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Many of the JDHS and TMHS roster are former youth Hooptime players, such as: Tony Yadao, Lance Ibesate, Darien Stanger, Ryan Kelly, Jesse Miller, Ty Grussendorf, and Matt Seymour to name a few.

“Hooptime is a program I believe in,” JDHS coach Robert Casperson said. “Their players and coaches have an open invite to come to watch our practices any time.”

JDHS plays Kodiak at 7 p.m.

Calloway put in a rebound follow minutes into the first quarter to compliment the guard duo of Lance Ibesate and Tony Yadao and JDHS was off to the races.

While the Mustangs only trailed 11-7 starting the second period, the Crimson Bears had yet to pick up their defensive pressure.

Baskets by Ryan Kelly and Jeffrey Pusich opening the second stanza set the Crimson Bears into a press mentality and Chugiak was held to just two points for the remainder of the half.

Casperson cleared the bench in the third period and Taylor Swofford snatched the biggest rebound of the night, picking a missed Mustang shot off the rim and threw an outlet pass to a streaking Ibesate. Swofford then blocked a shot and challenged a second attempt as the aggressive Chugiak team starting firing farther out side the lane.

Chugiak’s Ryan Harris hit four of his five trey’s in the third period as the Mustangs closed to within seven at 35-28.

“We can’t just let a team’s shooter see the basket for free like that,” Casperson commented.

After a Kelly free throw to open the fourth quarter, Chugiak’s Marquiz Spearman tipped in a shot to bring the Mustangs within six, 36-30.

Twice Chugiak pulled to within one point as the Crimson Bears pulled the ball out in a spread, but missed a shot. Leading by one 40-39, Calloway began his late game heroics with three short jumpers and a blocked shot, and Ibesate kissed in a fast break lay up.

Chugiak’s Skyler Fullmer hit a trey at the buzzer to end the scoring in a losing effort.

Ibesate added 12 points for the Crimson Bears, Yadao seven, Kelly and Jackson Lehnhart three each, Pusich, Darien Stanger, and Evan Gross two apiece.

Harris led Chugiak with 15 points, Steven Puterbaugh and Fullmer eight apiece, Matt Oldenkamp five, Spearman four, Kenny Peques three, and Wade Snell two.

JDHS hit 10-15 at the charity stripe, Chugiak went 7-13.

Yadao led the Crimson Bears with 20 points on Saturday night, burying three straight baskets in the first period and three straight triples in the second as JDHS opened a 31-16 halftime advantage.

JDHS scored in double figures in each period while the Mustangs tallied 17 points in the final stanza after the game’s outcome was set.

The Crimson Bears were up 45-22 starting the final period.

Ibesate, Lehnhart and Austin Shoemaker added six points each, Pusich and Calloway four, Aquino Brinson and Phillip Fenumiai three apiece, Gary Speck two and Gross one.

Skyler Fullmer led the Mustangs with nine points, Puterbaugh and Harris six apiece, Spearman five, Roger Jorgensen four, Snell three, Plumb and Oldenkamp two each, and P. Fullmer one.

JDHS went 17-28 from the line, Chugiak hit just 12-32.

The JDHS JV lost to Hydaburg’s varsity 49-46 on Friday.

Brinson led with 19 points, Nathan Klein eight, Bruce Jones seven, Monico Yadao, Adam Empson and Kevin Guimmayen four each. Francis McKinley led Hydaburg with 20, Anthony Edenshaw added 17, Donald Edenshaw nine, Andrew Kashaverof two and Tyrel Edenshaw one.

The Juneau basketball fan base alone, both at JDHS and TMHS, makes the trip worth it for the Anchorage schools. Northern schools traditionally don’t play in front of 800-plus fans that enjoy and appreciate quality basketball, except when the state tournament is at the Sullivan Arena.

“It is a luxury that we cannot take for granted,” Casperson stated.

The Crimson Bears are coming off an impressive tournament at the Alaska Airlines Classic, hosted by West Anchorage, where in two wins and one loss they played their best basketball against the toughest competition to date.

JDHS gave up a season high 74 points to Texas’ Christian Life Center in the tourney opening loss, then turned around and limited North Carolina’s Mt. Zion to 55 in a win and forcing Kodiak into 25 turnovers and allowing just 35 points in another victory.

