Congratulations to the Coaches of the Year award winners! They were selected by the Basketball Coaches Association.
BOYS
Head Coach
Region 1: Todd Neuendorf, Aberdeen Roncalli.
Region 2: Michael Ricke, Madison.
Region 3: Mike Lodmel, Sully Buttes.
Region 4: Doug Schauer, Faith.
Region 5: Bill Marquardt, McCook Central-Montrose.
Region 6: Galen Schoenefeld, Viborg.
Region 7: Burnell Glanzer, Tripp/Delmont-Armour.
Region 8: Jim Drake, Winner, and Eldon Marshall, White River.
Assistant
Region 1: John Brown, Clark/Willow Lake.
Region 2: Randy Santema, Sioux Valley.
Region 3: Kurt Schulz, Hitchcock-Tulare.
Region 4: Dusty Petz, Spearfish.
Region 5: Steven Deibert, Bridgewater-Emery.
Region 6: Bill Leberman, Parker.
Region 7: Jeff Wepking, Avon.
Region 8: John Daiss, Hill City, and Jared Bouman, White River.
GIRLS
Head Coach
Region 1: Cal Schubert, Sisseton, and Brian Hogie, Ipswich.
Region 2: Leslie Tvedt, Castlewood.
Region 3: Mike Ring, Highmore-Harrold.
Region 4: Donavan DeBoer, Rapid City Stevens.
Region 5: Jeff Breitkreutz, Tri Valley.
Region 6: Pat Kraning, Viborg.
Region 7: Rob VanLaecken, Parkston.
Region 8: John Hess, Wall.
Assistant
Region 1: Kari Jung, Warner.
Region 2: Scott Mitchell, Deuel.
Region 3: Kami Moody, Woonsocket.
Region 4: Eric Thomson, Spearfish.
Region 5: Dave Mudder, Garretson, and Kim DeRouchey, Hanson.
Region 6: Jennifer Schmitz, Parker.
Region 7: Tera Koupal, Wagner.
Region 8: None.
Lower Level
Regions 1-4 Boys: Bob Billotto, Eureka-Bowdle.
Regions 1-4 Girls: Tim Boeck, Arlington.
Regions 5-8 Boys: Dean Jacobsen, Viborg.
Regions 5-8 Girls: Lisa Kraning, Centerville.
College
Men’s: John Hemenway, Dakota Wesleyan.
Women’s: Aaron Johnston, South Dakota State.
I’ve been waiting to get all the kinks out of Live Writer before I posted this video. Luckily SB1 swooped in from his nest high above and lent a helping hand or else I’d still be stuck in the mud. This is a good portion of the dunk contest. I realized after the first round of dunkers,”Why am I not recording this?” As you can see I’m not really a steady eddy but holding a small digi camera and trying not to react to dunks was tough. I still haven’t perfected imbedding video’s so you will have to access the dunk contest via the video below.
I think I’m finally putting basketball to rest for the year… I’m watching Minnesota play St. Louis at the new Target Field on TV. All I can say is I want to go to the Cities sometime this summer and catch the Twins–Target Field looks AMAZING!!! Who’s up for a road trip?
It’s hard to believe that after 60+ games, countless miles in my car and on the team bus, Basketball is finally over. It’s been an eventful winter to be sure… featuring everything from half-court buzzer-beaters, to state championships, to me puking in the back of an ambulance during the District 5A girls’ basketball championship– By the way, when someone tells you morphine causes nausea, that’s an understatement-and-a-half!
So here are some of my thoughts on the season.
1) Elkton-Lake Benton girls’ basketball team has one of the best defenses I have seen in a long time, either for boys or girls. The guards on the Lady Elks remind me a lot of Taylor Richter of Dells Public… tenacious and will pick your pocket the millisecond you’re not looking. They’ll lose a bit of post presence with Rachel Krogman moving on to Northern State next year, but they’ll still be tough.
2) McCook Central-Montrose boys were certainly fun to watch in the post season. I had the chance to call them at State. Mark Huls had a hell of a tournament, especially going against taller/bigger guys in the post. I was really impressed with his play. They took it to Winner in the first round and almost pulled off a major upset of Madison in the semis, before falling to Roncalli in the 3rd place game. The Fighting Cougars have a good core back next year and I will not be surprised to see them in Rapid City next year.
