Deadlines and Commitments

Again I'll be promoting a new album from one of my favorite bands. I chose the song "Deadlines and Commitments" from The Killers new album Battle Born. It's not as good as their prior works, but is still pretty decent. It sounds much akin the Brandon Flowers solo album, "Flamingo" that came out a couple years ago.

Anywho, Deadlines and Commitments also translated well to the week I'll be having upcoming, as well as last week. I had a busy weekend trying to keep up with college sports at Dakota College at Bottineau as well as a long trip to Langdon for the Westhope-Newburg-Glenburn semifinal victory.

Since the Sioux advanced past Langdon to make it to the Dakota Bowl in Grand Forks, I'll be there as well at 9 a.m. on Friday morning. Before that though, I'll be heading down to Minot tonight to cover the Stars as they face Kenmare in the Region 6 tournament for the third time in as many years. While the past two years have been in the finals, this year's match-up is in the semi's.

After the Dakota Bowl, when I depart from Grand Forks I'll be driving east instead of west back to Bottineau. That's because I'm going to go visit my old hunting buddies (AKA my dad, grandpa and uncles) up at the shack (hour and a half from GF). It should be a good time, but it will also leave me little time to get my work done for layout on Monday.

With being out the wilderness and with shotty reception and no internet it also means is that I'll be unable to check my fantasy lineups prior to Sunday's games. It also means is that I won't know what's going on in the games either. It's a crucial week for me in my Bottineau fantasy league, in fact every week will be coming up as I'm currently in seventh place at 5-4 and tied with four other teams (including three in my own division). The next four weeks will be brutal as all four teams I face have winning records, including my division's current leader. In other news i've officially thrown in the towel on my other league. I sit at 1-8 and had a tantrum and tried to trade away my whole team. It's really frustrating when a team that is 2-6 has their best week against you when you're 1-7. Not only was I kicked while I was down, it really feels like a groin shot. Pick 'em was better, but still not nearly good enough, as I went 10-4 this past week.

Well I've talked far too much for one blog post. Thanks again for reading. Here are the pictures that you've come to see:

Jacks freshman Billy Engel calls out the play last Saturday against Canadian Mennonite University during the Kevin Thom Classic.

Sophomore forward Jayden McMillin hits a fade away jumper Saturday against CMU.

Lumberjacks sophomore forward Cole Reisenauer focuses on the goal last Friday night against North Dakota State University.

Freshman Logan Millican tries to corral a puck against the boards last Friday in the Lumberdome.

Freshman Evan Alexius drives toward the net.

Reed Loucks staves off a defender in the offensive zone.

Sophomore Seth Serhienko is held by a Bison defender as he tries to navigate for the score.

Millican tries to stop and pass the puck.

Marquis Thomas looks to win the opening tip last Friday against the Winnipeg Jr. Wesman.

Thomas about to go up for a put back after getting an offensive rebound.

Freshman Kristoff Walker attempts a jumper last Friday against the Wesman.

McMillin drives ferociously to the hoop.

Walker attempts a fade away.

McMillin releases a jumper.

Sophomore Colby Boyes looks to pass.

Engel is fouled hard as he goes in for two.

Engel still tries to make the basket despite being torn down by the defender.

Walker puts up the second half jumper.

Ladyjacks sophomore Jordyn Sondrol attempts a three in the first half last Friday against Winnipeg.

Sophomore Megan Green saves a ball from going out of bounds.

Jackie Miller for two.

Westhope-Newburg-Glenburn junior quarterback Hunter Braaten escapes a couple of defenders and looks to gain yards.

Braaten about to deliver a pass down field last Saturday against Langdon-Munich in the semifinals of the Class A playoffs.

Senior Tyler Simpson gallops down field after a long catch.

Freshman Chase Conway avoids contact with a Cardinal receiver on an overthrown pass attempt.

Sioux senior Karlie Hancock fights for extra yardage in last Saturday's 32-12 win.

Sioux fans rush the field after WNG won their semifinal match in Langdon.

A dirty Braaten revels with fans after last Saturday's win.

Sioux head coach Tom Nesvold gives his post game speech to everyone (fans included).

Junior Hawkin Smette recovers a fumble in the first half.

Senior Devin Korynta stops the Cardinals tailback for a loss.

Conway upends the Cardinals quarterback in the first half last Saturday.

Braaten crosses the goal line with a defender hanging on him on a fumble recovery.

Braaten heaves a pass down field.

Conway fights for extra yards as a defender tries to drag him down after a reception.

Calder Solloway lunges for extra yardage as he's twisted down by a defender.

Slow Ride

As the winter sports season picks up, but the fall season hasn't quite ran out yet I'm preparing for the Slow Ride (Foghat) of the winter sports season. I say slow, because it feels like it lasts a long time. It is in fact really a fast ride, as there are nine teams that I need to follow and cover every week.

