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For Commentary before the 2008-08 school year, click here.
2-12-09 District Basketball LCHS Post Falls Lake City traveled to The Arena at Post Falls High School tonight for the loser out district basketball game. I thought Post Falls would double Katie Baker and Sydney Butler and roll. For some reason, they didn't and Baker and Butler killed them. Sydney Butler had 6 of the first 10 points I think and Baker had open jump shots all night. Post Falls never really got in a rhythm and Lake City had their groove on steam rolling the Trojans by 29. One other thing about Post Falls that really confused me was when they ran this offence that took about 30 seconds to produce a shot. I don't understand this at all when you are down by 15. The math just doesn't add up. Something I noticed before the game was that LCHS seemed to have a traveling party. They brought enough players for 3 basketball teams. They looked like they were having a party. Butler and Baker were certainly the key players early but in my book, but Jessica Ross was the tipping point. She was a one woman wrecking ball, steals, baskets, I don't know if she had a block or not, but man, she was ON. And just think, if the snow melts, I'll get to watch her on the softball field. She's killer there too. Good luck to the T-Wolves Saturday. Wouldn't another CHS - LCHS final in the state championship be cool? 2-7-09 District Basketball Wow what a night over at Coeur d'Alene High School last night! The evening started out with Post Falls playing Lewiston in first round district tournament girl's basketball. Post Falls was amazing, Katelyn Loper in particular. What a player! If you are going to beat Post Falls, you have to beat Katelyn Loper. Of course Jordan Schoening provides the senior leadership, she plays with such confidence! And you, well I can't leave out Tori Davenport. Last year I particularly like her because of her name. Davenport, not Tori. It is still a good name, but this girl is so fun to watch. On one play Friday night she ended up in the bleachers, 3 rows high. This is an excellent Post Falls team, they could easily be in the state championship game. Well, maybe not easily, but it would not surprise me to see them there. In the night cap it was Lake City and Coeur d'Alene. There was something in the air that told me Lake City was coming after CHS. I guess the Vikings could smell it too because they came out and absolutely smothered the Timberwolves. You can't really stop Katie Baker or Sydney Butler, but CDA pretty much did, no, that's not right, the Vikings stopped Baker and Butler in the first quarter. That's not to say the T-Wolves didn't get shots, they got a few but just couldn't make one. I felt for them. It is difficult for me to single one Viking player out. I have to start with Carli Rosenthal. For some reason, she was guarding someone out near the free throw line much of the night. My logic says that you might be able to beat her off the dribble out there. Think again. Carli is extremely, unbelievably quick. Kama Griffitts drew the "get to guard Katie Baker" card. I think I saw this phrase written on Kama's forehead: "You have to beat ME to win, and you just aren't gonna." Sadie Simon and Amy Warbrick took turns on Sydney Butler. The two seniors smothered Butler, age winning the day I think. Don't get me wrong, Butler didn't just lie down, in fact she came out on top a few times. For my money, the most entertaining match-up is the Butler-Simon or Butler-Warbrick one. But speaking of Amy Warbrick, if you get to watch the Vikings play, watch Amy as she brings the ball down the court. There have been many amazing point guards come through the local high school system, she may be the most confident player I have seen. Nothing seems to phase her. Of all the girls I've mentioned here, tough is one word you HAVE to use in describing them, especially Warbrick and Simon. But Friday night, Natalie Stewart won the toughness award. In my book, she is a "quiet" player, one who you don't notice until you look at the video evidence and post game stats. Friday night, she was as much of a problem for the T-Wolves as anyone. I'll bet the T-Wolves were talking about her. Thanks to the girls, it was a great evening. The Lake City High School girls annihilated Sandpoint at last night's basketball game. So, I took a little time to photograph some of the Lake City High School band members. I always am amazed at the female sports players. They act like little girls act until the whistle then they are maniacs, in a good way. Totally different personalities. The band is the exact same way. In between songs, they text their friends, flirt, talk, joke around just like high school kids. Then when its time to play, their demeanor completely changes to these little professional-like musicians. VERY impressive. Most of the area bands are like this. I'm not sure why the LCHS band impresses me more, and I'll tell ya, when they drown out that piped in crap that the score keepers call music, it is just wonderful. I say YES to the LCHS band. One other note, so to speak, the other night a young man with a tenor voice sang the national anthem. WOW!!! I wish I could hear him sing again. 1-23-09 Coeur d'Alene at Post Falls girls basketball Post Falls gave the Vikings a bit of a scare for a couple of minutes Friday night before CHS pulled away for a 55-37 win. The Trojans jumped out to a four point lead at the beginning of the game. All the Post Falls girls met the level of intensity that the Vikings were playing at. Unfortunately for the Trojans, CHS was just off a little. Don't get me wrong, there was no quit in the Trojans and they played as hard as they could. Dani Meehan was terrific. Jordan Shoening has to be one of the best players in the state. And Katelyn Loper, too. But even at their best, they just can't match the something that Coeur d'Alene has. I have felt that the first seven on the Vikings were as good as anyone anywhere. But now Kelsi Bybee is apparently healed up. I suspect she will be up to speed in a game or two, then the Vikings have eight. But back to Shoening, she is an amazing player yet down the stretch, Amy Warbrick had an answer and a thing or two left for her. One would think that the Vikings will stumble, but when? I tell ya, they can play. 1-9-09 Sports Again Am I glad school is back in