On a personal note in defense of the coach, I know some people think Coach Marquardt is arrogant. But I’ve had the chance to talk with Bill quite a few times, starting from when he was the head football coach at Colman-Egan. He’s always been very nice to me and was very easy to work with during State.
3) Madison’s girls had to mature a bit this year. The team has a lot of talent with Christa Paul, Bailey Milne and now with Cassie Potter. But with no seniors to guide the team this year, the girls had to mature on their own. But they made a lot of progress, especially in the district championship against E-LB. Next season will be the breakout year for Coach Nelson and the Lady Bulldogs.
4) Another team that was fairly young this year was Tri-Valley. the Lady Mustangs did have solid leader with Tara Otto, but were still young. Yet I was impressed that they have such young talent… this could be a dark horse (no pun intended) again next year against other teams like Chester and Parkston.
5) Ever since they made the State tournament in 1995, the Dell Rapids Public boys had been in the doldrums. In fact it seems the girls had received all the accolades (well-deserved, by the way), while the boys were in the background. But this year, they turned quite a few heads. Michael Schmidt is developing into a very a good forward while Cole Langer plays like someone a couple of years older than he really is. Of course, both players have good genes… I remember watching Michael’s dad when I was a seventh-grader and he broke the DRHS career scoring record. And Cole’s dad was a helluva third baseman for Dells PBR, and an outstanding athlete at State. It also helps when Cole’s grandpa is a NFL Hall-of-Fame lineman and a member of the 1972 Dolphins. This is a team that’s going to be very very good over the next few years.
6) I do have to feel for the Howard teams. Both boys and girls teams struggled this year, especially the girls. But one thing I noticed is that they do not quit… they keep fighting and clawing. And that’s a huge lesson that’ll carry on well past high school and into the rest of their lives… things aren’t always easy and success can be hard to come by at times. But that doesn’t mean you should give up. You keep fighting because you just might surprise yourself.
7) And speaking of surprises, I think a lot of people were surprised when Madison had as good a post-season as they did. You talk to a lot of people around the state and most of them would have had this line on Madison… good talent, but this is Sioux Falls Christian’s year. And when you look at the tape, it would seem like a rock-solid argument…. Chargers had four starters returning while Madison only had one. And it would look that way in February when SFC posted a double-digit win over Madison.
But here’s the thing about Madison the past few years…. they have rarely, if ever, lost to the same team two years in a row. And they played brilliantly in the region finals going rope-a-dope with the Chargers instead of going up-tempo.
What I was impressed with this season was that there was so much balance on the team and that anyone could step up. One night it might be Sullivan, next night Wiebe or Shafer might go off for 20 points, then White would erupt the next game for 30. And the reserves that came in filled their roles admirably. It’ll be interesting to see what’ll happen next year… will Madison be expected to 3-peat? And how will they handle that pressure?
But the thing I will rembember about this year is all the wonderful coaches, fans, players, and friends I’ve had the pleasure to meet. Especially Photo Buzzard and Hutchinson County Hobo. Guys, it’s been a blast…. let’s do it again next year!
And now in the immortal words of countless numbers of umpires everywhere… it’s time to “PLAY BALL!”
Sitting at home for the last week and a half with the daze of the State Tourney still lingering in my head, my fellow ramblers and I finally got our post season awards figured out. I will inform you all before you read the lists that these awards are strictly for Southeast South Dakota, or the area we cover. I don’t get up North for too many games so leaving certain people off is not intentional. Also the “all-state” lists are a combination of both Class A and B boys in the area. I do not cover AA so I hope you big city folk don’t get to bent out of shape.
