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 -
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Parting words on Sterling 'curse'
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 -
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
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.
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.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Freeport girls will be challenged in sectional semifinal
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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.
Friday, February 20, 2009
QNC lost yesterday
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.
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.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Cougs clinch
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.
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.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Pretz win in thriller
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
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.
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
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.
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.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Here's what this blog was made for
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.
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.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Gaters recipient of the Morgan Wootten Award For Lifetime Achievement in Coaching High School Basketball
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.
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
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.
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.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Hoefer closing in on 1,000
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.
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
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.
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.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Highland wins sixth straight
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
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
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
MenPretz feature
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.
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
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.
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.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Highland and Carl Sandburg tied at half
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.
This Arrowhead Conference and Region IV battle has serious implications. Stay tuned.
Freeport boys looking to bounce back
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?
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?
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