Fondy Sports Insider

FSI Running Diary No. 3: NCAA hoops title game

2007-04-02T19:55:00.000-05:00

Your're now looking live at a blog from the living room of my one bedroom apartment in Fond du Lac where tonight I will watch the NCAA championship game and share my thoughts with the fellow Fondy Sports Insider readers, whether they like it or not.

In case you aren't sure how a running diary usually works, the premise is simple. As the night develops, I time stamp and witty and/or sarcastic comments that pop into my head for all to enjoy. If you want to read some old ones, check here and here.

If you came to this blog in search of Brewers updates, just scroll down a bit. I'll have more on the Crew later tonight, but for the next few hours, my focus is squarely on Ohio State, Florida and the brown spots on Billy Packer's scalp.

You'll find that most of my jokes are lifted directly from Bill Simmons or www.deadspin.com. I don't care. It's funny. I'll be sure to give credit for those jokes where credit is due.

Enjoy the game, and the running diary.

8:01 p.m.: We're already off to a bad start. The intro for the pregame featured the band and cheerleaders from both Florida and Ohio State talking trash about one another. This was the best CBS could do? Isn't it someone's job to develop something that makes everyone foam at the mouth? I think an "Our Country" commerical would fire up the troops more than that garbage.

8:09 p.m.: CBS is showing Bill Donvan's pregame speech. Good stuff. I think Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart just added another $300,000 to the lure-Donovan-away-from-Florida contract offer.

8:11 p.m.: Why does Clark Kellog look like he's being electrocuted when he talks?

8:13 p.m.: I wonder if anyone has told Billy Packer that Bill Donovan is pronounced Billy Don-o-van, not Billy Don-u-vun.

8:18 p.m.: Who let Jim Nantz on the PA? The man is thirsty for power. It's bad enough he's done the Super Bowl this year. He has to take away this gig from superb PA announcer Gene Honda, who, by the way, does White Sox and DePaul games.

8:22 p.m.: Billy Packer just said the first possession for each team is important because we'll be able to tell what defense each team is playing. Apparently Packer is unaware that each team can change up defenses as it goes along.

8:26: Billy Packer still thinks its Don-u-vun.

8:41 p.m.: I think I accidentaly dozed off for a few minutes. Not because the game is boring, but moreso because Jim Nantz has such a soothing voice. That, and I was up early this morning to head down to Miller Park. It's rare for me to be up during the morning, much less early, which makes that feat rather impressive.

8:45 p.m.: I love it when Jim Nantz makes a comment and mentions Billy by name, but Billy doesn't respond either because he's deliberately trying to ignore him, or because Billy Packer is talking himself, only Nantz is holding down his cough button and Packer doesn't know it.

8:47 p.m.: Greg Oden is starting to assert himself. It's good to see 34-year-olds play with the passion of teenagers.

8:50 p.m.: I think the most important player for Ohio State is Mike Conley Jr. They look completely out of sync without him on the floor. You take Oden away, and they are all right. You take Conley away, and they lose their identity. All right, that's the last of the actual basketball observations. Back to wondering if the Terwilliger that plays for Ohio State is of any relation to Sideshow Bob.

8:57 p.m.: I really enjoyed this interaction. JIM: Tonight, Dave's bringing his 'A' game to the Late Show, with... stupid human tricks! BILLY: Well Jim, we're not seeing stupid human tricks right now, what we're seeing is Dun-u-vun is trying to get Richards in a situation (blah, blah blah). They're not the best in the business for nothing, folks.

9:09 p.m.: Florida leads Ohio State, 40-29, at halftime and appears on its way to defending its national title. I think the Brewer kid from Florida is a little underrated... in fact, he's kind of like Noah in the fact that he's a terrific college player that has no real future in the NBA. Still, I like watching him play. Ohio State has to be concerned that it is down by 11 even though Oden played most of the first half. The reason? Conley. They are a much different team when he's not in there. I'm just going to repeat myself, because if you do it often, you'll sound like you know what you are talking about.

9:23 p.m.: Oh, Dick Enberg. I think 50 years in broadcasting was one too many.

9:27 p.m.: I'm making buffalo chicken tenders and forgot when I put them in the oven. This should be interesting.

9:44 p.m.: I'm trying to find things to blog about from this game, but it's so vanilla, I don't know where to begin. I think part of the problem is the producer is passed out on the floor. Where are the shots of the dance team? The parents? I want to see Tito Horford wearing a basketball jersey with nothing underneath it. I want to see Yannick Noah looking like Jar Jar Binks. Where's Mike Conley? They are just showing... the game. What a concept.

9:47 p.m.: BILLY PACKER: Nice comeback here by Ohio State. They are really showing they are solid. (Good commentary. The lead is down from 11 to 7. Not exactly miraculous stuff here).

9:53 p.m.: Our first comment from either announcer that we aren't seeing a normal game from Mike Conley. Ya think? Greg Oden can't win this game by himself. He's having a monster game and OSU is down by 10. Conley is trying to take over, but Florida isn't letting him.

10:02 p.m.: Did you know Florida's Lee Humphrey is the all-time leading 3-point shooter in the NCAA tournament? Because I don't think I've heard either announcer mention it. That's something they should talk about more often, like every time he shoots the ball.

10:13 p.m.: It's pretty obvious that Florida isn't going to let Ohio State make this a game. And that's a shame. On paper, this was one of the most exciting Final Fours in years. However, it's been kind of a dud. Two of the games (including this one) weren't exactly blowouts, but the eventual winning team was in control the whole way. And, in today's game, Billy Packer didn't say anything too idiotic. There's still time.

10:16 p.m.: Spongebob Nopants. Genius.

10:18 p.m.: Well, here's something that will keep me entertained. What corny phrase will Jim Nantz say when the game's over? I like, "Well Billy, Billy's boys have done it again!" Of course, it could also be: "Gator Done? Gator Did!" or "The sun shines on the sunshine state again!" Either way, there will be puns and exclamation points galore.

10:20 p.m.: Apparently Billy Packer thinks Ohio State is tired. It's about all he's said in the last 30 minutes. This used to be his calling card back in the day. He used to say the team that was most tired was the team grabbing its shorts at the free throw line. He used that one from 1991-98. But now he just calls it whenever he wants. He's all grown up.

10:29 p.m.: JIM NANTZ: "Florida takes its place in history. Back to back, and unforgettable!" I guess there was an exclamation point there, but not much else. Sigh.

10:32 p.m.: Disappointing game all around. The issue was never really in doubt, Greg Oden played well, but was far from dominant. The best player on the court was Corey Brewer. Lee Humphrey hit some big shots. But that was it. The announcers were dull, even by Jim Nantz and Billy Packer standards. Someone gave Tito Horford an undershirt. Yannick Noah actually looked somewhat normal.

Oh well, you know what they say when things don't go your way in the title game?

There's always next year.

That's all for now, come back later tonight

2007-04-02T16:53:00.000-05:00

For some reason, the heat is turned on in the press box, making it comparable to a sauna. All the Milwaukee media members are complaining, while the Los Angeles crowd is wondering what all the fuss is about.

I'm about to hit the trail back to Fond du Lac. Be sure to check back later tonight for more updates, as well as the running diary from the national championship game. And we'll have more coverage in tomorrow's Reporter, so be sure to pick up a copy or check it out online at www.fdlreporter.com.

Bill Hall postgame quotes

2007-04-02T16:51:00.000-05:00

ON ALMOST ROBBING KENT'S HOME RUN: I didn’t get one of those in spring training, so I never really had a (practice) chance at it. I just looked at the wall and said, ‘OK, I think I have a shot at it.’ I think I was up a little early. I think if I timed it a little bit better I catch it. My glove was right where the ball finally hit. Maybe a little better timing and I’d save a home run for Benny.

ON WINNING ON OPENING DAY: Everyone knows we have high expectations coming in. To get off on the right foot is important, it takes a lot of pressure off us to go out there and play the way we’re supposed to play. It’s a great feeling in that clubhouse right now. Even though we know the expectations, we have to see it for ourselves some times. We showed it today and everyone just feeds off each other, hopefully we can turn in victories like this all year long.

ON THE TEAM'S ATTITUDE: Our attitude right now is to win. That’s it. We don’t care about everything else. We want to win every game and win every series. That’s our attitude. We want to be jumping up and down at the end of the World Series.

Ben Sheets postgame quotes

2007-04-02T16:49:00.000-05:00

OVERALL THOUGHTS: My stuff had some good finish today. I thought I had a good fastball. My curveball wasn’t necessarily great, but everything was good. My defense was outstanding. They made it way easy on me.

ON THE STANDING OVATION WHEN HE CAME UP TO BAT IN THE 8TH: Don’t mention the batters box. (Sheets went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts).

ON HIM HUGGING CATCHER JOHNNY ESTRADA AFTER THE GAME: I always appreciate my catcher. Especially when I don’t shake (him off) that much. It helps to get in the flow and the rhythm. And when catchers are on the same page with you, that’s what makes those innings go by so quick.

