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Sunday January 13, 2008
"There's a bit of weight off their shoulders," JDHS coach Steve Potter said of his team.
All four games, played on four successive days, had one thing in common - pressure defense.
The Bears faced relentless pressure defense all week long. While East didn't play as much pressure as the previous three teams, according to Potter, battling four teams in four days exacted a toll from JDHS.
"I think mechanically we're understanding what to do against pressure," Potter said. "The thing about pressure is it just wears on you because you have to concentrate for so long. Four games in four days - we were definitely tired. There were times we had three guys get the rebound and we knocked it away from each other because we were tired."
Despite the fatigue, however, JDHS (6-6) managed to upend the Thunderbirds.
Juneau led 32-30 at halftime and 45-42 after three quarters. East had a shot to win the game at the buzzer, but Juneau-Douglas held on for the win.
"We were able to execute a little better," Potter said.
Dominique Brinson led JDHS with 19 points, including three 3-pointers.
Faifo Levale had 13 points while Eric Gross added 11 points. Ryan "Bubba" Larson scored nine while Cody Grussendorf, Geoff Craig and Shawn Ibesate had four points each.
The team also made 11 of 14 free throws.
For East, Derrick Moore led all players with 25 points while Stephen Johnson had 15 points.
On Friday, Juneau-Douglas lost to perennial Class 3A power Heritage Christian 67-54 at West Anchorage High School.
Heritage outscored JDHS 27-14 in the final eight minutes to ice the win.
"(Heritage Christian's) kids are physically strong," Potter said. "It was a very physical game and they didn't call a lot of body contact and that took us out of the game. We were also 6 for 16 from the free throw line."
Cameron Ramirez and Steve Hanks scored 20 points each to pace Heritage Christian.
For JDHS, Shawn Ibesate had a team-high 13 points while Levale scored 12 points.
Brinson and Gross had eight points each in defeat.
Up next for Juneau-Douglas will be a two-game home series against Colony on Jan. 25-26. It will be a rematch of last year's state quarterfinal game, won by the Knights 54-51.
Juneau-Douglas closes road trip with a win over East - Juneau Empire by Tim Nichols
The Juneau-Douglas High School boys basketball team ended a difficult trip in Anchorage on a positive note Saturday.
After dropping their first three games against Dimond, West Anchorage and Heritage Christian in Anchorage, the Crimson Bears gutted out a 66-65 victory over East Anchorage in the Alaska Airlines Classic tournament at West Anchorage High School. The win snapped a four-game losing skid that started Dec. 29.
Friday January 11, 2008
JDHS Coach Steve Potter said West Anchorage got the pressure on early and was up by 10 points early in the first quarter. The teams played pretty evenly until the end of the third when the Bears turned it on and cut the lead by four points. Juneau's Eric Gross was effective on the inside, but West Anchorage held out for the win.
"We ran out of gas, and they were able to stretch it out," Potter said.
The Bears play Heritage Christian this evening at 6:45 p.m. Potter says it will be a tough match-up because it is another team that's extremely physical and presses.
Boys fall to West Anchorage 62-47 - Juneau Empire by Courtney Nelson
Juneau-Douglas High School Crimson Bears lost a tough game to West Anchorage, 62-47, during the first round Thursday of the Alaska Airlines Classic tournament in Anchorage.
Thursday January 10, 2008 Dimond got on a run, scoring 13 to JDHS' 6 in the third quarter. "We weren't able to make up the ground," Potter said. JDHS shot 41 percent for the game.
"We shot better than we have been," Potter said. "But still, we were 6 for 21 on threes, and that's just not good enough."
Dimond's Colten Lauwers did well, scoring 25 points.
JDHS Senior Dominique Brinson had a nice game, leading JDHS with 15 points.
"He got some foul trouble on the third quarter there," Potter said, "and I think we really missed him, when Dimond put that run on us." JDHS missed Brinson's presence on the defensive end and as a scorer, Potter said.
"So hopefully we'll be able to keep him out of foul trouble tomorrow," Potter said.
Junior Eric Gross had 12 points. He was 6 for 8 shooting.
"(Gross) was a presence inside," Potter said. "Obviously, we probably should have gotten him the ball a little bit more."
"On a positive note, Justin Gunderson and Corey Mahar scored their first varsity points in the game," Potter said.
JDHS boys play West Anchorage at the Alaska Airlines tournament.
"West will do a lot of the same things," Potter said. "They have a one-two-two press, just like Dimond did. Hopefully we understand what we need to do a little bit tomorrow."
JDHS boys fall to Dimond Wednesday in Anchorage - Juneau Empire by Kim Andree
The Juneau-Douglas High School boys basketball team lost to Dimond 65-50 Wednesday in Anchorage.
We had a little bit of trouble with pressure," said coach Steve Potter. "It was decent pressure, but when we ran our stuff when we practiced, we got good shots and then we kind of got away from it."
Wednesday January 09, 2008 The Crimson Bears (5-3) will take on undefeated Dimond at 7:30 p.m. tonight. JDHS will then battle three of Anchorage's toughest squads in the Alaska Airlines Classic at West Anchorage High School. JDHS will battle the West Eagles on Thursday, perennial Class 3A state contenders Heritage Christian on Friday and East Anchorage on Saturday.
"It's all about getting better," JDHS coach Steve Potter said. "We do have some older kids, but not a ton of experience. What we're doing is gaining experience against tough, quality opposition. I don't think we've played a bad team yet."
The Lynx (8-0) stand out as Alaska's hottest team. Dimond demolished the competition at its host Dimond Prep Shootout while going all the way to Illinois to capture the Kankakee Tournament.
Dimond players, who made the state tournament last year, are led by juniors Colton Lauwers and Chris Plooy. Both players are capable of scoring in bunches while the team also got back Rylan Whilden, who tore his ACL while playing football in the fall. JDHS beat Dimond twice last year at home.