First Team
Cory Jacobson – Jr Viborg
Luke Bamberg – Jr Corsica/Stickney
Derrick Wiebe – Sr Madison
Matt Vande Kamp – Sr Sioux Falls Christian
Michael Sullivan – Jr Madison
Second Team
Drew Kreutzfeldt – Jr Chester
Jesse Tolsma – Sr Mitchell Christian
Christian Skinner – Sr Sioux Falls Christian
Russ Hendrickson – Sr Flandreau
Cole Langer – Fr Dell Rapids
Third Team
Brandon Feterl – Sr McCook Central-Montrose
Mitchell White – Jr Madison
Ethan Pace – Jr Elk-Point Jefferson
Eric Hensch – Soph Harrisburg
Adam Fink – Soph Tripp-Delmont-Armour
Honorable Mention: Kris Menning Jr C/S, Sam Jolley Jr Canistota, Patrick Draisey Sr Harrisburg, Kyle Weiss Sr Mount Vernon, Shayne Gottlob Soph MCM, Brett Kuca Jr Wagner
Defensive Player of the Year: Adam Fink TDA. Only a 10th grader Fink is wise beyond his years on the court. Most often having to guard the best player on the other team. He uses his strength and quickness to frustrate the man he guards, while he keeps their impact to a minimum.
Class B Player of the Year: Luke Bamberg C/S. You would be hard pressed to find another player in the state with as good of an all around game as Bamberg. A wirey 6′4 he plays every position on the floor and fills up the stat sheet. He helped to lead C/S to an undefeated season until they were knocked off by TDA in the District Championship. Luke will be one player you dont want to miss next season.
Class A Player of the Year: Derrick Wiebe Madison. It was a tough decision, but the more you looked at Wiebe’s stats the more it became evident that he was the man. Leading a three pronged Bulldog attack Derrick helped Madison to Back to Back State Championships.
2009-10 Southeast South Dakota Class A Player of the Year Derrick Wiebe
Coach of the Year: Bill Marquardt McCook Central-Montrose. There were quite a few outstanding coaching performances this season, so this was a tough decision. With a defense first mentality Coach Marquardt led the Cougars to their first State Tourney Appearance in over 20 years. MCM finished up a great season with a 4th place finish at State.
Coach Bill Marquardt Southeast South Dakota Coach of the Year
The games will be held Friday, April 2nd. The rosters and coaches are:
Shaunteva Ashley, S.F. Roosevelt; Carsey Barden, Sturgis; Alison Kusler, Aberdeen Central; Jacqee Jasinski, R.C. Central; Taylor Piper, Mitchell; Mandi Robish, Huron; Brittany Lehner, Watertown; Elise Maresh, S.F. Lincoln; Justine Blade, R.C. Stevens; Whitnee Clayton, S.F. Washington
Rachel Krogman, Elkton-Lake Benton; Kelsey Backus, Chester; Larae Zimprich, Hamlin; Jilianne Doom, Wagner; Allyssa Wall, Dakota Valley; Cassie Schuurmans, Bon Homme; Chrissy Strassburg; Elk Point-Jefferson; Sarah Vermeulen, Stickney-Mt. Vernon; Christian Janis, Pine Ridge; Shelby Bierma, Dell Rapids
Amanda Hart, Hanson; Hillary Paulson, Freeman; April Winne, Scotland; Caitlin Whiting, White River; Samantha Kleinsasser, James Valley Christian; Kelsey Walloch, Menno; Kylie Westover, Colman-Egan; Shelby Anderson, Ethan; Allison DeKam, Castlewood; Jessie Lee, Viborg
Class AA Boys: Coach: Lance Friesen, Mt. Marty
Jared Hannigan, Aberdeen Central; Terrell Newton, Huron; Alex Robey, S.F. O’Gorman; Jared Bartling, S.F. Roosevelt; Sam Fosness, Mitchell; Cody Larson, S.F. Roosevelt; Brett Victor, Mitchell; Kory Johnson, Watertown; Glenn Jackson, R.C. Central; Ryan McCutcheon, Brookings
Brandon Feterl, McCook Central-Montrose; Carl Swallows, Red Cloud; Derrick Wiebe, Madison; Derek Brown, Clark-Willow Lake; Matt Vande Kamp, S.F. Christian; Russ Hendrickson, Flandreau; Patrick Draisey, Harrisburg; Gabe Kjellsen, Groton; Ben Engelstad, Deubrook; Jordan Powell, Beresford
Class B Boys: Coach:
Jesse Tolsma, Mitchell Christian; Zach Merwin, Sully Buttes, Kyle Entringer, Colman-Egan; Will Rozell, Warner; Jake Krogman, White River; R.J. Estes, White River; Michael Alberts, Langford; Cody Thomsen, Mitchell Christian; Landon Braun, Rosholt; Macon Oplinger, Menno
Over the past several weeks, we have witnessed some great basketball games at the high school and college levels. At the same time, there has been discussion to revamp the very system that makes it a great environment.
