Above the Fold

Remember when the Freeport girls basketball team was great?

2010-02-05T14:32:00.000-08:00

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 ...

Shiffer Q&A

2010-02-04T20:37:00.000-08:00

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.

Shiffer feature in today's paper, Cougs lose big game

2010-02-04T20:08:00.001-08:00

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.

Shiffer adjusting to new position

2010-02-03T14:23:00.000-08:00

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.

So much for figuring out the depth ...

2009-12-01T13:21:00.000-08:00

Ashanti Walker and Jackie Cahill both quit the team after last week's loss to Marshalltown.

Highland coach Dean Buckwalter made a call to me earlier on Tuesday, letting me know that they both quit.

Both quit apparently due to playing time.

I've got thoughts, but I'll save them for after the story comes out online tonight in the Journal-Standard and in print on Wednesday.

Roles to change, lineup still unconfirmed

2009-11-11T17:43:00.000-08:00

BY JOEY BASKERVILLE
joey.baskerville@gmail.com

Change has come for the Highland women's basketball team.

And no, it's not just that Jackie Barton is no longer there.

Some of the Cougar players themselves will have to change the way they played last year or during high school.

Freshman Courtney Shiffer has been asked to play more from the outside and play the 3 position this year. Shiffer played forward or center for throughout her high school career with the Freeport Pretzels.

"I'm asking her to jump to the 3 this year," Highland coach Dean Buckwalter said. "And she loves it. She absolutely loves it. But that means that she'll have to guard someone that's a little bit quicker.

"But she hasn't missed a beat. Oh, she's just a phenomenal athlete."

This shouldn't be that much of a surprise, considering how well she's moved in the paint with Freeport.

I belive Shiffer is too slinder to be an effective power forward at the JUCO level and since she wants to play at a D-I program, this is probably her best shot.

I haven't seen Shiffer take a bunch of outside shots while a Pretzel, that doesn't mean she can't shoot.

Only in warmups have I seen her shoot 3s and she's made some, so perhaps it just wasn't used because girls like Katie Norman, Kelsey Hoefer and Caitlin Greene were the girls to take those deep outside attempts.

We may finally find out just how underrated Shiffer really has been all this time.

As mentioned on the Journal-Standard, Mallory Magee's role will change as well. Magee is now the team's most versitile play with Jackie Barton now at Western Illinois University.

"We're going to ask her to do a lot of scoring," Buckwalter said. "I think with her and Suporia (Dickens), it's going to open everybody else up."

In all likelihood, Dickens will be asked to do what she does best: drive to the basket.
"Suporia, we went to a jamboree and she looks pretty much unstopable," Buckwalter said. "She gets tired fast, but going to the basket, she hasn't been stopped yet.
"I'm putting in offensive plays just for her."

And now ... your starting lineup ... sort of

When I asked Buckwalter what his starting lineup would be -- something I've been pondering since all the recruits were signed -- he wasn't too sure, but had an idea.

"I don't have a clue Joey!" Buckwalter joked. "I've been racking my brain for the last three days. I've got 10 great players and two were out for volleyball and one fits in perfect.
"I'm probably going to go with Lexi (Alexia Tann), Suporia, Mallory, Renee and Shiff. That's my best defensive team, I think. That's probably the way I'm going against Malcolm X (on Friday)."

I was, admittedly surprised that Deuth would get the nod over new center Ashanti Walker, but Buckwalter said that she's "coming on" to coming back around.

The listed 6-foot-1 forward could still need more work to fit into the offense, play on the defensive end and make this team lethal in this region.

"Ashanti Walker is coming on. She's coming off that blown out knee a couple of years ago," Buckwalter said. "And it's taking her a while to come around. But, she's starting to get her confidence back.

"You could tell she hadn't been on the court in a while, so I think the more she plays, she'll get any better. She's great athlete with a nice shot.

"She's kind of a leader in her own way."

Buckwalter still left the door open for if things change.

"That (the lineup) could change," Buckwalter said. "Ashanti's right there. Taylor (Gallentine's) right there. And Nicole (Olson's) right there. I could start all three at any time.

"If teams are playing zone, I won't have a problem starting Nicole in there at all. We'll see how it goes."

Just how good is the 2009 Freeport VB team?

2009-11-03T21:38:00.000-08:00

Photo by Dave Manley
Freeport's Lindsay Ellinor reaches for a tip shot against Harlem's Katie Gray during the game in Freeport on Tuesday.

This year's Freeport volleyball team is a mystery to me.

I'm not sure how good this team really is, but fact is: the Pretzels are a match away from winning the program's first-ever sectional title.

Just like the 2008 team.

"People expected us not to do (well) and this feels so good," Courtney Lawson said Tuesday night. "It's just phenomenal.

Laura Witt added: "Everyone didn't think we'd make it this far. They ranked us low in conference but we came up and we got second in conference."

"We're back to where we were last year, and that just makes us want to push more," Lawson followed.

The Pretzels just a year ago was the best team I've seen. Better than Eastland (before it went downstate), better than Dakota (a team that nearly went downstate, had it not been for Eastland) and better than any NIC-10 team school.

The tandem of hitters Kelsey Hoefer, Courtney Shiffer, Karli Davis and Katie Norman were nearly unstoppable.

Hoefer was the conference MVP, Shiffer was just a step below Hoefer, Davis was a leading hitter in 2007 and could still be effective despite a foot injury that has hampered her to this day and Norman made big plays in the conference title clincher — the first of the program's in 31 years (1977).

And let's not forget about Caitlin Greene, who's probably the best libero in the NIC-10.

People say this a lot about her, but she's everywhere. She continues to make digs that I don't see other back row players make.

At least not at this level.

That team, despite all its talented players and promise, finished just short of a sectional championship after losing to Burlington Central — the same school that beat the Freeport softball team in a super-sectional the previous spring.

Greene's now a senior, along with Laura Witt and Lindsay Ellinor. Witt and Ellinor aren't bad in the back row either and both have some pretty good serves.

They've had to step up, sure.

But are they better and, hence, made the Pretzels better than a year ago?

No. Not in my view.

Hoefer is a better hitter than any current player. Courtney Lawson's solid, Witt has filled in nicely considering she's really out of position (more of a setter than hitter) and Paige Calow is still improving.

Calow and Shiffer don't compare currently. Former Freeport volleyball coach Rodney Pritchett once said "(t)here's not a better athlete in the conference this year than Shiffer" and I believed him.

Calow has a way to go to earn that distinction.

Hoefer and Witt are most comparable, considering both committed to Division I schools.

But Lawson does well enough to be compared to the hurt version of Davis. A healthy Davis is better though.

Defensively is where the two teams seem to parallel.

Greene has been the backbone of the defense for a while and I think this year people are starting to understand just how important she's been to the Pretzels since starting for them.

Witt has always been a starter, but her role has expanded this year and has excelled.

But bottom line: the Pretzels this year are not better, or as good as the 2008 team.

"I don't think anybody expected us to got out and tie for second (in the NIC-10)," Greene said Tuesday night. "And to get back to the sectional finals is just amazing."

The real focus should be that the Pretzels are doing as much about as much as the 2008 team.

And if the Pretzels win an upset against Sycamore, they'll be doing more with less.

Here's your 2009-10 Highland womens basketball team photo and schedule

2009-11-02T15:38:00.000-08:00

Season begins Friday, Nov. 13 at home in the Ladies Tip-off Tournament, which features the Cougars, Malcolm X, South Suburban and Spoon River.

Here's the full roster.

Fri/Sat	Nov 13-14	Ladies Tip-Off Tournament (HCC, Malcolm X, South Suburban, Spoon River)	HOME	5/7:00 Noon/2
Thur	Nov 19	Elgin	Elgin, IL	5:00
Tue	Nov 24	College of Lake County	Freeport, IL	5:00
Fri/Sat	Nov 27-28	Marshalltown Tournament	Marshalltown, IA	TBA
Tue	Dec 1	Malcolm X	Chicago, IL	5:00
Thur	Dec 3	Rock Valley	Freeport, IL	5:00
Sat	Dec 5	Illinois Central	East Peoria, IL	2:00
Fri	Dec 11	Lincoln Trail Classic vs Olney	Robinson, IL	6:00
/Sat	Dec 12	Lincoln Trail Classic vs Lincoln Trail	Robinson, IL	1:00
Fri/Sat	Dec 18-19	South Suburban Tournament	South Holland, IL	TBA
Thur	Jan 7	Sauk Valley*	Dixon, IL	5:30
Sat	Jan 9	Kankakee	Kankakee	1:00
Thur	Jan 14	Carl Sandburg*	Freeport, IL	5:00
Tue	Jan 19	Illinois Valley*	Ogelsby, IL	5:30
Thur	Jan 21	Black Hawk*	Freeport, IL	5:00
Sat	Jan 23	Black Hawk East*	Freeport, IL	1:00
Tue	Jan 26	Kishwaukee*	Malta, IL	5:30
Sat	Jan 30	Kennedy-King	Chicago, IL	1:00
Tue	Feb 2	Sauk Valley*	Freeport, IL	5:00
Thur	Feb 4	Black Hawk East*	Kewanee, IL	5:30
Sat	Feb 6	Kankakee	Freeport, IL	1:00
Tue	Feb 9	Carl Sandburg*	Galesburg, IL	5:30
Thur	Feb 11	Illinois Valley*	Freeport, IL	5:00
Sat	Feb 13	Daley	Freeport, IL	1:00
Tue	Feb 16	Black Hawk*	Moline, IL	5:30
Thur	Feb 18	Kishwaukee*	Freeport, IL	5:00
Sat	Feb 20	Kennedy-King	Freeport, IL	1:00
Sat	Feb 27	Region IV First Round @ Highland College	Freeport, IL	TBA
Wed	Mar 3	Region IV Semi-Finals @ Highland College	Freeport, IL	TBA
Sat	Mar 6	Region IV Championship @ Highland College	Freeport, IL	TBA
Tue	Mar 9	District Play-Off	Region XIII	TBA
Tue-Sat	Mar 16-20	NJCAA National Tournament	Salina, KS	TBA

Here's the roster with inflated heights and number changes.

No	Name	Ht	Yr	Position	Hometown
10	Jackie Cahill	5'5	F	G	Stockton, IL
12	Nicole Olson	5'9	S	G	Shannon, IL
15	Courtney DeHaven	5'6	F	G	Orangeville, IL
24	Alexia Tann	5'8	S	G	Beloit, WI
30	Suporia Dickens	5'10	F	G	Freeport, IL
31	Courtney Shiffer	6'0	F	F	Freeport, IL
33	Ashanti Walker	6'1	F	F	Chicago, IL
34	Mallory Magee	6'0	S	F	Stockton, IL
40	Taylor Gallentine	6'0	F	F	Prophestown, IL
42	Renee Deuth	5'10	S	F	Polo, IL

Projected starting line-up for 2009-10 Highland Women's B-Ball team

2009-10-14T17:39:00.000-07:00

PG - Alexi Tann
SG - Suporia Dickens
SF - Mallory Magee
PF - Courtney Shiffer
C - Ashanti Walker

Here's why. Tann returns to a team as Highland's floor general with a year under her belt. Her responsibilities at the point will increase with the departure of Jackie Barton.