"They have a lot of young players but they're really tough and they go to the boards a lot," JDHS senior Dominique Brinson said of playing the Lynx last year. "We need to box out. They have a lot of long guys. They're all pretty strong as well."
In addition to facing tough competition, the Crimson Bears will also be facing a pair of teams known for their intense trapping defense.
Both Dimond and West Anchorage employ trapping defenses that try to force opposing ball-handlers into bad decisions.
Maintaining cool heads and trust in their teammates will be key for JDHS this week.
"We have to go back to the ball on our press breaks," Brinson said.
Throughout the season, JDHS exhibited the ability to score from throughout the court.
Ryan "Bubba" Larson, Shawn Ibesate, Cody Grussendorf, Reese Saviers and Jacob Hotch can all score from beyond the 3-point arc. Inside, Faifo Levale showed ability to stay out of foul trouble and use head and shoulder fakes to create spaces to shoot in traffic.
"I think we're doing really good," Grussendorf said. "We came off that two-game win streak in the (Capital City) Classic then came out slow (in a loss to Tahoma, Wash.) We have to work on coming out strong and starting the first half. We have to be able to play games back-to-back."
This week's four-game stretch should serve as a terrific tune-up for what is sure to be a pair of emotional series at the end of January.
On Jan. 25-26, JDHS will host Colony. The Knights ended the top-ranked Crimson Bears' run at a state title with a stunning 54-51 victory in the state quarterfinal round.
Then on Feb. 1-2, JDHS will open Southeast Conference play at rival Ketchikan.
Tough tests await JDHS boys - Juneau Empire by Tim Nichols
The Juneau-Douglas High School boys basketball team's relentlessly arduous schedule takes the squad to Anchorage for four difficult games starting today.
Tuesday January 08, 2008
JDHS led 35-15 at halftime en route to the win. Reese Saviers and Jazz King led JDHS with 13 points each while Alex DeRocher added 10 points. Colin Gozelski scored eight points, Eric Sele and Tony Tompkins had six points each, Justin Brooks added five points and Torey Franzen scored four points in the win.
On Friday, JDHS withstood a 31-point barrage from Tony Nguyen to beat F.H. Collins from Whitehorse, Yukon, 57-47.
Saviers scored 15 points, King had 12 points and DeRocher added 10 points to pace the Crimson Bears. Sele and Franzen had five points each, Cort Saviers and Gozelski had four points each and Justin Brooks added a field goal in the win.
The Crimson Bears' JV sealed a gold medal Saturday with a 56-38 win over Whitehorse's Porter Creek.
JDHS enjoyed a balanced scoring effort as King and DeRocher poured in 12 points each while Reese Saviers and Gozelski scored 10 points each.
Franzen added eight points and Cort Saviers had two points while Books and Brandin Iseah hit one free throw each to round out Juneau-Douglas' scoring.
The Bears' JV will next play Jan. 25-26 at home against Colony.
Juneau's boys JV team strikes gold in Skagway - Juneau Empire by Tim Nichols
The Juneau-Douglas High School boys junior varsity basketball team took home a gold medal from Skagway last week after downing three Canadian teams in the Don Hather Tournament.
The Crimson Bears opened play Thursday with a 65-40 victory over the Canadian Wildcats.
Monday December 31, 2007 Justin Brooks scored a team-high 13 points to pace JDHS. Brian Koenig and Torey Franzen had 10 points each while Alex DeRocher added nine points.
Colin Gozelski scored eight points, Eric Sele had seven, Eddie Hurtte had four points and Sean Kelly made a free throw in the win. As a team, JDHS converted 23 of 30 free throws to seal the championship. Bill Jensen led the Vikings with 10 points while Jase Payne and Zach Peeler tallied seven points each.
In game two of the tournament on Dec. 21, Juneau-Douglas downed Sitka's junior varsity 69-47.
Gozelski and Brooks scored 13 points each and Hurtte added 11 points in the win. Each player on the roster scored for JDHS.
Sitka's David Reynolds scored a game-high 16 points in defeat.
Juneau's toughest game of the tournament proved to be Friday's opener, a 63-53 overtime victory over Ketchikan's junior varsity on Dec. 20. With the score tied 46-46 at the end of regulation, JDHS sank 9 of 10 free throws in OT to down the Kings.
DeRocher had 16 points for JDHS, eight of which came in the extra period.
Sele had 16 points, Gozelski added 10 points and Franzen made two 3-pointers in the win.
Ketchikan's David Klein led all players with 25 points.
In Juneau-Douglas' first tournament of the year, the Bears reached the finals of the Whitehorse Tournament in Whitehorse, Yukon, but fell to Haines 88-79 in the final on Dec. 15.
The tournament was played under international rules, which included four 10-minute quarters and a 24-second shot clock. Alaska high school basketball has four 8-minute quarters and no shot clock.
Against the Glacier Bears, Sele led JDHS with 23 points. He also made all nine of his free throws.
Justin Gundersen had 18 points, DeRocher contributed 14 points, Corey Mahar scored 11 points, Franzen and Jazz King had five points each and Lawrence Fenumiai tallied three points in the loss.
Haines received a pair of mammoth performances from Kyle Fossman and Orion Falvey in the win. Falvey scored 31 points and Fossman added 30 in the win. Fossman had 26 points in the second half.
On Dec. 14, JDHS ripped Vanier, Yukon, 100-60.
JDHS had six players score in double figures as Gundersen's 21 points led the team.
DeRocher had 15 points, Gozelski scored 12 points, Mahar had 11 points while Franzen and Fenumiai scored 10 points each.
Tony Tompkins scored six points in the fourth quarter and Ben Hotch had four points in the win.
Juneau-Douglas defeated F.H. Collins, Yukon, 82-49 on Dec. 13 behind Mahar's 14 points.
Sele poured in 12 points, DeRocher scored 11 points and King had eight points for JDHS.
The Bears opened the tournament on Dec. 12 with a 103-53 whitewashing of Porter Creek, Yukon.