The NCAA is discussing expanding the 64 field. There have been some awesome games with incredible upsets this year. Would increasing the field of 64 change these great games, upsets, story lines, etc…? In the end this decision will come down to money with very little input from SD.
The great part of the Summit League Tournament is the winner gets an invite to the dance. The Summit League Tournament is exciting due to this fact. Would increasing the field of 64 make the Summit League Tournament less exciting or important? Probably not, as the Summit League would still only have one or two entrants to the big dance. However, the expansion would diminish the importance of the Minnesota Gophers needing to have a great conference tournament to get their ticket punched. The reality is the increased teams would be coming from the major conferences versus the Summit Leagues of NCAA.
This gets back to our own little world of SD. There is a push to change the post season for basketball and volleyball so the best two teams from some poll do not eliminate each other prior to the state tournament. This year it was Madison eliminating SFC prior to the State Tournament. This is nothing new. It has happened in the past, and will happen again. Is this a bad thing?
The BBB Region 1A Championship in 2005 had Clark rated number 1 and Milbank rated number 2 meeting up for the Region Championship game in what turned out to be a great game with a great environment. This happens every year in Class B Volleyball where NW and Warner battle it out thus creating some classic matches.
Does it need to change? Presently we are getting the best regional teams in Class A and B to make it to the State Tournament. We may not be getting the best 8 teams in the State Tournaments, but we do have a State Tournament with regional pride.
Last year, the NDSU MBB won the Summit League Tourney. Although I am not a Bison fan, I paid attention to that game and was cheering on NDSU when they were taking on Kansas. Likewise, the SDSU WBB has gotten great regional support over the past two years with both Dakotas cheering on the Jackrabbits in the NCAA tournament. I would even venture to say even some Sioux and Coyote fans were cheering for their arch rivals during those games.
If SFC would have been in the State Tournament, then a Crow Creek might not have made it to the State Tournament. There would not have been a regional game between Crow Creek and Mobridge-Pollock with the importance of the winner having their ticket punched to the dance. The reality is that Crow Creek had a slim chance of defeating Madison in the first round, but there was a chance. Had that region not been represented in the State Tournament, then that area of the state might become casual observers much in the same way the Dakotas were casual observers of the NCAA tournament prior to last year and this year.
Do we really want the Class A and Class B regional games to lose their importance? Do we really want to basically eliminate a region of the state from the state tournament experience just to make sure the best 8 teams from some poll gets into the State Tournament?
Do not fix something that is not broke.
That being said, football is a whole other issue, so let us just keep this discussion limited to basketball or volleyball. Comparing the proposed changes in football to basketball and volleyball is like comparing apples to oranges.
The Northeast (NE) Eagle was going to provide updates during the year, but ended up being grounded due to reasons beyond his control. I apologize to our leading buzzards for not providing better coverage of NE SD during the winter months. It has been a long winter.
The basketball season was fairly successful in the glacial lakes of NESD. The teams represented our little corner of SD very well. All the teams should be proud as we were provided with some very entertaining games throughout the year.
In the Boy AA ranks, a Northern recruit once again raised the Golden Eagles to the brink of success only to have their hopes dashed by one of those Sioux Empire teams. On the girls side, the AA teams had their successes throughout the year climbing up and down through the ranks proving they could play with the best within SD but came up short at the end of the year.
In the Boy A ranks, the Green Cavaliers made a good showing at the State A falling to their fellow Blue Cavaliers in the semi-finals. The NEC was very competitive this year between Roncalli, Clark-Willow Lake, Sisseton, and Milbank. The Redmen are the early favorites next year due to the fact they did not have any seniors. As usual, the Cavaliers and Bulldogs are not going to simply hand them the NEC title. Clark-Willow Lake will be the big unknown next year as Mr. Everything (D. Brown) heads down to USF.
