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Players, 24 boys and 24 girls, are chosen by coaches throughout the state in recognition for senior, and high school, basketball careers that have been impressive. JDHS’ Lance Ibesate also was selected but is currently into his baseball season and cannot attend.

“It is pretty cool and special that we had two kids from our team selected to represent Juneau,” JDHS coach Robert Casperson said. “It is a great nod to those two because they have worked so hard, since they were in the fourth grade they have been playing and focused.”

The selection truly represents the top players in the state as the process involves all four school-size classifications.

The selection for Yadao comes on the heels of his recent trip with 11 other Alaskan players coached by Dimond’s Jim Young on an Alaskan Exposure swing through some of the 36 colleges in the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges. Yadao received several offers for play as did Crimson Bears’ teammate Alec Calloway.

Yadao also received some attention from the University of Alaska Anchorage during the state basketball tournament and his performance there has resulted in scouts looking forward to his play this weekend.

Calloway has an offer from Edmond’s CC (Wash). Ibesate has had numerous contacts including the College of the Redwoods (Calif.), the same school that gave former JDHS guard Dom Brinson his chance and resulted in a scholarship at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Senior Taylor Swofford also has been contacted by Minnesota’s Oak Hill Christian College.

“He’s a hard worker and has learned a lot,” Casperson said of Swofford. “He has come a long way in his three short years in the game.”

Senior Evan Gross will attend Brown University but is deferring for a year to join his brother in Europe. Jesse Miller will be attending UAA to run cross-country. Ryan Kelly is pursuing baseball colleges and Darien Stanger is looking for soccer action on the pitch.

Joining Yadao on the AABC senior all-star team is Haines’ Tyler Swinton. Swinton, also receiving UAA attention, is coming off an impressive display in the Lion’s Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament where he nearly led the Haines Merchants to the “B” bracket championship.

“I am really happy for Tony and am glad I can go up and support him,” Casperson, who will be a chaperone said. “It is an old cliché but this really is a feather in his cap. It is something that Juneau, Crimson Bears fans and all basketball fans should be happy for him. And for Lance getting that recognition also. To be recognized as one of the top 24 seniors in the state is pretty nice.”

The boy’s team will also include Dimond’s Colter Lasher and Luke Adams, Bartlett’s Treshawn King-Dunbar and Trenton Anthony; Wasilla’s Braydon Kuiper, Connor Devine and Dylan Ferro; Monroe’s John Michaels and LaDarius Milton; Barrow’s Colin Long and Edward Benson; and Houston’s Scott Kramer and Phillip Pease. Also selected to play are Evan Withrow, Soldotna; Chris Parker, Eagle River; Farimang Touray, Service; Colton Anderson, Nikiski; Jared Straight, Palmer; Bo Reilly, Kenai; Jared Miller, Dillingham; Nathan Hadley, Buckland; and Chance Hunter, Scammon Bay.

The boys will be coached by 4A Coach of the Year Rob Galosich from Dimond, 3A Coach of the Year Chuck Boerger from Grace Christian, Soldotna’s Matt Johnson, and 1A Coach of the Year Wayne Morgan from Aniak.

Southeast also received recognition on the girl’s side with Craig’s Melissa Castle (UAA bound), Yakutat’s Tina Esbenshade, and Haines’ Hannah Wing and Amey Messerschmidt being selected. The girl’s team includes Wasilla’s Alyssa Hutchins and Pherriar Brumbaugh; and Point Hope’s Abbie Koenig and Caroline Long. Also playing are Savanna James, Houston; Jenna Buchanan, Galena; Brianna Kirk, Noatak; Saige Stefanski, Colony; Kandice Carroll, Ft. Yukon; Morgan Wensley, Kenai; Wedney Paleo, East; Cheryl Nidoy, West; Kristin Smeaton, Dillingham; Dessirrea Kenworth, Kotzebue; Caitlin Auble, Valdez; Meg Berry, Seward; Kira Polk, Bethal; Kasara Brandenburg, Palmer; Echo Winfrey, Hutchinson; Sierra Pedersen, Su Valley.

