Wrap up

Samiyam's "Wrap Up" signifies beautifully the end of the winter  sports season for me. The final sports finished their seasons this past week, and now I'll have to find a few stories for to keep me busy until the snow melts.

Last week I covered the postponed final day of the District 11 girl's tournament. I also wrote stories about a couple of recruits, the Dakota College at Bottineau Ladyjacks District F game and a touching story about a DCB basketball player who the college raised funds to give to his parents so they could visit while he recovered from a severely broken leg.

This week will be pretty light for stories, and apart from the Jaycee's Fishing Tournament on Saturday, I'm not sure what I'll be writing about.

There are only a few pictures and I apologize in advance for their quality. The sensor on my camera went out this past week and my back up camera is an ancient Nikon D1. The good news is I may be getting a new Nikon D7000 with video. So look forward to videos of things in the near future on the Bottineau Courant Facebook page.
Here are the pics:

Westhope-Newburg senior Hadlee Schell puts up a shot last Tuesday against Dunseith.

Stars junior Courtney Gallagher weaves her way into the lane against Rugby last Tuesday.

Senior McKenzie Jensen fakes a pass before going to the hoop.

Livin' on a Prayer

The Bon Jovi super hit "Livin' on a Prayer" can perfectly encapsulate what happened this past week for Bottineau area teams as they made their way through the playoffs.

Last week I took in a Region 6 Championship runner-up finish by the Westhope-Newburg boy's basketball team, as well as a  Region XIII Championship victory by the Dakota College at Bottineau Ladyjacks. I also witnessed a grueling loss in the 19U State Championship by the Bottineau Stars. Lastly, I took in the second round of the District 11 girls basketball tournament in which both Bottineau and Westhope-Newburg participated.

For this week I'll be heading out to Dunseith for the district's final games for the girls. Other than that I have a couple features that I'm working on and closely following the Ladyjacks game this weekend in Nebraska.

Only two weeks until March Madness descends on my life. Here are many pictures from the past week:

Bottineau Stars senior Ashley Blue nabs a puck from a Richland defender in last Sunday's 19U title game.

Stars junior Bailey Neubauer attempts a shot over an outstretched defender.

Natalie Bahr is muscled off the puck by a big Rangers defender.

Bahr hustles down the ice with the puck.

Blue streaks down the ice.

From left: Neubauer, Blue and Karlee McCloud celebrate after Blue's first period goal.

Stars goaltender Jacie Ceglowski knocks down a high shot.

Blue finds the back of the net in the first period.

Blue looks for a teammate.

Dakota College at Bottineau fans hold up their hands as a Ladyjacks attempts a free throw.

McCloud tries to handle a puck inside the offensive zone last Sunday. 

Neubauer blazes down the ice with a defender chasing her.

Ladyjacks head coach Wayne Johnson talks to Megan Green during last Monday's 73-71 victory over Gogebic College.

Fans and players celebrate after the Ladyjacks narrow victory.

Fans and players unite at center court after the big win.

Fans celebrate at center court after the Ladyjacks won by two.

Junior Megan Saville lobs a pass to break a press last Saturday in the second round of the district tournament.

Courtney Gallagher eyes the ball shortly before going up for a layup.

Kennedy Olson fights for a loose ball with a Raider player last Saturday in Dunseith.

Megan Fix looks to pass.

Westhope-Newburg sophomore Lauren Mach fights with Paige Brabandt in last Saturday's loser-out game.

Sioux guard Ashlyn Huber strips Myrena Denselbeck in the first half.

Mach attempts to save the ball before sliding out of bounds.

Mach eyes the hoop before sinking a jumper.

Sophomore Molly Lodoen calls out a play.

Senior Bailey Tofteland fights with Sawyer's Madilyn Kraft.

Sioux junior Hunter Braaten pokes the ball away from Chris Hamilton during last Thursday's region title game.

Both Kodie Hancock (left) and Hunter Braaten (right) look on after the opening tip is batted down court.

Braaten flips up a pass in the first half.

Junior Ethan Miller tries to shoot for two with hands in his face.

The Sioux fans cheer during a time out.

Miller wrestles with Rugby senior Kyle Lovcik for possession.

