Take a Little Ride

I think that Jason Aldean's Take a Little Ride perfectly explains my past week. With more than 15 hours of road time logged this past week I certainly rode all over North Dakota and some of Minnesota as well. Also it was quite a ride for the Bottineau volleyball team and the Westhope-Newburg-Glenburn football team as they both wound up with runner-up finishes. The Stars were runner-up in the Region 6 tournament and the Sioux were runner-up in the Class A Dakota Bowl.

Congratulations to all who made it that deep in the playoffs this year. It was fun to cover.

Not a whole lot to cover this week, but I could use a bit of a break. I have a DCB men's basketball game on Thursday, and then 19U and Jacks hockey games on Saturday.

I eeked out a fantasy win last night in my bad league, so now I'm 2-8. Great. I lost again this week in my Bottineau league thanks to another unimpressive performance by my players, who almost all underachieved. It's going to be another brutal week as I go up against another of the big dogs of the league so far. Playoffs are on the line, so it's a must-win. I did really well in pick 'em going 11-3 this week and winning my third week of the year. However, I have a lot of catching up to do as I'm 11 points behind first place for the season.

Anyway, I have several pictures from volleyball and football this past week, enjoy:

Stars junior Courtney Gallagher serves last Tuesday in a win over Kenmare at the Minot Auditorium during the Region 6 tournament.

Senior Katryna Hahn digs out a Honker shot last Tuesday.

Karlee McCloud (right) celebrates with Gallagher (left) during the win over Kenmare last Tuesday.

Hahn tips it over the net.

Hahn tips it past a Honker players out stretched hand.

Junior Danielle McDonald smacks a hit cross court.

McDonald watches as the ball soars to the Kenmare side of the net.

Kennedy Olson (left) and Stephanie Brenden (right) go up to try and block a Honkers shot.

Hahn goes up to try and block a Shelby Hass hit.

The Westhope-Newburg-Glenburn and Hazen captains shake hands before the Class A Dakota Bowl.

From left: Tom Nesvold, Hunter Braaten, Karlie Hancock and Devin Korynta watch the coin toss. Can you spot the coin?

Sioux fans get excited as the game is about to start.

The Sioux players and coaching staff lineup for the National Anthem.

Sioux linebacker Hawkin Smette tries to bring down the elusive Briar Bornemann.

Nesvold, the Sioux coach, discusses a call with the officials.

Kodie Hancock breaks around the corner.

A couple of young Sioux fans show their pride.

Bornemann stiff arms Braaten on a run in last Friday's Dakota Bowl.

The Sioux cheerleaders try and pump up the crowd after the Sioux fell behind 29-0.

Braaten chats with receiver Tyler Simpson during halftime, while he warms up.

Braaten tosses a pass toward the sideline.

Simpson tries to bring down Bornemann.

Senior linebacker Logan Hermes goes in for a big hit on Hazen quarterback Stetson Carr.

Braaten breaks free from a Bison tackler.

Braaten wind up before he delivers a pass.

Nesvold talks to Jacob Romsos, who got to get in a play. The senior tore his ACL earlier in the season.

Walker Braaten, Hunter's little brother (right) watches on as the Sioux fell to the Bison 55-28.

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.