Dickens has experience as more of a forward, but will likely be asked to be the team's slasher this season. What Dickens lacks as far as a shooting touch, she more than made up for with her speed and athleticism while playing for the back-to-back state runner-up Freeport girls basketball team.

Magee can shoot deep from the outside, including 3-point shots. She, at times, can hit from the outside corner, which is why I think she'll transition to the 3.

Shiffer is a natural power forward, despite her lack of size. She was an excellent post player for the Pretzels last season and I think her skill sets will work just fine for the Cougars this winter.

Walker seems like the perfect fit at center, as she may be the only legit six-footer for Highland this year.

Taylor Gallentine and Renee Deuth I think will work fine off the bench and could fill in just in case they work better for the team. Magee has to stay on the floor, I believe, because of her versatility.

Well

Late growth spurts for Highland women's basketball team?

2009-09-29T15:15:00.000-07:00

Every athletic program does it at some point, and the Highland women's basketball team is no exception.

The heights listed for quite a few women on the Cougars have spiked since last year. And it's a little late for these women that are in their late teens or early 20s to have sudden growth spurts.

Simultaneously.

Last year's point guard Alexi Tann is listed at 5-foot-8 on the Cougar women's roster page on Highland's Web site.

She was listed at 5-foot-6 just a year ago.

Freeport alum Suporia Dickens is listed at 5-foot-10, though she was not only listed at 5-foot-8 while a Pretzel, but she was clearly shorter than Towson volleyball hitter and former Freeport forward Kelsey Hoefer, who was listed as 5-foot-10 just a year ago.

Fellow alum Courtney Shiffer continues to be listed at 6-even, but considering she was closer to 5-11 in 2008, that doesn't surprise me.

*** UPDATE (10/6/09): Just found my Highland program from a year ago and it appears that the worse thing that can happen to a basketball player happened over the summer: Renee Deuth lost four inches in height.
Deuth is apparently aging at a very young age and lost shrunk from 6-foot-even to 5-foot-8, as listed below.
Amazing. ***

Here's the full list of the 2009-10 Highland women's basketball team:

No	Name	Ht	Yr	Position	Hometown
10	Jackie Cahill	5'5	F	G	Stockton, IL
12	Nicole Olson	5'9	S	G	Shannon, IL
15	Courtney DeHaven	5'6	F	G	Orangeville, IL
24	Alexia Tann	5'8	S	G	Beloit, WI
30	Suporia Dickens	5'10	F	G	Freeport, IL
31	Courtney Shiffer	6'0	F	F	Freeport, IL
33	Ashanti Walker	6'1	F	F	Chicago, IL
34	Mallory Magee	6'0	S	F	Stockton, IL
40	Taylor Gallentine	6'0	F	F	Prophestown, IL
42	Renee Deuth	5'10	S	F	Polo, IL

Final sign that its an end of an era in elite fantasy tailbacks

2009-09-15T14:24:00.000-07:00

This is a sample of what's to come in Thursday's fantasy football column in the Journal-Standard

I haven’t owned LaDainian Tomlinson in three years, including this season.

And for the last two years, I’ve been glad that I haven’t.

Ever since San Diego coach Norv Turner took over the offense, the tailback hasn’t been the same guy. But this year, you can no longer blame the coach, the scheme or an injury for why LT has looked average.

Last Monday night against the Oakland Raiders of all teams, one thing was proved: Tomlinson is no longer an elite fantasy back. At this point, he’s a No. 2 back or flex option. ...

(W)hat other tailback can do what Tomlinson once did? Look at today’s top running backs from a year ago and look at the first week’s finishes.

Hardly impressive.

It’s just another sign that elite running backs just aren’t as pletiful — the end of an era. During LT’s prime, guys like Priest Holmes, Marshall Faulk, Jamal Lewis, Edgerrin James, Tiki Barber, Shaun Alexander, Fred Taylor and Clinton Portis (just to name a few) were can’t miss players that you’d like to take in the first two rounds.

Today, half of those players are out of the NFL, while the other half are shells of themselves.

It's official: She's finally signed

2009-08-17T12:24:00.000-07:00

More on this as it develops (won't want to get scooped or anything)

McShane at the top the depth chart at QB

2009-08-12T13:53:00.000-07:00

By Stefanie Weiss/The Journal-Standard
Could the McShane era help Freeport return to the playoffs in 2009?

By Joey Baskerville
joey.baskerville@gmail.com

According to the J-S' Jeremy Anders, Freeport football coach Terry Werntz said that Brandon McShane is currently on top the depth chart at the quarterback position.

Anders said that Werntz hasn't quite made the decision for McShane to be the starter, but it's quite possible that he very well could be.

McShane, a standout on the Freeport boys track team, is quite the speedster. How the Pretzels potentially use his speed on the field will be one of the more intriguing storylines this season with a team centered around the spread offense with new personnel running it.

I, personally, haven't seen McShane's arm but he is fleet of foot and could give NIC-10 defensive coordinators a headache.

Nothing is set in stone. McShane has yet to throw a football in a game on the varsity level and there's still enough o-line issues and other personnel changes this year to wonder just how well the Pretzels will be in 2009.

But you've got to wonder just what to expect, should McShane earn the No. 1 QB position.

Finally, the Prima Donna can go quietly into the night

2009-07-28T15:44:00.000-07:00

All of his crap should have ended here, but Brett Favre has finally retired for good ... we think.

FINALLY! It's been reported that Brett Favre is going to stay retired and no longer make himself the center of attention instead of the team(s) that he plays for.

I've written about Favre in the past for the publication I work for. I think I wrote two columns on him and I still feel the same way about him as I did back then.

Only difference is that he's done this whole dramatic, reality TV-like decision-making process on playing in the NFL for about 4-5 years.

Remember him crying New Year's Eve during what appeared to be an impromptu retirement speech after the Green Bay Packers beat the Super Bowl bound Chicago Bears?

All of a sudden, he comes back to training camp as though none of what he said happened.

A season before, he contemplated retiring, but I won't judge him on that because of everything going on with his wife, father and his home state of Mississippi.

Fast forward to 2007, Favre has his most successful season in years, breaking John Elway's record wins and Dan Marino's career TD record and most games played with three or more TDs record.

He chokes in overtime to the New York Giants in the NFC championship game, and retires roughly three months following that loss.

Nearly four months later, Favre wants back in.

He's traded to the Jets (and misses all of training camp due to an approximately month-long feud with the Packers). Plays well, then sucks, then retires for the second time in 11 months).

This year, he takes the Minnesota Vikings through hell and back on this self-centered diva that used to be portrayed as a humble, fun-loving, selfless southerner all summer long.

Until training camp was about to begin.

Thank the fans? For what?
Brett Favre let a lot of people down. Fans of two teams in the NFC North have reason to dislike No. 4 (not including Bears fans), not to mention Jets fans that felt like you blew an opportunity to put the team in contention for a ring.

But you thank ... the fans?

"I would like to thank everyone, including the Packers, Jets and Vikings [--] but, most importantly, the fans," Favre said to ESPN according to an Associated Press story.

Thank the fans? For what?

They don't thank you. How do you think Vikes fans feel after this?

You made fans have to choose between being Packer fans or Brett Favre fans. That should never happen.

And I think you know how Jets fans from the East Coast feel, because they've probably already told you (in a really whiny voice).

Don't bother wasting time thanking fans and organizations that had to put up with your petulant ways for summers of torture.

You're not welcome.

Favre to the booth. Dear God, please. No!
It's bad enough that there's quite enough "journalists" out there that make the story more about them than about the story itself.

We see it in sports, but with most sports columnists, the writing is understood as perspective piece and the story should reflect the view of the author.

But I think the public has heard enough, seen enough, vomitted enough about anything regarding Favre.

But Jemele Hill thinks that Favre could join the booth or become an NFL commentator for some media outlet soon.

"But here's a new possibility to consider: Favre as a NFL commentator."

NO!

Just stay in Hattiesburg, Mississippi and don't come back to the NFL in any capacity.

Every great story ends. And as you can see, sequels tend to only make the original worse.

My first perfect game: Buehrle's made dream come true

2009-07-23T18:00:00.001-07:00

I finally got to see a perfect game, and the first from a pitcher from a team I love.

So, it finally happened.

I've never seen a perfect game in its entirety before today. Never knew the thrill of watching pitch-by-pitch in anguish hoping the no-hitter remains intact and knowing, that history is just innings away.

On my commute to work, I didn't realize it until the end of the six inning when White Sox radio broadcaster Ed Farmer said that Mark Buehrle was perfect.

By the time I got to the office at The Journal-Standard, it was the bottom of the seventh just before No. 56 would take the mound in the eighth.

To see those last two innings in front of co-workers was a thrill. Dewayne Wise, you've saved yourself from scrutiny for about a week now after that unbelievable grab in the ninth inning.

Great game to watch. I'll never forget this game. Thanks for the great memory!

Only sad thing is, this will in all likelihood bring Buehrle that much closer to retirement.

McNair ... musings on career, death and investigation

2009-07-08T07:39:00.000-07:00

Titans quarterback Steve McNair, left, walks off the field with kicker Craig Hentrich. Tennessee lost Saturday's AFC Divisional Playoffs to the New England Patriots, 17-14, in Foxboro, Mass. Charles Krupa / AP

Steve McNair's morphine shots had probably worn off.

He had to grit the pain of a strained calf on his right leg, and a sprained left ankle in the 2004 AFC Divisional Playoff game against the New England Patriots.

Oh, and it was two degrees out with a wind chill of -14. It was one of the coldest playoff games of all-time.

But there was Steve, gimping through the pain, barely able to walk under center or position himself in the shotgun and doing what he did best — lead the Tennessee Titans for a chance at a comeback.

I'll never forget that drive. Not the stats. But circumstances that McNair showed the heart of a champion, despite never having the rings to ever show for it.

It affirmed why I was a McNair fan since the Music City Miracle. The comebacks.

Now, I'm just wishing Steve would come back. ...

As always, circumstances ended McNair's dream

Down 17-14 after Adam Vinatieri kicked a 46-yard field goal that just barely went over crossbar,
McNair had 4:11 left to put the Titans in position. McNair delivered two strikes to NIU alum Justin McCareins and Drew Bennett and rushed for 12 more yards.

Two penalties hurt the Titans and eventually forced a 4th-and-12 heave that was incomplete because of a drop by Bennett.

Every year, it seemed there was some reason why the Titans couldn't move forward and win it all. I tried to blame McNair, but oft-times I found it hard to.

2000 - Eddie George can't hold on to the ball rushing or receiving and Al Del Greco misses three damn field goals in a loss to the hated Baltimore Ravens. McNair didn't blaze the stat sheet up, but, who could against that defense? Wasted back-to-back 13-3 season.

2001 - George has turf toe and Titans are just bad. You could blame everyone for that season.

