Trippin' Down the Freeway

I chose the song "Trippin' Down the Freeway" by Weezer because the season is barreling down the road of the season right now. The season is well on its way as playoffs will begin in a little over a week and the winter sports season will continue to escalate from here.

The Super Bowl is this weekend (though the conference championship games were so long ago, I nearly forgot the season isn't over), and the Giants will not upset the Patriots. Though they are playing quite well right now, a healthy Gronk is going to light up the defense of the Giants (but Brady will be MVP) and make the Patriots 38-24 winners in this year's Not-So-Super Bowl.

The past week I covered a high school hockey game in which Bottineau-Rugby beat Minot 7-3, a college hockey game where DCB lost 1-0 to fall behind 2-1 in a best-of-five series against Williston State, a Westhope-Newburg girl's basketball game and the Bottineau High School boy's basketball team's 86-60 win over Velva.

Lots of pictures ensued. Here they are: 

Braves junior Cody Longie fires a slap shot toward the net Jan. 23 against Minot.

The state's leading scorer Logan Millican skates into the Minot zone.

Longie gathers in the puck.

Braves senior Zach Kihle winds up to shoot Jan. 23.

Sophomore Harrison Aide skates deep in the zone while he attempts to wrangle the puck against Minot.

"Please don't hit me there!" #thatwouldreallyhurt

Cole Reisenauer prepares to check at Teton into the boards last Tuesday.

DCB's Wade Haight fights with WSC's Casey Axtman and Brandon Passely for a loose puck in the Lumberdome.

WSC's Justin Brooks (right) tries to steal away the puck from Jacks freshman Seth Serhienko.

Serhienko fires a shot just wide of the net as Tetons net minder Jeff Duniasky is late getting to the left.

Nick Sutton tracks down a bouncing puck.

Haight (left) fights with Ryan Presthus near the Tetons net last Tuesday in a 1-0 WSC win.

Jonny Heidbrink gives a good shove to Julius Tamasy last Tuesday.

Heidbrink tries to fight past Ian Harvie.

Jacks sophomore Will Kinsman prepares to shoot.

Reisenauer chases down a loose puck.

Serhienko prepares to shoot.

Youngsters play between periods at last week's game.

Sioux junior Hadlee Schell blocks out after a free throw attempt.

Senior Kylie Conway tries to drive past Titans guard Ashley Brodehl.

Sioux junior Jade Teske dribbles the ball inside the lane last Thursday in Westhope.

Conway is fouled as she again drives past Brodehl.

Molly Lodoen heaves the ball up court to a teammate.

Freshman Lauren Mach fights against TGU's Mattie Schmitt inside for two of her 22 points.

Bailey Tofteland drives into the lane before scoring two of her eight points last Thursday.

Mach struggles to get the ball inside.

Senior point guard Justin McCloud calls out the play last Friday against Velva in Bottineau.

McCloud follows through as he sinks three of his 31 points.

McCloud looks for a lane to drive last Friday.

McCloud dishes an assist.

McCloud puts up a floater.

Senior Devon Grenier drives past an Aggies defender.

McCloud is fouled as he tries to bring the ball up court.

Chuggin' Along

This week I chose Luke Bryan's "Chuggin' Along." I did so because the winter sports season is doing just that--chugging along.

This past week I covered a Westhope boy's basketball game, a pair of college basketball games and the Bottineau boy's and girl's basketball team's double header against Bishop Ryan.

Last night I also went to the big Minot/Bottineau hockey game, which was well attended. Pictures from that will be up on here next Tuesday. 

As for this week's pictures, I have plenty.

P.S. I will post my SB pick next week. I was 50/50 last week.

Westhope fans cheer during last Thursday's game against Drake-Anamoose.

Jon Sivertson tries to trap in a Raiders player.

Sioux senior Wyatt Kitzman tries a finger roll for two last Thursday.

Sophomore Hunter Braaten extends for a block.

Karlie Hancock puts up a post shot over Tanner Volson.

Jacks freshman Shakira Walker looks to go up for a layup last Monday against Bismarck State.

Jackie Miller leads a break away last Monday.

Walker dishes to a teammate.

Jacks sophomore Josh Vedaa attempts a pass in traffic.

Sophomore James Odneal prepares to jump for the opening tip.

Jayden McMillin fires a jump shot.

McMillin fights to get a pass off.

Sid Hunter attempts to fight through a screen.

Senior Mark LaCroix focuses intently on a jumper in the first half.

Senior Justin McCloud pushes the opening tip.

LaCroix puts up a shot.

Brock Hiltner calls for a teammate to help him out.

McCloud is hit by Alec Burghard as he shoots. No foul was called.

Stars junior McKenzie Jensen knocks the ball loose from a Lions guard last Saturday.

Whitney Page jumps for the opening tip.

Senior Heidi Artz delivers a no-look pass.

Sophomore Danielle McDonald tries to make a move.

Artz scores two of her team-high 15 points.

Page puts pressure on the ball handler during a full court press.

Artz reacts as a teammate is called for a foul.