ON THE EMOTIONS OF THE GAME: The first inning there were a lot of emotions out there. In (Jeff) Kent’s at bat, I tried to bring myself down and he got me. I was trying to find that groove. You can’t pitch on that emotion the whole game. Once he got me, that kind of helped me settle down. Not the home run, but just in that at bat I was trying to settle down.

EMOTIONS, PART II: I had a Sumo wrestler wrestling in my belly. There’s some good energy that you can feed off of, but that was too much.

OVATION WHILE BATTING, PART II: It feels good. I’d love to go 0-for-4 every game and get my strikeouts in. Set the record.

ON THE OFFENSE: I thought it was nice we got the guys over, got the guys in. they all talk about Billy Hall got the guy in and showed the capability to do that and manufacture runs. I think we’re going to hit some long balls. I think our offense is going to be a lot of fun to watch.

Some Ned Yost postgame quotes

2007-04-02T16:32:00.000-05:00

OVERALL THOUGHTS: It was just a very, very well-played game. I told the kids after the game that this could very well literally be the best game that I’ve ever had the opportunity as manager to watch a team play.

ON SHEETS: It made me a little nervous in the ninth inning after Brady (Clark) got the base hit was that this was the first time Benny was in the stretch all day long. It was one out in the ninth before he got in the stretch. But he finished it up and nailed it down.

ON SHEETS' PITCH COUNT: I told Johnny (Estrada) that we could go to 105 (pitches) if we needed to. I wasn’t going to go much over that the first time out. Benny felt strong and felt good and was ready to go back out there in the ninth inning.

ON THE IMPORTANCE OF WINNING OPENING DAY: If we would have lost I would have said not too important. Really, in all honesty, its one of 162 games. It’s excitement because everyone has been waiting all winter for this game and there’s nothing like it to come in and win Opening Day. But the world doesn’t end if we don’t. We started 5-0 last year, and … you know. It’s really nice to go ahead and get the win today, but it’s one win out of 162 games. That’s all that it means.

ON WHAT HE'S MOST HAPPY WITH: I’m really happy about the way the kids played the ballgame today. I’m happy with our baserunning. I thought we ran the bases extremely smart and aggressively. I’m happy with our defense. And I’m happy, finally, hopefully that I don’t have to answer questions about Ben Sheets’ health.

Postgame tidbits from the Brewers' Opening Day victory

2007-04-02T16:29:00.000-05:00

Here are a few nuggets of information, courtesy of the Brewers' media relations staff.

*Ben Sheets recorded his 12th career complete game.

*Sheets retired 22 consecutive batters after allowing a solo home run in the second.

*The Brewers extended their Opening Day winning streak to four games. The Dodgers have lost four straight.

*The Opening Day attendance at Miller Park was 45,341. It was the second-largest crowd in Miller Park history. The only other Brewers game at Miller Park to draw more fans was Sept. 6, 2003, when the Brewers played the Cubs (46,218).

*The teams meet again at 7:05 tomorrow night on FSN. Chris Capuano gets the start for the Brewers, while former Phillies southpaw Randy Wolf will take the hill for the Dodgers.

Brewers win, 7-1

2007-04-02T15:16:00.000-05:00

Ben Sheets gave up a one-out double to former teammate Brady Clark in the ninth but it didn't matter. He still got the complete game victory.

I'll post some postgame reaction after I get back from the clubhouse. Also, come back to the blog later tonight for my running diary of the NCAA championship game between Florida and Ohio State. Should be a good time. At least for me. It may put you to sleep.

Sheets is cruising, still no action in the bullpen

2007-04-02T14:27:00.000-05:00

It looks like Ned Yost might let Ben Sheets go the distance in this one.

Since allowing a home run to Jeff Kent to lead off the second inning, Sheets has retired 21 straight. He's batting for himself in the eighth, which means Yost will let him try and seal the deal.

He's coming to the plate now, and the crowd of 45,341 is giving him a standing ovation.

This is the Ben Sheets the Brewers hope to see 30-35 times this year, not the one that spends several weeks on the disabled list.

By the way, Sheets' previous low-hit complete game came on May 16, 2004, when he struck out 18 batters.

If Sheets is able to complete this game, it will be the Brewers' first complete game on Opening Day since Don August did it on April 3, 1989 at Cleveland. That was a 2-1 loss. The last complete game victory on Opening Day was Mike Caldwell on April 5, 1979, a 5-1 victory at the Yankees.

Brewers chase Lowe from the game early

2007-04-02T14:18:00.000-05:00

The Brewers are hitting Dodgers' starting pitcher Derek Lowe hard.

Through the first four innings, the Brewers scored six runs on eight hits. Everyone but Bill Hall, Craig Counsell and Ben Sheets have hits, although I should point out that Counsell and Hall both drove runs in.

Lowe has historically dominated the Brewers. Coming into the game, Lowe was 2-0 with a 1.95 ERA in five starts against Milwaukee, including a gem last September in which he allowed one earned run and three hits in eight innings of work. A sinkerball pitcher, Lowe is a master at forcing ground ball outs.

It hasn't happened yet. The Brewers are smoking the ball and smacking lots of line drives. With his pitch count in the 80s, Lowe just left the game in favor of left-hander Mark Hendrickson. The Brewers have three pure lefties in the starting lineup... maybe we'll see Kevin Mench or Tony Graffanino get in the game here.

Also, Brady Clark has come into the game on the double-switch with Andre Either. Brewers lead 6-1 in the bottom of the 5th.

Hall looking at home in center field

2007-04-02T13:51:00.000-05:00

So far, so good for Bill Hall's transition to center field.

Hall just made a diving catch to rob Dodgers shortstop Ramon Martinez of a sure-fire double. Earlier in the game, he nearly made a spectacular grab on Jeff Kent's home run. While close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades, the fact Hall even had a chance for that ball was remarkable.

And during the inning break, Rob just asked Ashley to marry him on the jumbotron. I'll be honest when I say I don't know the ladies too well, but I can't imagine anyone finding that romantic. Am I wrong?

It's the first game for us writers, too

2007-04-02T13:33:00.000-05:00

I don't cover too many Brewers games — probably less than 20. But I'd like to think that I am somewhat smooth when it comes to interviewing the players.

Well, it took me a little bit to get going today. I asked a pretty stupid question to infielder Craig Counsell. I basically wanted to find out what he thought his role on the team was. Granted, he's going to be a solid contributor to the squad, but when people think of the team, they don't really consider him among the top players. However, Counsell won two World Series rings and knows what it takes, therefore making him a valuable commodity for the younger players on the team.

Rather than blabber something that winded, I just blurted out, "Is the best thing that you can do for this team is teach the young guys how to win?"

I'm fortunate Counsell didn't smack me in the face with his cleats. Instead, he thought better of that and said: "The best thing I can do is play good. They know what they are doing. We all watch each other so it’s every body’s job to go about it the right way and set a good example."

For more on Counsell, be sure to read tomorrow's Reporter for more of my awkward interview with the Whitefish Bay native.

By the way, the Brewers lead 2-1. This blog isn't going to be heavy on the actual updates, considering there are so many other outlets for you to get that information.

Brewers manufacture early run

2007-04-02T13:22:00.000-05:00

It's a far cry from how Harvey's Wallbangers did it back in 1982, but the Brewers are up 1-0 after the first inning because of astute baserunning and moving runners over.

Ricky Weeks led off the inning by beating out an infield single, and advanced to third on a broken-bat blooper by J.J. Hardy. Weeks scored on a ground-out by Bill Hall.

Of course, a pessimist could look at the fact the Brewers had runners on second and third with nobody out and the heart of the order coming up and only had one run to show for it.

Still, if Ben Sheets is locked in all game as he was in the first, it may be all the Crew needs.

Nice ovation for Clark

2007-04-02T12:47:00.000-05:00

One of the cool things about Opening Day is that both teams are introduced. Everyone. Not just the starters. Each lines up down the base lines for their introduction.

It was good to see Brady Clark get a warm reception from the crowd. The Brewers recently traded Clark to the Dodgers for relief pitcher Elmer Dessens.

And why shouldn't he be greeted with a friendly hello?

Clark was always a gamer for the Brewers. His best season came in 2005, when he hit .306 with 31 doubles and 94 runs scored. His numbers took a dip last year, he lost his leadoff spot and eventually the centerfield job when the Brewers shifted Bill Hall from third to center. That made him expendable.

Big Guy hats guy in da house

2007-04-02T12:37:00.000-05:00

It's not a big sporting event in Wisconsin until a photographer gets a shot of Fond du Lac's Jeff Kahlow and one of his "Big Guy Hats" creations. Kahlow, shown here with wife, Sandy, is sporting the standard Brewers hat while it appears his wife is rocking one specially made for the occasion.