In the Girl A ranks, Sisseton and Clark-Willow Lake teams made the NEC proud in the State A Tournament. The athletic and quick defenders of Elkton-Lake Benton were just too much for the NEC leaders. The NEC will be interesting next year. The Cyclones and Redmen had some great juniors with good underclass support. Milbank had a group of good freshmen that received valuable varsity minutes, so they could be a force once they learn to play at the varsity level.
In the Boy B ranks, Langford and Rosholt had some classic battles through the year with Langford coming out on top in the end. Unfortunately Langford had to go through Hitchcock-Tulare to get to the promise land.
In the Girl B ranks, Summit and Castlewood had the Watertown Civic Arena rocking to a nearly sold out crowd with the Warriors getting the best of the Eagles. Miss Kneeland put on quite the show after losing one of her main counterparts due to injury in the opening round. It will be interesting to watch her career develop as a senior next year as she contemplates where to further her education. We will see if those Grant County farmers can coach the Eagles to a 3rd consecutive title game.
One thing has become obvious after reading the blogs from the Western Buzzards. Those Blue Cavaliers of STM will not be proclaiming the Bulldog as their pet of the year after both their title attempts came up short against the Bulldogs of Madison and Milbank. However, I have a feeling the East River nest have not heard the last of those West River Buzzards. They will have plenty to talk about this spring and summer as traditionally they have ruled the flock when it comes to track and baseball.
The snow is rapidly melting. The Jim River is doing what it normally does this time of the year by roaring slowly down to the Missouri. The Sioux River appears to be calming and those on the lakes are hoping the worse is over.
In just a few weeks, the tractors will be rolling through the fields. Except of course for those fields that still have corn to be harvested. The snow geese will have plenty of feed.
The tracksters will be running around the track. The golfers will be hitting the balls. Who will come out on top? Can the CWL Cylclones repeat as Class B girl golf champs after graduating the Texas Tech recruit?
Armed with a Press Pass and the gift of gab I started out from Parkston thursday morning for the State A Tournament feeling like a king. I arrived at the Arena early to hunker into a good seat and see what the Hospitality Room had to offer, I would soon find out that the food wasn’t even the best part. Entering the hospitality room it was bare except for one man. I had seen him at millions of games with his trademark red stocking cap plopped on a mop of salt n pepper hair. I grabbed a soda and some popcorn and found my way over to his table, sat down and introduced myself. I needed a buddy I was here solo and its always nice to have someone to talk hoops with. I found out that I was talking to an authority in SDHSBB, Roger Nelson. As soon as his first sentence was finished I knew I wanted to be in his entourage. I ended up being his “right hand man” sitting next to him on the floor for 11/12 games in those nice cushy coporate seats…..I didnt have a ticket for one and either did Roger but we were able to get lucky and never have the people with our seats show.
As I snatched a seat next to Roger I was ready for some State Tournament action. Linking up with SB4 after the Madison vs Crow Creek game I was told to meet up with him and Gazlo for some in between sessions live chat. My “team” in the Tourney MCM finished off Winner and I was on to the Sheraton Bar with a smile on my face. After my meeting with SB4 and his esteemed colleague Gazlo, at the Sheration, I knew this adventure would be “well oiled” and full of surprises. I went back to Hobo Central, my buddy’s apt. 2 blocks from the arena, to freshen up and refuel before heading back to the arena for the night session and what would be the start of 3 epic nights in Sioux Falls.
The fourth straight tournament appearance for Sioux Valley they faced, who some thought as the favorites me included, STM. The Cavs didn’t let me down and beat SV to start out the first round night session. Roger and I were off to the hospitality room for pork loin and potato salad. SB4 could now relax and enjoy the Tourney. I didn’t get a chance to see EPJ play during the regular season, so their game against Aberdeen Roncalli, for me anyway, was highly anticipated. It ended up being the best game of the Tournament. Roncalli down for most of the game. Used a hounding man to man press and a couple timely steals late in the game to snatch the victory away from the Huskies. Checking my phone SB4 gave me an inside tip on a gathering at BWW….25 big screens showing the NCAA Tourney..YEAH! im in…Texas losing blew up my bracket, but sitting with SB4 and Gazlo I was a sponge. Just taking it all in as they would go back and forth. We ended the meeting early, SB4 talking about some shopping trip. I continued by night with some Parkston people..We played Mario Kart on Nintendo 64 till 2 a.m. and by the time my head hit the pillow it was 5.