Gundersen had 23 points to lead all scorers as all 11 players scored in the win.
Next for the JDHS boys' JV is the Don Hather Tournament in Skagway starting Wednesday.
Bears conquer Little Norway - Juneau Empire by Tim Nichols
The Juneau-Douglas High School boys basketball junior varsity team captured the Little Norway Junior Varsity Tournament on Dec. 22 with a 66-39 victory over host Petersburg.
The Crimson Bears raced to a 40-16 halftime lead and never looked back.
Sunday December 30, 2007 The Tahoma Bears received a huge effort from freshman Christian Behrens in the win. The 6-foot-7 freshman scored all 14 of the Bears' third-quarter points to keep Juneau-Douglas at bay. Behrens scored 28 points in all.
"He's a very good player and will become an outstanding player," Tahoma coach Rob Morrow said. "This is like his coming-out party, to do this against a good team like Juneau."
The game proved a back-and-forth affair until Tahoma took control in the final four minutes.
Juneau-Douglas managed just five points in the final 3:14 as Tahoma iced the game on the line. Tahoma made 9 of 12 free throws in the final 1:40 in the win.
Defensively, Tahoma allowed just three field goals in the final quarter.
"We were just a little more solid," Morrow said. "Early on, we were trying to get every block and steal. (Juneau's) Faifo Levale has a good head fake. Juneau is a fundamental, strong team so we had to stay solid."
Juneau-Douglas couldn't convert opportunities to take the lead late as shots that were going in earlier starting clanging off the rim.
The bad luck wasn't limited to just the Crimson Bears' shooting. Down 54-51, JDHS forced a bad pass with a perfect backcourt trap. The errant pass, however, went right through the hands of two Crimson Bears players and into the awaiting arms of tournament MVP Patrick Clark, who converted the layup to ice the win. Clark finished with 27 points.
"With all that happened, with 57 seconds left we were down three but we couldn't put the ball in the basket," JDHS coach Steve Potter said. "For as well as we shot yesterday (a win over Wasilla), it was not there today."
For three quarters, neither team could gain a foothold. The biggest lead for either team was just four points in the first three quarters.
With the score tied 27-27 at halftime, Juneau's Dominique Brinson tried to give his team a spark. The senior hit three straight shots to close the third quarter, including two 3-pointers, as Juneau took a 42-41 lead.
In the fourth quarter, Clark chimed in with some long-distance shooting of his own. He hit two 3-pointers, including a rainbow from deep in the corner, for Tahoma.
Brinson led JDHS with 20 points while Ryan "Bubba" Larson contributed eight points. Levale and Cody Grussendorf scored seven points each.
"We're still a work in progress," Potter said. "(Assistant coach Robert) Casperson said it best in the locker room when he said, 'It'd be nice to win, but we're not good enough yet.' The championship we want to win is in March. We'd of course like to win every game in the process, but we're still building."
FRIDAY
Juneau-Douglas 70, Wasilla 63
Juneau-Douglas seemingly couldn't miss in the first half and used tough defense after halftime to upend the defending state champs on Friday.
Ryan "Bubba" Larson scored a game-high 22 points and hit six 3-pointers in the first half alone.
"I thought we should've played last year for the state championship but it didn't go our way," Larson said. "So I thought we'd come out here and prove that we're one of the top teams in the state today."
Wasilla and Juneau-Douglas electrified the crowd during a frantic first half.
Both teams made shots from all over the court as JDHS raced out to a 40-35 lead.
In addition to Larson's long-distance shooting, Cody Grussendorf connected on a big 3-pointer in the first half.
Wasilla withstood the barrage, however, as Dexter Pearce scored 12 of his 20 points before halftime.
Juneau-Douglas' defense started to take over in the second half, though. The Bears limited Wasilla to nine points in the third quarter and led by as much as 10 in the second half.
Wasilla chipped away at the lead, cutting the Bears' advantage to 66-63 with about 1:20 left.
Juneau-Douglas' Eric Gross ended the threat by converting an offensive rebound off a missed free throw.
"Late in the game you could tell they were tired so that played into our favor," Larson said.
Grussendorf and Dominique Brinson scored 10 points each, Gross had 10 points and Faifo Levale added nine points in the win.
For Wasilla, Adrese Lavern scored 16 points and Jason Flowers added 11 points in defeat.
JDHS boys fall in Classic final - Juneau Empire by Tim Nichols
For a fourth straight year, the Capital City Classic boys basketball title will reside Outside.
Tahoma High School from Maple Valley, Wash., defeated Juneau-Douglas 61-51 in the tournament finale on Saturday.
Friday December 28, 2007
JDHS fought back by playing more of a full-court pressure style in the second half against the athletic Cobras.
"That was our intent," said JDHS coach Steve Potter. "They're pretty athletic and did a nice job. But I thought if we kept going, we had more guys suited for that style. I thought it worked out. We made some progress from our last game, certainly."
Juneau-Douglas trailed most of the game until Sean Bavard's 3-pointer with seconds left in the third quarter put his team up 47-44.
Bavard then opened the fourth quarter with another 3-pointer as JDHS regained momentum.
"That got the crowd into it, and I'm sure the crowd got the rest of the players into it," Bavard said.
Potter said, "It helps to see your work rewarded. We were playing pretty hard, I thought, and we haven't been shooting very well. Sean is an extremely good shooter, and he came in and knocked them down."
Juneau-Douglas also received a terrific effort from forward Faifo Levale. The senior scored 13 points, but more importantly, drew four charges against Club Kilsyth.
"We were down a lot in the first half so every stop was huge," Bavard said.
Juneau-Douglas took its first lead since it was 4-3 shortly after the opening whistle when Ryan "Bubba" Larson connected on a 3-pointer to make the score 44-42. Kilsyth's Jye Allison tied the score but Bavard's 3-pointer gave JDHS a 47-44 lead.
Prior to Juneau's run, however, Club Kilsyth dictated the game with its fast-break offense.
