Crimson Bears boys run with Wolves
- Klas Stolpe
- 2 hours ago
- 5 min read
JDHS topples visiting Sitka team in full-court revenge
By Klas Stolpe
Juneau Independent
The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears boys basketball team avenged two earlier road defeats at the home of the Sitka Wolves with a 56-49 win Friday in the first of a two-night homecoming series at the George Houston Gymnasium.
“I told them I was proud of them for the growth we have made since we last played Sitka,” JDHS coach Robert Casperson said.
The Crimson Bears boys lost to the Wolves at Sitka on Jan. 9-10 by scores of 66-54 and 55-37.
“Everyone contributed in whatever their opportunities were today,” coach Casperson said. “Most importantly, we battled for all four quarters against a very good basketball team and focused on making the next play.”
There were six lead changes in the first half, the largest was seven points, 15-8 in favor of Sitka with a minute gone in the second quarter.
The Wolves had led 11-8 after eight minutes, and the Crimson Bears would match the physical full-court play of Sitka’s powerful seniors Brett Ross, Kai Hirai, Shane Tincher, Trey Johnson and juniors Shane Carlos, Josh Partido and Colton McGraw through the game.
JDHS senior Brandon Casperson would hit two free throws and classmate Joren Gasga floated a shot above 6’5” Sitka senior defensive stalwart Trey Johnson to pull within 15-13.
Every aggressive defensive set by Sitka was met with the same JDHS aggression.
“It really just starts in practice with putting ourselves in game-like situations to be able to perform in a game,” JDHS’ B. Casperson said. “We just compete as a team and do the things we need to do and execute what we need to do to get the wins.”
Sitka’s Johnson would earn six blocked shots on the night and alter a few more, but the Crimson Bears were not intimidated in the key or from the arc.
JDHS junior Logan Carriker hit from the arc to answer a free-throw by Sitka senior Shane Tincher to pull to 16-15.
The Wolves’ Partido scored for an 18-15 lead, but the Crimson Bears fed senior Elias Dybdahl on an inbounds play for a score and on their next possession Dybdahl hit two free throws for a 19-18 lead.
Stika’s Johnson would block two more shots in the stanza, but JDHS’ Gasga got loose on a drive and pulled up for a jumper and a 21-18 lead at the half.
Sitka’s McGraw hit from the arc to open the third quarter and tie the score, but JDHS’ Gasga answered on a drive for a 23-21 advantage.
Sitka’s McGraw would add another from distance to regain the lead and, after a free throw by JDHS’ B. Casperson tied the game, Sitka’s Hairai hit from the arc for a 27-24 lead with 4:37 remaining in the stanza.
It would be the last lead for the visitors.
The game would be tied at 21-21 on a basket and a free throw by JDHS senior Tyler Frisby with 3:17 left in the stanza and 30-30 with 1:39 left as Sitka’s Tincher and JDHS sophomore Micah Nelson both hit from the arc.
JDHS’ Gasga would score and be fouled, completing the play for a 33-30 lead with under a minute in the third quarter remaining. Sitka answered with McGraw’s third shot from the arc to tie the game at 33-33 with 10 seconds left and JDHS’ Carriker would battle for a score and the lead for good at 35-33 as the stanza ended.
Sitka opened the fourth quarter on a tying basket by Tincher, but JDHS’ Gasga hit from the arc on the Crimson Bears' possession for a 38-35 lead that would never be tied again.
JDHS inched to a 43-39 lead with under five minutes left in the game on a free throw by Gasga, a turnaround jumper by Gasga and a steal and score by Gasga.
JDHS’ Dybdahl continued to make life hard in the key for Sitka’s Johnson, but the Crimson Bears big man would be hit with his fifth foul with 3:45 left in the game.
JDHS’ B. Casperson brought back the momentum with a step-through layup and a jumper to answer a basket and two free throws by Sitka’s Tincher to keep JDHS in front 48-43 with two minutes remaining.
Sitka struggled from the free throw line the entire game, hitting just 6-20 from the charity stripe, while JDHS would close out the game hitting 8-12 as the Wolves were forced to foul, and the Crimson Bears’ Frisby, Gasga and Casperson would hit from the line for the 56-47 lead.
Sitka’s night ended as the Wolves’ Tincher missed two free throws but worked for the rebound to score. JDHS would hold the ball the final six seconds for the 56-49 win.
Sitka coach Steve Compagno told his team after the game, “Have a short memory. We play tomorrow. No Excuses.”
Gasga led JDHS with 24 points, including 14 in the fourth quarter. B. Casperson added 11, Dybdahl six, Carriker five, Frisby four, Nelson and senior Kurt Kuppert three apiece.
The Crimson Bears hit 17-49 from the free throw line.
Tincher led Sitka with 22 points, McGraw nine, Brett Ross seven, Hirai six and Johnson five.
“We had a great crowd tonight,” coach Casperson said. “They brought incredible energy. The game was very physical and well officiated. I don't believe any coach is looking to have everything called in a game. The officials were calling things consistently tonight whenever they thought the contact created an unfair advantage. That's great. On top of that, I would say it is clear Sitka has spent some time in the weight room. We have, too, and I believe that helped us play hard to the whistle. We always tell our guys to expect contact, not a call. They should be playing with the focus on finishing and not a whistle. I thought we did well with that tonight.”
Saturday game times are boys’ C team at 1 p.m., girls’ JV at 2:30 p.m., boys’ JV at 4 p.m., girls’ varsity at 5:30 p.m. and boys’ varsity at 7 p.m.
Upcoming games have the Crimson Bears girls hosting the Mt. Edgecumbe Lady Braves Feb.13-14 while the boys travel to face the MEHS Braves; The JDHS girls host Ketchikan Feb. 20-21 while the JDHS boys travel to Kayhi; and both JDHS teams will host Tri-Valley Feb. 27-28 for the boys and girls senior nights.
• Contact Klas Stolpe at klas.stolpe@gmail.com.