2002 - Titans comeback from a 1-4 start to finish 11-5, thanks mostly to McNair (remember that comeback win against the Giants?). They lose to the Raiders because the defense has no answers to Rich Gannon.

2003 - Look above to start of blog. During the off-season, Titans lose Jevon Kearse, Robarie Smith McCareins to free agency. McNair's favorite target, Frank Wycheck, retires. A rundown Eddie George is cut and signed by Dallas.
Salary cap capped all hope of Tennessee making another run with Steve on the squad.

2004 - Tyrone Calico tears ACL (thanks, horse-collar Roy Williams) during the preseason. The last vertical deep threat on roster is gone, Chris Brown (not the singer) is Titans' only hope with McNair battles a bruised sternum and misses eight games.

2005 - Goodbye Samari Rolle and Derrick Mason. McNair's the oldest guy on the team next to Brad Hopkins. 4-12 record to show for it. The following season, McNair is unceremoniously traded to the hated Baltimore Ravens after being locked out of Titans facilities.

Born on Valentine's Day, dead on the Fourth of July.

I thought that moment was painful, but that was nothing compared to how I felt when I got a text from a friend last Saturday.

My heart sank when I read "McNair shot and killed" on my cell phone. Over the years, aside from Walter Payton, McNair became my favorite player in the NFL. I stood up for him during his failures like Titans coach — and former Chicago Bears return specialist — Jeff Fisher did so many times before.

I also bragged, unlike McNair ever did throughout his career, when he won the MVP.

But I didn't know how to digest that my favorite player since Payton was dead and gone. Born on a day of love — Valentine's Day — dead on the 4th of July in gunfire.

Very unsettling.

Bothered by a few things
I'm more unsettled by a few things regarding McNair's untimely death.

First. The response. Not by NFL fans or reporters questioning his hall-of-fame status. That was bound to come up.

But the females that continue to judge McNair for dating a woman while married to someone else.

Look, he was wrong for committing adultery, but did he deserve death? Talk to enough women, or follow enough of them on Twitter, and you'd honestly have to start to wonder.

Just ask Holly Robinson Peete, who disrespectfully said that she and her kids wouldn't go to her husband's funeral if he was having an affair with a 20-year-old.

It's a shame, really. Not all women think like this, but some of the scorned out there would actually justify murder for infidelity.

Second is anyone anti-gun that want to go on a crusade after this death. I'm no fan of guns, but people are responsible for the death of McNair and Sahel Kazemi not guns.

If it was a murder-suicide, would we feel different if Kazemi stabbed McNair to death? Would we be anti-knife?

I don't like how people use death as a chance to push some kind of agenda or cause.

Something doesn't add up
I'm far from a detective, so I won't act as though the Nashville detectives aren't doing their jobs.

But things don't add up. A 20-year-old woman is able to shoot McNair four times, twice in the body and twice in the head with no misses?

Understandably, the final shot was point-blank range, but three shots were at a distance, according to reports. If this was the first time she's ever shot a gun, you'd think she'd miss at least once, right?

And just how do you explain the guy being underneath her? Maybe I'm missing something (which is why I'm not a detective), but how do you shoot yourself in the head and end up with the burner underneath your body, as opposed to being on the side of you or in your hand still?

And there doesn't seem to be much of a motive. Did McNair tell her she's not the one that day? If so, then why did she already purchase a gun when Kazemi already said 'Steve has lots of guns'?

And the jealous boyfriend is appearing more and more suspicious to me.

Legacy overshadowed
The saddest aspect of McNair's murder is that his legacy as a quarterback will be lost to a tabloid-death, filled with plots of a mystery long triangle (or rectangle) who-done-it.

Nevermind his community service and player-mentor relationships with players like Vince Young and Troy Smith. Nevermind his play on the field that turned a relocated and renamed franchise from relative NFL nobodies to one of the winningest teams in the league in a five-year span (1999-2004).

Nevermind his family, including his wife and children (who he probably loved through his final days) and the fans who loved who he was on Sundays and Mondays.

For now, McNair's life has been reduced to a love-scandal gone dreadfully wrong.

What will next year's Highland women's basketball look like?

2009-06-14T11:11:00.000-07:00

Photo courtesy of Highland Community College in Freeport, IL

Well, until it's confirmed, we're going to assume the Cougars will be with just Courtney Shiffer as one of the members of last year's Freeport 1,000-point club.

Which means the 2010 (weird typing that year out) Highland women's basketball team will have an exceptional frontcourt.

Mallory Magee, Renee Deuth and Shiffer could be on the floor all at the same time.

Not to mention, Taylor Gallentine from Prophetstown.

The question is, will they?

Magee was a solid defender last season in the post. Deuth can be strong on the defensive boards at times and Shiffer is versitile enough to play the 3 or the 4.

Personally, Magee would work better on offense as a small forward, as she can hit 3s. Shiffer can cut the basket, at least at the high school level, better and has some pretty decent post moves to draw fouls and score.

Both can play with their backs to the basket, but Magee (listed at 6-foot) has a better outside shot.

Deuth (listed at 6-foot, but closer to 5-10 can do a bit of both, but is better suited facing the basket for a 15-footer.

Then there's the Ashanti Walker. She's apparently a 6-footer (it's been published that she's anywhere from 5-foot-10 to 6-foot-1) and a legit center.

She'll likely play the 5, depending on her play. It's been two years since she's been on the floor as the former UIC prospect blew out her knee in 2006 and never really garnered playing time.

How much the South Holland native has lost since then will be interesting to see.

Could you imagine how tough it would be for teams to shoot on a line-up with four 6-footers (I'm using that term loosely)?

Alexi Tann is expected to return next season, but will have to improve as a true point guard. She still has ball-handling and vision issues that will need to be corrected in order for the Cougars to have a chance to repeat as Arrowhead Conference champs and make a return trip to Salina, Kansas.

Obviously, there's a big void to fill with everything Jackie Barton brought to Highland's backcourt.

Nicole Olsen played in spurts in 2009, but she's more of a complimentary player than a starter.
If Suporia Dickens commits to Highland soon, she could be the answer to filling up the shooting guard spot.

Dickens showed flashes at times that she can shoot from the perimeter, but she'll need to elevate her game at the JUCO level. With forwards and legit centers as talented in down low as the better NJCAA teams, she'll have to adjust.

She finished better with contact than any other player on Freeport's back-to-back state runner up teams, but she won't be able to depend on that at this level.

Her responsibilities at shooting guard will be different than her forward/guard spot a year ago. Katie Norman was the point guard and Caitlin Greene was the Pretzels' 2-guard, so it'll be interesting to see how the starting roster pans out.

She need to come off the bench, but there's still a gaping hole at shooting guard.

J-S 2009 All-Area votes

2009-06-13T12:41:00.000-07:00

It's pretty interesting this year for the J-S All-Area team is shaping up for this season.

Four coaches, to this point, have voted for our the honors of the All-Area team, Player of the Year and Coach of the Year awards.

Right now each coach has voted for a different player of the year and coach of the year as well.

River Ridge/Scales Mound's Jeff Steele, Lena-Winslow's Adam Blair, Dakota Cody Jacobson and Eastland's Zach Truckenmiller have all received J-S Player of the Year votes.

J-S Coach of the Year so far is just as scattered in votes. Area mainstays Eastland's Lenny Freidhof and Lena-Winslow's Tom Smargiassi along with surprising votes for Galena's Greg Tancrell and Aquin's Todd Kramer have all earned votes.

Warren/Stockton's P/INF Mike Werkheiser and RR/SM coach Mike Dittmar earned player and coach of the year honors respectively in 2008.

Warren was a beast back in 1985

2009-06-08T15:09:00.001-07:00

Just finished talking to War/Stock coach Jim Nielsen about the '85 team that went downstate.

They played schools like Freeport and Belvidere among others that were in what was then the NIC-9.

Here's the official story here.

Also, I talked to two members of the Eastland baseball team that played on the 2003 team. They were the first team in school history to win a sectional in baseball and just missed out on a trip downstate

Here's the article.

I'll have some exclusive content ASAP (internet connection, permitting)

2009-06-07T10:17:00.001-07:00

I didn't realize Eastland had a legion baseball team. I may also feature that in my eastland state follow-up column as well. And predictions on next year.
-JoeY

2009-06-07T10:11:00.001-07:00

Well, Eastland finished fourth in the state. On Monday, i should have a column on the team's appearance being the first in J-S coverage area in 25 years.
-JoeY

Dickens to sign in two weeks

2009-06-03T19:48:00.001-07:00

Here's an update, you guys.

Highland coach Dean Buckwalter informed me that after Suporia Dickens comes back from a vacation, she will officially sign to the Cougars for the 2009-10 season.

She will join Courtney Shiffer as two of the four 1000-point scorers from the back-to-back state runner-up Freeport girls basketball team.

Katie Norman is still weighing her options, apparently.

Dickens verbally commits to the Cougar

2009-05-31T16:33:00.001-07:00

Highland women to add another player Freeport Pretzel to the team next year. Buckwalter said in a message left with reporter Joey Baskerville that Suporia Dickens has verbally committed to the Cougars.

More on this, including her potential signing, as the story develops.

Case of the shrinking strike zone

2009-05-20T21:11:00.000-07:00

Eastland coach Lenny Freidhof had enough issues trying to put Aquin away on Wednesday in the regional semifinal.

Too many innings did the Cougars leave baserunners stranded, and too many times Eastland decided to swing at less than appealing pitches.

But Freidhof was upset about the shrinking strike zone that relief pitcher Gabe Schrader had to deal with in the seventh inning when Aquin made its late rally to score three runs.

"The umpire squeezed the zone and they can fine me if they want," Freidhof said. "They squeezed it. It was ridiculous. From what he was calling in the beginning of the game — Aquin was complaining about strikes being called outside — and he just zoomed in.
"But you've got to throw strikes. You've got to figure out where they're going to call them and you've got to adjust and Gabe didn't."

Schrader is one of the three pitchers on Eastland that Freidhof has said makes it hard to figure out who is their No. 1 ace. This season, Schrader is 6-1 but likely struggled more than he has all season.

Starting pitchers getting tagged of late

2009-05-09T14:29:00.001-07:00

It all started on Monday this week.

Kirk Engelkens didn't have his stuff against Dakota and that, along with Milledgeville/Polo's lack of clutch hitting, helped Dakota all but secure an NUIC-East title outright.

Indians coach Britton Kauffman said that Dakota has never beaten Engelkens more than once in a season. That changed on Monday.

"Kirk's awesome. He's such a great pitcher and I said at the beginning of the year that he was a stud and that they were going to be loaded," Kauffman said. "In four years that I've faced Kirk, he's pitched six out of the eight games we've faced him. ... This is my fourth year of coaching, we've never beaten Milledgeville twice. ... And we got to him this year, and any time you get eight or nine hits off of Kirk, you had a pretty good day at the plate."

Not to pick on the 2009 J-S Boys Basketball Player of the Year, but Friday wasn't any better for the senior.

Engelkens gave up seven hits and three earned runs against Orangeville. Milledgeville/Polo coach Jeff Sands had to talk to Engelkens a few times just to keep his confidence up as the team was close to losing an upset against the Broncos.