The Cobras' Adam Knott enjoyed a monster game, especially in the first half. Knott scored 22 of his game-high 31 before halftime.
"Back home we focus a lot on fast breaks and going straight down to the basket," Knott said. "Going as quickly as you can to the basket can lead to the easiest points in the game. We definitely tried to capitalize early, and it paid off."
Knott repeatedly found open lanes and grabbed offensive rebounds en route to 22 first-half points as the Cobras led 32-28 at halftime.
Despite the 36-hour plane ride from Melbourne to Juneau, Club Kilsyth came out unafraid to start Thursday night's contest.
The Cobras used their athleticism and speed in transition to take an early lead. Knott scored seven points during an 11-0 run midway though the first quarter. Club Kilsyth took a 17-12 lead after the first quarter.
"We were energetic and ready to play," Knott said. "We were prepared for a long time. We were really focused."
Juneau-Douglas used its size and bulk inside to trim the margin. Levale scored eight points in the second quarter almost exclusively inside.
Cody Grussendorf added a 3-pointer as JDHS crept to within four of Club Kilsyth as the Cobras led 32-28.
After halftime, Juneau-Douglas played some fast-break basketball of its own to overtake Club Kilsyth.
The Cobras will face Tahoma, Wash., at 3:45 p.m. today while JDHS battles the defending Class 4A state champions, Wasilla, at 8 p.m. tonight.
Tahoma, Wash., 49, Wasilla 40
Tahoma High School from Tahoma, Wash., battled back from an 18-14 halftime deficit to defeat Wasilla on Thursday.
Erik Rainer drained five 3-point shots to lead all scorers with 17 points.
Raymond Eckard and Mitch Boyer scored 10 points each for the Bears.
For Wasilla, Tyler Johannes had 13 points. Dexter Pearce scored 10 points and Tillerman Kroon chipped in seven points for the Warriors (1-2).
Big second half lifts Bears past Cobras - Juneau Empire by Tim Nichols
The Juneau-Douglas High School boys basketball team overcame a game Club Kilsyth team from Australia to win its Capital City Classic opener Thursday.
The Crimson Bears (4-2) trailed by as much as 11 points but battled back to win 71-62.
Thursday December 27, 2007 A sluggish first half and fourth-quarter comeback weren't enough for the Crimson Bears on Saturday. JDHS will look to turn it around at 8 p.m. tonight when it hosts Club Kilsyth from Kilsyth, Victoria, Australia in its opening game of the 17th annual Capital City Classic.
"Fullerton - we didn't come out to play," JDHS senior point guard Shawn Ibesate said. "I guess we got kind of intimidated because of the name 'California' on their chest. We want to come into this tournament confident and ready to play against any team."
The Crimson Bears (3-2) won 11 straight tournaments during one stretch, but they haven't captured the title since 2003.
JDHS will face a stacked field this year. In addition to the Cobras from Down Under, the Crimson Bears will take on Wasilla, the defending Class 4A state champions, and Tahoma High School from Washington.
The last three Capital City Classic tournaments have been won by Outside teams.
For the Bears to be successful, however, the team must start strong and not depend on a late surge which may not be enough.
"We just need to decide whether we want to be a competitive team or not," JDHS coach Steve Potter said.
If JDHS has any problems motivating itself to play, a packed gym, blaring band and strong opposition should provide plenty of incentive.
In addition to that, for many of the Crimson Bears, this year's version of the Capital City Classic will be the first time they'll probably see significant time in the holiday season's biggest local sporting event.
JDHS junior forward Geoff Craig said he played about "30 seconds" in games last year. This year, he's logging more minutes as a valuable reserve forward.
"It's going to be fun," Craig said. "It was fun playing in the last games. I didn't play much last year so it was hard. I would go in for 30 seconds and be all nervous. Now I'm more comfortable playing."
Juneau-Douglas started the season strong with wins over Kodiak and West Valley in the Joe Floyd Tournament in West Valley on Dec. 14-15. The Bears came from behind Friday to beat defending 3A state champions, Petersburg, 56-52 before Saturday's loss to Fullerton.
"It's all about attention to details for us, and getting yourself ready to play is an important detail," Potter said. "Apparently, I didn't do a very good job of getting ready (for Fullerton), so we talked about how I'm going to be more demanding and they decided they didn't like playing poorly like that. We'll see if that carries over. We'll see if they're paying lip-service to that or if they want to go win."
JDHS boys look to start strong at home - Juneau Empire by Tim Nichols
There were no smiling faces immediately after Saturday's 44-40 defeat to Fullerton, Calif., High School from the Juneau-Douglas High School boys basketball team.
Thursday December 27, 2007 Wasilla Warriors (1-1)
Coaches: Ryan Engebretsen, John Gray, Matt Berg
Web site: www.whs.matsuk12.us.
Players to watch: Dexter Pearce, sr., 6-1; Shane Green, sr., 5-10; Tyler Johannes, sr., 6-1; John Knowles, so., 6-7.
What to watch: The Warriors are the defending Class 4A state champions after finishing 26-3. Wasilla also has a new coach after Jason Marvel stepped down shortly after winning the state tournament. Pearce and Green played significant minutes during last season's championship run while Adrese Lavern, the Warriors' starting quarterback during football season, is a smart and strong athlete. Wasilla defeated Houston 58-38 but lost to Dimond 68-55 to start the season.
Tahoma, Wash., Bears (5-6)
Coach: Rob Morrow
Web site: www.tahomabasketball.com.
Players to watch: Patrick Clark, sr., 6-1, 18.6 points per game; Raymond Eckard, sr., 6-0, 8.4 ppg; Mitch Boyer, sr., 6-2, 7.1 ppg; Erik Rainer, sr., 6-5, 4.4 ppg.
