Basketball

Petersburg senior Kyle Biggers (23) draws a foul on his way to the hoop while defended by Wrangell sophomore Daniel Harrison (34) and Wrangell senior Ethan Blatchley (12). Late free-throws from Biggers, who suffered a knee injury during the game, helped secure the win for Petersburg in what ended up being a 1-point game. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Petersburg boys battle Wrangell in tournament’s 1st round

Vikings and Wolves go the distance in long-standing rivalry.

Petersburg senior Kyle Biggers (23) draws a foul on his way to the hoop while defended by Wrangell sophomore Daniel Harrison (34) and Wrangell senior Ethan Blatchley (12). Late free-throws from Biggers, who suffered a knee injury during the game, helped secure the win for Petersburg in what ended up being a 1-point game. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Craig senior Alissa Durgan (14) wills her way to the hoop while defended by Haines sophomore Ashlyn Ganey (32) and Haines senior Alison Benda (14) in the second half of a Craig win in the first round of the Region V 2A Tournament. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Craig girls slow down Haines in region tournament

Lady Panthers earn 37-31 win

Craig senior Alissa Durgan (14) wills her way to the hoop while defended by Haines sophomore Ashlyn Ganey (32) and Haines senior Alison Benda (14) in the second half of a Craig win in the first round of the Region V 2A Tournament. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
JDHS junior Mila Hargrave sets her eyes on the basket during the first 4A girls game of the Region V 2A/4A Tournament at Thunder Mountain High School. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
JDHS junior Mila Hargrave sets her eyes on the basket during the first 4A girls game of the Region V 2A/4A Tournament at Thunder Mountain High School. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Wrangell High School senior Kiara Harrison (11) rebounds over senior teammate Trinity Faulkner (2) and Petersburg High School sophomores Iris Case (10) and Kylie Mattingly (30) during the Lady Wolves’ 48-10 win over the Lady Vikings in the Region V 2A/4A Basketball Tournament on Wednesday at Thunder Mountain High School in Juneau. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)

Wrangell girls top Petersburg in Region V tournament opener

The Juneau Empire’s expanded coverage of the Region V tournament is made possible by Sealaska Corp. Thanks to this sponsorship, this article —and all 2023… Continue reading

Wrangell High School senior Kiara Harrison (11) rebounds over senior teammate Trinity Faulkner (2) and Petersburg High School sophomores Iris Case (10) and Kylie Mattingly (30) during the Lady Wolves’ 48-10 win over the Lady Vikings in the Region V 2A/4A Basketball Tournament on Wednesday at Thunder Mountain High School in Juneau. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)
Haines High School senior Eric Brouillette (40) shoots over Craig High School sophomore Ayden Benolken (24) and freshman Josh Bennett (10) during the Glacier Bears 68-39 win over the Panthers in the Region V 2A/4A Basketball Tournament on Wednesday, Mar. 8, 2023 at Thunder Mountain High School in Juneau. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)

Haines defeats Craig in boys Region V tournament opener

Glacier Bears chill Panthers with 68-39 win.

Haines High School senior Eric Brouillette (40) shoots over Craig High School sophomore Ayden Benolken (24) and freshman Josh Bennett (10) during the Glacier Bears 68-39 win over the Panthers in the Region V 2A/4A Basketball Tournament on Wednesday, Mar. 8, 2023 at Thunder Mountain High School in Juneau. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)
Author Klas Stolpe (13) in action for the Petersburg Vikings against the Sitka Wolves at the 1977 Region V Tournament in Ketchikan. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)

Closed: Find Me At The Gym

Basketball is a game that rounds out the rough edges of life.

Author Klas Stolpe (13) in action for the Petersburg Vikings against the Sitka Wolves at the 1977 Region V Tournament in Ketchikan. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)
JDHS senior Orion Dybdahl goes in for a layup against TMHS during a conference game early this season. The two cross-town rivals are set to play games for the Region V Tournament this week. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
JDHS senior Orion Dybdahl goes in for a layup against TMHS during a conference game early this season. The two cross-town rivals are set to play games for the Region V Tournament this week. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
A basketball passes through a hoop at Thunder Mountain High School. Expect to see a lot more of that this week as the Region V Tournament will be hosted at the high school. Games start Wednesday. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

2A Schools will fill gym at Region V Tournament

Top teams and players are among the state’s best.

A basketball passes through a hoop at Thunder Mountain High School. Expect to see a lot more of that this week as the Region V Tournament will be hosted at the high school. Games start Wednesday. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
JDHS junior Sean Oliver takes a free throw shot during a game against Thunder Mountain High School on Thursday, Feb. 2. Oliver finished with a total of 20 points against the Crimson Bears’ most recent game against Palmer High School on Friday, Feb. 17. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file)
JDHS junior Sean Oliver takes a free throw shot during a game against Thunder Mountain High School on Thursday, Feb. 2. Oliver finished with a total of 20 points against the Crimson Bears’ most recent game against Palmer High School on Friday, Feb. 17. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file)
TMHS junior Thomas Baxter rises for a layup on a fastbreak during a Saturday night game against Ketchikan. Baxter on Feb. 9 became the fastest Falcon to reach 1,000 points and is now the school's third leading scorer.  (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Baxter passes 1K points, now eyes Thunder Mountain’s scoring summit

He’s the fastest in school history to hit 1,000-point mark.