For more on Kahlow and his company, check out his Web site here.

Lots of media here today

2007-04-02T12:04:00.000-05:00

There's normally a crush of media present for Opening Day.

Television stations from across the state make their way down to get sound bites they can use for the first week of the season. It has to be an inconvenience to the regular everyday reporters that need to get their regular everyday stuff.

Even the players notice.

Two mentioned the crush in the clubhouse, which is open to reporters before the game, except no cameras are allowed. That's why I try to get all my pregame quotes where it is nice and quiet.

Estrada makes a bold prediction

2007-04-02T10:53:00.000-05:00

New Brewers catcher Johnny Estrada made a bold prediction a few moments ago in the clubhouse.

"I think someone is going to homer today in their first at-bat," he said.

We'll see. It could very well be Estrada. He's hitting fifth. Stay tuned.

Melvin shares in fans' optimism

2007-04-02T10:50:00.000-05:00

Without a doubt, expectations haven't been this high for a Brewers team since the early 1990s.

With a starting rotation expected to be one of the best in the major leagues and solid young talent, Milwaukee is a legit playoff contender.

Count Brewers GM Doug Melvin as one that shares in that excitement.

"This is the most talented team we’ve had in the five years I’ve been here," Melvin said this morning. "We've seen and heard from a lot of the fans ... they feel there’s a sense of optimism and hope. There’s some national magazines that have high expectations for us. I said that’s better than the opposite of no expectations for us. We’re excited about that and we’re up to the challenge."

The Brewers, of course, haven't had a winning season since 1992 and haven't made the postseason since 1982.

Greetings from Miller Park

2007-04-02T10:45:00.000-05:00

You're looking live at a blog from Miller Park, where in a couple of hours the Milwaukee Brewers will begin the 2007 season by playing host to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Check back for updates and insight throughout the day. The game can be seen on FSN beginning at 1:05 p.m. If you're stuck at work, you can follow the game action at www.brewers.com. I'll add what I can using info behind the scenes and my view from the third row of the press box.

If you want to fill out your scorecard, here are today's starting lineups:

LOS ANGELES: Juan Pierre cf; Russell Martin c; Nomar Garciaparra 1b; Jeff Kent 2b; Luis Gonzalez lf; Wilson Betemit 3b; Andre Ethier rf; Ramon Martinez ss; Derek Lowe p.

MILWAUKEE: Rickie Weeks 2b; J.J. Hardy ss; Prince Fielder 1b; Bill Hall cf; Johnny Estrada c; Geoff Jenkins lf; Corey Hart rf; Craig Counsell 3b; Ben Sheets p.

Scott Gillespie going to Ripon College

2007-03-30T17:23:00.000-05:00

Scott Gillespie will play basketball for his father, Bob, at Ripon College, the school announced today.

Gillespie, a fourth team AP all-state pick and two-time East Central Flyway player of the year, started all four seasons at Ripon High School. He had interest from several Division I schools and could have played at the Division II level, but chose to stay home and play for Ripon College.

Gillespie is the all-time leading scorer in Ripon High School history.

We'll have more on this story later in the weekend.

FSI Baseball Preview '07

2007-03-28T13:50:00.000-05:00

It's been far too long since my last post, so I figured I'd dive head first into the upcoming baseball season with the first-ever Fondy Sports Insider Baseball Preview.

Why should this preview stand out from any other? No reason. But I do have HDTV and am watching a Mets-Braves preseason game and the picture is so good, I can see into Bobby Cox's soul.

ANYWAYS, without further ado, here are the teams, players and storylines to watch as the season unfolds.

WORLD SERIES PREDICTION: I don't mess around when it comes to predictions. I get the big one out of the way first. I should forewarn you that I have worse record of picking champions than Sports Illustrated; my recent Super Bowl prediction was the Dolphins over the Redskins. So when I pick the Red Sox to beat the Dodgers, maybe it's not a good thing for fans of those two teams. But Boston's pitching staff, if it remains healthy, is tops in the game and the Dodgers have boatloads of young talent.

DIVISION WINNERS: AL East (Yankees), AL Central (Twins), AL West (Angels), AL Wild Card (Red Sox); NL East (Phillies), NL Central (Brewers), NL West (Dodgers), NL Wild Card (Padres).

DID YOU JUST PREDICT THE BREWERS TO WIN THE NL CENTRAL: Yes, I did. When you look at it, they should have won the division last year. The Cardinals won the division with 83 wins, and if Sheets and Tomo Ohka remained healthy, the Brewers easily could have reached that number. I'm guessing it'll take 85-87 wins to get it done this year, and if the Crew can avoid the massive injuries that beseiged it in '06, that is a reachable number.

AWARD WINNERS: NL MVP (Ryan Howard); NL Cy Young (Carlos Zambrano); AL MVP (Alex Rodriguez); AL Cy Young (Dice-K).

TEAM THAT EVERYONE WILL GET WAY TO EXCITED ABOUT IN JUNE, ONLY TO WATCH THAT TEAM GO ON AN EXTENDED LOSING STREAK AND FINISH BELOW .500: Kansas City Royals. This team is just set up for a big run early only to flame out majestically as the season goes on partly because they won't add talent in the middle of the season and because they have a bunch of guys that aren't used to playing full-time now faced with the challenge of a long, grueling season. Alex Gordon is a bona fide superstar and while they overpaid for Gil Meche, he should provide stability to the rotation. But they don't have the depth to carry it the full season.

THE REASON THE YANKEES DON'T GO TO THE WORLD SERIES: Pitching. The rotation is a mess, especially with Chein-Ming Wang on the DL to open the season. If they can outbid the Red Sox and Astros to get Roger Clemens, they may have a shot in the playoffs. Otherwise, a hot pitching staff, say the Twins, could take care of the Yankees in a short playoff series.

TEAM THAT WILL DISAPPOINT EVERYONE, INCLUDING THEIR MOTHERS: Rangers. This team has underacheived for years, and now that they want Sammy Sosa to bat cleanup, the failure will continue.

WBCA all-state teams announced

2007-03-16T14:14:00.000-05:00

The Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association released its all-state teams today, and the area was well-represented.

The format for the WBCA all-state team changed this year after the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel decided it didn't want to co-sponsor an all-state team with the organization. Now, the team is divided into four divisions.

Ripon's Scott Gillespie, Waupun's Ryan Mayville's Matt Haass both made the first team for Division 2. Gillespie was a unanimous selection, the only one to earn that honor in Division 2.

Laconia's Kieran Weed made the first team in Division 3.

For the full list, click here. I'll be taking part in the Associated Press all-state team. We are selecting our team on Sunday morning, but the results won't be released until Tuesday.

Greetings from Madison

2007-03-16T12:21:00.000-05:00

Your looking live at a blog from the lovely Econo Lodge in Madison, Wisconsin, where in a few minutes I'm about to head down to the state tournament.

Since I don't have a team to cover, I'll check in from time to time with observations and insights into both the state and NCAA tournaments.

So come back often!

Me and the NCAA tournament

2007-03-15T04:34:00.000-05:00

This post may be of no interest to the vast majority of you, so feel free to move ahead to the next blog you check regularly.

I love the NCAA tournament. I realize that many people may say this, but I absolutely love the NCAA tournament. I can't think of any other sporting event that brings me as much joy as the NCAA tournament. It may come from my weird obsession with anything that can be placed in bracket form, I'm not really sure.

I used to have an encyclopedic knowledge of the brackets in the late 90s. I could tell you who the 14 seed was in the East, and what team it lost to in the first round. I could name what player led his team to the title as a 6 seed in 1988. One year, I filmed my own selection show and presented it to my parents moments before the real selection show aired.

But there are many, many more memories.

So sit back, relax and reminisce along with me as I take you through a timetable of my love affair with the greatest sporting event ever.

1986: I'm not even five years old, but my dad fills out a bracket for me in his office pool. He asks what teams I want to win. For some reason, I like the name Purdue and pick it to win the whole thing. Purdue, a 6 seed, loses to 11-seed LSU in the first round. My dad's boss calls me "Purdue" from that day forward.

1988: I fill out my first bracket myself and go with Duke, my champion for 14 of the next 17 years. As the Blue Devils go down to the wire against Kansas in a national semifinal, I learn two important tournament rituals: 1) key moments are best viewed while lying stomach-down on the floor in front of the TV (which will later be known as "assuming the position") and 2) a towel over the head hides a man's tears from the camera.

1990: I correctly pick all four Final Four teams and take third place in my dad's office pool. To date, it is my best showing in any pool. I'm crushed on championship Monday, however, as UNLV blows out Duke by 30.

1991: Duke upsets UNLV, 79-77, in a national semifinal in one of the greatest upsets in tournament history. The pundits will credit Mike Krzyzewski's game plan, but I know the real reason: it's because with three minutes to go, I "assumed the position" on the floor and tapped the "Let's Go Duke!" banner I made on the computer earlier in the day. Duke goes on to beat Kansas in the national championship game, and I go to the barber the following week asking to get my hair cut like Christian Laettner.