Chugiak recently lost to Palmer by 20 points and beat West Valley by one before playing Thunder Mountain on Thursday. The Mustangs feature a 6-foot-7 post and some quickness.

“I believe that Chugiak will provide a strong test for us coming off a successful weekend at the Alaska Airlines Classic,” Casperson said. “Our team is making strides in the right direction. We have had a laser-like focus on defense in practice this season and it is starting to pay off. We need to keep moving forward in this direction and continue to improve this weekend.”

Unfortunately, the most recent media poll shows that voters had their head’s in the sand and dropped the Crimson Bears from the top 5.

The Juneau JV will play the Hydaburg boys’ varsity at 5 p.m. today before the Crimson Bears battle the Mustangs at 7 p.m.

On Saturday the Juneau boy’s C team will take on the JDHS girls varsity at 5 p.m., again as a preliminary to the boys varsity and Chugiak at 7 p.m.

The JDHS boys’ basketball team and JDHS administrative staff have invited representatives from Cancer Connection, including Ruth Johnson and Alex Viteri, who will be donating their time, to make themselves available in the lobby to raise the awareness of men's prostate and testicular cancer.

While women’s issues are important it has been shown that men are often not as proactive as women when it comes to their health. As with many types of cancer, early detection is essential in the successful treatment and possible cure in these diseases.

Men are encouraged to stop by the tables in the JDHS lobby and obtain information, brochures and ask questions. Men often intend to have their health checked but often don’t so women are asked to help encourage sons, husbands, fathers or grandfathers to become aware of the risks and benefits of early testing and detection for prostate and testicular cancer.

“It was a good win for us for sure,” JDHS head coach Robert Casperson said of the Crimson Bears defeat of the Warriors from Durham. “Not to take anything away from the teams we have played up to this point but Mt. Zion is the best team we have played and won. Texas is the best team we have played.”

Mt. Zion fields a varsity team and a national prep team. The prep team attracts players such as current pro Tracy McGrady, the varsity team was at Anchorage.

Against Christian Life on opening day, the Crimson Bears struggled in the final three minutes of the first period but only trailed 22-10 starting the second period and aside from the first two minutes of that period, JDHS played the Texas power even.

“I am proud of our kids,” Casperson said. “They accepted the challenge and went after them.”

Tied at 10 midway through the first period the team from Humble, Texas switched from a man to a zone press and their size and length resulted in some errant JDHS passes. When they did break the press the Crimson Bears missed some layups. The result was a 36-18 halftime disadvantage. JDHS was outscored only 16-11 in the third period and 22-19 in the final stanza.

Tony Yadao led JDHS with 17 points, Austin Shoemaker and Phillip Fenumiai seven apiece, Lance Ibesate, Alec Calloway and Evan Gross four each, Jeffrey Pusich three, and Jackson Lehnhart two. Jonathan Doss scored 20, Josh Johnson added 18 and Myles Robinson 11 for Christian Life. JDHS hit 3-5 at the charity stripe, CLA went 4-10.

“Our guys played through the final nine seconds,” Casperson said. “They just wanted to keep going. I like our competitive nature.”

Mt. Zion had more athletes top to bottom in Friday’s action.

“But our athletes are pretty good,” Casperson said. “They stick their nose in there and get after it.”

The two teams were tied 11-11 starting the second period and the Crimson Bears led at the half 28-24. The teams were even at 42 starting the final stanza.

The Crimson Bears went with five guards midway through the fourth to spread the floor and create one-on-one drives to the rim. Alec Calloway was also on the court and the five went 13-14 from the free throw line in the period.

“Between Lance, Tony, Austin and Phillip, those four guards did most of the ball handling down the stretch,” Casperson said. The Crimson Bears went with a zone to stop the dunking of Mt. Zion’s Michel-Ofik Nzege, a prep team member.

“Our guys weren’t fazed,” Casperson said. “They consider a dunk just two points. We inbounded the ball and went the other way, fast. I feel very fortunate to have as many options as I do on this team.”

Fenumiai led with 20 points, Yadao 13, Ibesate 12, Calloway and Shoemaker nine apiece, Darien Stanger two, and Gross one. Nzege led the Warriors with 21. JDHS hit 15-19 at the line, Mt. Zion 9-19.