Engelkens didn't get much help from his defense, which seemed to agitate the senior pitcher.

"He gets frustrated, he was getting a little frustrated and as a pitcher you can't let it show if somebody makes a mistake behind you," Sands said. "There's no one perfect on the baseball field. No one is perfect. It's my job to correct them.

"I suppose if there's any pitcher out there that's never thrown a ball or walked anybody, I suppose he can get upset, if there's a mistake made behind him.

"If you find him, let me know. I'd like for him to play for me."

Speaking of Orangeville, Broncos' ace Riley Kubatzke was called upon to relief Kyle Werkheiser and come out with the save.

Clearly, that didn't happen.

Kubatzke gave up three earned runs and surrendered five hits in 1 2/3 innings of work. Like Engelkens, the defense's errors cost Orangeville severely.

But both aces were called upon, and both didn't provide what could have been better results.

Enter Saturday with Lena-Winslow junior ace Seth Cory against Forreston. Cory was called up to in relief of Tommy Rothschadl, after the sophomore gave up two hits to open up the sixth inning.

Cory gave up two runs, three hits and a walk in the sixth and seventh innings.

"Yeah, he's been having problems with his left shoulder," Lena-Winslow coach Tom Smargiassi said. "I'm not sure if that bothered him at all. I think Seth made a few good pitches, but it was kind of a tough spot to put him in with nobody out (in the sixth).
"He didn't necessarily get it done on the mound like I though he would, but he led us off in the inning with a double himself."

My Baseball Top 5 (for the NUIC area)

2009-05-06T19:40:00.000-07:00

Eastland
Other than Milledgeville/Polo, aside from their two losses to Dakota, Eastland has quietly been the best baseball team in our area. A matchup, which was postponed earlier this year between Milledgeville/Polo and Eastland would really clear things up, but as it stands, the Cougars are tops.

Dakota
You can beat an opponent once and just be lucky. But twice? With Lizer pitching, Dakota is probably 1a to Eastland’s No. 1 ranking. The head-to-head matchup is in favor of the Cougars, despite the late comeback with the Indians’ starters coming in after three innings.

Mville/Polo
Yes, they’ve only lost two games all year. But with both losses to Dakota by four runs apiece, the Missiles fall to No. 3

Lena-Winslow
A win against Dakota last Saturday puts the Panthers in high regard. The 22-6 win against War/Stock put Le-Win in even higher regard and are the second-best team in the NUIC-West.

River Ridge/Scales Mound (subject to change if O’ville beats M’ville)
With War/Stock, Orangeville and River Ridge/Scales Mound losing in unimpressive fashion, this was more of a toss-up. Jeff Steele is just enough to push RR/SM ahead of the pack.
As it stands now, though, there's barely five top teams in the area period.

Orangeville losing to Aquin really doesn't make their case for the Top 5. RR/SM doesn't win any give-me points either by losing to Pearl City, but if their best pitchers meet, I'm taking RR/SM over Orangeville.

Why the Bulls-Celtics series is NOT the best series in NBA history

2009-05-01T10:01:00.000-07:00

It's understood that the Bulls-Celtics first round playoff series has been nothing short of exhilarating.

Last night's triple-OT game with Derrick Rose's block on Rajon Rondo — two of the up-and-coming point guards that will be hall-of-famers when it's all said and done in my mind (and I won't regret making that statement either) — will be remembered for a long time for Chicago and Boston fans alike.

OK. And the steal and dunk on Joakim Noah was great too.

But I'd like to offer everyone a moment of clarity.

This is the most entertaining playoff series we've seen in a long while.

It's hardly the best.

See, I like my playoff matchups to feature smart play, great defense and breath-taking tough shots that allow viewers to stare in awe of such clutch perfomances from such great players.

We've seen only one of those features in this series. Well, sort of.

The breath-taking shots have come from Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Rose, Rondo and ... Glen "Big Baby" Davis, Noah, Brad Miller, Tyrus Thomas, Ben Gordon and Kendrick Perkins.

Hell, nearly every player that has a roster spot on both squads have managed to hit a big shot for their respective teams this series (sans Mikki Moore, Stephon Marbury and the White Panther)

With Kevin Garnett on the bench and using his chin and multiple f-bombs to annoy Bulls fans, rather than playing and annoying Bulls players with DEFENSE, this series has to be evaluated for what it is — entertaining but far from great, let alone greatest.

There's been better series with more quality defense (which wins championships, ya know?)

I'd rather go out on a limb and say the Lakers-Celtics Finals from just this past season was one of the greater NBA Finals than this (I know better, trust me).

In fact, this isn't the greatest playoff series this decade.

Lakers-Kings Western Conference Finals anyone? How about the Suns-Spurs series just two years ago?

Pick a year for the Bulls-Jazz Finals and can anyone honestly tell me Bulls-Pacers and Bulls-Knicks (again, pick a year) were worse than the Bulls-Celtics series we've watched this season?

This first round has provided spotty defense at best from both team , and it isn't because the players are always the best.

Aside from Kirk Heinrich, the Bulls backcourt can't defend. Rose was exposed this year for his defense deficiencies by ... TJ Ford this year. Ben Gordon, try as he might, also can't defend.

I thought Rondo was a better on-the-ball defender, but like seemingly every Celtic, he's a great help-defender.

And who knew Pierce would struggle in Game 6 to defend, of all people, John Salmons (who I like on my fantasy team. ONLY on my fantasy team)?

Look, four overtimes in a playoff-series is something we don't see all the time. Heck, it's never happened.

But that automatically doesn't make this series great. Just very entertaining.

If they're not championship quality, it's not great in terms of history

The Bulls have proven why they're just an above .500 team and clinched the seven-seed and Boston, time-and-time again, proves it has the worst closing NBA championship team in perhaps league history.

That's why this series has gone on for seemingly months. It's a fantastic matchup, but none of these teams are championship material (unless KG can play again for Boston), so the relevancy of this series is also diminished (notice the trend with the series mentioned above?)

LeBron James, featuring the Cleveland Cavaliers, look stronger everyday while looking at this series and it appears quite clear they'll be playing in the NBA Finals.

The Cavs categorically defend better than the Bulls and the Garnett-less Celtics and in the West, there's the Lakers.

Pay attention to them in the finals if you want to see great basketball and a great series.

Want entertainment? Watch TNT for Game 7, Celtics-Bulls.

2009-04-29T14:48:00.001-07:00

That delayed steal thing works everywhere in the area. Freeport scored first run on it
-JoeY

And by the way. ...

2009-04-28T09:23:00.000-07:00

The Journal-Standard has a sports blog up and running.

I'll try to post regularly on the blog, but Above the Fold will still be the primary source for my blogs.

Check updates on my twitter on games of interest as well as personal thoughts from time-to-time.

What the heck happened to War/Stock?

2009-04-28T09:16:00.000-07:00

Last I checked, War/Stock still was a top contender for the NUIC-West.

Then a 10-0 five inning blowout to West front-runner Eastland happened, and I don't know what to make of the WarHawks.

The Cougars are making a statement right now, but are the WarHawks making one as well with this loss?

Will the real Le-Win (and West Carroll) please stand up?

2009-04-28T09:03:00.000-07:00

Lena-Winslow's baseball team has been a mixed bag to say the least (similar to Dakota, in my opinion).

When Seth Cory pitches, they're probably the second-best team in the NUIC-West (next to Eastland) and their bats are about as hot as any teams in the area.

But then games like the Orangeville and River Ridge/Scales Mound matchups will come about, and they'll look like a completely different team. Cory may not have been pitching in those games, but Le-Win is supposed to be running away with the conference.

Enter West Carroll:

If Luke Ingersoll's not pitching, they're a borderline fresh/soph team looking to just gain experience and compete.

Compete is something the Thunder does very well. Despite being down 11 runs last week against War/Stock, West Carroll came back and forced the WarHawks to keep hitting and score runs.

The Panthers, I think, can manage to win games in postseason play with their two best starting pitchers. The Thunder can play with the best of them with Ingersoll on the mound.

Overall, the West is very complicated outside of Eastland. War/Stock, Le-Win and RR/SM have proven to be about even, especially considering Le-Win and RR/SM have both beaten NUIC-East leading Dakota.

All three have also proven they can lose to lesser teams, or drop a game against a team it should have beaten.

2009-04-27T16:27:00.001-07:00

Tied 3-3 top of 9th. feeling raindrops. ...
-JoeY

2009-04-27T16:16:00.001-07:00

Still tied 3-3 going into the 10th. What a dual between Lizer and Kubatzke!
-JoeY

2009-04-27T14:43:00.001-07:00

Lizer vs. Kubatzke. This could be as classic
-JoeY

2009-04-27T14:29:00.001-07:00

Three minutes from gametime ... just saw the umps.
-JoeY

2009-04-27T14:25:00.001-07:00

We're seven minutes from the start of the game ... where is the ump?
-JoeY

2009-04-26T16:26:00.001-07:00

Ladies and gentlemen, we're mobile! Now, joeysabovethefold.blogspot.com can be updated on my mobile phone. More updates, more news, more fun!
-JoeY

War/Stock still not over the Le-Win loss

2009-04-24T19:04:00.000-07:00

Monday's loss to Lena-Winslow for War/Stock wasn't easy to take.

And after the WarHawks' win against West Carroll, 15-9, in a game that should have ended in just five innings, Jared McNutt made about a comment about the team's progress.

"Oh man, that loss against Lena was tough," McNutt said. "But we came back with a win against Pearl City. We're showing some good signs, but we're showing some bad ones."

War/Stock had a 12-1 lead after three innings tonight and a 8-0 lead before the bottom of the second against the Panthers.

Hess was clearly tired from pitching as much as he had Monday in the fifth of the Le-Win game, but Garrett Cox and Jordan Nichols gave up a few more runs than they would have liked.

Also, WarHawks coach Jim Nielsen made mention of the offense late.

"I though we kind shut down in our offense there," Nielsen said. "We were doing well but then we got a little bit lacksadaisical, but we got out of here with a win."

River Ridge/Scales Mound could be a very tough challenge for the WarHawks at 10 a.m. on Saturday.

Though RR/SM has specialized in getting upset recently (Pearl City), it has also been upset specialists (Dakota, Lena-Winslow).

Shiffer is one of three Highland signees

2009-04-15T20:45:00.000-07:00

Courtney Shiffer, one of Freeport girls basketball team's phenomenal four, signed Wednesday to the Highland women's basketball team.

Shiffer, along with Prophetstown's Taylor Gallentine and former UIC prospect Ashanti Walker signed as well.

Shiffer will certainly be a welcomed addition to the Cougars as she finished her high school career with individual numbers within at least the top eight in five statistical categories in Freeport program history.

Shiffer is eighth in points (1,180), sixth in rebounds (764), fifth in assists (283), third in steals (295) and third in blocks (174).

The official story will be online later tonight.

Congrats, Shiffer.

OK, so here's the deal with the Highland signee

2009-04-13T18:41:00.000-07:00

So, I talked to Highland coach Dean Buckwalter on Monday and the Freeport girls basketball player that's going to sign wanted her father to be present for the signing, which was supposed to be last Tuesday or Wednesday.

