JDHS girls basketball team starts season
- Klas Stolpe
- 23h
- 7 min read
Crimson Bears lose height, but gain speed
By Klas Stolpe
Juneau Independent
The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé girls basketball team has big shoes to fill as they start the new season.
“I think we learned — especially at state — that there is a lot of raw talent in the state, and if we don’t play as a team and work really hard, then a lot of the teams are really even in a sense, because there is just so much talent and individual talent,” JDHS senior Cambry Lockhart said. “So I think this year we are looking to be very bonded as a team and in that, even if we have less raw talent, playing together as a team will make us better and just play very fluently within each other. I am really excited to play. Even if we are a younger team, I think we are going to do great and work really hard and have a good outcome this year.”
The Crimson Bears graduated twin all-conference posts Kerra and Cailynn Baxter, and physical punishers Addison Wilson and Mary Johnson. JDHS went 20-8 last season, lost in the state semifinals to eventual state champion Colony and then placed fifth. They return three of the state’s top talents with the 5’9" spark plug Lockhart (#3), 5’9" senior jumping-jack guard Gwen Nizich (#11) and 5’6" junior do-everything forward Layla Tokuoka (#14). Those three veterans were equally responsible for getting JDHS into state contention last season.
To improve the team this season Lockhart, who leads vocally and by example, said: “I have been trying to focus on looking for my shot more because as a point guard a lot of teams can take you for granted when all you are doing is passing.”
Lockhart is known to read defenses well, penetrates with purpose and creates plays for others.
“I have been trying to focus on scoring as well as passing because to make myself a threat will help all my teammates get open for me to then pass,” she said.
Nizich is a versatile athlete who understands the game, has the ability to recognize mismatches and can impact the game scoring in the paint or from the perimeter.
“Last year we learned the importance of teamwork and putting our hard work and hustle from practice to translate to the games,” Nizich said. “This season I want to up my versatility in the inside-outside game and definitely will use some hops for getting rebounds… This year I want to work on playmaking and looking for the open man, the open shot and the inside the paint game.”
Tokuoka is a confident floor leader with precision passing, an effective playmaker who can score effectively and is quick and smart defensively.
“This year we have a young team, which is going to need a lot of leadership,” Tokuoka said. “Given that I am a junior I think that picking up our team is going to be the best way that we can succeed. Last year, I definitely hesitated with getting my shot off. I was intimidated by the team, not wanting to be selfish, but this year we are going to need some shots on the board and I hope to help the team out by being a scorer. Last year we had individual talent taking over the court. This year we are going to be team players and defensively just leaving it all on the court.”
Add to the mix 6’1" sophomore center Athena Warr and 5’9" sophomore forward Lydia Goins and the Crimson Bears are in position to build another contending team.
Warr is a strong post player, effective when she has the ball and eager to grow and be a reliable force on the floor. Goins is a natural talent who steps up when needed and is not afraid to attack the basket and has the ability to score from anywhere on the floor.
“I think I learned a lot from just watching the older players do what they are meant to do and just observing everything,” Warr said. “Also when I get a chance to go in just doing my best and trying to be the best teammate to everybody. And even when you are not playing, just like on the bench, being an encouraging voice. And I think coming into this year I really want to focus on my role on the team, just being the taller person on the team, one of our main posts, getting rebounds, being a presence under the basket. I also want to do some inside-outside stuff, being able to get my guards open for shots and stuff like that…and also work on having more confidence in myself and taking open shots and stuff I would not have normally done last year.”
Sophomore Sadie Lockhart (5’7" F #4) is disciplined, driven and committed to growing her game everyday. She uses her reach and effort to make an impression on the court.
Sophomore Heaven Hotch-McGraw (6’0" C #25) is a tough defender, a powerful presence in the post and is hard to get past.
Sophomore Raynona Fracker (5’6" G #20) is scrappy. She will dive on the floor, steal the ball and hype up her teammates on every play.
Sophomore Freyja Shelton-Walker (5’8" F #10) is strong and physical, always putting a body on her matchup and finds herself in any possession through her efforts.
Sophomore Kyndal Saceda (5’4" G #12) is a sharp shooter with crafty ball handling who uses smart moves and is a solid passer.
Freshman Blythe Lockhart (5’2" G #5) is a quick, savvy player with excellent court vision. She is always moving and confident.
Team manager is freshman Aurora Lee, a powerful inside player who is recovering from a shoulder surgery.
Assistant coaches are Kara Lockhart (head JV), Jonelle Staveland (head C), Chase Saviers and Mary Berry.
JDHS plays in the Doc Larson Roundball Classic in Wasilla, facing the host Warriors today, North Pole on Friday and either Barrow, Bartlett or Ridgeline (Liberty Lake, Washington) on Saturday. The Crimson Bears will also host the George Houston Capital City Classic on Dec. 27-30, which includes the two-time defending 1A state champion Fort Yukon Lady Eagles, last season’s 3A state third-place finisher Monroe Catholic Lady Rams (Fairbanks) and the 2A Petersburg Lady Vikings.
JDHS’ Southeast Conference foe Ketchikan lost all six games they played against the Crimson Bears last season and graduated Carol Frey, Shyla Abajian, Aspen Bauer and Lilli Goodwin. The Lady Kings return just one of four possible seniors with Kylie Brendible back. Senior Kali MacManus is also a possibility. Joining the two on varsity are junior Bella Agoney (#44), sophomores Peyton Nickich (#2), Lorraine Zapanta (#3), Ezrah Harney (#14), Claire Ruaro (#22), Kali Jones (#33) and June Ripley (#40) and freshmen Addison Secrest (#5) and Sofia Schulz (#20).
“My team is young,” Kayhi coach Kelly Smith said. “We have eight freshmen and sophomores in the top 10. I like how willing they are to learn and play hard. They are a fun group, a little more athletic than we have been… I know when we play Juneau we are going to have our hands full against three outstanding guards and a good young big. They (JDHS) will work hard and get up and down the floor. Excited to compete with them. Those young ladies represent their community very well and are a pleasure to compete against.”
Kayhi hosts South Anchorage this weekend and then hosts the Clarke Cochrane Christmas Classic, Dec. 27-30, in which they open against Skagway, and participants Toledo (Washington) plays Soldotna, Craig plays Sitka, and Service plays Hoonah.
The JDHS JV roster includes senior Kamrie Wilson, junior Keirstin Johnson, sophomores Hannah Dolan, Shaundiin Frommherz, Aurelia Field, Ashley Rosales, Sunny Dutton and Nina Nelson, and freshmen Mia Alexander, Leila George, Sonja James, Autumn Katasse, Bela Pyare and Lacie Whitehead.
• Contact Klas Stolpe at klas.stolpe@gmail.com