Against Kodiak the Crimson Bears led 15-10 after one period and pressed into a 31-16 halftime advantage. After an even third period JDHS outscored the Bears 12-4 in the fourth.

Calloway led JDHS with 16 points, Fenumiai had 14, Ibesate 13, Yadao seven, Stanger three, Ryan Kelly, Lehnhart, Pusich and Gross two each. Austin Frick led Kodiak with nine points. JDHS hit 6-10 at the line, KHS 8-15.

Tourney scores day 1: Christian Life (TX.)74 JDHS 48, Bartlett 79, Mt. Zion (N.C.) 67, West 84 Delta 35, East Hall (Georgia) 87 Kodiak 65. Day 2: Bartlett 82 CL 73, East Hall 79 West 78, JDHS 66 Mt. Zion 55, Kodiak 69 Delta 47. Day 3: 7th place game Mt. Zion 72 Delta 37, 4th JDHS 61 Kodiak 35, 3rd CL 87 West 63, Championship East Hall 87 Bartlett 74.

“The tournament was a great test for us,” Casperson said. “To see where we are at and identify areas of strength and weakness. There is always something to work on. This has been incredible. It was everything we hoped for and more.”

The Crimson Bears were also able to watch a UAA men’s basketball practice and then watch the Seawolves play Western Washington University. UAA features southeast’s own Kyle Fossman from Haines while Western has Petersburg’s Cameron Severson.

Up next for JDHS is a visit form Chugiak on Jan. 20-21 and Kodiak on Jan. 27-28.

On Thursday the Crimson Bears were scheduled to play Arlington County Day from Jacksonville, Florida, the 14th best high school basketball team in Obama’s world according to major sports ranking organizations such as Five Star Basketball, ESPN, and Max Preps, among others. Their ranking has been noted as far down as 37th in the nation.

The ACD Apaches feature two players 6-foot-8 and inch their way down to the smallest at 6-foot-2. They have six Division I scholarship athletes ready to receive a free education due to their ability to play the game of basketball better than most junior college athletes and many top college prospects.

Unfortunately, according to tournament director C. David Williamson, the West High School athletic director, ACD pulled out of the tournament on Monday.

Williamson said they received an email message from head coach Rex Morgan stating, “due to unforeseen circumstances” his team would be unable to participate.

Williamson said they spent hours trying to contact ACD. They finally reached the school’s principal who said he was unaware of the basketball teams plans and stated, “They operate their affairs separately, and independently, from the rest of the schools activities.”

The ACD athletic director is also the coach. The assistant principal refused to interrupt the team’s practice to inquire about the canceled trip to Alaska.

“Of course we are disappointed about them pulling out,” Casperson said. “We will play anybody anytime.”

In fact, the replacement team for the tournament just happens to be the defending champions from last year. They just happen to be ranked in the top 10 of the second biggest state. They just happen to have a top 50 national caliber roster.

“We made one phone call,” Williamson said. “And Christian Life from Texas were delighted to return to the tournament. I have to give kudos to them, and major kudos to the very fine people at Alaska Airlines who worked closely with the administration at West to make all of the ticket changes in an expedient manner. We are indebted to them.”

The Crimson Bears now face the Cougars from Christian Life Center in Humble, Texas. They feature 6-foot-9 power forward Joe Burton. Burton has been getting mail from prospective colleges seeking his skills. Burton is just a sophomore. The team returns six players who traveled to Alaska last year. One is 6-foot-10 center Mike Lewis, another is 6-foot-2 deadeye Josh Gray, and another is 5-foot-9 captain P J Hardwick. All have major colleges ringing their doorbells.

Anybody anytime.

“We obviously have to pay attention to any opponents abilities and tendencies,” Casperson said. “But this is just a great opportunity to see some high-caliber competition and see how we stack up. See what we need to work on and move forward.”

If the Crimson Bears get past Cougars, there is the small task of a possible meeting with another team that used that same motto when contacting Williamson, the Mt. Zion Christian Academy Warriors from Durham, North Carolina.

Or JDHS may move on to play the East Hall Vikings from Gainesville, Georgia, or the defending Alaska state champion Bartlett Golden Bears or state runner-up West Thunderbirds, the tournament host.