She should sign Wednesday, and Buckwalter said their could be a few more signees by then.

We'll see, because there's at least two signees that I know of that should come to the community college for next year.

I'll keep you posted.

Still awaiting word on Highland signee from Freeport

2009-04-08T18:01:00.000-07:00

Still no word yet from Dean about the signees so far this year.

Stay tuned.

Believe me, you'll be the first to know if anything happens.

Shh ... don't tell anyone but a familiar player is signing with the Highland women

2009-04-06T19:14:00.000-07:00

Can't really leak this info yet because official signing isn't until Wednesday, but a familiar face from the Freeport girls basketball team will be signing to the Highland women.

I kind of figured that one of them would go, since unfortunately, they aren't all D-I prospects because they're playing with each other and spreading the ball around well.

Really well.

Again, I can't divulge, but she'll be a great addition as she's truly a dynamic player to watch.

Durand/Winnebago, since everything else is canned

2009-04-06T13:41:00.001-07:00

Weather's been dominating the baseball/softball season this year.

The only sport going on is Durand softball and baseball with everything else in the area being canceled.

I like baseball, but I could really do without this weather canceling every event throughout the day or week.

Yikes.

It's official: Ryan Pierce resigns after seven seasons as head coach

2009-04-03T16:50:00.000-07:00

Here's the official story at the Journal-Standard.

I, for one, will miss covering the Pretzels with Pierce as their coach. He gave great information and I think plenty of us enjoyed him and his two boys Jayden and Bayley during games and such.

It's tough dealing with parenthood and coaching at the same time and you have to sacrifice a lot to continue being a success, even at the prep level.

Few can handle it, and you could tell late in the year coaching was wearing him down. His wife works nights, so does he, and I think he would just like to see his family grow.

I had a great time covering the Freeport girls not only because the team was talented, but partly because of him.

He's your reporter's favorite coach and they don't come around often.

Good luck with school administration, Pierce. Just like in coaching, I'm sure you'll be great at whatever comes your way.

And hopefully Jayden beats Ependymoma and the Boylan boys basketball team years from now.

Rumor alert: Pierce has resigned?

2009-04-03T14:06:00.000-07:00

We received unconfirmed reports that Ryan Pierce, the Freeport girls basketball coach, has resigned from his position.

Pierce is a seven-year coach and led the Pretzels to back-to-back state runner-up crowns and back-to-back 16-0 seasons in the NIC-10.

This news comes just a day after Boylan coach Kim Connell resigned amid allegations.

If the rumor is true about Pierce resigning, there's a bit less controversy surrounding it.

We'll have more in the Journal-Standard and on this blog as it develops.

One of the funnier interviews I've had in a while

2009-03-31T15:14:00.000-07:00

Highland women's basketball coach Dean Buckwalter received the honor of being named the co-winner of the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association's NJCAA Coach of the Year in Division I.

But that's not the story.

Buckwalter had absolutely no idea when he found out while I interviewed him. This, even though we (The Journal-Standard) received a fax from Highland Community College this afternoon.

Go figure.

Here's Dean's initial reaction:

Buckwalters initial shock -

Buckwalter is unselfish, and it was nice to hear him give credit to the players, and didn't focus much on himself:

Buckwalters humility -

Apparently, I'm the man. Or at least, that's what Dean seems to think of me. LOL.

Apparently, Im the man -

Check out the complete story tomorrow in the paper.

Column: Stern, enough is enough with this age limit thing

2009-03-30T19:03:00.000-07:00

Seriously, David Stern?

C'mon! You made your point nearly four years ago about the age limit.

You made players like Derrick Rose, Michael Beasley (who is still a bust right now) and Greg Oden stay a year in college just so they could gain "valuable experience" I guess.

We got it (sort of). Make players wait a year to go pro and waste their time in college for a nice pit stop. Great way to make your point about learning the game.

But you really want to change the age limit, again, to 20?

Didn't you lose this fight last time under the Collective Bargaining Agreement in 2005 (along with the ridiculous dress-up to work thing)?

NBA players are NBA players, Stern. I argue that Rose was ready for the NBA straight out of Simeon.

Beasley, or at least his offense, was NBA-ready. Greg Oden, prior to being a walking band-aid at 21 years old, was ready too.

Now you want those players to play yet another year in college? Do you have some kind of NCAA basketball agenda or what?

How do you, Stern, think this will help the overall product of the NBA?

Sure, the best ratings in years for the NBA happened during the Finals with Boston and L.A. But think about that matchup, and tell me what you think the ratings would have been not even looking at the rosters.

Nevermind the fact that both Kevin Garnett and Kobe Bryant were featured on the biggest stage for the championship.

Two straight-out-of-high-school-to-the-pros guys. Yeah. ABC did whatever it could to promote those two stars.

Kobe won his first MVP this year (probably should have had more than that, too).

KG was already an MVP and won defensive player of the year. He's played more defense these last two weeks, even injured, than I've seen throughout the entire NCAA tournament!

Oh, and that LeBron James guy ... he's pretty good too.

Dwayne Wade? Oh, he played two years ... or was it that he played one and attended Marquette for two years.? Wade had academic problems and didn't even play his freshman year.

So much for that development argument.

Players like Tyler Hansbrough, who will play all four years, aren't always NBA material either. Are we highlighting players like them, Stern, as players who can't make it and are hurting the product?

Jameer Nelson, and players like him, are sometimes the exception to the rule too.

Bottom line, Stern, this isn't right. NBA players are NBA players. They are either ready, or they were never meant to be.

Staying in college for 12 years won't make you, or the overall product, better.

That's on the player.

Not quite the drubbing as expected, but a drubbing nontheless

2009-03-27T20:53:00.000-07:00

Aquin showed some fight (granted, War/Stock didn't have its starting pitcher in the seventh), but the Warhawks easily beat the Bulldogs, 10-5.

More on www.journalstandard.com/sports

Drubbing on hand?

2009-03-27T13:47:00.000-07:00

Aquin will face Warren/Stockton in less than an hour.

We'll see how this works, but War/Stock is pretty even without their former ace, Mike Werkheiser.

I'm not liking the Bulldogs' chances with Jared McNutt, Jason Brinkmeier and Grant Pierce back into the fold.

Orangeville loses its first of the season, Eastland and Le-Win look strong

2009-03-26T20:14:00.000-07:00

Orangeville started off pretty well to start the season on a 4-0 streak.

That ended tonight in a 5-2 loss to likely the best team in our area -- East Dubuque. The Warriors won the regional last year and appear to be just as strong this year.

That was a loss that could hurt their chances early in the NUIC-East.

Milledgeville/Polo and Dakota right now still appear to be the favorites.

But, wow, what a game from both Eastland and Lena-Winslow!

Brian McCabe had a grand slam in a 13-4 drubbing against Rockford Lutheran. It appears the Panthers' hitting could be a threat if they play more games like that.

Eastland also lit up the scoreboard in a 13-1 win.

Three players had multiple hits.

It'll be interesting to see who comes out of the NUIC-West this year.

Rubbish

2009-03-26T16:49:00.000-07:00

Highland softball doubleheader ... not too great.

Honestly, if these girls plan on doing anything remotely close to winning conference, or anything else, they'll have to field, hit and pitch better -- other than Heather Jurs.

With what Highland coach Beth Groshans told me, the conference will be wide open this year.

But there's nothing like opening a gap like playing bad softball to start the season.

It's Jurs or nothing right now until someone on the team can do more than make errors defensively.

A look back on the Freeport JV softball season

2009-03-25T09:51:00.000-07:00

Originally published in the Journal-Standard on May 24, 2008

BY JOEY BASKERVILLE

joey.baskerville
@journalstandard.com

Like most junior varsity sports, winning the conference is the highest honor a team can have.

It shows young athletes the value of taking care of conference matters first, before any dreams of winning a regional, sectional or super-sectional title can be realized. Let alone anything relating to state.

Conference is everything.

The Freeport JV softball team was able to come away with a NIC-10 conference championship this season on May 16. It was an accomplishment Freeport coach Chad Hersey was proud of. Especially considering the close games two of the best teams in the conference.

“Against Harlem and Hononegah, we played four of our best games,” Hersey said. “All of those wins were come-from-behind wins in the sixth and the seventh inning.”

The comeback kids rallied against the Indians in eight innings on April 9 for a 6-5 win in the first conference home game of the season.

Then against in their first true road test, the caught up to a hot Harlem team and managed an 11-8 win against the Huskies on April 22.

At that point in the season, the Pretzels were 10-0 with a perfect 7-0 NIC-10 record. Seven days later, Freeport would be challenged by the Huskies at home but escaped with a 10-9 win for a 12-0, 9-0 record.

The firepower on offense of catcher Shanna Winnekins (.457 batting average, 3 home runs, 36 RBIs), Anna Perkins (.513, 2 HR, 41 RBIs, 31 stolen bases), Cherice Stimpert (.500 BA, 35 stolen bases), Mariah Gill (.352), Ginger Thompson (.333) and Megan Kortermeier (.388, 18 RBIs, 20 stolen bases) made it tough for any pitcher to get around.

Then there were the arms of Rebecca Wagner – whose .419 batting average and 26 RBIs and 12 stolen bases made her a double threat – and Kortermeier in the pitcher’s circle that made it hard for some batters to make solid contact with the ball.

“Becca pitched all the tough games,” Hersey said.

Wagner had quiet a few great accomplishments in her young career including a perfect game against Rockford East, sitting down all 12 opposing batters on 42 pitches. She would strike out 13 batters against Hononegah on April 30 and struck out a season-high 14 against Rochelle in an 8-3 win.

Not bad considering she also was a member of the girls basketball team that took second place in the state tournament that ended March 1.

“The basketball team went deep into the year and she missed a week or so in practice,” Hersey said. “She had a sore shoulder. I think she was trying to get it going too quick. But it ended up working itself out.”

Wagner finished the year with an ERA of 2.28 with 152 Ks and and 55 walks. She completed 16 games.

The next night on April 30, Freeport would defeat Hononegah 6-2 and were close to completing not only a perfect conference record, but a perfect season overall.

Both of those hopes were dashed, however by Boylan on May 5 in a 6-3 loss, knocking down their record to 15-1 and 10-1 in the conference.

“They played really well the night they beat us,” said Hersey, who witnessed the Pretzels crush the Titans in mid-April defeat Boylan 23-10. “I know that the girls were pretty disappointed.”

The Pretzels would end the season undefeated at home. However they would lose another away game against Palatine in a close 4-3 game in the Belvidere tournament. Freeport finished third and had a 20-2 record with a 13-1 conference record.

And though Hersey and the team knew that the conference crown was all but their nearing the end of the season, the title was still not theirs. And Guilford would let them know about it.

“I think we lost because we knew all we had to do was win a couple,” Hersey said. “But a lot of these girls were on the freshman team last year that went something like 8-20. They didn’t expect to be this good but … they were.”