1992: I experience the tournament in person for the first time, as I play hooky with my dad to see Todd Day and Arkansas beat Popeye Jones and Murray State and Anfernee Hardaway and Memphis State beat Doug Christie and Pepperdine. The night games included Harold Miner and USC beating up on a poor 15 seed and a Houston-Georgia Tech game that I can't remember at all. The following Saturday, I "assume the position" as Christian Laettner (at this point, we still share the same 'do) makes the greatest shot in the history of the NCAA tournament. To celebrate, I run out the front door of the house and down Main Street in Dousman to the soda machine at the auto body shop, where I purchase a root beer and shake it up in my own locker room celebration. Duke goes on to win another title.

1993: Marquette is in the tournament for the first time I can appreciate it, and even though I convince my grade school teacher to let me listen to the game on the radio, the Warriors fall to Oklahoma State in the first round.

1994: I successfully fake sick to stay home and watch the first day of the tournament (Hi Mom!), even though Marquette plays on Friday. The Warriors have little trouble with Southwestern Louisiana and advance to play Kentucky. I start to watch the game with a friend at a pizza place, but return home (to assume the position) midway through the second half to find both my parents standing they are so excited. My buddy Tony Miller is named player of the game as MU knocks off the mighty Wildcats, 75-63, to advance to the Sweet 16. In the last game Marquette ever played as the Warriors, Tony Miller, Robb Logtermann and Damon Key knocked down 3-pointers in the opening minutes to spot MU a 9-0 lead over my other beloved team, Duke, in a regional semifinal. The Blue Devils are too good on this day, however, and win 59-49.

1999: I see the NCAA tournament for the third time in person, but the first time by myself. No matter. I sit near some Oklahoma fans that teach me the words to "Boomer Sooner" (and since the rowser is only two words, I just taught them to you.) The day after the championship game I'm scheduled for oral surgery. After UConn upsets Duke in the final, I don't need any anesthesia.

2002: I get to cover my first NCAA tournament when Marquette plays in St. Louis. The whole experience is short-lived, however, as No. 12 Tulsa shocks No. 5 Marquette in the first round. My sorrows are short-lived, as I take a front-row seat and witnessed a near-upset of top-seeded Kansas by a spunky Holy Cross crew.

2003: Marquette is back in the tournament, as am I. I sit less than 15 feet from Bruce Pearl, who sweats through his suit coat during UWM's near-upset of Notre Dame. I somehow maintain my professionalism as MU survives a first-round game against Holy Cross (thanks to Travis Diener), outlasts Missouri in overtime (thanks to Steve Novak), edges Pittsburgh (thanks to Dwyane Wade) and demolishes Kentucky (thanks to everyone) and advances to the Final Four. I stand at the 3-point line as the players cut down the nets and think of how many times I saw this on TV from the floor of my boyhood home. I hand out mock issues of our student newspaper to other media members with the headline "Holy Mackerel," which is mentioned in several national columns and held upside down by Lesley Visser as she interviews Tom Crean after the game. At the Final Four, I cross off one of the "things to do before I die" before Roy Williams humiliates MU on national TV. Two nights later, Syracuse beats Kansas in the title game and we all watch "One Shining Moment" on the jumbotron inside the Louisiana Superdome.

2007: I get to experience my first NCAA tournament in HDTV. This may trump them all.

All the memories are still fresh. I still get excited and can't sleep the night before the tournament starts and if I wouldn't be fired, I'd call in sick to work. Still, I'll manage to sneak in a few games at home on my brand new 37-inch LCD TV, where I'll crumble up my bracket by the time the first few games are through and wonder why I picked Texas A&M to win it all. And, if the moment is right, I'll clear a spot on the floor to "assume the position" just like I did all those times as a kid.

It's a wonderful time of year.

Put up your bracket against mine

2007-03-11T16:27:00.000-05:00

This is by far my favorite time of year, and I'll bet its the same for most of you.

Why not enjoy it together? I've set up a NCAA challenge group on Yahoo! for FSI readers. There's no entry fee and really nothing other than pride on the line. The winner (or second-place finisher, if I somehow manage to take first in the pool) gets to write one blog entry on any subject they wish, which will be posted here. I'll have to approve the content, however, but you can write on any subject you want.

C'mon, sign up. You have nothing to lose.

If you are interested, click here.

Group ID: 74432
Password: fdlreporter

Good luck.

Some final Waupun thoughts

2007-03-11T15:34:00.000-05:00

Waupun gave it its best shot and came close to ending one of the more impressive streaks in WIAA boys basketball history.

But ultimately, Seymour held off the Warriors for a 58-55 victory in a sectional final on Saturday to advance to its eighth straight state tournament. A brutal third-quarter stretch hurt Waupun in the long run.

Here's a few things I think we learned about Waupun over the last few weeks:

*Ryan Rasmussen is a legit D1 player. He has the size, speed and shooting ability to play at that level. What he did against Berlin was Travis Diener-like. However, expect more teams next year to defend Rasmussen the way which Seymour did, and that's to use a quick, physical guard to stay in his chest the entire game. Against less talented players, Rasmussen will be able to post them up or shoot over them. That's not going to be the case in college. I'd imagine another summer playing AAU ball will give Rasmussen plenty of time to work on this.

*Around the basket, Aris Wurtz is the craftiest player in the area. How he got some of those shots down low to fall is beyond me. He just finds a crease and hits it. It may not look all that pretty at times, but he finds a way to get the job done.

*Waupun will miss its seniors, not just from a leadership sense, but also because they could play. Tom Bresser really elevated his game this season, and Seth Hopp provided sparks at times when the offense was going nowhere. And Dan Tenpas made one of the guttier plays of Thursday's victory over Berlin when he drew a charge despite a sore ankle.

*Aside from Rasmussen, the one player that impressed me the most this weekend was Tyler DeBoer. The kid just seemed to be everywhere all over the floor, and was able to give the team some much-needed rebounding. According to the stat sheet, Seymour only had one offensive rebound which is amazing considering the number of 3-pointers it takes, which normally lead to long rebounds. That means DeBoer was hustling at all times.

*What can we expect next year? I think the bar has definitely been raised at Waupun. A school-record for victories in a single season, the first conference championship since 1975 and a spot in a sectional final will do that. The seniors will be tough to replace, but freshman Austin Armga gave Waupun some good minutes in tournament play and I heard the freshman and JV teams did real well. Coach Lucky Wurtz said that the goal he has is to become the next Seymour. Whether or not that happens remains to be seen. But this wasn't a bad start.

A little Seymour-Waupun history

2007-03-09T14:53:00.000-06:00

While this is the first time that Seymour and Waupun will have met in high school in a long time (maybe ever), the two teams do have a little history.

Apparently there is a big 8th grade tournament every year. The current group of seniors at Seymour won the championship game over Waupun during their eighth-grade year, while the current group of juniors at Waupun won the championship game over Seymour their eighth-grade year.

Is this a rubber match?

Is Aris Wurtz the key to beating Seymour?

2007-03-09T14:41:00.000-06:00

Lost in the shuffle of Ryan Rasmussen's terrific performance in Waupun's 69-62 victory over Berlin in a sectional semifinal last night was the game that fellow junior Aris Wurtz had.

Wurtz had 22 points and perhaps the biggest shot made by someone other than Rasmussen. After Berlin took a 47-34 lead late in the third quarter, Wurtz didn't hesitate at the other end of the floor, draining a 3-pointer from the top of the key to get the lead down to 10. He added another bucket before Rasmussen's 3-pointer at the end of the third quarter.

That five-point spurt was huge for Waupun in terms of slowing Berlin's momentum and getting some confidence back. Wurtz was also a source of offense for a team that had trouble finding the basket in spurts. He's deceptively quick. He's not exactly fast, but if you give him the baseline, he'll find some way to get the ball to the basket.

I think that's going to be big when playing Seymour. I haven't seen Seymour play at all this year, and really don't remember what defense it used against Ripon in a sectional final last year. But considering Seymour's height, I wouldn't be surprised if it threw a little 1-3-1 zone against Waupun.

My basketball knowledge is very limited and I don't always try to pretend to be something I'm not, but if I'm an opposing basketball coach I'd try either the 1-3-1 zone or a triangle-and-two. If Seymour goes with the latter, players like Tom Bresser, Seth Hopp and Tyler DeBoer will have to contribute. If its the former, I think Aris Wurtz can have a big night by slashing to the basket and taking the ball strong to the hoop on the baseline.

Again, I say this knowing absolutely nothing about Seymour. They may play a stout man-to-man defense or a 2-3 zone for all I know.

But one thing is for sure. It's going to take more than Ryan Rasmussen to beat the Thunder.

Where did Rasmussen's performance rank?

