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.