Guilford won 5-3 for the Pretzels third road loss of the year in a doubleheader. Freeport would defeat Guilford to split the twin bill with a 2-0 win.

Finally on May 16, the dream was realized after an 11-0 win over Belvidere North. The Pretzels would finish the season 23-3, with a 16-2 conference record.

Breakout box info (not sure if this made it to print or not)

Freeport’s JV top hitters:

“Anne Perkins, who’s only a freshmen lead the team in batting average, started the year batting sixth in the lineup. I ended the year having her bat clean up. She kind of came out of nowhere. She’s actually batted for the varsity team in the regional. He got an RBI in the regional and it’s always nice to see her do that.”

Perkins had a .513 batting average, drove in 41 RBIs, and stole 31 bases. She also had an on-base percentage of .677 and a .744 slugging percentage

Shanna Winnekins

“Shanna’s stats are pretty impressive,” Hersey said.

That they are. Winnekins was second on the team in batting average with .457 with 36 RBIs, .638 OBP and a .700 slugging percentage.

Becca Wagner
For the year as a starting pitcher, Wagner had a .419 BA with 26 RBIs and 12 stolen bases. Her on-base percentage was .574 and slugging percentage was .500.

“Pretty much from top to bottom they did well and everyone had a good on-base percentage,” Hersey said.

Most memorable moments for the Pretzels on the field, according to Hersey

“The best moment of the year was that we were playing Harlem on my birthday (April 29) losing 8-2 going into the sixth inning.
In the bottom of the sixth inning we scored eight runs on two outs.
That gave us the lead.
We came out an probably played the best defense that we played all year in the top of the seventh but (the Huskies) still managed to score two runs to tie it.
Then Anna Perkins hit a walkoff, which was just shy of being a grand slam with the bases loaded. The winning run just walked in on that shot and pulled it out to preserve our undefeated season at 12-0 (9-0 NIC-10).”

Off the field?

"Kelsey Eiseman’s mom bringing snacks for everybody after the game. I was joking around with her and I told her 'did you tell your mom that she’s in charge of brings snacks tonight?'
And her mom freaked out and brought cupcakes for the entire bus. I was just kidding but her mom made brownies for everyone for the rest of the year! And she brings them for the entire program on every bus ride."

Freeport softball will depend on some of last year's JV conference champs

2009-03-25T09:44:00.001-07:00

The Pretzels softball team will be without their ace pitcher Heather Jurs, their biggest bat in catcher Megan Bennett and their leadoff batter and center fielder Erin Evans.

Most of Freeport's success and troubles this year will depend on the varsity adjustment many of the former JV team's players that have moved up.

New starting pitcher Rebecca Wagner and catcher Shanna Winnekins are among those players I'm most interested in seeing how they play. I wrote about them last year in an article I'll actually republish exclusively on this site.

Hmm ...

2009-03-24T14:10:00.001-07:00

So, Megan Bennett is on the Highland softball team this year?

Really? Even though she was a junior on Freeport's softball team last year?

Wow. More on this in a season preview tonight on The Journal-Standard Web site.

Highland loses 80-55

2009-03-19T13:51:00.000-07:00

It's over. The Highland women fought hard, but the Cards were just too much for them and will end the year 27-7.

The Cougars couldn't get that elusive first win in the national tournament in team history, but what a year Highland has had.

I'll have a column and story on the game for tomorrow's paper.

Congrats on a great year, girls.

Highland looking to rebound this afternoon

2009-03-19T09:09:00.001-07:00

SALINA, Kans. — The women Cougars, decked out in their home jerseys today, will square off at noon to face Trinity.

Again, Highland will be undersized in this matchup, but should be in better position to actually win this game, as they will not face a player as big and dominant from all over the court like Danielle Adams.

The Cougars were already here for the Hutch/Middle Georgia game in the loser's bracket of the tournament. Highland wouldn't see the potential winner in this game, should Highland win, until the eighth place game.

We'll see though.

Highland, first and foremost, must play better on the boards today and play with confidence. It'll help against Trinity, but that team will be tough.

The Cougars will have to play a zone to counter the size of Trinity. Highland's played against taller teams, so we'll see.

Highland taking a break from it all. ...

2009-03-18T16:39:00.000-07:00

HUTCHINSON, Kans. — The Highland womens basketball team took quite a beatdown against Jefferson, the No. 1 team in the nation.
So after the loss, Cougars coach Dean Buckwalter decided to just give the team a day to get away and relax a little bit.

Buckwalter told me today the girls just split up and just went wherever for the day and just enjoy being here in Kansas (oh, brother).

Highland's got Trinity tomorrow, so they'll try not to get eliminated

Barton screwed out of All-American status

So, I just read the press release from the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) on its 2009 Junior College/Community College (JC/CC) State Farm Coaches’ All-America Basketball Team.

Jackie Barton is not an All-American or even Honorable Mention. Are you kidding me?!

The Western Illinois-bound sophomore led the Cougars in points, was second in rebounding (at 5-foot-11) and helped Highland win its first Arrowhead Conference in 13 years, its first Region IV championship since 2006 and earned its first NJCAA National Tournament bid ever.

And you mean to tell me that she's not even worth Honorable Mention.

Terrible.

Finally at the biggest show for NJCAA women

2009-03-17T13:10:00.001-07:00

I'm here at the Bicentennial Center watching No. 15 ranked Middle Georgia try to comeback to beat No. 2 undefeated Central Arizona. It's now 64-49 after a deficit of 20 points that Middle Georgia has come back from to this point.

10:01 left in the game.

An upset already happen as No. 11 Kaskaskia College beat No. 6 Howard, 61-55. Upsets can happen, I guess, so don't count Middle Georgia and Highland out just yet.

Be sure to follow me on my twitter at twitter.com/jmark79 or at twitter.com/journalstandard.

At Newton, preparing for Salina

2009-03-17T10:28:00.000-07:00

So, I'm finally here in Salina for the NJCAA Womens National Tournament!

Highland will have a real task on its hands against Jefferson, the No. 1 team in womens basketball at the JUCO level. We'll see, but if I had to put money on it, which I won't, I'd put it on Jefferson.

The emotional Jackie Barton

2009-03-10T20:53:00.000-07:00

Jackie Barton was one of the most, if not the most, emotional player from the Highland womens basketball team Tuesday night.

Check out these quotes just after winning the District playoff game against Lake Region State:

Barton on overcoming post-season past -

Barton on stopping Kate Sharkova

Barton makes a funny, talks about defending Sharkova -

Freeport girls basketball players should come? That's what Barton wants.

Barton wants Pretz to join the team? -

Highland GOING TO NATIONALS!

2009-03-10T18:32:00.000-07:00

Yep, the Highland womens basketball team is going to the NJCAA National Tournament!

More on this tonight.

Highland attempts to make history

2009-03-10T14:00:00.000-07:00

The Highland womens basketball team will make an attempt to make history tonight.

The Cougars have already won its first conference since 1996 and will attempt to make its first national bid in womens basketball program history!

Stay tuned after the game.

Five stories later ...

2009-03-06T23:34:00.001-08:00

Freeport advanced to the state championship game.

I've been twittering and writing seeming all day and I've neglected the blog.

For that, I'm sorry.

I still haven't got to that Dorothy Gaters column, but it's lost its significance slightly since Marshall lost to Richwoods.

I'm still going to write it, but it'll probably be after Saturday night. Maybe on Monday?

Anyway, the Pretz have a chance to make program history. I won't say what it is, because I'd rather not jinx them.

That's all I've got before I pass out from sleep deprivation.

Good night and good luck, Freeport.

Four stories later ...

2009-03-05T18:01:00.001-08:00

Just took an amazing nap and completed four stories. Three will be on the J-S Web site late tonight.

Media Day was fun. You could see a lot from the practices, and got stuff from three of the four schools in the 3A semifinals.

I'll try to have an exclusive column on my connection between coach Dorothy Gaters, who I met again earlier today.

It'll be on the small world we live in, especially considering the state.

I'm looking forward to seeing what will look like some really great games tomorrow and that's just in 3A. I'd love to see the 4A comp, but I'll be too busy updating you on this site, the J-S Web site and on the Journal-Standard's new Twitter!

That's right, our paper finally has a twitter.

What a great weekend to look forward too!

Here in Normal, prepared for Media Day

2009-03-05T08:12:00.000-08:00

Hi, everyone.

I arrived in Normal, Illinois around 10 p.m. last night and will be blogging heavily throughout the next three days.

I'm a little under the weather, but I should be able to battle it out (heck, Katie Norman and others have throughout the playoffs, so why shouldn't I, right?).

This year, I'll be visiting all, that's right, ALL of the Media Day photo sessions for Class 3A.

Should be a fun and relaxed day for everyone (except the media, scrambling for stories) and will serve as a prelude to the Friday's excitement.

Can't wait to see all the Pretzels fans, among others.

I'll check in later if anything interesting happens.

Great wins for Pretz, Commandos, Knights. Springfield advances

2009-03-03T07:20:00.000-08:00

So, the Final Four is set.

Freeport's girls basketball team (last year's runner up), along with defending state champs Marshall and Richwoods advance to the state tournament along with Springfield — which earned its first-ever state tournament bid in program history.

Talk about interesting.

Freeport and Springfield were both tied No. 6 in the state at one point, according to Associated Press polls.
Freeport ranked seventh in the last published poll and Springfield ranked No. 6.
Shouldn't it only be fair that these two meet in the state semifinal?

And Marshall will play a team very capable of beating them and even taking the state crown if Freeport doesn't. Peoria Richwoods was just a layup away from going into overtime against Freeport in the DeKalb (NIU) Supersectional.

Their length will be just as tough to counter for the Commandos as the Knights will be just as flustered with Marshall's press D that's on a 24-hour clock.

It never stops.

Should Freeport advance, the storylines lead to even more intrigue.

The Pretzels have what has become a great rivalry with Richwoods. Every time Freeport beats the Knights, it's on a game-winning shot. When Peoria wins, though, it's a blowout.

And it's a no-brainer why Marshall and Freeport would be intriguing.

How many times have we seen a state championship rematch?

Norman racking up accolades

2009-03-02T11:51:00.000-08:00

Katie Norman was also recognized in the Chicago Sun-Times as a Second Teamer in the Girls All-Area Team for Class 3A.

Congrats, Katie.

Three members of the Pretz named to Class 3A All-State Team

2009-03-02T11:27:00.000-08:00

It's official, three members of the Freeport girls basketball team have made the Class 3A All-State Team.

Point guard Katie Norman, with 54 points, was voted First Team. This season, Norman averages 12.6 ppg, 5.1 apg (team-high), 4.3 rpg and 2.5 spg. The senior point guard was the first of four senior Pretzels to reach 1,000 points and has risen her free-throw percentage to 64 percent — the highest amongst all starters.

Small forward Suporia Dickens, the 2007-08 Freeport Athlete of the Winter, was voted to Second Team. She leads the Pretzels in points (14.8), rebounds (7.3) and steals (3.0) per game. She earned 44 points this season to make Second Team (second only to, surprisingly, Richwoods' Mariah Smith).
A primarily inside shooter, Dickens leads the team in field goal percentage.

