Crimson Bears unleash ‘fish-trap’ on Kings in Friday 53-41 win
- Klas Stolpe
- 2 hours ago
- 6 min read
Juneau-Douglas boys up the pressure on the visiting Ketchikan lads
By Klas Stolpe
Juneau Independent
The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears chased and ran down the visiting Ketchikan Kings in a 53-41 win on Friday at the George Houston Gymnasium behind the inside-outside game of seniors Elias Dybdahl and Joren Gasga and an aggressive full-court defense.
“It was nice to see our defense create offense for us and opportunities,” JDHS coach Robert Casperson said. “And to be smart about the turnovers that we created. We didn’t always force the issue. We were willing to pull it out and run the half-court offense and take some time. So we are showing some growth with that. I definitely liked our defensive effort, flying around the gym, getting deflections…and that is a number of guys, it wasn’t just one guy.”
JDHS seniors Tyler Frisby, Noah Ault, Brandon Casperson, Kurt Kuppert were tenacious in the Crimson Bears press.
“Even Joren (Gasga) is getting styles because he is running around out there,” Coach Casperson said. “It seemed like we were able to make them uncomfortable in those situations.”
Ketchikan scored first with a shot past the arc by junior Henry Vail and a drive basket by senior Jozaiah Dela Cruz, but JDHS’ Dybdahl backed down into the post with a statement shot on the block.
Ault would steal a ball and Kuppert reaped the reward with a shot past the arc as JDHS kept pace with the Kings throughout the first eight minutes.
“Juneau played great full-court defense,” Ketchikan coach Eric Stockhausen said. “We would handle it and then we would let two or three possessions go, and I think that worked in their advantage. We can’t duplicate that in practice. Most teams we have been playing don’t pressure like that so it was good practice for us.”
Kayhi took a 15-11 first-quarter advantage as Vail hit from the arc as the stanza ended.
JDHS’ Gasga opened the second quarter with a basket, Ketchikan sophomore big man Anthony Talauega answered with a physical shot inside, but Dybdahl then blocked a shot by Talauega and gave Gasga another shot and the senior floated the ball over Talauega on a drive to pull to 17-15.
“We had a good week of practice,” JDHS’ Gasga said. “We were fully prepared for this, and we just came hard, always hard, just ready to win and battle...The steals really helped us tonight. Whatever helps the team is most important.”
JDHS would answer each Ketchikan score and the Crimson Bears’ Dybdahl hit a basket inside, and the JDHS press stole the next ball to tie the game at 19-19 and force a Kings timeout.
JDHS again answered a Kayhi score with a Kuppert basket and a steal by Ault, leading to a drive by Dybdahl for a 23-21 Crimson Bears lead.
Kayhi senior Edward Dela Cruz hit a shot past the arc for a 24-23 lead, but Gasga got loose on the wing and buried a shot from the arc for a 26-24 lead at the half.
“It is equal opportunity scoring, especially early in the game,” JDHS Coach Casperson said. “We are trying to get the open man the ball when they are open. We have a lot of trust in our guys to do different things, especially if we get them the ball in the right space and at the right time. We definitely want to get the ball inside and attack the paint but that can come from anybody.”
Nine seconds into the second half the pressing Crimson Bears trapped Kayhi at half court and Frisby had a steal and layup for a 28-24 lead.
JDHS answered each attack by Kayhi the remainder of the game. The Kings pulled to within one point, 29-28 on a basket by J. Dela Cruz, but Dybdahl followed a shot to score. Kayhi pulled to 31-30 on a Vail jumper, but JDHS’ Gasga drove through traffic for a 33-30 lead. Kayhi missed a dunk and Gasga turned the opportunity into another floating score for a 35-30 lead.
Kayhi would tie the game for the last time as Talauega scored inside and J. Dela Cruz from the arc to pull to 35-35, but JDHS’ B. Casperson buried a shot from the arc that started a 7-0 run with senior Christian Rielly and Gasga giving the Crimson Bears a 42-35 lead after three quarters of play.
Dybdahl and Gasga would open the final eight minutes with scores, and JDHS clamped down on Kayhi, allowing just six points in the stanza and earning the 53-41 win.
“As everyone knows, whether we won tonight or tomorrow it doesn’t do anything except feel good for 24 hours,” Kayhi coach Stockhausen said. “What we need to do is learn and that was a great opportunity to learn. A credit to their kids, they made good plays, they played hard defense. We improved greatly on the things that we have been working on. We gave up some easy buckets on turnovers, that is something we can fix. You have to look at the things you can fix and I think we addressed them and did them much better. Obviously Juneau is a tough team and has tough players at every position. I thought we competed well. We will learn the lessons that tonight taught us and try and get some sleep. Everybody knows, Friday and Saturday, no matter where you are, Petersburg or Haines, Metlakatla or Juneau, the second night is usually a little different. So it could be a mercy game against us or it could be a tight one. You never know. That is why people come to the gym...”
Gasga led JDHS with 19 points, Dybdahl added 14, Kuppert seven, Rielly and Frisby four apiece, B. Casperson three and junior Logan Carriker two. The Crimson Bears hit 3-6 at the free throw line.
Vail and Talauega led Kayhi with 12 points apiece, J. Dela Cruz seven, E. Dela Cruz six, junior Zyrus Manabat and sophomore Rylan Hanchey two apiece. The Kings did not stand on the charity stripe.
The JDHS and Ketchikan boys play again Saturday at 7:30 p.m., following the Crimson Bears girls game against the Lady Kings at 5:30 p.m.
Friday night was also the boys and girls sixth annual Take A Timeout To Talk fundraiser, hosted by Find Your Fire, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, and Juneau Suicide Prevention Coalition. Players wore purple warmups to show support and share messages of hope among the fans.
“The bottom line is to help kids realize and understand that they are not alone,” Coach Casperson said. “And that they should find a trusted adult, or talk to a friend or there are call lines… Our program has been impacted directly by suicide over the years.. It has had a terrible impact upon Alaska so we are trying to get the word out and help kids realize that it is not something to remain silent about, so take a time out, talk about it. Don’t be afraid or embarrassed to speak up. Maybe you know someone who is hurting, tell someone… tell that trusted adult and then maybe they will have access to the right resources…”
Find Your Fire, formed in 2019 by the McCormick family after losing their son, Speier McCormick to death by depression (suicide), began Take A Timeout to Talk in 2020 at the beginning of COVID. “It is our effort to assist other young adults living with mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses,” Melissa McCormick said in an earlier interview. “The mission of the organization is to empower young adults to find their passion and what success means to them, while building a strong mental health foundation.”
To learn more about Take A Timeout To Talk information is available online at www.findyourfire.net.
• Contact Klas Stolpe at klas.stolpe@gmail.com.