2007-03-09T11:55:00.000-06:00

I never like being one of those guys that say something and immediately proclaims it to be the greatest performance he's ever seen. That's why this blog remained silent on Waupun's 69-62 win over Berlin last night in a WIAA Division 2 sectional semifinal.

After a night of deep soul-searching, meditating and some MLB2K7, I've come to the conclusion that it's the best performance I've ever seen, and probably the best performance this area has seen in some time.

Sure, the Dieners had some great shooting nights. I heard stories that Travis Diener dropped 40 on Oshkosh West one night and forced Steve Randall to bring the double-team as soon as he crossed half-court.

While 33 points isn't all that eye-popping, it was the way that Rasmussen did it. The fact that 19 of it came in the last 8:01 of the game. The fact he did it with four fouls. The fact it helped Waupun come back from a 13-point deficit.

Regardless of what happens Saturday, Rasmussen probably earned him a scholarship somewhere with that stretch alone.

Scouting Berlin

2007-03-07T14:59:00.000-06:00

Record: 16-7 overall, 5-5 in East Central Flyway
Notable wins: def. Waupaca, 46-45 and 48-42 (OT).
Key losses: lost to Waupun, 48-41 and 62-54; lost to Laconia, 64-63; lost to Omro, 31-20.

What you should know: While Berlin isn't quite a mystery to Waupun, it is a difficult team to figure out. On the one hand, you could say that six of the team's seven losses came by less than 10 points. But on the other hand, five of its wins were by three points or less, and a sixth came in overtime over Waupaca in a regional final.

Player to watch: Jordan Gerth, a 6-foot-3 senior. Gerth missed the last meeting between the two teams with an ankle injury and while the Indians shot the lights out early, it had no answer when Waupun switched to a zone. Gerth just gives the team another option aside from point guard Scott Falk, forward Alex Mittelstaedt or big man John Mirr.

Bottom line: It will be interesting to see how Waupun uses Monday's game against Chilton. An overtime game like that can go one of two ways... it can either affect your confidence and make you question if you are as good as you really are, or reinforce the fact that games aren't won on talent alone. Usually, familiarity favors the underdog, but in this case, I think it favors Waupun. Despite shooting the lights out early on in the second meeting, Berlin was never really in control after the Warriors made one second-quarter run.

Scouting Whitefish Bay Dominican

2007-03-07T14:39:00.000-06:00

Record: 20-3 overall, 15-0 in Midwest Classic
Notable wins: def. Burlington Catholic Central, 51-47 and 67-47; def. Lomira, 78-50.
Losses: lost to Waukesha Catholic Memorial, 73-65; lost to Oostburg, 39-38; lost to Manitowoc Roncalli, 57-45.

What you should know: The Green Knights have won 15 straight games after losing to Oostburg and Manitowoc Roncalli in the WBBY Shootout at the Al McGuire Center over Christmas break. While the Midwest Classic Conference is far from the best in the Milwaukee area, Dominican had little trouble with anyone in the league except four a four-point win over Catholic Central and a one-point win over Shoreland Lutheran. This is a school that is used to deep tournament runs, but an upset loss to Milwaukee University school last year in a regional final bounced it from the tournament a bit early.

Player to watch: Kwamain Mitchell, a 6-foot junior guard. He leads the team in scoring (16.3 points per game) and if the Journal Sentinel Web site is accurate, has only missed three free throws this year (out of 70 attempted). Also keep an eye on 6-foot-8 senior Cameron Madlock, the Knights' top post presence. He averages nine points per game.

Bottom line: Without having seen Dominican play, its hard for me to give an accurate assesement of Laconia's chances. However, from looking at the stats, I'd say that the Spartans may be the better-prepared team. They've played a better schedule and beaten better teams. But you also have to wonder how much experience comes into play here. While Dominican was bounced from the tourney a bit early last year, it did win titles in 2004 and 2005. If Laconia is able to surprise Dominican with its quickness early, it will have the advantage. But if Dominican jumps out to an early lead, it may be a tough climb for the Spartans.

Where is West Bend High School?

2007-03-06T14:19:00.000-06:00

Confused Laconia fans may wonder which West Bend high school their game against Whitefish Bay Dominican will be held at on Thursday night.

The answer? Yes.

Confused? Don't be.

West Bend East and West are located in the same building, 1305 E. Decorah Road in West Bend. It's a unique situation where the academics are under one roof but the athletics are split into two teams to give kids more opportunities.

As for Waupun fans, Brown County Arena shouldn't be as confusing. It's the round building across the street from Lambeau Field. If I remember correclty, parking is available across the street for $5 a car.

King, Wurtz remain good friends

2007-03-06T14:09:00.000-06:00

It seems fitting that the two teams left standing from our area in the WIAA boys basketball playoffs are Laconia and Waupun.

For those that don't know the history, coach Lucky Wurtz came to Waupun after 12 years at Laconia in which he won 156 games, two conference championships and two state tournament appearances. His former assistant, Tom King, took over the program and after both men took a few years of lumps, they are now in a sectional semifinal.

Here's what Wurtz had to saw about the situation after Monday's victory over Chilton:

"The pressure was more on me. Old Kinger is calling every day, and that's great for Tom. We're the best of friends. I'm so proud of him. I told people at Laconia to just stay with him and he'll do a heck of a job and get it done. I'm happy for him. We'll talk. At least I matched him. It's competitive to see who goes farther.

"A hotel together at state would be nice."

No attacks

2007-03-05T16:29:00.000-06:00

Thanks to those of you that submit comments, but I wanted to remind you that under no circumstances will I approve comments that attack individuals or coaches.

Keep the comments positive, or at least constructive, and they'll get approved.

Hats off to Tom King and Laconia

2007-03-04T04:33:00.000-06:00

I'll be completely honest with you. There are times, when planning tournament coverage, that we automatically chalk up a victory or a loss to teams come playoff time. While we are right most of the time, there are some times when we are wrong.

Count Saturday as one of those times.

I really didn't think that Laconia had a chance against Oostburg. I thought the Flying Dutchmen were having one of those years where they were unstoppable. But the Spartans proved me wrong, coming away with a 42-41 victory.

While Laconia is one of the deepest teams in the area and one with a lot of talent, I thought its draw was brutal. Aside from teams like Racine St. Catherine's and Whitefish Bay Dominican, there's Oostburg.

But now its apparent that Laconia is a very real threat to not only make the state tournament, but come home with a gold ball as well.

For photos from Saturday's game, click here.

Gillespie goes out with class

2007-03-04T04:08:00.000-06:00

One of the tough parts about this time of the year are all the careers that unfittingly come to an end with a loss.

Take, for example, Ripon's Scott Gillespie. It's been a treat watching him play for four years and its unfortunate it had to end in a regional semifinal on Saturday afternoon. Gillespie had a rough first half, but he turned in a brilliant four-minute stretch in the third quarter and willed Ripon back into the game. He made five 3-pointers and had a steal that led to another.

Waupun eventually pulled away for the 65-58 victory. Gillespie had a tough time getting the shots to drop in the fourth quarter as did his teammates. Ripon is losing some great seniors on this team, but the guys that will return next year are much richer for having played with Gillespie.

While I wish Gillespie the best and hope he can find a home with a Division I school, there's part of me that wants him to go to Ripon College, just so I can watch him play.

Fondy hockey among state's elite

2007-03-04T04:01:00.000-06:00

The first Saturday in March is usually one of the busiest days of the year for us high school sports reporters. But, as always, it's a lot of fun.

This year was no exception. While it was the first time I've personally dealt with hockey, it was great to see Fondy bring home the state title. What a job Ryan Sarazin has done with that team in the last three years. I think its pretty safe to say that Fondy is now among the state's elite programs. Need any proof? Fondy beat the No. 1 and No. 2-ranked teams in the state before toppling the program with the most state championships in Wisconsin history in the title game. Fondy also became the first team from this part of the state to win a championship. Last year, Milwaukee University School was the first in the southeast part of the state. There's more parity in Wisconsin hockey these days, which can only make for better state tournaments in the future. Fondy won its first one on Saturday, but I'm guessing it won't be the last.

Insanity continues

2007-03-03T11:43:00.000-06:00

Make sure to check www.fdlreporter.com all day for updates from boys and girls basketball, as well as the WIAA state hockey tournament.

This is one of the best days of the year if you are a high school sports fan, and our area slate won't dissapoint.

At a game? Talk about it in the SportsTalk Forum at forums.fdlreporter.com.

Enjoy the day!

Weather go away

2007-03-02T04:31:00.000-06:00

As the weather continues to mess everything up, I'm not entirely sure I've exhaled since last week Wednesday.

If you need to catch up on any of last night's boys basketball scores, check here. For the hockey scores, check here.

We aren't close to being done yet. I'll be at the girls basketball game doing the broadcast along with KFIZ's Justin Hull. The game begins at 6 p.m. and should finish just before the Fondy boys hockey team squares off against Eau Claire Memorial in a state semifinal.