Forward (and I guess center) Courtney Shiffer earned honorable mention. This season, Shiffer leads Freeport in blocked shots (1.9 bpg) and went up a steal a game from last season (2.8), which is second on the team.

Congrats to Norman, Dickens and Shiffer.

Pretz fun-bad turns to awful pretty quick

2009-02-28T17:09:00.000-08:00

Remember my post about Freeport being fun-bad?

Well, it's more than that after a really awful performance against Boylan Friday night. Granted, the Titans are better offensively and have distinct height advantages against the Pretzels, but there was no fight in the guys.

Come on! How many kids have to tell you that they didn't come out with enough intensity to know the team came out flat and almost like they knew they'd lose?

I'll up the audio later.

I know Boylan is a 4A school, but they've always been rivals with the Titans, so that's no excuse.

Freeport can't allow that attitude to ruin the team's chances of clinching a regional and even a sectional this year.

Pretz one game back to Normal

2009-02-27T15:26:00.000-08:00

One more game.

That's what the Freeport girls basketball team has to be thinking after last night's win against Oswego, 55-47.

Here's five observations from last night's game

1. Could there have been worse officiating?
I'd like to first state for the record that I'm not the type of person to berate officiating, but goodness there were some bad calls Thursday night.
How do you call a one-and-one free throw with just five fouls committed -- in HIGH SCHOOL?
And check out this clear travel by Kelsey Hoefer (sorry) at :52 :

Seriously, that was the first really bad call.
And everyone remembers the imagined timeout near the end of the game. Just all around awful.

2. Caitlin Greene really stepped up
With a crowd of four 1,000-point scorers on the Freeport team, it's easy to step to the side. But when Katie Norman was visibly sick to her stomach (lots of vomiting throughout the day), Caitlin Greene stepped up with a few steals and 10 points to boot.
She keeps that up, and Freeport might have a legit chance of going downstate again, if not much more.

3. Hoefer continues to come through in big moments
Hoefer was the first to respond to the hellfire and brimstone speech by Freeport coach Ryan Pierce Monday night, and showed up again with 10 points last night.
But this isn't the first time she's shown that she's much better than she started after she returned from an ankle injury suffered before the start of the season.

4. Much better free-throw shooting since last week
It's no secret that the Pretzels have struggled of late from the line. But it did, as Freeport finished the game 21-of-28 (75 percent), and went 14-of-15 in the second half (93 percent).
If Freeport could do that against Johnsburg ... I think you get my drift.

5. Pretz aren't settling for anything less than a championship
You could just tell in the players' faces, sectional championships don't mean much anymore.
Last year, Freeport was estatic. This year, eh.
The goal is simple: become the best Freeport team in girls basketball history.

Pierce on Pretz yearning to make history -

My 3A/4A ballot

2009-02-25T13:48:00.000-08:00

This is the first year I've had the opportunity to vote for the 3A/4A All State players. And seeing as I've now had a year to observe and really dissect some of the best players in the state (really in 3A more than anything), I figured I'd partake.

It's been fun this year covering the Freeport girls basketball team because it's given me the opportunity to see some of the future womens players we could hear a lot about in the future.

So without further ado ... here's my 2008-09 3A/4A All State nominations (with analysis of each player):

3A First Team
Adrienne GodBold, Marshall
Best player on the best team in the state in Class 3A.

Mariah Smith, Peoria Richwoods
Similar build to GodBold and just as much as a matchup problem each night. She’ll receive plenty of media attention downstate, should they make it.

Katie Norman, Freeport
Out-of-position point guard that has scored 1,000 points and set up three other seniors to 1,000 as well this season. Great floor vision for player more suited at the 2-guard position.

Whitney Holloway, Montini
She is perhaps one of the toughest guards in the state to defend.

Chloe Barnes, QND
Multi-talented guard who can run a fast, up-tempo offense with the best of them.

Second Team
Suporia Dickens, Freeport
Very unorthodox forward who benefits from her track athleticism. Takes a beating in the post and can still make tough shots. Rebounding has digressed from a year ago.

Karlee Gengenbache, QND
She’s almost just as responsible for Quincy’s undefeated regular seasons as Barnes is. Solid shooter.

Brooke Bisping, Morton
Fifty-three straight free throws? Wish I could see her play.

Courtney Shiffer, Freeport
Freeport coach Ryan Pierce said it best: she’s the one who has the biggest performances in the biggest games.
Shiffer didn’t shut Montini’s Michala Johnson down, but she did make her night tougher last year in the state semis.
Didn’t do a bad job against 4A Boylan’s Brea Edwards either.
Without a doubt, she’s the Pretzels’ best defender, taking opponent’s best offensive threat

Monica Albano, Trinity
Haven’t seen much of her, but for Trinity to be this good, she deserves the recognition.

4A
First team
Brea Edwards, Boylan
In an otherwise pourous NIC-10, Freeport struggled against Boylan and Edwards was the reason why. She’s improved greatly since her freshman year and will be the talk of Rockford for the next two years.

Morgan Tuck, Bolingbrook
She’s always mentioned in the Sun-Times Top 25 rankings. She seems to be a very impressive freshman that averaged a double-double.

Porsha Harris, Young

Chanise Jenkins, Young

Tricia Liston, Fenwick

Chicago (Loyola U.) Super-sectional has to be the toughest

2009-02-24T09:08:00.000-08:00

I know I'm not breaking any news here, but in Class 3A girls basketball, is there any doubt that the Chicago (Loyola University) Super-sectional is the hardest to get out of in the state?

Marshall, the defending state champs, are in the same Super-sectional as Montini! The Broncos finished third in the state. Marshall will play Crane in the sectional semifinal. Semifinal, folks.

Should Marshall advance, they'll play Trinity (River Forest) — a team ranked in the Illinois Prep Girls Poll.

Should the Commandos advance again, they'll likely play Montini to reach the state tournament. Are you kidding me?

It wouldn't be a stretch to say the winner of that Super-sectional will likely win state. It doesn't get much tougher than this.

Pretzels lack killer instinct, nearly lose sectional semifinal

2009-02-24T08:11:00.000-08:00

The primary reason Freeport girls basketball coach Ryan Pierce let the team have it with 6:13 left in the third quarter is because the Pretzels have rarely shown something all year.

Killer instinct. Pierce has told me before that the game comes to easy for the girls sometimes, and that attitude nearly cost them everything last night.

That instinct is in all of them, but this year it's taken a lot for them to get in that mode. The Pretzels can't let that happen again in the sectional final, or they will lose. Badly.

Hoefer was the leader Monday night

Courtney Shiffer was the one who helped the Pretzels get out of their slump in the second half against Sterling last week. Kelsey Hoefer was the one who responded quickly after the hellfire and brimstone speech was delivered, scoring five points immediately.

Pierce on speech and Kelsey afterwards -

I edited a couple things on the audio, one for the questions asked that weren't important, and one edit because ... well, you'll have to ask about that.

Here's an interesting insight from Hoefer about the halftime locker room speech we didn't hear and the third quarter speech:

Hoefers interesting insight -

I can't tell you if they need speeches like that every night ... for the most part these girls do know what they're doing.

But there is no next year for these seniors. A sense of urgency was needed Monday night.

Buckwalter just made it official

2009-02-23T07:28:00.000-08:00

The Highland womens basketball team is the No. 1 seed in the Region IV tournament. Cougars coach Dean Buckwalter just called about a half-hour ago to confirm they're No. 1.

Highland will now have the much-needed luxury of resting until March 4, when the Cougars play the winner of fourth seeded Sauk Valley against fifth seeded Malcolm X.

That means Jackie Barton can rest her shoulder and Mallory Magee can get well.

No. 2 Kennedy-King will play No. 3 Black Hawk East. That's correct ... there's a chance the Cougars can get a rematch against BHE for the Region IV championship, should both teams advance.

And here's the brackets for the RIV tourney.

Parting words on Sterling 'curse'

2009-02-22T17:41:00.000-08:00

Here's Ryan Pierce, Freeport girls basketball coach, on the Sterling curse:

Ryan Pierce on Sterling curse -

Courtney Shiffer agreed with her coach:

Courtney Shiffer on Sterling curse -

Katie Norman added this:

Katie Norman on Sterling curse -

Region IV sewed up

2009-02-22T00:18:00.000-08:00

The Highland womens basketball team, in all likelihood, clinched the No. 1 spot in the Region IV tournament.

That's a huge advantage for the Cougars, especially considering the team will be on its on home court. Highland has a shot of winning the Region IV title since 2006.

It's possible that the Cougars could be good enough to reach the National Tournament if it keeps up the offense and defense. Jackie Barton appears to be in better health after her 21-point performance against Carl Sandburg. She scored 10 against Kennedy-King, while her teammates, point guard Alexi Tann and forward Mallory Magee also have been very important to the team's success.

Freeport girls will be challenged in sectional semifinal

2009-02-21T23:58:00.001-08:00

Freeport coach Ryan Pierce said that the Hampshire is similar to the Pretzels ... as in their balanced as a team.

Hampshire was, at one point during the season, ranked in Class 3A but dropped off the list pretty quick.

Should be a tough contest, from what Pierce told me.

Then again ... a coach will be always be paranoid, no matter how good or bad the competition.

Congrats to Seth Milks and Mitch Alberstatt

2009-02-21T23:52:00.000-08:00

Dakota's Seth Milks and Durand's Mitch Alberstatt each are state champs in their respective weight classes.

Congrats to both. For more, read all about it on The J-S Web site.

5 things I've learned about Freeport's boys b-ball team

2009-02-21T22:42:00.000-08:00

1. The Pretzels play behind ... often
I can't remember the last time, against a good NIC-10 team, the Freeport boys basketball team has not had to crawl back into a game.

2. Freeport games always bring excitement
670 The Score's Dan Bernstein would probably call this team "fun-bad." I won't go that far, because this team is really good ... except it has too many lapses to be a top-tier NIC-10 conference team.

Keep in mind, the Pretzels are a Class 3A team, while the best teams in the conference (Hononegah, Boylan) are Class 4A. It's still not clear what happened to them against Guilford, but this team will always give a good effort and provide one heck of a challenge to every team it faces.

3. The Pretzels would be so much better if ...
... the team would just stay within the offense. Too many times, a player or two or even three will not remain patient and jack up a shot.

Granted. there's times for that ... but it seems like they have their own shot clock going on in their heads ... when it's high school ball.

Patience is a virtue. Especially in basketball.

4. Ryan Hickey has had some impressive second-half moments

He's an exciting second-half player. He had an impressive block that reminded Hononegah last night that the Pretzels still had a pulse in the second quarter. It was almost like an Austin Davis block.

5. And speaking of which ...

Davis could be a serious NIC-10 MVP nominee next year if the Pretzels are in a running for a conference crown. Post presence, perimeter jumper and a 3-point shot that is dangerous if left open.

He could be the reason Freeport could actually win a regional, if not a sectional, once the playoffs start.