What to watch: Tahoma plays in the Class 4A South Puget Sound League in Washington. Class 4A is the biggest school classification for Washington state. The Bears are coming off a 62-39 rout at Emerald Ridge on Dec. 20. Tahoma has struggled against league opposition, but did hang tight in a 62-50 loss to undefeated Decatur, Wash. Clark went off for 23 points in the loss against the No. 3 ranked team in Washington.
Club Kilsyth Senior Boys Cobras (no record)
Coaches: Gavin Meager, Mal Allison
Web site: www.kilsythbasketball.com.au. A profile of the team can be found by selecting Cobras, USA Tour, Player Profiles, Kilsyth Grammar Varsity Team.
Players to watch: Joel Naburgs, 6-3, guard/forward; Steven Robinson, 6-7, forward; Jye Allison, 6-4, forward; Jarryd Meager, 5-11, point guard.
What to watch: The Cobras consist of the best 17- and 18-year-old players in Kilsyth, a town about 20 miles outside of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Unlike American high school basketball, Australia's club system runs from youth leagues to the Australian professional league. These players participate in the Championship Division, the top tier of youth club basketball. Club Kilsyth went 0-3 in the 2005 Capital City Classic. Frazer Adnam, a 6-3 player, turned 18 on Wednesday. The players train two or three times a week and play once a week for Club Kilsyth, in addition to playing on other club teams. "We're looking to get out there, be athletic, be running and let them enjoy it," Gavin Meager said.
Juneau-Douglas Crimson Bears (3-2)
Coach: Steve Potter
Web site: www.jdcrimsonbears.com.
Players to watch: Dominique Brinson, sr., 6-1, guard; Ryan "Bubba" Larson, sr., 6-2, guard/forward; Eric Gross, jr., 6-4, forward; Faifo Levale, sr., 6-2, forward; Shawn Ibesate, sr., 5-7, point guard.
What to watch: The Crimson Bears split their last two games. JDHS defeated defending Class 3A state champions Petersburg 56-52 on Friday but lost to Fullerton, Calif., 44-40 on Saturday. JDHS won 11-straight Capital City Classic tournaments from 1992 to 2003. The team finished second in 2004, 2005 and 2006. JDHS is currently averaging 60.2 points per game while yielding 46 points per game. Juneau-Douglas' three tallest players all stand 6-foot-4 - Lawrence Fenumiai, Eric Gross and Geoff Craig. Potter is in his second year as head coach.
Capital City Classic Team Previews - Juneau Empire by Tim Nichols
BOYS PREVIEWS
Sunday December 23, 2007 In Saturday's game, JDHS trailed 37-25 after three quarters. The Crimson Bears managed just 14 first-half points as they fell behind 26-14 at halftime.
Juneau-Douglas tried to stage a final rally in the fourth quarter, trimming the Indians' lead to three points late in the game. Fullerton (7-4) held on for the win as Alex Arellano drained 5-of-6 free throws in the final eight minutes.
Faifo Levale led JDHS with 11 points while Eric Gross scored 10 points in defeat. Geoff Craig had eight points, Dominique Brinson tallied six points, Ryan "Bubba" Larson hit a 3-pointer, and Erick Waters made a field goal in defeat.
Arellano led Fullerton with a game-high 17 points while Stephen Torres scored all eight of his points in the second quarter.
In Friday's 56-52 win over defending Class 3A state champion Petersburg, Juneau-Douglas' offense looked disjointed and out of rhythm at times.
However, when JDHS needed to make a play to seal the win, it executed to perfection.
Holding a 54-52 lead with 13.1 seconds left, 270-pound forward Levale slipped past the defense and received a perfect inbound pass from Larson. Levale rumbled to the hoop for a fast-break insurance layup to seal a win over the determined Vikings (2-1).
"They were guarding me tight, me and Bubba had that wink," Levale said. "I gave him that wink and he hit me with a chest pass. We talked about it, but usually it's never there. Luckily it was there in that situation. We needed that."
Just 2.7 seconds earlier, Larson set up the game-clinching bucket by stealing an inbound pass intended for defending Class 3A player of the year Cameron Severson. Larson dove on the ball and alertly called timeout.
Those two plays concluded a game that was high on intensity, if not in execution.
Both teams struggled to find a consistent groove on offense. However, Juneau-Douglas' defensive hustle and depth proved the difference.
The Crimson Bears played all but two members of their 14-member team while Petersburg when just seven deep. Severson played all but 50 seconds while point guard Jon Mazzella played 31:14 of a possible 32 minutes.
"You could tell they were getting tired," Larson said.
Juneau's depth proved crucial because Petersburg led by as many as 10 points in the second half.
Severson, who played forward and point guard Friday, found numerous ways to contribute as he posted 26 points, 14 rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocked shots in the loss.
"They were better than the teams we saw earlier," JDHS coach Steve Potter said. "Obviously we couldn't stop Severson, but they definitely fatigued at the end of the game."
Juneau-Douglas fought back by getting tough defensively. Down 36-28 late in the third quarter, Gross made a diving steal and passed to Cody Grussendorf for a layup. Larson added two more buckets as JDHS cut the lead to 38-34 with one quarter remaining.
In the fourth, Gross' hustle continued to spark the Bears. Gross dove for two lost balls during the fourth quarter, each leading to 3-point buckets by Larson and Brinson when he passed to them from his backside.
In all, JDHS hit 6 of 17 from beyond the 3-point arc.
"They got their shooters loose a few times in the fourth quarter," Petersburg coach Rick Brock said. "There was a scramble for the ball and it always seemed like it got to a kid's hands who hit a 3 at the wrong time."
Juneau-Douglas had another balanced scoring attack. Larson led JDHS with 19 points while Brinson tallied 15 points. Brinson also contributed four steals.
Up next for JDHS will be the Capital City Classic. The Crimson Bears will host Club Kilsyth from Australia at 8 p.m. Thursday followed by defending Class 4A state champs Wasilla at 8 p.m. Friday and Tahoma, Wash., at 8 p.m. Saturday.
