...and a happy New Year

Now that Christmas is over and done with, sports resumed, but with a new year approaching, what will 2012 have in store for Bottineau sports?
Nobody knows for sure, but I have an inkling it will be positive.

I was able to take a nice long visit home including an interesting train ride. (I took the train, a decision i both regret and am happy I made. Hard to understand? I'm confused too.)

I had another poor week in the NFL pick department as I went 9-7. That puts me at 158-91 on the year or 63.4 percent. Lets hope the difficult week 17 redeems my season and puts me back above 65 percent.

My week 17 picks:

Jets over Dolphins
Patriots over Bills
Titans over Texans
Colts over Jaguars
Eagles over Redskins
Bears over Vikings
Panthers over Saints
49ers over Rams
Lions over Packers
Bengals over Ravens
Steelers over Browns
Broncos over Chiefs
Seahawks over Cardinals
Chargers over Raiders
Falcons over Buccaneers
Giants over Cowboys

I have a few pictures to share from last week:

Bottineau senior Mark LaCroix was active on the fast break in a 25-point win over Our Redeemers on Dec. 19.

LaCroix attempts a baseline jumper.

Braves senior Justin McCloud splits two Knight defenders.

McCloud dishes a pass inside.

McCloud for three.

LaCroix drives into the lane.

Senior Matt Bowers reaches for a lay in.

Stars junior Katryna Hahn extends a shot over Our Redeemers defender Ashley Koppinger on Dec. 19.

Bottineau senior Heidi Artz looks to pass.

Artz goes in for two.

Stars sophomore Danielle McDonald drives and kicks.

Santa Claus is coming to town

This week I chose the Christmas favorite about the jolly 'ole St. Nick. I did so because Christmas came early for BHS sports as the Hockey team and basketball teams won this past week.

I will be taking a bit of a break for the holiday this year. It will be the first time I will get more than two straight days off since I've been here in Bottineau. I won't be posting next Tuesday. It will be up on Thursday instead.

As for my Week 15 picks were concerned I went a dismal 9-7 to make my overall record 149-84 or 64.5 percent. I did however pick the upset of San Diego over Baltimore as well as the Panthers over the Texans.

My week 16 picks are as such:

Texans over Colts
Broncos over Bills
Patriots over Dolphins
Ravens over Browns
Chiefs over Raiders
Vikings over Redskins
Bengals over Cardinals
Steelers over Rams
Panthers over Buccaneers
Jets over Giants
Jaguars overTitans
Chargers over Lions
Eagles over Cowboys
Seahawks over 49ers
Packers over Bears
Saints over Falcons

As for pictures from this past week:

Sioux junior Karlie Hancock goes up for two last Tuesday against the Mavericks.

Sophomore Hunter Braaten looks to pass in Mohall last Tuesday.

Jon Sivertson drives past a Maverick defender to try a bucket.

Sioux guard Molly Lodoen fights for a loose ball with Alexis Bahl of MLS.

Sioux senior Kylee Conway hustles down court in last Tuesday's contest with MLS.

Bottineau-Rugby senior Logan Millican tries to wrangle a loose puck in front of the net last Friday in Rugby.

Junior Bailey Tofteland goes in for a layup on the fast break.

Senior Nick Monson about to face off against Hazen-Beulah last Friday.

Ging Martin changes direction.

Zack Kihle avoids a checking North Star who consequently crashes into the boards.

I see London. I see France...

Martin dishes a pass at the point.

Millican reaches for a puck after he stumbles.

Millican watches as his shot squirts past the North Star goaltender.

Braves freshman Luke Amsbaugh prepares for a hard shot.

Amsbaugh follows through after a shot while a Hazen-Beulah defender comes up empty on the block attempt.

Sophomore Andrew Hill skates past the net as he views his shot being deflected.

Senior Kyle Volk slaps the puck out during a face off.

The Braves celebrate after a 4-0 win on Friday.

Time in a Bottle

This week I chose the Jim Croce favorite "Time in a Bottle." I chose this because the time of the year right before the Holiday's is my favorite point of the sports year, and I would like to just trap it and remember it in February when everything gets so crazy. It is this way because all the winter sports have kicked off, but they aren't in full swing yet, and most of the games are scrappy and ugly as the teams are trying to find their identities.

