Dark Horse

This week I chose the song "Dark Horse" by Katy Perry and Juicy J. That's the way that teams are going to have to make themselves this year as underdog is a common theme for many teams in the area.

This past week I covered a Dakota College at Bottineau (DCB) basketball doubleheader, both a game for the Bottineau boys and girls, the Westhope-Newburg girls and the Bottineau 19U team.

Congratulation to the Seahawks as they advanced to Super Bowl LXVIII. I picked them preseason to win the title, so I will be cheering for them. If you don't believe me, check here http://g2knowbouttineau.blogspot.com/2013/09/step-by-step.html.

I have 21 photos from the past week, and follow me on twitter @typhoonater467.

Bottineau sophomore Parker Engelhard tosses a pass to a teammate last Saturday against Berthold.

Braves senior Jake Carroll fights with Adam Knudsvig for the opening tip.

Junior Christian St. Claire plays tough defense in the third quarter.

Bottineau 19U's Erin Severson tries to get between two Miles City defender last Saturday evening.

Senior captain Bailey Neubauer knocks the puck away from a Miles City player.

Alexis Kihle skates the puck past the blue line.

Snowfest queen and Stars captain Karlee McCloud backhands the puck to the net.

Paige Stratton saves the ball from going out of bounds last Saturday in a game between Westhope-Newburg and Berthold.

Morgan Kerslake tosses a pass inside for the Sioux.

Kersten drains a three.

Molly Lodoen fights to the hoop.

Amber Hall puts up a two-point shot.

Seniors Harrison Aide (left) and Tanner Bickford (right) broadcast the game last Thursday between TGU and Bottineau.

Stephanie Brenden attempts to block a McKenna Thompson shot.

Brenden puts up a jump shot.

Senior Danielle McDonald throws up a three pointer.

Jalyn Turner jacks up a three in the first half last Monday against United Tribes.

Sam Robinson attempts a dunk.

Gilberto Shojgreen puts up a jumper.

Ladyjacks freshman Imani Scott goes in for two last Monday against the Thunderbirds.

Dominique Staten puts in a layup.

Scott gets two again.

Freshman Savannah Bruce gets two late in the game.

Justin Musgrave passes to a teammate.

McKenna Thompson and Stephanie Brenden fight for a loose ball.

Sweatpants

The friend of any athlete away from the court/ice/mat, sweatpants are God's gift to us for their comfort, warmth and overall amazingness. That's why I chose the song "Sweatpants" by Childish Gambino from his recent album "because the internet." It's one of the better rap albums released in recent memory.

This past week I was fairly busy covering a doubleheader between Westhope-Newburg and Bottineau boys and girls, another Braves basketball game and a Dakota College at Bottineau hockey game.

Last night I covered a doubleheader from the DCB basketball teams, and I will be covering BHS boys and girls basketball, 19U and Westhope-Newburg girls the rest of the week.

I have 20 pictures from the past week to share, and follow me on twitter @typhoonater467

Dakota College at Bottineau (DCB) sophomore Matt Mehlhaff looks to score in the second period last Sunday.

DCB's Casey Barile hammers a slap shot last Sunday against the Maple Grove Energy.

Alex Herman corrals a puck while looking for a teammate.

Aaron Rasmusson tries to fight past an Energy defender.

Drew Ross scoops up and stops a puck from crossing mid ice.

Lucas Lindholm skates past the blue line.

A swing and a miss by Reed Loucks.

Christian Vivian sweeps a puck in front of him to cover it.

Cody Anderson delivers a pass to the center.

Bottineau senior Garret Pollman goes behind the back against Dunseith last Thursday.

Christian St. Claire jacks up a three against the Dragons.

Jacob Halvorson goes in for a bucket last Tuesday against Westhope-Newburg in Westhope.

WN's Chase Conway and Pollman go up for a rebound.

Philip Neubauer of the Braves boxes out Chance Kitzman.

Bottineau's Jocelyn Jahner (left) and Megan Fix try and trap the Sioux's Molly Lodoen.

Stars senior Rachael Fix looks to pass to fellow senior Megan Saville last Tuesday against the Sioux.

Sioux senior Ethan Miller soars past Alex Bristol for a bucket.

Lodoen goes up against Bottineau's Courtney Gallagher.

Sioux junior Amber Hall chases after Bottineau's Stephanie Brenden.

Paige Stratton attempts a three pointer last Tuesday against the Stars.

Dancing Days

The Led Zepplin classic song from the album "House of the Holy" describes what North Dakotans (and most of the Midwest) have to do to stay warm these days--dance or move in some way anyhow.

In case you haven't heard it's been as cold as Cooperstown to the heroes of 1990s baseball. What's more, in that cold I had to cover a hockey game and a fishing tournament (lucky me).

Tonight I have a pair of Westhope-Newburg/Bottineau basketball games. This weekend I have a series of Dakota College at Bottineau hockey games.

As an update I correctly predicted three of the six NFC playoff teams at the beginning of the season and four AFC teams out of six. Currently both of my preseason Super Bowl teams and five of those correctly picked playoff teams are still alive and in the hunt. If I had to re-pick right now I think a Carolina-San Diego Super Bowl is where I would lie my bets.

Anyhow, I have several pictures from hockey and fishing this past week, and don't forget to follow me on twitter @typhoonater467 for more updates on Bottineau sports and this blog.

Roger Stearns (left) poses with Mr. Ice Fishing Dave Genz and Stearns' big fish of 1.05 pounds at Lake Metigoshe last Sunday.

Genz talks with Clint Parisien and Wesley Davis during the weigh-in of the North American Ice Fishing Circuit (NAIFC) Tournament.

Genz talks to the crowd.

All of the contestants that braved -50 and lower wind chills to fish.

A nearly one-pound bluegill that was caught by the team of Nick Monson and Wyatt Johnson.

Kids race worms last Saturday at the kids fishing seminar hosted by the NAIFC at Twin Oaks, Lake Metigoshe.

Kids try out their jigging techniques.

Nick Schertz (left) and Pete Venturi (right), who won the tournament, pose with NAIFC's Jack Baker.

Riley Monson (left) and his dad Scott talk with Genz while their fish are weighed in.

Bottineau 19U's Paige Vad tries to maneuver around a defender last Sunday against Wahpeton.

Stars' defender Sonya Gilje fires a shot from the point last Sunday.

Gilje handles the puck in front of a defender.

Stars' captain Karlee McCloud skates the puck toward the net in the third period of a 12-0 win.