The doors open an hour early for each session, but when the hospitality room is like The Big Rock Candy Mountain waking up at 11 after a 5 a.m. lights out is never easy. A long shower with a mix of caffeine and nicotine and I was ready to go. By the time the Winner Horstman’s finished off Crow Creek the slumber was wearing off. Most of that due to Roger being able to answer any question about any team or player ever from South Dakota rather than the play on the court. Though Horstman did throw down a thunderous dunk with ease late in the game. Sioux Valley got a strong performance out of Jesse Schilling and easily beat EPJ the second game. You could see EPJ was not able to shake off the disappointment of their last game. I was back to Hobo central for a wardrobe change and a power nap.
Back at the arena with my bright green MCM shirt on I was excited for the night session. Four good teams, Four different styles. A burger and some baked beans, A HOBO’S DREAM!, in the hospitality room and I found my spot next to Roger. Madison came out strong in the first half and had the lead up to double digits by halftime. If there was one thing I learned from following MCM this year they are a second half team and with their tough defense are never out of a game. MCM put on a dazzling performance in the 3rd quarter. They whittled the lead down to 2 and by the start of the 4th qrt the crowd was on their feet and the arena was rocking. Mitch Benson was “Cool Hand Luke” from the free throw line for Madison in the 4th quarter. You could sense Madison had been here before. They didn’t get rattled when MCM came charging back in the 3rd qrt. Micheal Sullivan had his coming out party Friday night. He has a knack for hitting big shots. In one stretch he hit 3 straight 3’s for Madison to put them up for good. My MCM boys had lost. When there are 56 teams sitting at home watching the games though playing for 3rd and 4th is a great accomplishment. Roncalli stayed with STM, but the game never seemed in doubt for The Cavs. For the second straight night Conor Casey helped to lead the Cav attack. I checked my phone….Sheraton Bar be there…With help from the friends of the buzzards we were able to keep SB4 and Gazlo in check for awhile, but as the night wore on they hatched an escape plan. With the life of the party gone the rest of us scattered. Back at Hobo central I scrounged up some grub and hit the sack..5 am again…with one more night to go! I only hoped I could keep up.
All the games start and hour earlier on Saturday. The 10 am alarm was not fun. I was back at the arena. Looking a little ragged, but feeling better than I should. EPJ rebounded from two tough losses and beat Crow Creek for 7th place. Winner easily won the Consolation Championship. A stop at Hobo central for a quick shower and I was back to the arena by 5 for broasted chicken and the championship bracket. For the second time in 3 days Roncalli came back to win in the 4th quarter for 3rd place. The MCM boys finished a great season with a 4th place finish at State. Finally the game everyone was waiting for Madison vs STM. Madison was trying to win back to back championships and STM had won it all the last time they were at the State Tourney in 07. Madison was INSANE from the free throw line, I heard 26-27! Another cold blooded shooting performance in the 4th quarter by Micheal Sullivan for Madison. STM went cold in the 4th and the overwhelming Madison crowd rejoiced with their team. I crashed the STM team party at BWW post game and met up with SB1, SB4, Gazlo and even “Brown Love” showed his face. I tagged along on a quick trip to Nutty’s North for some peanuts and then it was onto the Ramada for late night partying. A look at my phone and it was almost 4 am time for me to go. I ended my night on a positive note and made my way out of the Ramada, only to realize I had drove my car to BWW and it was cold out! I made the long walk to my car which helped to “wake” me up. Back to Hobo central for some well needed sleep. 5 am again…
It was another early wake up call Sunday. I wanted to get to Montrose for the MCM welcome home. All the bridges closed south of the interstate I had to go through Mitchell to get to Parkston anyway so it was not out of the way. They had a convoy for the team through town. People standing in their front yards waving. It really made you realize what the State Tournament is all about. A glass of juice and a chocolate chip cookie and I was on my way back home.
