Good Times

It was a great week for sports as everyone was closing their seasons and gearing up for the playoffs. That's why I chose the Atmosphere track "Good Times."

This past week I went to a Bottineau girl's basketball game last Monday and a Bottineau 19U hockey game on Saturday.

This week will be pretty busy as I have to travel down to Minot on Thursday for the Westhope-Newburg boy's region game. Then move on to the girl's districts in Dunseith on Saturday. I'll close the week with a trip to Devils Lake to cover the final day of the 19U State Tournament.

Not too many pictures this week as I got my times mixed up and missed the Dakota College basketball games on Sunday.

Bottineau Stars forward Paige Vad brings the puck up the ice in the first period last Saturday against Langdon.

Vad tries to reach around a Blades defender to get a puck.

Karlee McCloud chases a puck into the corner.

Ashley Blue delivers a strong shot in the second period.

Erin Severson looks to pass on a breakaway last Saturday.

Bottineau junior Danielle McDonald heaves a buzzer-beater attempt last Monday against Des Lacs-Burlington.

Stars senior Whitney Brandvold goes up for two in the post.

Courtney Gallagher tries for two on a fast break.

Gallagher tries to corral a loose ball.

Get Your Shine On

I chose the Florida Georgia Line song "Get Your Shine On" because it's the playoffs and, more than any other time of the year, that is the time to shine.

This past week I saw both the Bottineau-Rugby hockey team and the Bottineau Braves basketball seasons come to an end in the playoffs. I also witnessed a runner-up finish at districts from Westhope-Newburg's boys, a Bottineau Stars win and a pair of losses by Dakota College at Bottineau basketball teams.


Going to be a bit of a light week as I only have a few games to cover this week. I have a 19U hockey game on Saturday and a doubleheader of DCB basketball on Sunday. I also photographed last nights Bottineau Stars win, but those pics won't be up until next week.

I'm nearly done with the best (and worst) part of the year, then I can focus on March madness. This could be the year that I repeat my 2005 success (the only year that I did really, really well).

I have more than 30 pics to share this week:

Bottineau senior Katryna Hahn goes up for two last Tuesday in a win over Sawyer.

Kennedy Azure goes strong to the hoop.

Stephanie Brenden leaps for a bank shot last Tuesday.

Brenden on a fast break in the second half.

Junior Courtney Gallagher throws up a three behind a tangle of players.

Bottineau junior Garrett Pollman accepts his plaque as a member of the All-District team.

Pollman floats a shot toward the hoop last Friday against Velva.

Pollman dishes a pass last Friday.

Pollman twists his way for a layup attempt.

Sophomore Christian St. Claire hauls in a long pass to try and start a fast break.

Westhope-Newburg senior Kodie Hancock fades for a shot last Saturday against Rugby.

Sioux junior Hunter Braaten hangs and put up a shot in the District 11 title game.

Braaten and sophomore Chance Kitzman box in Rugby's Kyle Halvorson.

Senior Karlie Hancock tries a put back.

Senior Lane Berentson loses control of the ball during a fast break.

Braaten drives to the hoop.

Pollman attempts to juke Dixon Bauer last Friday.

Braves sophomore Luke Amsbaugh fires a shot last Saturday at the West Region Tournament in Minot.

Junior Harrison Aide fights for a puck with two Bismarck High defenders.

Aide looks to shoot last Saturday.

Junior Cody Bedlion backhands a shot toward the net.

Aide makes a move with the puck to try and shake a Demon defender.

Aide streaks down the ice.

Junior Andrew Hill fires a shot toward the net.

Dakota College at Bottineau sophomore Jayden McMillin lets go a three last Thursday against Bismarck State College.

Dashamoe McCarty goes in for two over BSC's Justin McCloud in the first half.

Jacks guard Roybell Baez fights for a loose ball with Mystics guard Malik Wood.

DCB forward Jackie Miller drives toward the hoop.

Ladyjacks freshman Leah Parizek stops to put up a lay up last Thursday against BSC.