TMHS junior Thomas Baxter rises for a layup on a fastbreak during a Saturday night game against Ketchikan. Baxter on Feb. 9 became the fastest Falcon to reach 1,000 points and is now the school's third leading scorer.  (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Klukwan’s Michael Ganey, center, shoots against Hydaburg’s Ben Young in the C final at the 2019 Gold Medal Basketball Tournament. The tournament returns this March after a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

After a 3-year break, Gold Medal basketball is almost here

“This tournament is a generational thing.”

Klukwan’s Michael Ganey, center, shoots against Hydaburg’s Ben Young in the C final at the 2019 Gold Medal Basketball Tournament. The tournament returns this March after a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Thunder Mountain’s Cailynn Baxter (23) and Kiara Endicott (14) guard Ketchikan’s Kali MacManus (1) during Saturday’s game at Ketchikan High School, which Thunder Mountain won 60-38. (Christopher Mullen / Ketchikan Daily News)

Thunder Mountain girls split 2 with Kayhi

They followed a Friday loss with a 22-point win.

Thunder Mountain’s Cailynn Baxter (23) and Kiara Endicott (14) guard Ketchikan’s Kali MacManus (1) during Saturday’s game at Ketchikan High School, which Thunder Mountain won 60-38. (Christopher Mullen / Ketchikan Daily News)
JDHS junior Sean Oliver puts up a tricky lay up against Ketchikan High School during a conference game Friday night. Oliver was second in leading his team in scores for a total of 16 points. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

JDHS boys win 2 against Ketchikan

Crimson Bears girls finish 1-1 agaisnt Mt. Edgecumbe.

JDHS junior Sean Oliver puts up a tricky lay up against Ketchikan High School during a conference game Friday night. Oliver was second in leading his team in scores for a total of 16 points. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
JDHS senior Orion Dybdahl (20) shoots over the outstretched arms of TMHS junior James Polasky early in a Crimson Bears comeback win at Thunder Mountain High School. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
JDHS senior Orion Dybdahl (20) shoots over the outstretched arms of TMHS junior James Polasky early in a Crimson Bears comeback win at Thunder Mountain High School. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
JDHS junior Sean Oliver and senior Orion Dybdahl share all-tournament honors at the conclusion of this year’s 3-game Al Howard Shootout tournament in Soldotna. (Courtesy Photo / Robert Casperson)
JDHS junior Sean Oliver and senior Orion Dybdahl share all-tournament honors at the conclusion of this year’s 3-game Al Howard Shootout tournament in Soldotna. (Courtesy Photo / Robert Casperson)
Thunder Mountain’s Thomas Baxter (30) prepares to shoot the ball as Kayhi’s Archie Dundas (22), Jared Rhoades (15), and Andrew Kleinschmidt-Guthrie (13) try to block him during Thunder Mountain’s 54-56 loss to Kayhi on Friday at Ketchikan High School. On Saturday, the Falcons won the rematch 60-58. (Christopher Mullen / Ketchikan Daily News)
Thunder Mountain’s Thomas Baxter (30) prepares to shoot the ball as Kayhi’s Archie Dundas (22), Jared Rhoades (15), and Andrew Kleinschmidt-Guthrie (13) try to block him during Thunder Mountain’s 54-56 loss to Kayhi on Friday at Ketchikan High School. On Saturday, the Falcons won the rematch 60-58. (Christopher Mullen / Ketchikan Daily News)
Courtesy Photo / Robert Casperson 
JDHS junior Sean Oliver and senior Orion Dybdahl pose for a photo on Saturday after earning all-tournament honors at the O’Brady Invitational tournament in South Anchorage.

JDHS boys basketball takes 3rd place in O’Brady Invitational tournament

Crimson Bears beat Bartlett and and South Anchorage but fall to West Valley.

Courtesy Photo / Robert Casperson 
JDHS junior Sean Oliver and senior Orion Dybdahl pose for a photo on Saturday after earning all-tournament honors at the O’Brady Invitational tournament in South Anchorage.
Kayhi’s Lindsay Byron (21) tries to block Juneau’s Skylar Tuckwood (13) as she attempts a layup Friday at Ketchikan High School. Juneau won 40 to 33. Photo by Christopher Mullen Ketchikan Daily News

JDHS girls net big conference wins in Ketchikan

Crimson Bears girls find two wins against Lady Kings.

Kayhi’s Lindsay Byron (21) tries to block Juneau’s Skylar Tuckwood (13) as she attempts a layup Friday at Ketchikan High School. Juneau won 40 to 33. Photo by Christopher Mullen Ketchikan Daily News
Sophomore Addison Wilson races toward the basket late in TMHS' comeback win. Wilson was one of four players on her team to score 9 points. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Sophomore Addison Wilson races toward the basket late in TMHS' comeback win. Wilson was one of four players on her team to score 9 points. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
TMHS junior Samuel Lockhart makes his way past the outstretched arm of a Colony defender on his way to the hoop during a Thursday night home game. Lockhart would finish the game with a team-leading 17 points in the 52-41 loss. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
TMHS junior Samuel Lockhart makes his way past the outstretched arm of a Colony defender on his way to the hoop during a Thursday night home game. Lockhart would finish the game with a team-leading 17 points in the 52-41 loss. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)