session! That means there is some high school sports going on. Tonight it was Lake City visiting Coeur d'Alene high for basketball. I didn't get to stay for the boys because of other commitments, but the girls game was worth every penny. Here's the thing; Coeur d'Alene is just too deep for the Timberwolves and handled them 52-40. Every player for the Vikings plays at a different level than the other teams. Maybe the team aspect of their game elevates them individually, I don't know, but they are amazing to watch. Lake City's Katie Baker and Sydney Butler, Baker and Butler as I like to call them, come very, very close to the Viking's level of play. One on one or two on two, Baker and Butler are as good as anyone. But as I said, those two don't equal the seven or eight player depth that CHS has. In the beginning of the game, it was obvious to me that someone hit Kama Griffitts with a quick stick. She's an amazing athlete, but defensively tonight she was like a bolt of lightning. Amy Warbrick played with her usual intensity. Dayna Drager seemed to have a good night, she was always open and her shots dropped. And Carli Rosenthal was a force. I love watching her play. In between plays, she looks so much like a victim, like she is ready to cry. Then she puts on a clinic. What a great game! I'm sorry I didn't get to stay and see the boys. I made a tough decision to not photograph any girls basketball before the new year this year. Fortunately I saw Mrs. Warbrick yesterday and she told me thought I should go to the Lewiston CHS game last night. I'm glad she clued me in to the show. The Coeur d'Alene Vikings are one amazing team. Lewiston jumped out to a 6-0 lead, then 8-2, then the Vikings showed their No Dribble Offense for the first time. Oh My! None of these girls, young ladies now, look light Sven the Barbarian, but they can handle the basketball like it is a tennis ball. Sharp crisp passing and very few turnovers. So here are a few of the Vikings that left me shaking my head: Dayna Drager - She seems like the quiet one in the family, she seems to always be there when she needs to be. Kama Griffitts - Yeah its no secret she can score, but I have never seen her play better defense. Feel sorry for the girl she guards. Sadie Simon - Well, Sadie is my favorite high school basketball player. She can shoot, she is a buzz saw on defense, but now she plays with the maturity of a senior. Sadie is all over the floor. Amy Warbrick - Amy has always been a good player. She is among the best of the best players now. Amy came onto my radar 2 years ago and when she was high scorer in the state championship game last year, I just felt like any of her team could depend on her, and they knew it. Carli Rosenthal - How can a girl so young play so well with the older ladies! She is a rock. For me the entertaining part about her aside form her ALWAYS keeping the ball high and shooting immediately when she rebounds is that when play is stopped, she puts on the victim's face. Oh, poor Carli I think. But then when the whistle blows, lookout Larry! Whitney Heleker - I don't know what to say about Whitney. She ALWAYS plays well. Always. If you need a basket, dish to Whitney. Last night she came in and immediately drained a three-pointer. Natalie Stewart - Natalie is just one more player the team can have total confidence in. Last night, she came in and right away drilled a three-pointer. Thanks Mrs. Warbrick, you were right, it was a pretty good game.
Suzan and I just came back from Coeur d'Alene High School's performance of "Guys and Dolls". We went because one of our favorite high school people, Lindsay DeLong, was in the play. WHAT A PRODUCTION!! Go see this play if you can. November 13, 14, 15 at 7:00 PM and a 2:00 matinee on the 15th.Miss Adelaide was played by Jessie Little according to the program. Hard to believe she is in high school. She has an AMAZING voice. All the player can sing, Jessie's voice just stood out to me with a huge range covering many octaves, powerful voice. She handled the Joisey or Brooklyn accent extremely well not only speaking but singing, too. She's terrific. One of the Bobby Sox girls also stood out to me, Damaris Duke. I met her once a couple of years ago when she was a little kid. She went and grew up. I sincerely hope she stays with theater work, she looks like a natural. I'm not an actor, but I think the role that Aaron Baldwin played, Nicely-Nicely, must have been tough. But he was awesome. And Brett Calkins played Big Jule. that kid, young man has a VOICE! Nice job to all, it was worth way more than the admission price. Thank you! Howdy! Yes, it has been a while since I have written here. Sorry about that. My absolute favorite sport to photograph is Cowboy Mounted Shooting, hands down. BUT, last night Suzan and I went to see our first Roller Derby ever. This is a very close second on the photographing list. WOW! It is a hoot! Those ladies over at Lilac City Rollergirls put on a good show. Their season is over, but check out their 2009 schedule, and then plan to go!! You will not be disappointed.
9-9-08 CDA Press The Coeur d'Alene Press has outdone itself today with a feature about Coeur d'Alene High School senior Sadie Simon. The story by Rod Harwood and photo by Shawn Gust are both stellar. Great job to Harwood and Gust and to the Coeur d'Alene Press! And to Sadie Simon, too!
9-5-08 Football and Shootin' What a great day. Miss Suzan and I started off with freshman football at Lake City High School. The freshman boys were trying avenge the thumping the varsity team took last night. Quarterback Bobby Traverse and the offence stumble on their first posession, but then seemed to take control. We had to leave at half time with the T-Wolves holding on to a 20-18 lead. Halftime adjustments were going to tell the tale. Please, someone let me know how it turned out. At half we headed over to Farragut State Park where Foghat was playing a concert. Foghat. Are you kidding me? Suzan and I took the Cowboy Mounted Shooting option where Coeur d'Alene High School's Lindsay DeLong was. So with apparently Foghat playing background music, there was some ridin' and some shootin'. Mounted Shooting is one of my favorite things to photograph. And when you know a youngin' like Lindsay, it makes it even more fun. They start again Sunday morning at about 9:00 AM, cowboy time. |
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