Anyways, this past week I went to a few Jacks hockey games and last night watched the Braves basketball team improve to 4-0.

I went an average 10-6 in my NFL picks last week. That puts me at 140-77 on the year or 64.5 percent.
My week 15 picks are as follows:

Falcons over Jaguars
Cowboys over Buccaneers
Bengals over Rams
Dolphins over Bills
Titans over Colts
Giants over Redskins
Saints over Vikings
Packers over Chiefs
Panthers over Texans
Seahawks over Bears
Raiders over Lions
Jets over Eagles
Cardinals over Browns
Broncos over Patriots
Chargers over Ravens
Steelers over 49ers

I have some pictures from this weeks action:

DCB's Chad Miller fires a shot at the Minot net last Tuesday.

Sophomore netminder Troy Chandler blocks a Beaver shot last Tuesday in the Lumberdome.

Peek-a-boo.

Seth Serhienko tries to skate past a Beaver defender last Tuesday.

Miller skates past the blue line.

Sophomore Luke Cieklinski shoots last Sunday against St. Mary's JV.

Cole Reisenauer gets a shot toward St. Mary's net last Sunday.

Sophomore Wade Haight prepares to shoot in the final period.

Bottineau freshman Brock Hiltner defends last Monday.

Justin McCloud stops and prepares to dish last Monday against Langdon.

McCloud races down the court on a fast break.

McCloud for three.

Caught in a Mosh

This week I chose Anthrax's "Caught in a Mosh" because the past week was as crazy, busy for me as a mosh pit.

It began with a BHS boys basketball game on Tuesday, continued with a meeting on Thursday and hockey and basketball games on Friday night and four of them on Saturday.

It is good to note that the BHS hockey team is a perfect 3-0, and the basketball team is 2-0 after their first full week of competition.

I am thrilled to announce that despite losing week 13 match ups in both fantasy football leagues, my teams have first round bye's in the week 14 playoffs. 

I went a dismal 8-8 last week in my NFL picks. It dropped me to 130-71 or 64.6 percent. Hopefully this week will be a better shot, though the final few weeks are usually tough with the playoffs looming. 

Week 14 picks:

Steelers over Browns
Patriots over Redskins
Jets over Chiefs
Bengals over Texans
Ravens over Colts
Panthers over Falcons
Buccaneers over Jaguars
Saints over Titans
Dolphins over Eagles
Vikings over Lions
49ers over Cardinals
Broncos over Bears
Packers over Raiders
Chargers over Bills
Giants over Cowboys
Seahawks over Rams

Here are pictures from this week's events:

Bottineau's Mark LaCroix tips an inbound pass last Tuesday against Rolla.

Senior Justin McCloud awaits the opening tip in Bottineau last Tuesday.

McCloud for three.

Bottineau's Morgan Klebe swipes the puck up ice last Saturday against Mandan.

Ashley Blue follows through after a shot last Saturday in Bottineau.

DCB's Cameron Malzer floats a shot during last Saturday's game against Minot Air Force Base.

Tyler Storseth (right) and Ben Veith (left) fight for the rebound after a free throw in the woodshed last Saturday.

Malzer with a nifty dish in the second half.

Sophomore Jeremy Chambers goes up for the lay in.

Colby Boyes for three.

Boyes attempts another jumper.

Malzer drives past a defender for an easy two.

Malzer with the fade away.

Freshman Jackie Miller brings the ball up court last Saturday.

DCB's Jordyn Sondrol fights for the opening tip.

Sondrol from long range.

Freshman Kayla Nelsen dishes after driving into the lane.

Shakira Walker with the dish.

Miller tries to muscle a defender.

Miller with the jumper.

Walker drives to the basket.

Miller sprints by a defender toward the basket.

Junior Cody Longie turns toward the net last Friday against Jamestown.

Logan Millican tries to fake out the Blue Jays goaltender last Friday in the first period.

Bottineau sophomore Harrison Aide chases down a loose puck last Friday.

Longie slides past a Jamestown defender.

Nick Monson skates past the blue line and into the offensive zone.

Millican prepares to shoot after the dish from Monson.

Senior Zach Kihle fires a shot last Friday.