Sophomore Josie DeGagne unleashes a three.

Dominique Staten brings the ball up the court.

Freshman Billy Engel tries to fling a shot from the baseline.

Keep Pushin'

This week I chose the REO Speedwagon hit "Keep Pushin'" because that's exactly what I need to do to get through this busy part of the year.

It certainly was a busy week last week as I covered seven games (and played pep band twice). I attended five basketball games, which included all six teams that I cover throughout the winter season. I covered a girl's game between Bottineau and Westhope-Newburg on Tuesday, a women's/men's Dakota College at Bottineau doubleheader, a Thursday Westhope-Newburg boy's win and a Bottineau Braves game on Saturday. My coverage wasn't limited to the court though as I hit the arena for Bottineau-Rugby hockey on Saturday and the DCB season finale on Sunday.

This week I'll be busy again, and this time on the road. I have a game tonight in Bottineau for girl's basketball, and  at DCB with another doubleheader on Thursday. Should be a packed house for that one as former BHS standout Justin McCloud returns to town as a member of the Bismarck State Mystics. On Friday I'll jaunt down to Rugby to take in a couple District 11 games including Bottineau and Westhope-Newburg. Finally, the week's coverage comes to an end with a trip to Minot on Saturday for the West Region hockey tournament.

Needless to say I have a large volume of photographs to share, and I will next week too:

Senior Logan Pewe gets the ball last Saturday against St. John.

Senior Ty Domben watches after he fires a pass to fellow senior Joey Hackman.

Ethan Kerslake looks up at the hoop late in last Saturday's game.

Another senior, Taylor Parisien, looks to go up for a lay in.

Junior Jake Carroll slings a pass into the post.

Stars junior Danielle McDonald drives toward the hoop while Sioux senior Hadlee Schell tries to stop her.

Sioux coach Jordan Cooper and Stars coach Joe Bender speak with their players during a timeout.

Stars senior Whitney Brandvold attempts to slow down Sioux sophomore Molly Lodoen.

Stars senior McKenzie Jensen drives in on the fast break.

Sioux senior Bailey Tofteland tries to save a ball from heading out of bounds.

Schell puts up a layup.

Jacks freshman Kristoff Walker throws down last Wednesday against TMCC.

Jayden McMillin delivers a fade-away jumper.

Billy Engel drives inside.

Jordyn Sondrol prepares to jump after the opening tip last Wednesday against the Mikinocks.

Josie DeGagne fires a three over TMCC's Quinn Parisien.

Sophomore Jackie Miller puts up a strong jump shot.

DeGagne drives hard into the lane.

Dominique Staten goes to the hoop for two.

Matt Mehlhaff celebrates with Zach McDonald and Seth Serhienko after scoring in the first period last Sunday against Williston State in the Region XIII series.

McDonald stares toward the goal after carrying the puck across the blue line.

Serhienko prepares to shoot.

Freshman Kyle Volk delivers a shot attempt at the Tetons net.

DCB basketball coaches Cory Fehringer (offense) and Dan Fagerlund (goalie) compete in a "slapshot regatta" in between the first and second periods last Sunday at the Jacks/Tetons game. Fagerlund won the best-of-five competition 3-2.

Serhienko fires a shot toward the net in the second period.

Logan Millican backhands a shot at the Tetons net.

Sioux senior Jon Sivertson is stuffed by a Rolla big man.

Bottineau-Rugby Braves junior Harrison Aide is hammered into the boards by two Bismarck Demon players.

Kodie Hancock hesitates to try and fake out the defender.

Braves junior netminder Riley Monson deflects a bouncing puck.

Senior Cody Longie fires a pass up ice from the Braves zone.

Monson staves off a shot attempt.

Aide drives toward the goalie.

Longie powers a shot toward the net in the second period.

Noah Grant fires a shot at the net.

Fans watch on as Aide delivers a shot in the third period.

Aide fires a hard slap shot.

Aide's stick breaks after a hard shot.

Aides watches as his part of his stick and the puck fly toward the net.