Crimson Bears stronger than Grizzlies in Utqiagvik
- Klas Stolpe
- 2 minutes ago
- 3 min read
JDHS girls hoop past Grace Christian 56-50 in overtime
By Klas Stolpe
Juneau Independent
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé sophomore Sadie Lockhart hit two free throws with 20 seconds left in the fourth quarter to give the Crimson Bears girls an extra four minutes of overtime action as they defeated the Grace Christian Grizzlies 56-50 at the 3rd Annual Karl Derek Ahgeak Invitational on Thursday in Utqiagvik.
“They (Grace Christian) brought the ball back,” JDHS coach Tanya Nizich said. “We were playing ‘D’ and they were moving the ball, killing time, and turned the ball over. We got the ball on our half of the court and called time out and drew up a play with 6.4 seconds left. Unfortunately, coming out of the time out the regs gave us the ball in the back court, so we pushed the ball across half court, called another time out with about 2.5 seconds left, drew up another play, executed it perfectly, but missed the shot and went into overtime.”
Tied 47-47 the Crimson Bears started the bonus time from distance as JDHS junior Layla Tokuoka hit from the arc and then added two free throws. The Crimson Bears would close out the win with three free throws from senior Cambry Lockhart and one from sophomore Freyja Shelton-Walker.
JDHS trailed 17-14 after the first quarter with sophomore Kyndal Saceda and Tokuoka hitting from the arc, and C. Lockhart, Saceda and sophomore Athena Warr getting shots closer in. C. Lockhart added two free throws.
Saceda and C. Lockhart continued their hot touch from the arc in the second quarter but Grace Christian led 28-25 at the half behind the play of senior M.J. Vander Horst.
JDHS jumped on the Grizzlies in the third quarter and took a 39-34 lead into the fourth stanza. The Crimson Bears were outscored 13-8 in the fourth quarter and needed S. Lockhart’s free throws to force overtime.
JDHS was led by 17 points from C. Lockhart, Tokuoka added 15, Saceda 13, Warr six, S. Lockhart four and Shelton-Walker one.
The Crimson Bears hit 19-23 from the free throw line, the Grizzlies 5-8.
M.J. Vander Horst led Grace Christian with 23 points, senior Molly Schild added eight points, senior Faith Salima and junior Poppy Wiggers-Pidduck seven apiece, sophomore Reese Vander Horst four and sophomore Maddie Ayers one.
“We thought it was a great game overall with intensity and everyone contributing in all ways offensively and defensively,” Coach Nizich said. “Our defense tonight was the main reason for the win. Cambry carried us not just with points, but since Layla was in foul trouble she had to step it up even more. Sadie played tremendous defense on M.J. (Vander Horst), and made key plays and attacked the basket aggressively. Kendyl made huge shots for us…Honestly everyone did great things tonight. Bella (Pyre) and Raynona (Fraker) got rebounds, Freyja and Athena were aggressive on all boards. Layla got in foul trouble early on and had some bench time, but didn’t miss a beat when she was back in.
JDHS continues tournament play facing the Kodiak Bears at 4:30 p.m. Friday and the Barrow Lady Whalers at 4:30 p.m. Saturday. The Crimson Bears are without senior Gwen Nizich, sophomore Lydia Goins and freshman Blythe Lockhart on this trip.
• Contact Klas Stolpe at klas.stolpe@gmail.com.
