumbe’s Zach Anderson (50) scores on a screen by Brian Friske (33) as Southeast Boys’ Ryan Lee (40) closes out during Mt. Edgecumbe’s 81-55 A Bracket elimination game win Wednesday at the 76th Annual Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Filcom’s Alwen Carrillo (11) floats a shot over Southeast Boys’ Ryan Lee (40) during Filcom’s 77-74 A Bracket win Tuesday at the 76th Annual Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

New bracket, new thrills and elimination games Tuesday at Gold Medal

Return of A Bracket features recent JDHS star Alwen Carrillo against TMHS grad Samuel Lockhart.

Filcom’s Alwen Carrillo (11) floats a shot over Southeast Boys’ Ryan Lee (40) during Filcom’s 77-74 A Bracket win Tuesday at the 76th Annual Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Metlakatla’s Willie Hayward floats through Klukwan defenders Dave Buss (22), Erik McCormick (6) and Andrew Friske (12) during Masters Bracket action Monday at the 76th Annual Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Monday madness at Gold Medal

Late night track meet, early morning celebration, mid-day shootout.

Metlakatla’s Willie Hayward floats through Klukwan defenders Dave Buss (22), Erik McCormick (6) and Andrew Friske (12) during Masters Bracket action Monday at the 76th Annual Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Ketchikan senior Jonathan Scoblic shoots under pressure from East Anchorage senior Muhammed Sabally (23) during the Kings’ 43-25 loss to the Thunderbirds on Saturday in the 4A championship game of the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 4A Basketball State Championships in Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Ketchikan gives East Anchorage a run for 4A title

Kings fly close to sun, fall to defending state champ Thunderbirds.

Ketchikan senior Jonathan Scoblic shoots under pressure from East Anchorage senior Muhammed Sabally (23) during the Kings’ 43-25 loss to the Thunderbirds on Saturday in the 4A championship game of the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 4A Basketball State Championships in Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Mt. Edgecumbe’s Richard Didrickson Jr. (21) shoots from past the arc over Barrow’s Ethan Goodwin (2) during the Braves’ 81-73 win over the Whalers in the 3A boys 3rd/5th-place game Saturday at 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 3A/4A Basketball State Championships in Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Braves win shootout over Whalers for third place

Mt. Edgecumbe earns 81-73 win over Barrow at state tournament.

Mt. Edgecumbe’s Richard Didrickson Jr. (21) shoots from past the arc over Barrow’s Ethan Goodwin (2) during the Braves’ 81-73 win over the Whalers in the 3A boys 3rd/5th-place game Saturday at 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 3A/4A Basketball State Championships in Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé sophomore Layla Tokuoka (14) gets a shot off over Colony senior Hallie Clark (22) as JDHS juniors Cambry Lockhart (3) and Gwen Nizich (11) move down court in the Crimson Bears’ 56-34 loss to the Knights in a Friday 4A girls semifinal at the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 3A/4A Basketball State Championships at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

JDHS girls fall to Colony 56-34 in state semifinal game

Crimson Bears will play for third, Knights advance to title contest.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé sophomore Layla Tokuoka (14) gets a shot off over Colony senior Hallie Clark (22) as JDHS juniors Cambry Lockhart (3) and Gwen Nizich (11) move down court in the Crimson Bears’ 56-34 loss to the Knights in a Friday 4A girls semifinal at the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 3A/4A Basketball State Championships at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Zosha Krupa in action at the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 1A/2A Basketball State Championships at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Southeast referee Zosha Krupa picks stripes over clipboards

Former star player giving back to community through officiating gets lead duties at state tournament.

Zosha Krupa in action at the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 1A/2A Basketball State Championships at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Sitka junior Trey Johnson (24) challenges a shot by Mt. Edgecumbe senior Richard Didrickson Jr (21) during the Wolves’ 64-62 semifinal win over the Braves on Thursday in the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 3A/4A Basketball State Championships at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Wolves tip Braves in epic state semifinal hoops battle

Number two Sitka, number three Mt. Edgecumbe go down to the buzzer

Sitka junior Trey Johnson (24) challenges a shot by Mt. Edgecumbe senior Richard Didrickson Jr (21) during the Wolves’ 64-62 semifinal win over the Braves on Thursday in the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 3A/4A Basketball State Championships at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)