Crimson Bears girls bested by Lady Whalers
- Klas Stolpe
- Jan 25
- 3 min read
JDHS falls to Barrow 76-54 at Utqiagvik tournament
By Klas Stolpe
Juneau Independent
The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé girls basketball team fell to the Barrow Lady Whalers 76-54 on Saturday in the 3rd Annual Karl Derek Ahgeak Invitational basketball tournament at Utqiagvik.
“They are a very good team,” JDHS coach Tanya Nizich said. “You can definitely tell they have been playing together for a while.”
Barrow took control of the game from the opening tip and held a 26-6 lead after eight minutes, led by 12 first quarter points from senior Aiga Unutoa.
JDHS sophomore Kyndal Saceda had five points and classmate Freyja Shelton-Walker a free throw in the stanza.
The Crimson Bears relaxed in the second quarter and kept pace with the Lady Whalers behind the scoring of junior Layla Tokuoka, and sophomores Sadie Lockhart and Raynona Fraker.
Barrow junior Kyle Burnell hit two shots past the arc in the second quarter and five other Lady Whalers had a basket to hold a 43-21 lead at the half.
Both teams would score 33 points in the second half.
JDHS senior Cambry Lockhart had a strong third quarter with 11 points from all points on the court and S. Lockhart added one basket from the arc and Tokuoka one on a drive. Barrow’s Burnell connected three times from past the arc in the stanza and four Lady Whalers added single baskets.
“I was impressed with how hard we fought and the number of points we put on the board from everyone,” JDHS coach Nizich said. “They put hard pressure on us and we found ways to score and were patient at times to take what was given. Sadie and Raynona were firing for us on from the outside while Cambry and Layla were driving in.”
In the fourth quarter JDHS’ Fraker hit twice from the arc and S. Lockhart once to keep the Barrow defense honest. C. Lockhart, Saceda and Tokuoka added baskets closer in as the Crimson Bears closed out the game outscoring the Lady Whalers 17-16 over the final eight minutes.
C. Lockhart led JDHS with 15 points, S. Lockhart added 13, Tokuoka and Fraker nine apiece, Saceda seven and Shelton-Walker one. The Crimson Bears hit 9-10 from the free throw line.
Unutoa led Barrow with 20 points, Burnel added 15, senior Zadah Unutoa, junior Angela McFadden and freshman Selagi Unutoa eight each, junior Faagi Unutoa seven, junior Lauren Stackhouse six, sophomores Kamella Rexford and Siana Reich two apiece. The Lady Whalers were 2-2 from the line.
The Crimson Bears were without senior Gwen Nizich, sophomore Lydia Goins and freshman Blythe Lockhart on this trip. Sophomore post Athena Warr rolled her ankle in the Kodiak game Friday and was unavailable for Saturday’s game.
“I think this game taught us how tough we can be and how having composure under pressure is extremely important,” coach Nizich said. “We really enjoyed this tournament, the experience, and wonderful hospitality that barrow gave us.”
JDHS had beaten Grace Christian 56-50 on Thursday and defeated Kodiak 53-30 on Friday.
The Crimson Bears play at Ketchikan Jan. 30-31.
• Contact Klas Stolpe at klas.stolpe@gmail.com.