Speaking of the boys hockey team, you may have noticed or will notice later we didn't have a photo from Thursday's game. This wasn't by design. I had arranged for another newspaper to provide photos from the game, but either something went wrong on their end or they have a different definition for "Sure, we can help you out," than I do, but we never received any photos. It was a frustrating situation and I apologize to the hockey fans that may be disappointed in our coverage. I'm doing my best to make sure it doesn't happen with tonight's game.

As always, if you have any comment on our coverage, feel free to e-mail me directly at jcasper@fdlreporter.com.

WLA game ppd., others still on

2007-03-01T15:42:00.000-06:00

WLA's game at Chilton has been moved to Friday, according to the WIAA site. So far, however, it's the only area game to be postponed.

It appears the Fondy area was spared from the storm, which has hit pretty hard further north.

I'd make fun of the weathermen for being wrong — again — but it appears I was wrong about hockey. Kettle Moraine lost its quarterfinal to Superior. For other scores, check here.

Fondy flies to state hockey tourney

2007-03-01T05:11:00.000-06:00

The hottest hockey team in the state right now has to be Fond du Lac.

Sure, Stevens Point and Eau Claire Memorial are both undefeated. But Fondy is the only team to not allow a goal throughout the playoffs and is considered by many to be the state tournament favorite this weekend.

Stevens Point is up today, and the Panthers know how to put the puck in the goal. However, I'd imagine that Point doesn't normally face a goalie quite like Randy Willis, who was just phenomenal in a sectional final victory over Appleton.

Eau Claire Memorial has similar offensive prowess, and may be a bit more experiened.

But the team I'd keep an eye on is Kettle Moraine. The Lasers have 15 seniors on the team, have only allowed 26 goals this season and its two losses were by one goal each.

Discuss the state tournament in the SportsTalk Forum.

Ripon-Waupun, part III

2007-02-28T17:15:00.000-06:00

The regional semifinal matchup we've all been waiting for will happen Thursday night (weather permitting).

Ripon, which has been on a roll recently, will play at rival Waupun. It seems these teams always meet in the playoffs in every sport at some point.

To review a little bit of the recent history of the rivalry, Ripon's Scott Gillespie scored 52 points in the last meeting, but Aris Wurtz had 27 and Ryan Rasmussen scored 24 as Waupun prevailed 86-81 on Feb. 16. If you want some video of the game, click here.

The teams also met in a regional final for baseball last spring (Waupun won) and a regional final for hoops last winter (Ripon won).

Thursday's game should be a dandy. Pray that the roads are clear.

I was right about Kewaskum

2007-02-28T06:17:00.000-06:00

See, it turns out I know a thing or two about high school basketball.

As I said in Monday's preview of the boys basketball playoffs, Kewaskum was the hottest team in our area and would knock off second-seeded Delafield St. John's.

And that's just what they did. Granted, the low-scoring 29-28 victory wasn't exactly what I had in mind, but the Indians still won.

In case you were wondering, I like their chances against Port Washington. However, I think one bold prediction is enough for Kewaskum.

Hats off to Zakos, Fondy

2007-02-28T05:44:00.000-06:00

The Fond du Lac boys basketball team's season came to an end Tuesday night, and while the games won and lost probably weren't what interim coach Adam Zakos had in mind, this was far from a disappointing season.

Consider:

*Two starters missed significant time due to injury. Ben Anderson was injured from mid-December on, while Nelson Pickart missed the last six weeks of the season. Both could play in the post, and Pickart was Fondy's only player taller than 6-foot-4.

*In the 12 games after a 75-44 loss to Appleton West — its second of the season by 30 points or more — Fondy only lost two by double figures. Four of the eight losses were by four points or less.

*It beat Appleton West and Oshkosh North, the two teams that it previously lost to by 30 points.

Now, for a program that is used to winning conference championships and going to the state tournament, these aren't exactly things to celebrate.

But they are building blocks for what hopefully will be a long career for Zakos at Fondy.

Musings and ramblings

2007-02-25T14:40:00.000-06:00

A few random thoughts while waiting for the "1 vs. 2" matchup between Ohio State and Wisconsin:

***The best thing about Saturday's snowstorm is that it gave me a chance to see Monday's North Fond du Lac vs. Oostburg girls basketball battle. I wonder why the game was moved from Saturday to Monday, and not just played earlier in the day on Saturday. Could it be because Oostburg has bad memories after losing to Ozaukee during the day in last year's playoffs?

***Ripon's Taylor Wurtz may very well be the best girls basketball player in the area, if not the state, but if the Tigers make it to state, it will be because of Erin Lind. Her ability to demand attention both on the perimeter in the paint is cruicial for Ripon's success.

***Congrats to Aaron Toll of Laconia, who won a Division 3 state championship in wrestling on Saturday in Madison. But here's my question: Why is the individual state wrestling meet divided into three divisions? It's done that way in track and swimming because they also crown the team champion at the same meet. But wrestling has a separate team championship. Why not put all the divisions together... or have a champions of the champions round where the title winners in all divisions wrestle against each other. I'd bet Toll would hold his own against the D1 and D2 winners.

***Is it just me, or do they play a lot of golf during the World Match Play championships?

***I'm working on a boys basketball playoff preview right now, and while our area may lack in marquee teams, it makes up for with intrigue. The hottest team in the area right now is Kewaskum, and it is a No. 7 seed. Ripon, Mayville and Fondy have all been playing real well lately, and all are going on the road in the first round.

***Speaking of Ripon, I think there are some people in Kiel (the Tigers' first-round playoff opponent) that wouldn't mind seeing a Ripon-Waupun rematch in the regional semifinals.

***I bought an HDTV last week and am in love. However, there is nothing more disappointing than finding out a game you want to watch isn't being broadcast in HD.

***Mark this down: Marquette will either lose in the first round of the NCAA tournament or go the Final Four. There's no inbetween.

***Every year at this time, I'm amazed that the indoor track season starts so early. We're still a few weeks away, but c'mon, at least give us a break between the state hoops tournament and the start of track.

Carry on.

Update from Madison

2007-02-23T17:29:00.000-06:00

We've got five area wrestlers still in line for WIAA state titles in Madison.

Laconia's Ethan Pipping and Aaron Toll won quarterfinal matches this afternoon as did Campbellsport’s Billy Mayer and Ripon’s Jason Polcyn. The foursome joins Fond du Lac’s Ben Thone in tonight’s semifinals.

For more, including the three wrestlers still alive in the consolation bracket, read our full story here.

Time change for Campbellsport girls

2007-02-23T14:41:00.000-06:00

Campbellsport's regional final against Grafton in Hartford has been moved up to 1:30 p.m.

As far as I know, no other games have been changed.

I'm also working on an update from the quarterfinal matches at the state wrestling meet. It hasn't been a kind one to our area kids...

Stay tuned.

How 'bout them Orioles

2007-02-23T05:10:00.000-06:00

There are certain teams you can tell are made for state tournament runs.

It's kind of hard to describe, but they have to have certain characteristics. They have to have a certain swagger. They have to have a star player. They have to have a player that does the dirty work. They have to have a great shooter. And they have to have multiple ways of beating you, and multiple ways of stopping you. In other words, they have to be able to minimize their weaknesses while enhancing their strengths.

From what I saw in their 48-27 victory over Ozaukee on Thursday night, the North Fond du Lac Orioles are that team. They certainly have a swagger winning 12 straight, the last of which came by 21 points over a team that won 18 games in the regular season. They have the start player in Tori Fink. They have the player that does the dirty work in Claire Roberts. They have a great shooter in Emily Bestor. They can beat you inside, as they did on Thursday, or outside with Fink and Bestor. And they have enough depth down low and enough talent on the wing to defend anyone.

Saturday's game with state-tournament favorite Oostburg should be a doozy. I'd place my money on the winner making it to Madison.

Other quick thoughts from Thursday:

***The Fond du Lac boys basketball team is so close to becoming a very, very good team. This stikes me as a team that, if it finds its groove, could make another deep run in the tournament. Or it could go out in the first round. Either way, I know they are one of the more dangerous teams that has to play a road game in the first round.

***The Campbellsport girls showed their mettle in a thrilling victory over Kettle Moraine Lutheran. The Cougars scored 29 points in the fourth quarter, most of which was done with leading scorer Kallie Benike on the bench after she fouled out.

***This doesn't have anything to do with high school hoops, but did you see this hockey fight Thursday night? Chances are this YouTube video might come down sometime during the day, so check out the video on the ESPN story here.

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One of the biz's best bids adieu

2007-02-22T03:48:00.000-06:00

This has nothing to do with the Fond du Lac sports scene, or Wisconsin sports in general, but, well, this is my blog and I make all the rules.

Although rumors were flying around the Internet for most of the week, I didn't really believe Steve Rushin was leaving Sports Illustrated until I flipped open this week's issue and came upon his farewell column. Like the hundreds that proceeded it, this column was full of clever word-play and inventive phrasing. It's the kind of creative writing you won't find in any other magazine, and certainly not on any blog out there.

