Crimson Bears basketball banquet celebrates end of season

Klas Stolpe
12 hours ago
5 min read

Dybdahl earns MVP, Ault the Coaches’ Award, Casperson honored with George Houston Award

2026 JDHS graduates Elias Dybdahl (20) and Noah Ault (2) battle for a rebound against the Service Cougars in the consolation bracket semifinal of the 2026 March Madness Alaska 4A State Basketball Championships at Anchorage's Alaska Airlines Center on Friday, March 20, 2026. Dybdahl received the MVP award and Ault the Coaches Award at the team's recent banquet. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Independent)

By Klas Stolpe

Juneau Independent

The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears basketball season was celebrated in May with the team’s awards banquet.

The Crimson Bears went 15-12, defeated Ketchikan for the Region V title and represented Southeast in the state tournament.

"It was a pleasure to coach this season's team and especially our graduating seniors," JDHS coach Robert Casperson said. “And of course we can do little without the support of the Juneau community and the JDHS administration, cheer and dance teams, pep band and student body. I would also like to note the hard work by my coaching staff and our two dedicated student managers, Skylar and Ryann Oliva, who made our daily lives so much easier."

The JDHS coaches - Casperson, John Sleppy, Kaleb Tompkins, David Timothy, Mike Carriker and Vince Yadao - vote for the Coaches’ Award. This season’s honor went to recent graduate Noah Ault.

“That one is for the player that shows up every day with a positive attitude and growth mindset,” Casperson said. “For the player who encourages teammates, works hard and is always helpful.”

Said Ault, “It feels really amazing. It shows that they have been watching you put in the work and that you can be coachable in a matter of how much time they have with you.”

The JDHS players vote for their respective team awards.

2026 JDHS graduates Brandon Casperson, Tyler Frisby (21) and Joren Gasga (12) defend West Valley junior Jayden Miranda (3) at the 2026 March Madness Alaska 4A State Basketball Championships at Anchorage's Alaska Airlines Center on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. Frisby received the team's Best Defense and Most Hustle awards at their recent banquet. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Independent)

2026 graduate Elias Dybdahl received the team’s Most Valuable Player. Dybdahl averaged 12 points, 10 rebounds, two assists and one block and one steal per game (averages were rounded up or down). He played in all 27 games, including a 28-point, 10-rebound performance in the season’s final clash at state.

Graduate Tyler (Kookesh) Frisby was honored with the Best Defense award and the Most Hustle award. In 26 games, he averaged two rebounds, one assist and one steal and three points, but was notable for his skill in shutting down opponents and never giving up.

2026 JDHS graduate Joren Gasga scores against the Service Cougars in the consolation bracket semifinal of the 2026 March Madness Alaska 4A State Basketball Championships at Anchorage's Alaska Airlines Center on Friday, March 20, 2026. Gasga received the Most Inspirational award at the team's recent banquet. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Independent)

Graduate Joren Gasga received the Most Inspirational award. In 27 games, Gasga averaged a team high 16.1 points — falling under 10 points just five times — four rebounds, two assists and two steals. He was one of the team’s strongest vocal leaders.

Outgoing sophomore Micah Nelson received the Most Improved award. In 27 varsity appearances, Nelson averaged one point, one rebound, one assist and one steal as he worked from being a last-minute player to someone relied on for relief at any point of a game.

2026 JDHS graduate Brandon Casperson is shown passing against West Valley during the 2026 March Madness Alaska 4A State Basketball Championships at Anchorage's Alaska Airlines Center on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. Casperson received the Best Passer and George Houston Award honors at the team's recent banquet. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Independent)

Statistical awards were game-based. Graduate Brandon Casperson earned Best Passer (Most Assists) with 71, averaging 2.6 per game. He was also the team’s fifth-leading scorer.

Dybdahl was Best Rebounder (272 total, 10 per game) and 2-point Marksman (139-262 for a .531 avg). He was also the second-leading scorer.

Outgoing Junior Logan Carriker was Best 3-point Marksman (25-66 for a .379 avg). He was the team’s third-leading scorer

Graduate Kurt Kuppert earned the Toughness Award (Most Charges Drawn - 6). He was the team’s fourth-leading scorer.

JDHS outgoing sophomore Micah Nelson (1) and outgoing freshman Zach Polasky (44), are shown against Service during the Crimson Bears 64-61 loss to the Cougars in the consolation bracket semifinal of the 2026 March Madness Alaska 4A State Basketball Championships at Anchorage's Alaska Airlines Center on Friday, March 20, 2026. Nelson earned the varsity Most Improved and JV MVP awards and Polasky the JV Best Defense award at the team's recent banquet. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Independent)

The JV awards were: MVP - Micah Nelson; Best Defense - Zachary Polasky; Most Improved - Ayden Bergmann; Most Inspirational - graduate Vernon Brewer; Most Hustle - Alejandro Lamas; Coaches Award - graduate Tyler Williams.

The varsity players also voted for the evening's final special honor, the George Houston Award. It’s named in honor of the former JDHS coach and the gymnasium namesake George Harold Houston (1950-2023), whose career spanned 34 years, including three Alaska Coach of the Year honors, 10 conference titles, two state titles and a 278-85 record. The retired teacher and coach continued working with youth until his death.

According to coach Casperson, “The award is given to the player that best embodies the ideals and values of being a Crimson Bears basketball player on the court, in the classroom and in the community. It is considered the highest award in our program.”

2026 JDHS graduate Brandon Casperson (5)is shown against the Service Cougars in the consolation bracket semifinal of the 2026 March Madness Alaska 4A State Basketball Championships at Anchorage's Alaska Airlines Center on Friday, March 20, 2026. Casperson received the team's George Houston Award at the recent Crimson Bears banquet. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Independent)

The JDHS team selected graduate Brandon Casperson. The starting captain and honor student is entering the United States Army to become an Airborne Ranger. He leaves for Fort Benning, Georgia, at the end of July.

“I am tremendously honored to have received the GHA,” Brandon Casperson said. “I am even more grateful that my teammates felt I embodied the guidelines for the award. My four years with the JDHS basketball program will have definitely helped prepare me for my next chapter.”

Also noted, registration is now open for the Carlos Boozer Basketball Camp, Aug. 3-7, at the George Houston Gymnasium. The camp is for boys and girls entering grades 4-12. Registration is at Boozerbasketballcamp.com or contact JuneauBasketball@gmail.com.