Bears Split Weekend Series - Juneau Empire by Tim Nichols
The Juneau-Douglas High School basketball team split a weekend series with two different teams over the weekend.
The Crimson Bears (3-2) rallied to defeat Petersburg 56-52 on Friday but fell short to Fullerton, Calif., 44-40 on Saturday.
Wednesday December 19, 2007 "We're very excited," said Vikings coach Rick Brock, now in his 18th year. "We're looking at it like a very serious test to see where we are at this point of the year. Not only going on the road to play a 4A team, but one of the best programs in the state. That's what makes you better, to play excellent teams."
Class 3A is for schools with between 101-400 students, while Class 4A schools, like Juneau-Douglas, have 401 students or more.
Brock believes this is the first time Petersburg has taken on Juneau-Douglas in the regular season since the mid-1980s.
The Vikings and Crimson Bears are not strangers, however. Both teams are two-time defending conference champs and have met in the 3A/4A crossover championship game the last two seasons. Juneau-Douglas defeated Petersburg 68-50 in 2006 and 56-47 last March in the crossover game.
The Vikings, however, went on to capture the Class 3A state title in Anchorage last season and finished 25-3 overall.
It was Petersburg's first state championship since 1927.
The year's Petersburg squad opened the season with two wins over Class 3A Southeast rival Metlakatla.
"It's such a different team this year," said Petersburg senior Cameron Severson, the defending Class 3A state player of the year. "We're kind of trying not to think about that we won last year so it'll just come this year. We have to go through the steps and see if we can do it."
Brock said the team returns three core players from last year's state title squad - the starting backcourt of John Mazzella and Cody Smith along with Severson.
Severson, a senior forward, is one of Alaska's top basketball players regardless of school size. The 6-foot-5 forward was named to the 2007 all-state tournament team along with earning player of the year honors.
Brock said Severson's been contacted by about a half-dozen universities concerning playing college basketball.
"He makes everyone around him better and you don't see that an awful lot in high school," Brock said. "He does everything well, but his game sense and court smarts are what separates him from other kids. He's really got a good head on his shoulders about the game and understands how to play."
Petersburg will be facing one of the state's most electric atmospheres in Juneau-Douglas.
In addition to the always energized crowd, coach Steve Potter's Crimson Bears are coming off two impressive victories in Kodiak.
Senior guard Dominique Brinson leads JDHS in scoring at 17 points per game while forward Ryan "Bubba" Larson is averaging 16.7 points per outing. Junior forward Eric Gross helps balance Juneau-Douglas's attack with 15.3 points per game.
While this game doesn't count toward any standings, Petersburg is excited to test themselves against JDHS.
"We're excited," Severson said. "We love playing 4A schools. It's just a bigger challenge and we're testing ourselves."
Petersburg Ready to Take on JDHS - Juneau Empire by Tim Nichols
One of the more intriguing games of the young basketball season will take place Friday at Juneau-Douglas High School.
Defending Class 3A champions Petersburg (2-0) will take the ferry to Juneau for an 8 p.m. Friday game against the Crimson Bears (2-1). JDHS will then host the Fullerton, Calif., High School Indians (6-4) at 8 p.m. Saturday.
Monday December 17, 2007 With time running out, Hotch received an outlet pass from Cody Grussendorf, reached mid-court, and while leaning to the right uncorked an off-balance shot that found nothing but net and put an early exclamation point to Juneau’s 31-point victory Saturday night at Kodiak High School.
“There was only four seconds left and I had to push it and my teammates were telling me to shoot so I just pulled up,†Hotch said. “I kind of knew it was going in when I shot it, but then again I was pretty off balance.
“I usually get lucky on those ones,†he added.
How lucky?
The 5-foot-11 junior has hit more than five buzzer beaters in his basketball career, but this was the first one on the varsity level.
“You just got to put your legs into it and shoot it like you shoot any shot,†Hotch said.
Out of a handful of last-second efforts during the 12-game tournament, Hotch’s was the only one to end up in the net.
“It’s a tough shot,†Juneau’s coach Steve Potter said. “For a lot of people, it’s a once in a lifetime shot. Jake plays hard and he is a really strong kid and he really can shoot it from that far.â€
That long ball was in a nutshell how things went for Juneau and how badly things went for Kodiak.
The Bears (1-2) scored the game’s first five points — all by David Cratty — and then took a backseat to Juneau.
The Crimson Bears went on a scorching 41-10 run to end the first half up 41-15. The biggest margin they built in the second half was 37 points.
“I think Kodiak came out with a lot of emotion and they were ready to go and we just weren’t quite ready in that first minute,†Potter said. “Then we locked in and tried to do what we wanted to do.â€
Juneau did most of their damage inside taking advantage of the height advantage they had over Kodiak to shoot 55 percent from the field (30 of 55).
Eric Gross, a 6-foot-4 forward, tallied a game-high 22 points — all of them from inside the paint. Dominique Brinson added 17 points, while Ryan ‘Bubba’ Larson chipped in 15 points.
Cratty, who was named tournament MVP, paced Kodiak with 16 points.
Playing three games in three days, appeared to take its toll on Kodiak — a team that is emerging as a hustle team early in the season.
‘It’s tough to play in-your-face up tempo all out, asserting the energy they were asserting,†Kodiak coach Ron Bryant said. “They looked tired. I think fatigue was a factor. I saw some mental errors on Saturday that I didn’t see the first two days.â€
Despite the disappointing finish to the tournament, Kodiak did play well, nearly beating tournament champion South Anchorage Friday, a day after they Kodiak beat West Valley.
“Some questions were answered for us,†Bryant said. “One question was would we be able to compete, and I think we answered that question. We have a lot of inexperience on the court and I honestly was expecting the result that we had Saturday night either Thursday or Friday.â€
Bryant stressed that the future of Kodiak basketball is bright.