While I didn't start reading Rushin religiously until I had already made up my mind that journalism was for me, he had a profound impact on my motivation. In April of 2001, Rushin wrote a column about how sports, unlike much of American life, rewards absurd aspirations. It started with him recalling his childhood days, when he wrote about the Minnesota Twins on his mom's typewriter in his basement, dreaming of one day working for Sports Illustrated. It continued with quotes from a dozen athletes or coaches saying how they realized their dreams through sports. He quotes Willie Wonka.

My favorite part is toward the end:

The world belongs to those who see its possibilities. Dreaming is like believing in God or enrolling in the United frequent-flier program: It costs nothing, yet has potentially transcendent rewards. Why not dream? Yours can be aduaciously gigantic: A teenage Ted Williams, after all, dreamed of people seeing him and saying, "There goes Ted Williams, the greatest hitter who ever lived." (Now, remarkably they do just that.)
Or your dream can be laughably humble: Seven years after I graduated from high school, the Twins won Game 7 of the World Series at the Metrodome, and I drove a rental care through downtown Minneapolis to my childhood home in the suburbs, where I wrote, in the basement, the story for Sports Illustrated.
The dream fulfilled is every bit as fantastic as I once imagined it to be.

The column inspired me to dream big. So I did. I had several in mind, but the biggest one was to get a chance to cover the Final Four. Two years later, I realized my dream (granted, Dwyane Wade, Travis Diener and Robert Jackson had something to do with it). I covered the Final Four in New Orleans for the student paper at Marquette, but not before unfolding a copy of the column and reading it one more time on press row.

Rushin was unique in the fact that he made you stand on your head. For the most part, his was a light-hearted foray into the world of sports that couldn't be found elsewhere. Some didn't like that he wrote about his family alot, but I thought Rushin was at his best when he was at his most genuine. The columns about his wife, his daughters, his dad or his brothers were his best.

Those that only know him through his column should run out to a book store and pick up "Road Swing" and the "Caddie Was a Reindeer" right now. You won't be disappointed.

I know that I and many others eagerly await his next endeavor.

A look at the first night of girls basketball regionals

2007-02-21T16:12:00.000-06:00

Well, folks, I've been battling a sore throat the last few days. That's why there hasn't been much in the way of updates on the blog. But I should be close to 100 percent and ready to go the rest of the playoff season.

What were your thoughts of the first night of the girls basketball playoffs? I didn't think there were too many surprises. Mayville picked up a nice win on the road without Jamie Toellner. Markesan and Campbellsport turned in the blowouts we were all expecting.

Thursday should be a different story. There are three pretty intriguing matchups in the area, all No. 2 vs. No. 3 seeds. I'll be at the Ozaukee-North Fondy girls game, and there's also WLA at Sheboygan Falls and Kettle Moraine Lutheran at Campbellsport.

Of course, that's all there is to talk about this weekend basketball-wise. There's no area conference race yet to be decided, removing any drama from the last night of boys basketball action.

At least we have the regionals to look forward to starting Tuesday.

What do you think? Go to our SportsTalk Forum and join the discussion here.

Check out some highlights from Thursday's Waupun-Ripon game

2007-02-17T11:15:00.000-06:00

Wishoops.net has a great feature called wishoops.tv. It's free of charge and show snippets from some of the top hoops games in the state, or memorable moments such as Emily Bestor's half-court shot.

They've got some footage from Thursday's Ripon-Waupun game. What a battle. Here's hoping the two teams can meet again in a regional semifinal.

More thoughts on Mayville-Laconia

2007-02-16T12:05:00.000-06:00

Great atmosphere at the Laconia-Mayville boys basketball game last night. One of the best I've seen this year. With a gym that small, I bet that thing was rocking back in the day.

Laconia, to me, seems like a team that is really playing with a lot of confidence right now. In that third quarter, I was really impressed with the aggressiveness with which guys like Kieran Weed took the ball to the basket. That was a prime quarter for a letdown, and the fact that they were able to extend the lead had more to do with the victory than anything else.

Other than Waupun, I think Laconia is best suited for a deep tournament run. Granted, the Spartans will have to meet Oostburg at some point, but I think with the variety of weapons Laconia has at its disposal, it has a shot.

Mayville is probably looking at a 4 or 5 seed, and they'd be quite a dangerous 4 or 5 seed. The top team in its bracket is probably going to be Plymouth, which has gotten where it has basically by being bigger in the post than everyone else. I like the Cardinals to make a run as well, provided they can get someone other than Matt Haass or Tyson Apfelbeck to score for them.

Check the book from Thursday's Waupun-Ripon boys basketball game

2007-02-16T06:03:00.000-06:00

A player on the losing team scores 52 points? One kid has 27 in the first half... but then doesn't score in the second. Four players on the winning team foul out? Can't be true.

But it is.

Last night's Ripon-Waupun boys basketball game was certainly one for the ages. Waupun won the game 86-81.

We've uploaded a .pdf of the scorebook for you to check it out yourself. Click here for the story, then look for the link to the file.

Enjoy.

Bestor's shot

2007-02-14T06:56:00.000-06:00

It was brought to my attention that some of you may have missed the video of "The Shot" toward the bottom of the page.

So I've posted it again here. Enjoy.

It's going down to the final night in the FVA

2007-02-14T04:30:00.000-06:00

What seemed to be a foregone conclusion a week ago is now completely up in the air.

After its offense struggled in losses to Kaukauna and Appleton West, the Fond du Lac girls basketball team needs to beat Appleton North on Thursday night (or hope Kimberly loses) to win a share of its third straight FVA title.

It may be a good thing that the Cardinals play again on Thursday. This is no longer an inexperienced team, it's just a team that is going through an offensive funk. The best thing, I think, is for the Cards to get back out there again and just play.

Fondy beat Appleton North, 47-37, in the teams' first meeting.

Coincidentally, Fondy's victory over North pushed the Cardinals into a first-place tie, where they've stated ever since. Now, the Cards will need a victory over North to stay in first place.

Breaking down the conference races

2007-02-12T19:19:00.000-06:00

As I promised in the newspaper a few days ago, I wanted to break down the conference races. I figured I better get on that before the season's over.

For the girls, that ends this week, so lets start with them.

FVA

Although Fondy missed a golden opportunity to lock up a share of the FVA title on Friday, the Cards are still in the driver's seat in the Fox Valley Association race. Fondy has a one-game lead on Kimberly and a two-game lead on Appleton West, its opponent Tuesday night. (Kimberly is home against Kaukauna). On Thursday, Fondy plays at Appleton North and Kimberly is at Appleton West.

All that Fondy needs to do is win both games, or win one and hope that Kimberly loses to Kaukauna or Appleton West for the outright title. It just needs to win one more or hope that Kimberly loses one more to clinch at least a share. I see a Fondy sweep and outright title.

The conference title would be Fondy's third consecutive.

EASTERN WISCONSIN

Campbellsport made things interesting with a victory over Roncalli on Friday. Both teams have identical conference records with two games remaining. Campbellsport plays Kewaskum tonight and then has Plymouth later this week; Roncalli plays Kiel and Sheboygan Falls. I don't really see either team losing, although Falls could give Roncalli some problems. It'll be a co-champion this year.

OTHER LEAGUES

No drama there. Ripon and North Fondy already have the East Central Flyway and Wisconsin Flyway wrapped up, while Markesan has had a firm grip on the Trailways North all season.

-----

BOYS

WISCONSIN FLYWAY

I'd like to say that Laconia has it in the bag, but we all know how crazy the WiFly can get. Although the Spartans have a share of the title wrapped up, an outright title is far from a sure bet. I was high on Mayville at the beginning of the year, and I think the Cardinals have a good shot to beat Laconia on Thursday. That would place a lot of importance on the last night of games. Laconia plays Lomira while Mayville has a game at North Fondy. Don't forget about Horicon, either. The Marshmen are still alive and only have one conference game remaining, against North Fondy. I think Laconia will get the title, but I wouldn't be completely surprised if Mayville wedged its way in there.

FOX VALLEY ASSOCIATION

Pick up Wednesday's copy of The Reporter. Check out the basketball standings. Look for the result of the Oshkosh West-Appleton East game. There's your FVA champ.

Like the girls, most of the boys races are already decided. Waupun has the East Central Flyway under control, Roncalli will win the EWC and Randolph will win the Trailways.

Thoughts? Share them with other readers in the SportsTalk Forum.

I'm back in the game; Here's how I voted

2007-02-12T06:59:00.000-06:00

Alright, so I took a week off. It wasn't on purpose... it just sort of happened. But I'll be back to my regular nonsensical posts.

Here's how I voted in the AP poll this week. You can discuss the rankings here.