The girls will be coached by 4A Coach of the Year Steve Caciari from West Valley, 3A Coach of the Year Levi Duca from Dillingham, 2A Point Hope State Champion Ramona Rock, and state qualifier Soldotna’s Doug Blossom.

This year’s senior all-star games’ sponsors include: ASRC, Conoco Phillips, Larson’s Chiropractic, National Guard, Kimmel Athletic, Nike Team, YMCA and ASAP Printing. The travel expense for each athlete must be self-provided.

That theme was apparent as senior guard Tony Yadao scored 13 of the Crimson Bears first 15 points with no one-on-one sets.

“Together,” Yadao said outside the locker room. “We are all together. This is the first year that we have had such good team chemistry. We all bought into coach Robert Casperson’s system and that paid off for us. We knew this was our last game and gave it our all, and there are no regrets afterward.”

Yadao scored on an opening layup, off a screen, a steal, and all out of the offensive sets as the Crimson Bears opened a 15-10 first quarter advantage.

Shoemaker opened the second period with a put back and Alec Calloway scored two baskets in a row, the last on a no-look pass from Shoemaker, as JDHS pushed to a 21-12 advantage.

“Hard work, dedication and toughness,” senior guard Lance Ibesate said. “And together we achieved that.”

When Kenai hit two buckets to make a run Ibesate drained a deep three, Yadao fed Calloway underneath and Fenumiai followed a shot inside as JDHS slowly widened their lead to 29-20 at the half.

“A great year as we became a great family,” senior wing Alec Calloway said. “We became close friends. These guys are my family from now on.”

When Kenai made a surge in the third quarter it was senior center Evan Gross who challenged the Kardinals at the rim, blocking two shots in a row, part of his game-high six rejections. Gross sacrificed his scoring this season to be a defensive hub, pick setter and rebounder for the team.

“It was a great season and a good finish after four years,” Gross said. “It was nice to finish with a win, we haven’t done that in a while. This is a great group of kids and it has been really fun playing with them. We had a mindset, and it was coach Casperson’s philosophy, to stick together and I think we did that.”

The past three trips to state resulted in a final game loss. The 2012 Crimson Bears were not about to let that happen.

Leading 43-33 starting the final period the Crimson Bears gave coach Casperson his last grey hair of the season by letting Kenai get within eight points.

“They kind of got caught up in a frantic pace for a while,” Casperson said. “We took a time out and discussed that when the clock is running that is our friend, and when we have the ball the other team can’t score and we were going to work for lay ups and free throws the rest of the way.”

“When we have that much senior experience on the floor and waiting to come in off the bench you have guys that understand what we are talking about,” Casperson continued. “As a first year head coach I couldn’t ask for a better group of guys to work with. They were very dedicated in the off-season and in their desire to improve. They are very positive individuals and very willing to do what we asked and had no complaints. They got after it and always encouraged each other. The senior class and the school can be very proud of their season. They set a high standard for the underclassmen to look up to.”

Then, together, the team flowed down court. Fenumiai followed a missed shot to score, Ibesate hit a free throw, Shoemaker hit two free throws Fenumiai hit another free throw and senior Ryan Kelly put a soft lay in off the glass.

“We worked hard and accomplished a lot to get fourth at state,” Kelly said. “We wanted more but this is a high seed overall.”

Yadao led the Crimson Bears with 16 points, Fenumiai and Ibesate nine apiece, Calloway eight, Shoemaker six, Kelly two and Gross one. Ibesate dished out a game-high six assists and Shoemaker pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds. JDHS outrebounded Kenai 36-25. The Crimson Bears hit 12-21 at the charity stripe, Kenai 10-16. Colton Hayes scored 16 points for the Kardinals, AJ Hull added 14, Bo Reilly four, Garrett Berg and Shane Spalding two apiece.

JDHS junior Jackson Lehnhart summed up his season as a lot of fun.

“The seniors were definitely with us all,” Lehnhart said. “It was together. You didn’t see the separation between classes that there can be, they were friends more than they were seniors.”