This past week I covered District 11 volleyball (Newburg-Westhope was eliminated, Bottineau took runner-up), Westhope-Newburg-Glenburn football (advanced to Class A semifinals), Jacks hockey (lost 6-3, 6-3) and had a busy, yet fun time.

Thanks again to those who read. Still haven't received any mailbag entries or questions though. I would really like to answer any questions about my job, the teams I cover, any teams/subjects/anything that readers want to hear me blabber on about. Again my email is courant1@utma.com or twitter @typhoonater467 (don't be afraid to follow me as well).

My pick 'em continues to take a dive with another poor week (6-8, last place). Hopefully things turn around. Speaking of turnarounds, one of my fantasy football teams appears to have turned the corner. With another large-margin victory this past week I moved to 5-3 in said league. However, I fell in both of my other leagues and now am 1-7 and 4-4 respectively. I guess I have hit all the scenarios of success/failure this year.

Anyhow, I have a record or near-record amount of pictures to share. Please enjoy.

Sophomore setter Molly Lodoen sets up a teammate last Thursday in the first round of the District 11 tournament.

Sophomore Lauren Mach blocks a Katelyn Sandy shot in the first round against Velva.

The Eagles celebrate after winning a point in a 1-1 tie with Velva last Thursday.

Mach again is excited as the Eagles rally against the Aggies.

Ashlyn Huber digs out a shot last Thursday.

Hadlee Schell (right) and Lodoen (left) block an Emma Keller shot last Thursday.

Lodoen (left) and Schell (right) look for a block.

Mach tries to push the ball over the net.

Senior Jade Teske looks to hammer a shot over the net.

The Eagles bench celebrates after a set victory over Velva.

Paige Stratton delivers a big hit.

Schell deflects an Aggie shot.

Stars sophomore Stephanie Brenden looks to go for a kill last Thursday against Dunseith.

Bottineau junior Courtney Gallagher clubs a shot toward the Dragons side in the first round of the District 11 tournament.

Karlee McCloud, a junior, serves in the win over Dunseith last Thursday in Velva.

Bailey Neubauer sets up a teammate last Thursday.

The Westhope-Newburg-Glenburn Sioux had an unexpected mascot last Saturday in a playoff game at Sioux Field.

The Sioux rider imitated the Florida State ritual of throwing a spear into the field.

The ball nearly disappears in the grass as freshman Chase Conway tries to control the opening kick off.

Senior tailback Kodie Hancock breaks a Milnor-North Sargent tackle in last Saturday's 20-14 Class A quarterfinal win.

Junior quarterback Hunter Braaten delivers a pass down field against the Bulldogs last Saturday.

Braaten fights for extra yards with a Bulldog draped on him.

WNG's Logan Hermes (right) and Ethan Miller (left) try to combine to drag down Andrew Martinson, the Bulldogs running back.

Braaten goes low to try and wrap up Chance Noonan.

Senior fullback Karlie Hancock bowls over a Bulldog defender last Saturday.

Kodie Hancock slips a tackler and tries to get more yards.

Braaten unloads down field.

Braaten again advances for a first down, despite multiple pursuers.

Tyler Simpson escapes down field for a 33-yard run on an end around.

Miller acrobatically dives to try and make a tackle.

Hermes (left) and Karlie Hancock (right) celebrate after a fourth down stop, which led to a Sioux 20-14 win.

WNG fans line Westhope's Main Street to greet the players after the win last Saturday.

Freshman defenseman Evan Alexius fights off a Shamrock to keep the puck away from the DCB net.

Sophomore Cole Reisenauer speeds down the ice with the puck last Friday in the season opener against the Killarney Shamrocks.

Goalie Dylan Snyder makes a save in the first period last Friday against Killarney.

Freshman defender Chris Watkins stops and looks for a teammate.

Jacks freshman and former Bottineau Brave Logan Millican skates toward the net on a breakaway last Friday in Bottineau.

Millican scores and the Lumberdome erupts. A tight squeeze.

Freshman Aaron Kolehmainen unloads with a strong shot toward the net in the second period.

Captain Seth Serhienko corrals the puck in the offensive zone.

Millican tries a shot in the second period.

Connor Drewry a Canadian freshman finds the puck in the offensive zone.

Millican stops and looks to pass. He had two goals and an assist in his debut.

Reisenauer regathers the puck after making a move past a defender in the second period.

Jacks freshman Preston James is socked during a tussle after the whistle last Friday.

Lee Jenkins about to shoot on the Shamrock net last Friday.

Sophomore Zach McDonald is shoved down by a Shamrock defender after swatting at a rebounded puck.

McDonald speeds toward the net.

Serhienko about to try and thread a shot through the Killarney defense.

Tyler Elshaug, a Jacks freshman from Devils Lake, dumps the puck into the zone. 

McDonald looks to find a teammate after crossing into the offensive zone.

Reisenauer looks to score.

Reisenauer steers clear of the net after being denied a goal.

Serhienko drives toward the net in the games final period.

Serhienko delivers a shot on net.

McDonald chases a puck into the Shamrock zone.