Six Days on the Road

This week I chose the song "Six Days on the Road" by Sawyer Brown, because it seemed that I was out on the road for that many days during a very busy sports week.

Last week was the pinnacle of the winter sports playoffs as the Region 6 Boy's Basketball, Class A State Hockey and District 11 Girl's Basketball Tournament's all fell in the same week.
Covering all these had me with drives to Minot (twice), Grand Forks and Towner in a three day span.

This upcoming week I don't have anything to take pictures of, though, I have several stories to write yet as the playoffs begin to wind down (finally).

Anywho, I'm spending my days wrapping everything up, writing a few features and getting ready for March Madness, which I think I just might have a method for this year.

Many pictures again this week:

Bottineau senior Justin McCloud calls out a play in Tuesday's region semifinal game against Des Lacs-Burlington in Minot.

Braves freshman Brock Hiltner goes with the crossover against a Laker defender last Tuesday.

Hiltner tries for a layup past DLB's Ethan Erickson.

Senior Mark LaCroix stops on a fast break before scoring two.

LaCroix lunges toward Erickson in an attempt to get a turnover.

McCloud with a floater in the lane.

McCloud tries to fake out an opponent on his way to the basket.

McCloud with a no-look pass last Tuesday.

Bottineau junior Katryna Hahn drives toward the basket against Dunseith in last Friday's opening round of the District 11 Tournament in Towner.

Stars senior Whitney Page tries with the left hand last Friday.

Senior Heidi Artz shoves an overhead pass to a teammate.

Page looks on after Amanda Young delivers a pass down low.

Senior Trista Bjerk looks to pass inside.

Sophomore Danielle McDonald puts up a three last Friday in Towner.

McDonald drives past Young toward the basket in the first half.

Page nabs one of 24 Bottineau steals in the win over Dunseith.

Bottneau student fans wave flags during a timeout.

Westhope-Newburg senior Kylee Conway looks to pass last Friday against Towner-Granville-Upham.

Sioux freshman Molly Lodoen is fouled on her way to the basket last Friday in the opening round of the District 11 Tournament in Towner.

Westhope superintendent John Gruenberg begins a chant during last Friday's game against TGU.

Conway looks to dish the ball in the lane.

Westhope-Newburg's Lauren Mach fights with TGU's Delrae Latendresse.

Braves senior goaltender Cody Brooks stops a Fargo North shot last Thursday in the State Tournament in Grand Forks.

Brooks scoops up a shot attempt in the first period last Thursday against the Spartans.

Fans look on at Ralph Englestad Arena during the Braves game last Thursday.

Bottineau-Rugby forward Kyle Volk, a senior, charges down the ice with the puck.

Volk makes a move during the final period last Thursday at the Ralph.

LaCroix leads the charge for the Braves before the Region 6 Championship game last Thursday in Minot.

Bottineau fans cheer on the Braves during last Thursday's championship game against Berthold.

McCloud pushes the ball down the court on a fast break last Thursday.

Braves senior Matt Bowers about to put in a layup on after a steal near the start of the game last Thursday.

Sophomore Garrett Pollman plays defense.

Bottineau senior's cheer on the Braves last Thursday.

Senior Ashleigh Aufforth holds up a sign as the rest of the student section cheers on the Braves.

Hiltner looks to make a move in the second half.

Fans await a McCloud free throw attempt in the second half.

LaCroix accepts the region runner-up trophy for the Braves following the 61-52 championship loss.

The All-Region team including Westhope-Newburg's Kodie Hancock (back row, far left) and Bottineau's LaCroix and McCloud.

10,000

I have reached 10,000 views all time on my blog, and I would like to thank everybody who comes and checks it out.

Just as a reminder all the pictures that are on the blog are owned by the Bottineau Courant and anyone can purchase them by simply calling the office at 701-228-2605.

The wisdom (or lack there of) that I exhibit on the blog is free of charge.

Thanks again.

Left Behind

I chose "Left Behind" by Slipknot this week to not only show some diversity in the music that I listen to, but also because some sports are being left behind and some are moving on.

Last week I continued the speeding train that is winter sports playoff time by rounding out the regular season's of both Westhope-Newburg and Bottineau High School girl's basketball. I also took in one of the final double headers for college basketball on Thursday. Finally, I took a day trip to Bismarck to watch the Bottineau-Rugby Braves advance to the Class A Hockey State Tournament by beating Jamestown 6-2.

Upcoming for me this week will be a jumbled mess of trips to see basketball in Minot and Towner as well as the state tournament for hockey in Grand Forks. It will be a lot of traveling and the way it looks in the forecast through a lot of potentially messy and nasty roads.

I have a massive amount of pictures this week (I'm pretty sure it's a record amount):

Bottineau 19U's Erin Severson skates down the ice last Sunday against Langdon.

Bottineau senior Tiffany Schuster has the puck poked away in front of Langdon's net.

Natalie Bahr puts up a shot in the first period.

Captain Morgan Klebe swings at the puck after getting tripped.

Ashley Blue fires a shot toward the net.

Severson shoots with a defender closing in.

Blue stares at the goal before shooting in the second period.

Blue fires in her second goal of the game.

Severson scores.

Bahr skates toward the net.

Jacks sophomore James Odneal controls the opening tip against United Tribes.

Roybell Baez calls a timeout after a steal late in the game last Thursday.

Jayden McMillin puts up a jumper early in the first half. He scored 12 of his 24 points in the first five minutes.

Sophomore Jeremy Chambers floats a pass inside.

McMillin goes hard to the hoop.

Sophomore Cameron Malzer floats an alley oop toward Odneal at the basket.

Colt Mavity puts up a jumper in the second half.

McMillin jumps toward the hoop.

Chambers avoids a blocker while going up for a lay up.

Tyler Storseth attempts a three pointer.

Fans get excited as the Jacks jump out to a lead after strong play from Australia native Jayden McMillin.

Fans begin a defense chant.

Jackie Miller intensely eyes the hoop before a shot.

Shakira Walker dishes on a drive to the hoop last Thursday against United Tribes.

Miller tries to split two T-bird defenders.

Walker goes up through two defenders for two.

Walker with the lay in.

Braves sophomore Harrison Aide tries to decide what to do with the puck during the Braves game against Jamestown last Saturday in Bismarck. The Braves won 6-2 to advance to the state tournament.

Aide makes a move with the puck in front of the net.

Aide watches as his shot goes just wide of the net.

Senior Zach Kihle fires a shot from near the blue line.

Andrew Hill passes the puck.

Kihle winds up for a shot attempt in the first period.

Aide about to pass last Saturday.

Senior net minder Cody Brooks watches as a shot whizzes wide of the net.

Logan Millican fights with a Jay defender in the third period.

Aide about to shoot.

Fans watch as Millican gets tangled with Jamestown's Spencer Meyer as they fight for a loose puck.

Senior Kylee Conway watches after her shot misses.

Sioux junior Hadlee Schell fires a jumper last Tuesday against Rolette.

Taylor Neubauer pushes the puck toward a teammate last Saturday.

Freshman Molly Lodoen drives down the court.

Schell is blocked after getting an offensive rebound.

Sioux coach Jordan Cooper explains the plan to Conway during a free throw attempt.

Junior Bailey Tofteland drives to the hoop for two.

Stars sophomore Danielle McDonald looks for a teammate last Friday against Kenmare.

McKenzie Jensen slings a pass last Friday.

Freshman Stephanie Brenden drives toward the hoop.

Sophomore Rachel Fix goes for a block after a Kenmare fast break.

Bottineau sophomore Courtney Gallagher catches a pass last Friday.