Well this blog entry has two motives: 1) to remind people just how good the Freeport girls basketball team was just a season ago and 2) to show my soundslide work from a year ago.
This year there hasn't been much of a reason to use soundslide because the teams I've covered aren't on the same level as a season ago.
So I wanted to reminisce.
Also, GateHouse's new web design allows for embedding to be possible from the address (so I don't have to build my own site anymore.)
Anyhow, here's a few of my soundslides! Enjoy.
I've been waiting to do this for a long while. If only ...
Friday, February 5, 2010
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Shiffer Q&A
Well, I wrote it, so I figured I'd post this up before it's up later on our J-S Sports Blog.
By the way, make sure to follow me (@jmark79) on Twitter for updates on the Highland women, among other things I cover and complete randomness.
Here's a Q&A session with Courtney Shiffer I had on Wednesday that I used for my feature on
The Journal-Standard interviewed Courtney Shiffer for a Q&A on her transition to small forward, the Highland women’s basketball team, and her thoughts on how far the Cougars can go in 2010.
Journal-Standard: How has the transition been from center/power forward to small forward?
Courtney Shiffer: It’s been going pretty good. It’s a lot different being out on the perimeter, looking for the outside shot. I’m doing more cutting than in high school, where I was only in the post.
J: Defensively, things are different too, right?
S: Right. Some guards are faster than me, so it’s just knowing how close to guard and how far to back off. So, I’m just getting used to it.
J: Was this switch to the 3-spot needed to have the opportunity to go to a Division I school?
S: Yeah. It was definitely a good thing. ... It was a good thing for my future for basketball.
J: But you do like playing the new spot right?
S: I like it kind of more because you get to touch the ball more than playing in the post. Cutting to the basket, I like doing that. I get to move more. I definitely need to keep working on my outside shooting, that’s something I’ve always needed to get better on. But otherwise it’s been a pretty good transition I think.
J: Have you adjusted to the changes in junior college from high school, like getting a feel for the shot clock?
S: For us, it hasn’t seen that much of a difference because we haven’t had a shot-clock violation. I don’t think. In high school you have plays that are longer and sometimes you try to stall. You can’t do that in college because you don’t have 30 sec -- yeah, 30 seconds.
J: The team really seems to enjoy themselves even sometimes when you’re not playing at your best. Granted, it’s a team like Sauk Valley that doesn’t have a lot of wins, but you seem to have a lot of fun. How much has that helped playing with this team?
S: It’s been a lot of fun this year. We just have a good time even when things are down we talk and make little jokes about it, so it’s been fun. I’ve enjoyed it.
J: How excited were you when Leah Dietmeier came to the team considering the two or three players that aren’t on the team for a variety of reasons?
S: We were really excited she’d play with us. We played together in high school and we’ve been friends so it’s been nice to have her on the team.
J: You’ve been on this team for about four months now. How far can the Cougars go in 2010?
S: I definitely think we can make it to nationals if we stay focused and not get ahead of ourselves. I’ve never been to nationals before and I’ve heard there a lot of competition there, so, who knows what happens after that.
By the way, make sure to follow me (@jmark79) on Twitter for updates on the Highland women, among other things I cover and complete randomness.
Here's a Q&A session with Courtney Shiffer I had on Wednesday that I used for my feature on
The Journal-Standard interviewed Courtney Shiffer for a Q&A on her transition to small forward, the Highland women’s basketball team, and her thoughts on how far the Cougars can go in 2010.
Journal-Standard: How has the transition been from center/power forward to small forward?
Courtney Shiffer: It’s been going pretty good. It’s a lot different being out on the perimeter, looking for the outside shot. I’m doing more cutting than in high school, where I was only in the post.
J: Defensively, things are different too, right?
S: Right. Some guards are faster than me, so it’s just knowing how close to guard and how far to back off. So, I’m just getting used to it.
J: Was this switch to the 3-spot needed to have the opportunity to go to a Division I school?
S: Yeah. It was definitely a good thing. ... It was a good thing for my future for basketball.
J: But you do like playing the new spot right?
S: I like it kind of more because you get to touch the ball more than playing in the post. Cutting to the basket, I like doing that. I get to move more. I definitely need to keep working on my outside shooting, that’s something I’ve always needed to get better on. But otherwise it’s been a pretty good transition I think.
J: Have you adjusted to the changes in junior college from high school, like getting a feel for the shot clock?
S: For us, it hasn’t seen that much of a difference because we haven’t had a shot-clock violation. I don’t think. In high school you have plays that are longer and sometimes you try to stall. You can’t do that in college because you don’t have 30 sec -- yeah, 30 seconds.
J: The team really seems to enjoy themselves even sometimes when you’re not playing at your best. Granted, it’s a team like Sauk Valley that doesn’t have a lot of wins, but you seem to have a lot of fun. How much has that helped playing with this team?
S: It’s been a lot of fun this year. We just have a good time even when things are down we talk and make little jokes about it, so it’s been fun. I’ve enjoyed it.
J: How excited were you when Leah Dietmeier came to the team considering the two or three players that aren’t on the team for a variety of reasons?
S: We were really excited she’d play with us. We played together in high school and we’ve been friends so it’s been nice to have her on the team.
J: You’ve been on this team for about four months now. How far can the Cougars go in 2010?
S: I definitely think we can make it to nationals if we stay focused and not get ahead of ourselves. I’ve never been to nationals before and I’ve heard there a lot of competition there, so, who knows what happens after that.
Shiffer feature in today's paper, Cougs lose big game
Well, the Courtney Shiffer feature will be the Journal-Standard Web site late Thursday night.
And the same night that feature will appear, is the same night the Highland women's basketball team lost a big one.
Cougars lost 85-83 to Black Hawk East. For as well as Highland's played at home, the Cougars have just one big win on the road this year (Illinois Valley).
In a few, I'll update you on some more stuff from Highland coach Dean Buckwalter and some bonus stuff from the Shiffer interview on Wednesday.
And the same night that feature will appear, is the same night the Highland women's basketball team lost a big one.
Cougars lost 85-83 to Black Hawk East. For as well as Highland's played at home, the Cougars have just one big win on the road this year (Illinois Valley).
In a few, I'll update you on some more stuff from Highland coach Dean Buckwalter and some bonus stuff from the Shiffer interview on Wednesday.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Shiffer adjusting to new position
Today I'll be stopping by the Highland gym to talk to Courtney Shiffer about her season, adjusting to playing small forward and getting along with teammates -- new and old.
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