“I talked to Amy (Fogle) over the tournament and we both agreed this team reminded us of old Kodiak teams. They hustle,†Bryant said. “The thing with hustle, whatever is happening … if you are hustling you are going to be in every ball game.â€
Saturday
CRIMSON BEARS 73, BEARS 42
Juneau 18 23 19 13 — 73
Kodiak 7 8 10 16 — 42
Juneau (73) — Brinson 17, Hotch 6, Waters, Grussendorf 4, Craig, Ibesate 2, Larson 15, Gross 22, Levale 7. FG — 30-55 (.545) FT — 10-16.
Kodiak (42) — Craty 16, Bryant 7, R. Diocares 7, Polum, D. Diocares 5, Domingo 1, Tanner, Galindo 2, Inthavong, Peen, Watkins 2, Matautia, Odell 2. FG — 13-43 (.302). FT — 12-22.
A Shot to Remember - Kodiak Daily Mirror by Derek Clarkston
Juneau’s Jacob Hotch will forever remember playing Kodiak in the 41st Joe Floyd Christmas Tournament.
Not because, his Crimson Bears registered a dominating 73-42 victory.
Not because he scored six points.
Not because it was only his third varsity basketball game.
He will remember the final game of the tournament because of a shot he hoisted up as the buzzer sounded at the end of the second quarter.
Sunday December 16, 2007 "We had a little trouble in our first game with South in figuring out how hard we have to play," JDHS coach Steve Potter said. "We seem to have made an adjustment."
Juneau-Douglas trailed the host Bears 5-0 early in the first quarter. The lead proved extremely short lived for Kodiak.
The Crimson Bears closed the first quarter on an 18-2 run to lead 20-7 after eight minutes. Dominique Brinson and Ryan "Bubba" Larson helped keep the pressure on in the second quarter with 3-pointers.
Jacob Hotch came off the bench to close the first half with a 40-foot heave, according to Potter, to give JDHS a 41-15 halftime lead. Juneau outscored Kodiak 21-8 in the second quarter.
"The main thing was we picked up full-court man defense and everyone was buying into it," he said. "We didn't let their guard get a nice run at us and we threw in a couple traps in there and just had them off-balance. They didn't know if we were in trap or man which led to indecision on their part, which led to steals. We had a lot of layups."
Crimson Bears junior forward Eric Gross led all scorers in the game with 20 points.
"He got (his points) in a lot of different ways - some offensive rebounds, some post-up some off hard cuts," Potter said. "We're not the type of team where we can do one thing over and over again. We have to have a variety of looks. Eric was doing what he was supposed to do and it was paying off for him."
Brinson scored 17 points and Larson had 15 points for JDHS. Faifo Levale added seven points, Hotch had six points, Cody Grussendorf tallied four points while Shawn Ibesate and Geoff Craig chipped in two points each for the win.
Levale, Gross, Brinson and Larson were also named to the all-tournament team.
On Friday, Juneau-Douglas (2-1) pounded West Valley 74-31 as Brinson scored 27 points.
JDHS led 29-18 at the half, but outscored the Wolfpack 45-13 in the second half to win the game.
Larson had 17 points, including three 3-pointers, and Gross tallied 10 points in the win.
Craig had six points, Grussendorf and Levale had five points each while Hotch, Ibesate and Erick Waters scored three points each for Juneau-Douglas.
The Crimson Bears will make their home debut Friday against defending Class 3A state champions Petersburg. On Saturday, JDHS will host Fullerton, Calif.
JDHS boys basketball wins two in a row - Juneau Empire by Tim Nichols
After a slow start, the Juneau-Douglas High School boys basketball team steamrolled their final two opponents at the Joe Floyd Tournament in Kodiak on Friday and Saturday.
The Crimson Bears fell to South Anchorage on Thursday, but rallied to rout West Valley 74-31 on Friday and host Kodiak 73-42 on Saturday. JDHS took second overall in the tournament.
Friday December 14, 2007 According to Potter, JDHS shot better from the three-point line, shooting 47 percent on three-pointers and 45 percent on two-pointers.
"That's good for our three-point shooting, but we need to make a higher percentage of our two-point baskets," Potter said.
"At the beginning of the game, we were clearly a little bit nervous, and we were able to play through that," Potter said. "But some of our inexperience, some of the detail work, cost us down the stretch."
JDHS was down 10-16 at the end of the first quarter. By halftime, they recovered, leading 30-27. South came back by the end of the third quarter, with a one-point lead, 46-45. But in the end, South prevailed.
"We had a couple of block-out problems," Potter said. "And we didn't read their defense correctly at a couple of key moments."
Potter said South Anchorage senior Anthony Cousin performed well, scoring 17 points.
"They had a really good point," Potter said. "He was really quick."
Aaron Stevens, senior for South Anchorage, also did well, scoring 18 points for South.
JDHS senior Ryan Larson shot 18 points with four three-pointers. Junior Eric Gross got 16 points, and senior Shawn Ibesate scored nine points on three three-pointers.
Bears boys basketball lose by three points to Wolverines - Juneau Empire by Kim Andree
KODIAK - Juneau-Douglas High School boys varsity basketball lost 58-61 to South Anchorage High School on Thursday in Kodiak.
"It wasn't a pretty game either way," said coach Steve Potter. "We graduated a lot of our experience, and we definitely looked unsure."
Thursday December 13, 2007 With a bevy of long-distance shooters at all positions, the Crimson Bears are gearing up for another run at the state tournament. Juneau-Douglas' season starts at 1 p.m. today at the Joe Floyd Tournament in Kodiak against South Anchorage.
"Sean Bavard, Reese Saviers, Dominique Brinson, Shawn Ibesate and (Ryan) Bubba Larson are all good shooters," Potter said. "We saw a lot of zone last year. I don't imagine we'll see much zone at all this year."
Unlike the previous couple years, where height proved the Bears' primary strength, this year's team is reminiscent of Juneau's past where speed and shooting prevailed.
Leading the way for JDHS is an experienced backcourt with quickness and range.