QNC lost yesterday

2009-02-20T14:53:00.001-08:00

No. 1 ranked Quincy Notre Dame (very arguable from my personal point of view), a girls basketball team that finished fourth in the state a year ago, lost Thursday night to Highland (not the community college in Freeport), 42-41.

Notre Dame went into the state semis with an undefeated record, but lost its final two games of the year in Normal. This year, QNC was undefeated up until Thursday night.

No. 10 Marshall (21-6)-- a team that plays Class 4A schools in the CPS (Chicago Public Schools) League -- No. 7 Freeport (26-3) and No. 6 Montini (25-4) still remain in regional play.

No. 2 ranked Richwoods is also alive.

The Pretzels will face Sterling for the regional championship game tonight starting at 7:30 p.m.

Should Freeport advance, the team will advance to the sectional semifinal against Hampshire next Monday at 6 p.m.

Cougs clinch

2009-02-19T18:00:00.001-08:00

Just wanted to give a congrats to the Highland womens basketball team for the accomplishment of winning conference, 56-54, against Carl Sandburg.

They defeated the 5-time champs, which is quite the feat.

So much for Jackie Barton being hurt and all. She finished with 21 points!

Be sure to check The Journal-Standard newspaper for coach Dean Buckwalter's quotes and the J-S Web site tonight for more.

Also, there will more than likely be some type of notebook to hear more from the women on their great accomplishment.

Pretz win in thriller

2009-02-10T21:02:00.001-08:00

More on this 51-50 win for the Freeport boys basketball team at The Journal-Standard Web site and on Joey's Above the Fold

Sterling in the house

2009-02-10T16:27:00.000-08:00

Freeport's boys basketball team has had a bit of a rivalry with Sterling in the past few years.

Two seasons ago, Sterling took the Pretzels out of the IHSA Class 2A Rock Falls Regional semifinal. Last year, Freeport beat Sterling on the Golden Warriors' home court, 50-42.

But in the Dixon Regional final, Freeport again lost in the first game of the playoffs.

Tonight, Freeport will try to beat Sterling again in the regular season, as regional seeding is coming ever closer.

The Pretzels and host-Golden Warriors are in the same regional again this season.

Pretzels drop to sixth in Class 3A

2009-02-10T16:15:00.000-08:00

The Freeport girls basketball team (22-3, 13-0 NIC-10) dropped to sixth place in the Associated Press Girls Prep Poll after a loss this weekend to Monroe, 52-41, in Wisconsin.

Montini (23-4) is ranked fifth, while Peoria Richwoods has risen all the way up to No. 2, sitting on top of a 26-2 record.

The Pretzels had a tough weekend, with back-to-back games with Auburn and Monroe -- two teams that have been very physical this season.

Last night the Pretzels beat Hononegah, 53-33, and are now just three games away from winning the conference title and remain undefeated in the NIC-10 for the second year in a row.

Tonight, the Pretzels face Guilford on the road.

Here's what this blog was made for

2009-02-07T09:48:00.001-08:00

Kelsey Hoefer scored her 1,000th point.

Here's a soundslide presentation on the very dramatic game between Freeport and Auburn:

YES! I've worked hard on this presentation and I hope it's enjoyable to the masses ... whatever that means.

Gaters recipient of the Morgan Wootten Award For Lifetime Achievement in Coaching High School Basketball

2009-02-03T14:16:00.000-08:00

Congrats to Dorothy Gaters, (Chicago) Marshall girls basketball coach for receiving such a tremendous honor.

Gaters is actually familiar with my Dad, who is a retired K-8 basketball coach from Delano. Also, my mother attended Marshall High School and remembers way back when Gaters was relatively new to the school (and I believe before she became the varsity head coach ... but I haven't verified that with Mom just yet).

Marshall is the IHSA Class 3A defending state champions from 2007 and defeated Freeport in the state championship game, 58-47. As stated in the Chicago Sun-Times' Yourseason.com, Gaters has won eight state championships and has entered into the state tournament finals 23 times in her illustrious career.

Gaters has more than 900 wins in her 30-year career.

One emotional Senior Night coming up Friday

2009-02-03T13:39:00.000-08:00

Kelsey Hoefer is just four points away from scoring her 1,000th point, which would make her the 10th Freeport girls basketball player to do so in program history, and the fourth senior on the team this season.

Auburn is no pushover, judging from its last game in which the Pretzels won, 56-37. But considering it's Senior Night -- the same night all four players likely will become the first four-group senior class to each score 1,000 career points and the last time Hoefer, Courtney Shiffer, Suporia Dickens and Katie Norman will play at home in their high school careers -- I'd expect the team to do very well Friday.

There's so much here. Feb. 6 will be one of the more memorable games those four will experience.

Hoefer closing in on 1,000

2009-01-30T15:55:00.001-08:00

Freeport forward Kelsey Hoefer is just 13 points away from scoring 1,000 -- the fourth player on the team to reach that milestone.

Katie Norman, Suporia Dickens and Courtney Shiffer each have gone over the 1,000-mark this season.

Tonight, the Pretzels (19-2, 10-0 NIC-10) take on Belvidere North (7-12, 6-6) and the senior is very capable of reaching that mark against a struggling Blue Thunder.

Personally, I think she's going to hit that milestone tonight, making her the only player of the four players not to reach the benchmark at home.

That's also the only drama talked about, likely in what will probably be uncompetitive.

Pretz in conference play tonight

2009-01-30T15:08:00.000-08:00

The Freeport boys basketball team squares off in about an hour-and-a-half against Belvidere North.

The Pretzels (9-7, 4-4) has already played the Blue Thunder this season on the road, and the result wasn't pretty for Belvidere North. Freeport should be careful not to let this team crawl back into the game like it did against Guilford Tuesday.

Should be a good game, and more importantly, a confidence builder as the Pretzels look to get back into the conference race.

Highland wins sixth straight

2009-01-29T18:08:00.000-08:00

The Cougars have won their 18th game of the season, including its sixth straight win to conclude the end of January. Highland beat Illinois Valley, 76-63.

Jackie Barton again finds ways score and had a double-double with 17 points and 13 boards.

How about this freshman class though? Mallory Magee also scored 17 points, which was a team-high.

The Cougars are just two wins away from tying the win total Highland had a year ago in the regular season. Magee, Renee Deuth and Alexi Tann all have had plenty to do with Highland's success and why Highland is currently tied for second place in the Arrowhead Conference.

Also, Highland received four votes this week in the NJCAA Div. I Women's Basketball Poll

MenPretz feature

2009-01-28T21:03:00.000-08:00

I'd just like to say Monday was fun spending time out with the MenPretz. They're a fun group of guys that have done a great job of helping the Freeport girls basketball team reach state heights last season and this year as well.

Hope they didn't take a couple of my jabs to heart though.

Here's the wonderful footage on the team done by Joe Tamborello, a great photographer and web editor for the Journal-Standard.

Buckwalter's first win vs. Carl Sandburg, Highland tied for first

2009-01-28T11:52:00.000-08:00

Highland womens basketball coach Dean Buckwalter beat Carl Sandburg for the first time in his career.

The Cougars are now in prime position, as they are tied with the Chargers for first place. As it stands now, Highland would have the tiebreaker. The two teams meet again Feb. 19.

Highland could win its first Arrowhead Conference title since 1996.

Highland and Carl Sandburg tied at half

2009-01-27T15:50:00.000-08:00

At the end of the first half, Highland's womens basketball team and Carl Sandburg are tied 31-all.

This Arrowhead Conference and Region IV battle has serious implications. Stay tuned.

Freeport boys looking to bounce back

2009-01-27T14:49:00.000-08:00

The Freeport boys basketball team is in a downward spiral in the NIC-10 conference.

The Pretzels were 3-0 in conference to start the season, but have lost the last four contests, including tough defeats to Auburn, Jefferson, Harlem and Hononegah. In that time frame, Freeport went from 6-2 to 8-7 and look to bounce back tonight against Guilford (5 - 14, 1-6).

Can Freeport turn the season around, or fall to an even .500 record after a fast start?

Pretzels move back up to No. 2

2009-01-27T14:38:00.001-08:00

The Freeport girls basketball team is now ranked No. 2 in Class 3A in the Associated Press poll.

This is the Pretzels' highest ranking since the home loss against then-No. 2 Montini, when Freeport was No. 1 in the state.

Since then, Freeport has lost a game against Peoria Richwoods in the two teams' second meeting, but have won eight straight games since. No. 3 ranked Montini is reeling from the absence of two key players, with both Michala Johnson and Whitney Adams both out with season-ending injuries.

Richwoods is ranked fifth in the state and Marshall, the defending state champions, are No. 7 in the Top 10.

Big test for Cougars tonight in Arrowhead Conference play

2009-01-27T08:18:00.000-08:00

Highland has a big test tonight against Carl Sandburg (13-6, 4-0 Arrowhead Conference).
The Cougars (16-4, 4-1) look to take control over the conference with the win, but the Chargers have been impressive despite its 2-6 record against ranked teams.

Carl Sandburg is ranked No. 16 in the NJCAA Division II poll last week and Highland received one vote in the Division I poll — four less than what it received a week before. Last week, the Chargers defeated Kishwaukee, 73-62 — the same opponent lost to in a buzzer-beating 3-pointer.

However, Kankakee Community College (15-4), a Region IV opponent, beat Carl Sandburg, 81-74, at the Chargers home floor. Ironically, Highland beat Kankakee at home with a Jackie Barton buzzer-beater for a 44-42 win.

The Chargers have been conference champs for five years and counting. Highland has yet to win the Arrowhead since 1996.

This game also has Region IV implications, so plenty is at stake tonight.

Shiffer scores 1,000th point, ninth all-time

2009-01-24T05:15:00.000-08:00

Read the story on Shiffer's historic day.

Also, here's the video of the Freeport girls basketball game against Hononegah Friday night.

For more video and stories, visit the Journal-Standard Web site for the best coverage and updates on your favorite teams in the area.

How Highland did it

2009-01-24T05:13:00.000-08:00

Here's a Highland womens notebook on how the Cougars allowed just nine points in the second half.

Tonight's the night

2009-01-23T09:33:00.000-08:00

Courtney Shiffer will become the ninth player in team history to score 1,000 career points if she scores just five points tonight at home against Hononegah.

The Indians could provide a decent challenge to the Pretzels this time around, but we'll see tonight at roughly 7:30 p.m.

Highland shuts down Black Hawk East in second half

2009-01-22T18:22:00.000-08:00

Maybe it was the halftime speech by Highland womens coach Dean Buckwalter. Perhaps that “lid” coaches and sometimes players talk about was over the rim Thursday night.
Whatever happened between halftime and the next 20 minutes of the game, it certainly helped Highland out.
The Cougars allowed just nine points in the second half and scored 33 in a 50-42 win on the road.

Highland is now 16-4 -- a record that is better than the one the Cougars had last year.

Don't steal this. I'm using this lead for a notebook for Saturday's paper.

Anyway, this was a bit of a statement from the Cougars in some regards. Granted it's Black Hawk East and all, but Highland finally played a bit of defense.

They needed this for the remainder of the season, believe that.

More on this in Saturday's edition of the J-S.