Mt. Zion is noted for NBA alumni Tracy McGrady, Brandon Rush, Marquis Daniels and Amare’e Stoudemire and feature 6-foot-11 Tobe Okafor this season. Year in and year out they play one of the most difficult schedules in the nation.

East Hall is noted for winning the past three Georgia state titles in their division, one of the most competitive in the state, and travel to multiple prestigious tournaments each year. They have multiple players being recruited by division one colleges in both basketball and football. Two of last seasons graduates are playing at Georgia and Georgia Tech.

Bartlett and West reload each season with some of the Anchorage area’s best talent and have strong senior guards this season. Kodiak and Delta Junction are also at the tourney. It is expected that West’s entire student body, over 2,000 students, will be watching their first game against Delta.

“I think it is going to be a good experience for the team,” JDHS senior Alec Calloway said. “And for everyone individually. I am excited to get on the court with some of these teams. We just want to show that we can play against teams we have never seen before and play hard and come out with W’s. We just get in the right mindset to play, get ready to play, and think we are going to win the game from the very beginning.”

The tournament teams will also be treated to an Alaska Heritage class at West, visit museums and get to experience the outdoors, temperature and weather permitting.

East Hall coach Joe Dix stated that 11 of his players have never flown before and only one member of the coaching staff has. The trip is over 3,400 miles, a bit longer than previous years where the longest trip for game time was just a 50-minute flight away. An additional 40 fans are traveling with the team because it is “The trip of a lifetime.”

“It will be more than just a basketball tournament,” Dix said on Tuesday. “And the kids are excited to go. It is a once in a lifetime experience. Most of the players have never been far from this rural area. I think one of my coaches took a cruise to Alaska once. We are looking forward to the cultural experience and how it will help us develop as a basketball team.”

Dix stated they don’t see much snow.

“We have a dusting and everything shuts down,” Dix said. “You guys still wear shorts. We have talked daily about the trip with the kids and we still know we will not be prepared for the weather. We are hoping we have the right gear for that climate. We don’t want to be indoors the whole time, but man, the weather channel is scary right now showing all that snow in Cordova. We are reassuring the kids that Anchorage is 150 miles away from there. The talk of the town here is about our team going up to Alaska.”

The appeal of a match up between Alaska preps and ‘down south’ preps has dated back to when East High School’s 6-foot-3 guard Trajan Langdon led his Thunderbirds to a near upset of the nation’s top team at the time, Oak Hill Academy, from Mouth of Wilson Virginia, and their 6-foot-four superstar Jeff McInnis.

Langdon went on to play at Duke University, McInnis to the University of North Carolina. Langdon went on to play professionally for the Cleveland Cavaliers then on to win championships or honors with Italian League club Benetton Treviso, Turkish League club Efes Pilsen, and Russian League clubs Dynamo Moscow and CSKA Moscow; McInnis went on to play for the Denver Nuggets, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Clippers, New Jersey Nets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Portland Trail Blazers, Charlotte Bobcats, in Greece and in the CBA.

Even JDHS coach Casperson played in a tourney field with Science Hill from Johnson City, TN, and St. Raymond’s from Bronx, NY.

“It is a one in a lifetime opportunity,” Casperson said. “Our guys may never experience this again. We just hope to play as hard as we can and execute the things we have been working on in practice at a high enough level to come away with a few wins. I can’t imagine our group of guys will back down from anybody. From what I have seen in practice so far, I would expect this team to play as hard if they were up 20 as if they were down 20. That is just how our practices have gone. They just enjoy playing and getting after it.”

Said Williamson, “We started the tradition with Juneau a few years ago and are very pleased to continue it as part of the tournament. I have a gut feeling that Juneau is going to do very well this year with a strong chance to contend for the title. I wish the Bears the best of luck.”

Play begins Thursday as West opens against Delta at 12:45 p.m., Juneau plays Christian Life at 2:30, Bartlett faces Mt. Zion at 6 p.m., and Kodiak plays East Hall at 7:30 p.m.

The JDHS girls play West Valley tonight at JDHS gym, while the TMHS boys and girls await the Thunder Dome tourney to begin at TMHS Thursday.