Ibesate, a senior, steps into starting point guard role after coming off the bench last season. The stocky Ibesate is already a strong 3-point shooter, but will have the added responsibility of managing the Bears' high-octane attack this year.
"I think he's right up there with any point guard in the state," Brinson said. "He's looking forward to this year of getting the role of taking the ball down the court."
Brinson brings perhaps the most experience to this year's team.
Potter lauded the senior guard's offseason work. Brinson's long arms and athletic build makes him a difficult player to guard. He's got the ability to drive to the basket against slower competition, and step back for a jump shot if the opportunity arises.
The Bears appear deep in the guard position as sophomores Cody Grussendorf and Reese Saviers, along with junior Sean Bavard, are all accurate shooters.
But they don't boast significant varsity experience.
"I expect them all to play, they all will probably see some junior varsity action too but that's OK," Potter said. "We need to get them playing as much as possible. At the end of the year we won't have Dom or Ibesate so we won't have our starting backcourt. We need to build experience."
Juneau juniors Jacob Hotch and Corey Mahar can also stretch defenses with their shooting ability.
In the frontcourt, the Crimson Bears' versatility and diversity may create matchup problems for opposing teams. Forwards Larson, Faifo Levale and Eric Gross form an impressive triumvirate for JDHS.
Larson is one of the team's top 3-point shooters, but is also big enough to bang under the boards. Levale, best known for his bone-rattling screens in the open court, provides muscle on the post while Gross, a junior, can go inside or outside.
"Even through we're not as big, our post players can go into a triangle with me, Faifo and Gross," Larson said.
That triangle of Larson, Levale and Gross could emerge as a major weapon for JDHS. If Larson draws tight defense on the perimeter, the middle should open for Levale and Gross. Conversely, if opposing teams choose to shut down the lane, that may leave Larson open from long distance.
After playing sparingly his first two varsity seasons, Gross will be expected to be a main contributor on the team. The 6-foot-5 muscular redhead should be battle-tested after going up against graduated forwards Clae Baker (6-foot-6) and Will Egolf (6-foot-9) for two years.
"It'll be interesting," Gross said. "It's definitely a change over the last two years. I'm looking forward to it."
Junior forward Geoff Craig bolsters Juneau's depth at forward while two senior newcomers - Erick Waters and Justin Gundersen - provide defense and athleticism.
Sophomore Lawrence Fenumiai brings added muscle while senior Brian Lauth returns for his second varsity season.
After twice winning the Southeast Conference, Juneau-Douglas finds itself a bit under the radar as the season starts.
The Crimson Bears are currently ranked 13th in Class 4A according to Alaska high school Web site alaskapreps.rivals.com while Ketchikan sits in third position. The Kings are generating plenty of buzz this season due to senior 6-foot-9 center Damen Bell-Holter, a first-team all-state selection last year who's committed to NCAA Division I Missouri State, and a host of returning players.
Potter knows, however, that playing for Juneau means knowing that opposing teams will be extra-motivated to knock off Southeast Alaska's biggest school.
"The bull's eye is where it's always been," Potter said. "(Ketchikan's) got Bell-Holter and he's a heck of a player, they've got (Jase) Scudero and he's good. ... But we're still Juneau. They're going to be pumped to play us. Sitka will be pumped to play us. Petersburg will be pumped to play us.
"People come here looking for a big win, and we're hoping not to oblige them."
Old-school look to this year's Bears - Juneau Empire by Tim Nichols
Juneau-Douglas High School second-year boys basketball coach Steve Potter doesn't expect too many opposing teams to play zone against his squad this year.
If they do, the opposition may pay dearly.
Monday May 14, 2007
2007 Cage Camp
The 2007 Cage Camp Registration Form is now online. To view it click here.
Monday April 02, 2007
Egolf earns all-state honor
First since Boozer to be named two-years running here.
Sunday March 25, 2007
JDHS boys fall to Service's speed in season finale
Bears finish in sixth place. Read the Empire article here.
Friday March 23, 2007
Knights end JDHS boys team's hope of 4A title
Colony rallies from 12-point deficit to upset JDHS. Read the Empire article here.
Wednesday March 21, 2007
Multifaceted Bears Ready for Tourney
Nine Juneau-Douglas players have scored in double figures this season. Read the Empire article here.
Wednesday March 14, 2007
State Tournament Brackets
The tournament bracket for the 2007 State Championships are now online. Click here to view the PDF file.
Monday March 12, 2007
JDHS boys, girls basketball teams both seeded second for state tournament
The Alaska School Activities Association released the seeds and matchups for this year's state tournament. Read the Empire article here.
Sunday March 11, 2007
Strength in numbers for Bears' boys team
The top-ranked Juneau-Douglas High School boys basketball team will return to the state tournament for a second-straight year after defeating Ketchikan for the Class 4A Southeast Region championship Friday. Read the Empire article here.
Friday March 09, 2007
JDHS boys, girls draw Kayhi
The Juneau-Douglas High School boys must beat Ketchikan for a fifth time today if they want to return to Anchorage. Read the Empire article here.
Friday March 02, 2007
JDHS, Kayhi boys to play for big stakes
First-round bye in the conference tournament is on the line this weekend. Read the Empire article here.
Thursday March 01, 2007
Newest Member of Crimson Bear Family
Bristol Rose Casperson was born on February 15, 2007 weighing 8 pounds 14 ounces. She is the daughter of JDHS alumni Paula Dybdahl Casperson and Coach Robert Casperson. Congratulations!
Thursday March 01, 2007
JDHS teams remain on top
Basketball teams voted tops in state for 4th-straight week. View the Juneau Empire article here and view the poll here.
Wednesday February 28, 2007
JDHS First in ASBN Poll
Juneau-Douglas still tops in the Alaska Sports Broadcasting Network poll. View the Juneau Empire article here
Wednesday February 28, 2007
JV Roundup
Juneau's JV and C team make successful run against Sitka. View the Juneau Empire article here