Hancock launches a three ball.

Good Times

It was a great week for sports as everyone was closing their seasons and gearing up for the playoffs. That's why I chose the Atmosphere track "Good Times."

This past week I went to a Bottineau girl's basketball game last Monday and a Bottineau 19U hockey game on Saturday.

This week will be pretty busy as I have to travel down to Minot on Thursday for the Westhope-Newburg boy's region game. Then move on to the girl's districts in Dunseith on Saturday. I'll close the week with a trip to Devils Lake to cover the final day of the 19U State Tournament.

Not too many pictures this week as I got my times mixed up and missed the Dakota College basketball games on Sunday.

Bottineau Stars forward Paige Vad brings the puck up the ice in the first period last Saturday against Langdon.

Vad tries to reach around a Blades defender to get a puck.

Karlee McCloud chases a puck into the corner.

Ashley Blue delivers a strong shot in the second period.

Erin Severson looks to pass on a breakaway last Saturday.

Bottineau junior Danielle McDonald heaves a buzzer-beater attempt last Monday against Des Lacs-Burlington.

Stars senior Whitney Brandvold goes up for two in the post.

Courtney Gallagher tries for two on a fast break.

Gallagher tries to corral a loose ball.

Get Your Shine On

I chose the Florida Georgia Line song "Get Your Shine On" because it's the playoffs and, more than any other time of the year, that is the time to shine.

This past week I saw both the Bottineau-Rugby hockey team and the Bottineau Braves basketball seasons come to an end in the playoffs. I also witnessed a runner-up finish at districts from Westhope-Newburg's boys, a Bottineau Stars win and a pair of losses by Dakota College at Bottineau basketball teams.


Going to be a bit of a light week as I only have a few games to cover this week. I have a 19U hockey game on Saturday and a doubleheader of DCB basketball on Sunday. I also photographed last nights Bottineau Stars win, but those pics won't be up until next week.

I'm nearly done with the best (and worst) part of the year, then I can focus on March madness. This could be the year that I repeat my 2005 success (the only year that I did really, really well).

I have more than 30 pics to share this week:

Bottineau senior Katryna Hahn goes up for two last Tuesday in a win over Sawyer.

Kennedy Azure goes strong to the hoop.

Stephanie Brenden leaps for a bank shot last Tuesday.

Brenden on a fast break in the second half.

Junior Courtney Gallagher throws up a three behind a tangle of players.

Bottineau junior Garrett Pollman accepts his plaque as a member of the All-District team.

Pollman floats a shot toward the hoop last Friday against Velva.

Pollman dishes a pass last Friday.

Pollman twists his way for a layup attempt.

Sophomore Christian St. Claire hauls in a long pass to try and start a fast break.

Westhope-Newburg senior Kodie Hancock fades for a shot last Saturday against Rugby.

Sioux junior Hunter Braaten hangs and put up a shot in the District 11 title game.

Braaten and sophomore Chance Kitzman box in Rugby's Kyle Halvorson.

Senior Karlie Hancock tries a put back.

Senior Lane Berentson loses control of the ball during a fast break.

Braaten drives to the hoop.

Pollman attempts to juke Dixon Bauer last Friday.

Braves sophomore Luke Amsbaugh fires a shot last Saturday at the West Region Tournament in Minot.

Junior Harrison Aide fights for a puck with two Bismarck High defenders.

Aide looks to shoot last Saturday.

Junior Cody Bedlion backhands a shot toward the net.

Aide makes a move with the puck to try and shake a Demon defender.

Aide streaks down the ice.

Junior Andrew Hill fires a shot toward the net.

Dakota College at Bottineau sophomore Jayden McMillin lets go a three last Thursday against Bismarck State College.

Dashamoe McCarty goes in for two over BSC's Justin McCloud in the first half.

Jacks guard Roybell Baez fights for a loose ball with Mystics guard Malik Wood.

DCB forward Jackie Miller drives toward the hoop.

Ladyjacks freshman Leah Parizek stops to put up a lay up last Thursday against BSC.

Sophomore Josie DeGagne unleashes a three.

Dominique Staten brings the ball up the court.

Freshman Billy Engel tries to fling a shot from the baseline.