Calloway rebounded on Lathrop’s next missed shot, sent an outlet pass to Lance Ibesate who hit Austin Shoemaker for an easy layup. Evan Gross scored on the next possession caused by a Calloway block and Tony Yadao followed that with a deep 3. The only starter not scoring in the first period was Ibesate, who dished out three assists in the stanza and the Crimson Bears were up 16-8 to start the second period.

Calloway scored 12 of his 14 points and seven of his team high 11 rebounds in the first half.

Ibesate scored two quick layups to start the second period and Ryan Kelly, Jeffrey Pusich and Phillip Fenumiai capped off a substitution run that left the Malemutes (11-13) panting for a second wind and looking at a 30-17 deficit.

“I think we had our moments,” JDHS coach Robert Casperson said. “Sadly, all the 8 a.m. practices and that game yesterday paid off for us. We had a decent start and were pretty active. If you take care of the ball and get good shots at the rim you will be in any ball game, and if you make those shots you put distance between yourself and your opponents. Lathrop is quick and they have fast hands. Their zone threw us off but we were able be patient. I am so proud of our guys for rallying today. It showed some leadership. We have a lot of seniors and they wanted to make sure they keep playing, so I am glad they worked hard today and played together.”

JDHS (21-6) didn’t let up in the second half as Shoemaker had two steals and Yadao hit three jumpers in a row as the Crimson Bears went on a 9-3 run to start the third period. JDHS led 46-29 starting the final period.

Yadao would finish with 14 points, 11 in the second half, and Ibesate added 11 with game high six assists and six rebounds. Gross added six points and three rebounds, Fenumiai three points and three boards, Kelly, Jackson Lehnhart and Shoemaker two each, and Jeffrey Pusich one. Shoemaker also pulled down five rebounds. JDHS had 15 turnovers in the contest and 27 between the first two games of the tourney.

The Crimson Bears hit 12-of-22 shots at the charity stripe, the Malemutes 8-of-11. Tremon Washington and Ryan Graham-Taylor led Lathrop with 10 points apiece.

“Juneau did a good job today,” Lathrop coach Milo Griffin said. “We have faced them five times in a row in this tournament and never beaten them. They always push the ball up the floor and a very disciplined team. They are going to give us 110 percent effort.”

The Crimson Bears will play Kenai at 2 p.m. Saturday in the fourth game at the University of Alaska Anchorage.

“We won’t change anything we do,” Casperson said. “We will just watch their game, find out their tendencies and go from there. Our team wanted to do the best they could, and that was a win today and hopefully a win tomorrow.”

“We just wanted to win,” JDHS guard Lance Ibesate said. “We practiced all week at 6 a.m., we put in the hard work. It just went the other way. They are a very good team and good luck to them in the tourney.”

The Cougars used a barren beginning by the Crimson Bears in the fourth quarter to go on a 6-0 run and turn a 32-31 deficit into a 40-32 lead.

“We hit some dry spells,” JDHS coach Robert Casperson said. “And Service was able to take advantage of those.”

Ibesate and Tony Yadao hit back-to-back deep 3s to bring JDHS back within two and Austin Shoemaker tied the game on a shot under the hoop with 2:54 remaining to play, but Service’s Adam Klie hit two free throws to give the Cougars the lead again and Fairmang Touray nailed a 3 to swing the momentum again.

Evan Gross picked up his third foul with one minute remaining, but the Cougars couldn’t convert and Austin Shoemaker drove the baseline and was fouled, converting both free throws to narrow the deficit to two at 45-43.

A pair of Service free throws by Fairmang put the Crimson Bears down four with 20 seconds remaining. Yadao found nothing but net with a triple to put the game at 47-46 with 16.8 seconds remaining, but the Crimson Bears got caught in a defensive rotation and couldn’t find a foul to stop the action until 2.8 seconds remaining.

A key rebound by Shoemaker gave JDHS a desperation shot by player-of-the-game selection Yadao from half court. The ball caromed off the backboard and the rim as the buzzer sounded.

