It's Not Supposed to Be That Way

This week I chose the song It's Not Supposed to Be That Way by the legendary Waylon Jennings. I chose this in tribute to the way it wasn't supposed to go, but did go for the Vikings in last Saturday's playoff game against the team-who-must-not-be-named.

My Super Bowl picks of Seattle and Denver are still alive though, so that's good.

This past week was a pretty busy one, especially for a short week. I covered Westhope-Newburg on Thursday, Bottineau High School's boy's on Friday, the BHS girl's on Saturday and the 19U team on Saturday.

This upcoming week will continue the business as I have a game tonight, two on Friday and a two on Saturday.

I have many pictures to share this week, enjoy:

Bottineau 19U forward Erin Severson delivers a shot toward the net last Saturday against Glasgow.

Bottineau's Karlee McCloud tries to stave off two defenders near the net.

Captain Ashley Blue makes a move in the offensive zone.

Blue skates down the ice with defenders on either side of her.

Goalie Jacie Ceglowski deflects the puck with her stick in the third period.

Blue about to fire a shot, which would be a Bottineau goal.

McCloud again fights off two Glasgow defenders.

Severson chases a puck into the corner.

Blue tries to skate around a defender on her way to the net.

Blue has her shot deflected up into the air.

Severson speeds past a defender.

Severson slams a shot toward the net.

Bottineau junior Garrett Pollman delivers a pass inside last Friday against Kenmare.

Pollman takes a jumper in the first half.

Braves senior Trevor Wettlaufer calls the play.

Taylor Parisien focuses intensely while playing defense last Friday.

The crowd cheers excitedly as the game nears completion. Bottineau lost 49-48 to the Honkers.

Stars sophomore Stephanie Brenden fires a long pass up to Rachael Fix.

Brenden drives toward the hoop on a fast break last Saturday against New Town.

Brenden snatches a loose ball.

Bottineau junior Courtney Gallagher starts a fast break after a rebound.

Brenden about to shoot for three.

Senior Katryna Hahn ducks below two Eagles defenders to try and put in a bucket.

Brenden goes in for a lay in on a fast break.

Kelsey Grenier looks to pass late in the game last Saturday.

Sioux senior Hadlee Schell looks to pass in last Thursday's loss to Bishop Ryan.

Sophomore point guard Molly Lodoen delivers a bounce pass.

Senior Jade Teske drives into the lane last Thursday.

Schell reaches around Hannah Stewart of the Lions to try and make a pass.

Amber Hall fires a pass for the Sioux.

Senior Bailey Tofteland chases after a loose ball last Thursday.

20,000 Drinks Ago

This week, in honor of my 20,000th page view of this blog, I chose the song "20,000 Drinks Ago" by the punk rock band The Accidents.

The past week was quite boring as far as sports go. The Bottineau Braves were at the Mandan tournament, where they went 1-2 and finished sixth and the Stars lost by 17 in Watford City.

I do however have a few extra photos from the Dec. 22 19U hockey game. The blog should be much more interesting next week as I have four games to cover the next few days.

I finished with four out of 17 week wins in my NFL pick 'em league, but that was only good enough for 14th place out of 27.

Once again, thanks for reading, and here are a few pictures:  

Bottineau goalie Jacie Ceglowski stops a Bismarck shot on Dec. 22.

Erin Severson tries to navigate the puck through two Bismarck defenders in the Dec. 22 win.

Natalie Bahr rips a slap shot toward the net in the second period.

Ashley Blue shoots past an outstretched defender.

Blue skates the puck toward the net.

Blue delivers a shot despite being draped on by a defender.

Bahr takes a shot past a Bismarck defender.

Blue makes a move on the breakaway.

Paige Vad flips a shot at the net.

A Long December

It really has been a long, exciting year and December for everyone, and since the world didn't end December will come to a close without an apocalypse, and a new year will begin. Happy New Year to everyone.

Last week I covered the Sioux basketball team and the 19U hockey team before I headed home for Christmas with my family. I made it there and back and had a great time. I may head back for New Year's as well, but we shall see. This week I have a few stories to draft up, but no pictures to take. However, I am going to delay the 19U pictures until next week, because they won't be in the paper until next week, and I've never had a blog without at least one picture.

In the past week I won the consolation or "toilet bowl" title in both of my fantasy leagues, so despite a down year in fantasy, I can at least be happy I'm king of the losers. I went 12-4 in week 16 pick 'em, but 14-2 won the week, so no real great news there. I am 14th out of 27 for the year.

Anyway, here are a a few pictures from the Westhope-Newburg vs. Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood game, which took place on Tuesday, Dec. 18:

Sioux junior Ethan Miller puts up a jumper in the first half against MLS on Dec. 18.

Junior Hunter Braaten delivers a pass.

Westhope-Newburg senior Jon Sivertson hesitates before going up for a layup.

Miller releases a jumper.

Senior Karlie Hancock drives to the hoop on a fast break.

Braaten goes up for a lay in.

Westhope-Newburg's Jade Teske (left) gets ready for the game by going for a 'high ten' to teammate Molly Lodoen (right).

Lodoen tries to drive past MLS guard Shania Brackenbury.

Last Christmas

For this year's Christmas edition blog, I chose "Last Christmas" by Wham! Taking a look back at last Christmas, many things were better in my sport life, my fantasy football team was heading toward a fantasy championship, I was covering some really good teams and I was about to ride a train home for a five-day break.

Well the train turned out to be a bust, so at least that will be improved this year. However, instead of a fantasy championship, my team is playing in the consolation bracket championship (in both leagues). I had a decent week in pick 'em with 11 correct picks this week.

Last week I covered the narrow defeat of the Bottineau Braves basketball team as well as a sweep by the Dakota College at Bottineau Lumberjack hockey team.

For this week I am off to Westhope to cover a doubleheader between the boy's and girl's teams of Westhope-Newburg and Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood.

I have many pictures from this past week, oh and Merry Christmas to everyone.

Bottineau senior Jeremiah Aberle calls out the play last Friday against Des Lacs-Burlington.

Parker Engelhard fires a three-pointer from the corner last Friday.

Garrett Pollman pulls up for a jumper in the first half.

Pollman puts up another jumper in the lane.

Senior Trevor Wettlaufer goes to the hoop.

Aberle (left) and Jake Carroll (center) fight with Thomas Steenstrup (right) for a rebound in the second half.

Jacks freshman Logan Millican collides with the Finlandia JV goaltender.

Jacks forward Michael Adams prepares to fire a shot toward the net (he scored).

Adams slides it toward the goal.

Sophomore Cole Reisenauer tries to make a move past the Lions defender in the second period on Sunday.

Reisenauer attempts to maneuver past the defender.

Sophomore Robin Danielsson drives to the net.

Millican skates into the zone.

Seth Serhienko speeds into the zone.

Ryan Schaner chases after a loose puck.

Millican engages a Lion player after the goalie ripped off his helmet.

Zach McDonald fires a shot as he speeds toward the net.

Millican skates around a defender.

Millican fights between two defenders.

Millican speeds down the ice.