As I made my way west towards Mitchell on the interstate I thought about what someone told me Saturday night. “Tomorrow is the saddest day of the year,” he said. “Why’s thats?” I asked. “Because the seasons over and we all have to drive home”…..
Some thoughts from the B and other ruminations.
I met famous poster Captain Tony this week! In our short meeting he struck me as a great guy with a passion for high school sports. I always appreciate the chance to meet some folks in person that I have “met” online. There are still a lot of you I have not met, but I am looking forward to it. I am hoping that the Captain will be a regular blogger for us this fall!
I wonder if the woman from Colman-Egan that trashed me as being negative with my announcing last fall was a little worried that I did a couple of C-E Hawks games on their way to 8th place? Now that I think about it, she may be taking credit for the fact I said positive things about her team and all the others!
The Aberdeen American News, which has one of the best stable of sportswriters ever assembled, did an article about the wagering that goes on at the Circus Bar during the tourneys. The funniest part was the quotes from all the police and prosecutors that basically said they were all totally unaware that anything like this was going on there! I am hoping the AAN will do upcoming stories on the fact that the sun comes up from a similar posititon every morning and that Christmas has a habit of falling on December 25th.
White River can flat out PLAY. They also have a bunch of guys that can score. I think scoring is an art we are losing in basketball. 4th grade teams that run set plays don’t teach kids how to score. Neither do summer team camps. Hanging in a gym with former players or working on your game on your own is still the best way I know to improve your scoring ability.
TDA has some talented, hard working kids. But do they get to the state tourney if anyone other than Burnell Glanzer is coaching them? There are a few others that are his equal, but no one is better than he is.
Special mention to Doug Schauer of Faith and Terry Schouten of James Valley Christian. They are both doing a whole lot with very little.
You could probably put the Hitchcock-Tulare players school photos in my 1976 high school yearbook and no one would be able to pick the ones that were from 34 years in the future!
Please do not feel bad if I do not eat the treats you brought me to say “thank you” at the tourney. I know your heart is in the right place, but I am just jaded enough to be leary of what may or may not be in the cookies and bars. Pre-wrapped Froehling Meat products from Hecla? HECK yes, and THANK YOU!
Always interesting to read and hear comments from folks concerning our coverage on SDPB. The HUGE majority of folks are appreciative and complimentary, and that really does my heart good. Some of course, are less so. We used to promote a discussion board on air and encourage folks to post their comments. It dawned on one of the producers that all that was doing was asking people not in the business to tell us all the mistakes that we made, so while I think it is still there, we did not talk about it or read it. We know we made mistakes. It happens.
ALWAYS refer to a young child in non-gender specific terms. A good rule in life and in broadcasting.
Craig Mattick and I now have the second longest tenure of doing state championship broadcasts, trailing only Jim Burt. There have been some great ones through the years, and some that frankly were not good. We got in with some of the bad ones when we first started doing the games when PAX got the contract in 2001. They hired us to be analysts while their guys did play by play, despite the fact they never did play by play. It occurred to someone that maybe guys that do pbp for a living should be doing it on the championship broadcasts, and it has been that way ever since SDPB took over running things in 2003.
There have been some dandy announcers through the years, and many of them are good friends of mine. Tom Maxwell and Mark Ovenden on KSFY and Gary Weckwirth, Tom Nieman and Al Bahe on KELO are some that come to mind. I am really, really blessed to have been in this position for as long as I have, and I am very, very thankful that I get to work with the wonderful crew at SDPB. I also really enjoy the fact I get to share the time with a great friend like Craig. God has been very good to me.
Wonderful to hear how many of you are enjoying what the Buzzard is all about! Keep spreading the news and look for expansion this fall!
Enough for now. As always, feel free to share your thoughts. Thanks!
after 3 long nights with the buzzards from west river at the State A Tournament im back home and pondering the whirlwind that was the last 3 days…tired hungry and smelling like a bar waking up this morning on my buddies short couch for the third straight day was worse than the pounding headache. Im showered and filling my belly with some home cooking so I hope to have a little review of my experience this weekend posted sometime tonight.