Crimson Bears face big challenge on largest stage
- Klas Stolpe
- 8 hours ago
- 3 min read
JDHS boys draw top seed West Valley, girls draw second seed Bartlett in state tournament
By Klas Stolpe
Juneau Independent
To be the best you have to beat the best and while the five-time defending state champion Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé cheer team will defend their title on Tuesday, the varsity basketball teams face that challenge to tip off the March Madness Alaska 2026 ASAA/First National Bank Alaska 3A/4A Basketball State Championships on Wednesday at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center.
The #8 seed JDHS boys will tip off at 6:15 p.m. against the #1 seed West Valley Wolfpack from Fairbanks.
West Valley is 20-3 on the season. The three losses came from the Forest Wildcats of Ocala, Florida 56-38 on January 22, South Anchorage 54-52 on January 31, and Grace Christian 41-38 on February 7.
“West Valley is a great team and has been in the top five all season,” JDHS coach Robert Casperson said. “In all our film study we have yet to find any weaknesses. They are talented all the way through the entire roster.”
The JDHS boys are 15-10. Their common opponents include Bartlett, Colony, East Anchorage, Monroe and Ketchikan.
JDHS fell to Colony 80-60 at the East T-Bird Classic Jan.15, defeated Bartlett 74-41 in the Classic and fell to East 84-70 at the Classic. West Valley defeated visiting Colony 66-56 on January 23, topped Bartlett 66-27 on Feb. 5 and East 50-47 on Feb. 6. JDHS defeated Monroe 60-45 on Dec. 30, West Valley defeated Monroe 56-43 on Feb. 5 and 56-12 on Feb. 19. West Valley defeated Ketchikan 55-36 on Jan. 29. JDHS swept Kayhi in the regular season 56-45, 53-48, 53-41, 76-52 and won two region championship games 62-36 and 59-34.
“We know we will have our work cut out for us,” Coach Casperson said. “But our guys are looking forward to the challenge. Everyone is happy, healthy, and prepared for this opportunity.”
Bartlett is 21-5, with losses to the Ridgeline Falcons of Liberty Lake, Washington 71-40 on Dec.18, to Mountain City Christian Academy 75-54 on Jan. 22 and 70-66 on Feb. 7, to Colony 62-55 on Feb. 9, and to West Anchorage 71-55 on Feb. 27.
“We are excited to head to state and represent Southeast,” JDHS coach Tanya Nizich said. “Bartlett is a tough team and have had the opportunity to play many of these teams that are in the state tournament already.”
The JDHS girls are 16-6. Common opponents include Wasilla, North Pole, Barrow and Ketchikan.
JDHS fell to Wasilla 74-34 on Dec. 18. Bartlett topped Wasilla 43-39 on Dec. 20. JDHS split with North Pole on Dec.19-20, losing 53-46 and winning 49-36. Bartlett topped North Pole 87-50 on Feb. 20. JDHS fell to Barrow 76-54 on Jan. 24 and Bartlett topped Barrow 77-62 on Dec. 19. Bartlett defeated Ketchikan 74-29 on Feb. 5 and JDHS defeated Kayhi three times in the regular season by scores of 51-41, 55-36 and 47-39 and lost 48-37, and won the best-of-three region series 55-36 and 47-39.
“We have been very focused on this last week in practice,” Coach Nizich said. “And we have tweaked a few things. We hope to have it benefit us on day one of play.”
In the 3A boys state tournament #1 seed Mt. Edgecumbe faces #8 Houston and on the same side of the bracket #4 Sitka plays #5 Delta. Opposite side of the bracket has defending state champ #2 Nome facing #7 Valdez and #3 Barrow against #6 Kenai.
In 3A girls #3 Mt. Edgecumbe plays #6 Kenai and on that bracket side #2 Monroe faces #7 Delta Junction. Opposite, #1 Barrow meets #8 Kotzebue and #4 Grace Christian plays #5 Galena.
• Contact Klas Stolpe at klas.stolpe@gmail.com.