“We all knew that this was the game that we wanted,” Yadao said. “It was one of our goals to get past the first round. Service is a tough team and we prepared well. Both teams competed but at the end of the day one team has to lose.”

It was a tough loss for the Crimson Bears, as they seemed to have control of the tight ball game throughout the first three quarters of play.

Alec Calloway scored on a put back to open play and had two key rebounds and Shoemaker hit a short jumper for a 4-0 lead just one minute into play.

Service would go on a 6-0 run to take the lead and JDHS responded with a Yadao score and free throw and two Ibesate charity stripers to regain the edge on the scoreboard.

JDHS lead 13-8 to start the second period and opened up the largest lead of the game at 19-11 as Yadao found two easy paths to the basket and Darien Stanger made two free throws. The Cougars closed the period with a 7-2 run to pull within four at the break, 21-17.

“No one tried to be a hero,” Casperson said. “They played like they have all season, as a team, and they trusted one another to get the job done. Our whole focus was attacking the rim and looking for layups and I think we did that.”

JDHS would score 16 points off of turnovers and Service 12 on Crimson Bears’ miscues. The teams both hit more than 70 percent from the charity stripe with JDHS going 12-for-17 and Service 8-for-11. Rebounds were 28-25 in favor of the Cougars and scoring off the bench showed Service with an 11-9 advantage. JDHS was 40 percent from beyond the arc. Service hit 30 percent of its treys.

“We put a lot of pressure on their defense,” Casperson said. “And they put a lot of pressure on ours.”

Service went to a full-court press to open second-half play and pulled within a point before Yadao and Shoemaker notched free throws and Yadao buried another three-pointer for a 25-21 advantage. Gross and Ibesate had back-to-back blocks to keep the Crimson Bears rolling until Service’s Klie nailed a shot and a free throw for an old-fashioned three-point play that pulled the Cougars within one point starting the final period at 32-31.

The game featured five lead changes and five ties with Service taking the lead with a triple, opening the final period and JDHS tying the score for the last time at 2:54.

Ibesate was honored with a third team All-State selection by the Alaska Association of Basketball Coaches just prior to the state tournament.

“It feels good definitely and is a great honor,” Ibesate said. “But we are not in this for individual awards, we want that team award. We have to keep our heads up and not be devastated by this loss. We have to keep working. It is not over yet.”

Yadao led the Crimson Bears with 18 points and pulled three rebounds, Ibesate added eight points and four assists, Shoemaker had seven points and two rebounds, Phillip Fenumiai scored five points and grabbed a team-high six boards, Calloway added four points with four rips, and Stanger two points.

Klie led Service with 12 points and a game-high 10 rebounds, Touray and Marquis Robinson scored 10 apiece, Darren Muller seven, Aukusitino four, Ihro Raguindin and AJ Collins two apiece.

“My hat’s off to them (Service), but I tell you what, I am really proud of our guys,” Casperson said. “We didn’t do anything wrong. I think we played a pretty good high school basketball game. I think our guys executed all the things that I asked them to and that we had prepared for and sometimes when you do that you can still come up short. I am disappointed for our guys but certainly not in them. They played hard and just came up short today.”

The Crimson Bears now face the loser of the 5 p.m. matchup between No. 1 seed Wasilla and eighth-seeded Lathrop. It is another early breakfast game, scheduled for an 8 a.m. tip. Another game the Crimson Bears have prepared to serve up some high intensity play in.

“You still can’t take away all the success we have had this year,” Yadao said. “We still have a chance to end our season with a win and that is what we are looking forward to doing. We all look up to each other and believe in each other. It is not just one person on this team; we need everyone and that is the key that has held us together this season. And coach Casperson has held us to that.”

In the locker room after the loss the Crimson Bears regrouped.

“I told them it was just time for us to change our goal,” Casperson said. “Our goal was to come up here and work to win a state championship. It didn’t happen. Sometimes in life your goal’s need to change when the situation and the circumstances change. That is what we are going to do. We are going to change our focus and prepare for our next opponent.”