BOYS

DIVISION 1: 1. Milw. Vincent; 2. Madison Memorial; 3. Milw. Washington; 4. Oshkosh West; 5. Milw. Pius; 6. Appleton East; 7. Milw. King; 8. Middleton; 9. Oshkosh North; 10. Wausau East.

DIVISION 2: 1. Adams-Friendship; 2. Seymour; 3. Catholic Memorial; 4. Waupun; 5. Rice Lake; 6. Evansville; 7. New Berlin Eisenhower; 8. Union Grove; 9. East Troy; 10. Whitewater.

DIVISION 3: 1. La Crosse Aquinas; 2. Manitowoc Roncalli; 3. Oostburg; 4. Cuba City; 5. Iola-Scandinavia; 6. Racine St. Catherine’s; 7. Whitefish Bay Dominican; 8. Cameron; 9. Weyauwega-Fremont; 10. Prescott.

DIVISION 4: 1. Randolph; 2. Barneveld; 3. Abbotsford; 4. Eleva-Strum; 5. Elmwood; 6. Suring; 7. Sheboygan Christian; 8. Lena; 9. Gilman; 10. Marshfield Columbus

GIRLS

DIVISION 1: 1. DePere; 2. Milw. Vincent; 3. Sheboygan North; 4. Franklin; 5. Janesville Parker; 6. Middleton; 7. Fond du Lac; 8. Eau Claire North; 9. Milw. King; 10. Arrowhead.

DIVISON 2: 1. Greendale; 2. Columbus; 3. Jefferson; 4. Grafton; 5. New London; 6. Rice Lake; 7. Monroe; 8. Elkhorn; 9. Campbellsport; 10. Ripon.

DIVISION 3: 1. Cuba City; 2. Oostburg; 3. Colfax, 4. Markesan; 5. Amherst; 6. Park Falls; 7. Ozaukee; 8. Osseo-Fairchild; 9. North Fond du Lac; 10. Wild Rose.

DIVISION 4: 1. Flambeau; 2. Niagara; 3. Clayton; 4. Rib Lake; 5. Barneveld; 6. Hurley; 7. Pecatonica; 8. Rio; 9. Wausau Newman; 10. Ithaca.

I'm off tonight

2007-02-02T19:01:00.000-06:00

It's Parent's Night for me (folks are talking me out to dinner) so I won't be out at an area gym tonight.

But if you are, and have something to say, head on over to the SportsTalk Forum and voice your opinion.

More thoughts from Myles Brand

2007-02-02T10:59:00.000-06:00

A couple of additional thoughts on Myles Brand's speech on Thursday:

*He said that college has completely random steroids tests, but it didn't sound like they enforced them that often. In the Q and A with the media, he essentially said it was more or less reactionary, where if a trainer sees an athlete bulking up rather quickly, they'll investigate. However, they test at all championships, and the penalties for getting caught are severe. One failed test and you lose a year of eligibility. Two failed tests and you are done. "It's just cheating," Brand said. "It's just flat out cheating."

*During the Q and A with the audience, Brand was asked if the day would come where college athletes were every paid. His simple response: "No." After some laughter, he did expound on that point: "If you want to play our games, you're going to have to follow our rules. And our rules say you're a student first. If you don't want to be a student, that's OK. It's not for everyone. Go somewhere else, go to Europe or to a developmental league."

*I was surprised that Brand didn't mention Wednesday's college basketball game in Bloomington, Ind., in his general speech. He did make a quip about it with the media afterwards, and flashed a big smile. Brand was president of Indiana before becoming president of the NCAA. The Hoosiers upset No. 2 Wisconsin on Wednesday, ending the Badgers' 17-game winning streak. By the way, Brand was also the guy that fired Bob Knight.

Excellent Michael Hunt column today

2007-02-02T04:35:00.000-06:00

I've refrained from commenting on the "brawl" at a recent Bradley Tech-Bay View game. I haven't attended a Milwaukee City Conference game in years, so I really can't speak for the conditions at those events.

However, I think Michael Hunt hits the nail right on the head in today's column. You shouldn't punish the kids in this situation... they did nothing wrong. You should punish the fans that refuse to respect the right of others to watch a high school basketball game in relative peace.

I wouldn't be surprised if MPS holds all conference games right after school starting next season. It's a shame that working parents and fans outside the school won't be able to make many of the games, but its better than taking drastic steps such as cancelling the season.

How far can Waupun go?

2007-02-02T04:19:00.000-06:00

Without a doubt, the top boys basketball team in our area is Waupun. Not only do they have the record to prove it, but they have the most talented starting 5, one of the best mastermind coaches and star-power in Ryan Rasmussen.

The question I pose to you now is: How far can they go?

I think a regional championship is a safe bet. The Warriors should skate through their first few games, then meet Waupaca, Little Chute or Fox Valley Lutheran in a sectional semifinal.

In the sectional final, in all likelihood, they'll meet Seymour. And I have a feeling this might be the year that Seymour's postseason run ends shy of the state tournament.

What do you think? Voice your opinion in the SportsTalk Forum.

Watch Bestor's shot here

2007-01-31T18:43:00.000-06:00

Here's the video from WisHoops.net

Our intrepid photographer Justin Connaher also put up 20-plus images from the game. You can view the photo gallery here.

If you live in the Fond du Lac area and get Charter, you can see the game at 8 p.m. on Thursday night on Charter Channel 25. FSN will also air the game on Feb. 13 after the Bucks game, so approximately at 9:45 p.m., according to Nicholas Kartos of WisHoops.net.

Memorable buzzer beaters

2007-01-31T05:55:00.000-06:00

Without a doubt, Emily Bestor's half-court shot at the buzzer to beat Lomira on Thursday night will be remembered for some time.

But what are some other memorable game-winning shots you guys have seen?

I'll start by telling one from my high school days when I was at Milwaukee Marquette. Tosa East came to the Humphrey Gymnasium and, naturally, the game went into double overtime. With Tosa East leading by two, the Raiders missed a free throw. Marquette pushed the ball up the court and Ernest Williams drained a 3-pointer from the wing (right in front of the East student section), and bedlam ensued on the court.

Unfortunately, what happened afterward put a damper on the excitement. Marquette students stormed the court, and a Tosa East player felt he was pushed, so he pushed down the first Marquette student he saw. A Marquette coach confronted the Tosa East player from behind, but the player didn't know what was going on, and punched the coach.

It was an ugly scene that changed the way some schools handle their crowds. Fortunately, nothing like that happened Tuesday night in Lomira.

To discuss your most memorable high school buzzer beater, join the conversation in the SportsTalk forum.

Herpes outbreak in Minnesota wrestling

2007-01-30T16:34:00.001-06:00

I'm not sure what to say about this.

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/news/story?id=2748372

How I voted this week

2007-01-30T06:39:00.000-06:00

BOYS

DIVISION 1: 1. Milw. Vincent; 2. Oshkosh West; 3. Milw. Pius; 4. Madison Memorial; 5. Milw. Washington; 6. Milw. King; 7. Verona; 8. Bay View; 9. Appleton East; 10. Oshkosh North.

DIVISION 2: 1. Adams-Friendship; 2. Seymour; 3. New Berlin Eisenhower; 4. Catholic Memorial; 5. Waupun; 6. Union Grove; 7. Rice Lake; 8. Evansville; 9. Brown Deer; 10. River Valley.

DIVISION 3: 1. LaCrosse Aquinas; 2. Manitowoc Roncalli; 3. Oostburg; 4. Cuba City; 5. Iola-Scandinavia; 6. Racine St. Catherine’s; 7. Weyauwega-Fremont; 8. Whitefish Bay Dominican; 9. Laconia; 10. Eau Claire Regis.

DIVISION 4: 1. Randolph; 2. Barneveld; 3. Abbotsford; 4. Eleva-Strum; 5. Elmwood; 6. Suring; 7. Sheboygan Christian; 8. Lena; 9. Seneca; 10. Cassville.

GIRLS

DIVISION 1: De Pere; 2. Milw. Vincent; 3. Sheboygan North; 4. Middleton; 5. Fond du Lac; 6. Franklin; 7. Janesville Parker; 8. Eau Claire North; 9. Milw. Vincent; 10. Verona.

DIVISION 2: 1. Greendale; 2. Columbus; 3. Jefferson; 4. Grafton; 5. New London; 6. Rice Lake; 7. Monroe; 8. Elkhorn; 9. Campbellsport; 10. Wautoma.

DIVISION 3: 1. Cuba City; 2. Oostburg; 3. Amherst; 4. Colfax; 5. Markesan; 6. Park Falls; 7. Manitowoc Roncalli; 8. Ozaukee; 9. Osseo-Fairchild; 10. Mineral Point.

DIVISION 4: 1. Flambeau; 2. Niagara; 3. Clayton; 4. Barneveld; 5. Wausau Newman; 6. Rio’ 7. Pecatonica; 8. Rib Lake; 9. Ithaca; 10. Hurley.

Discuss the rankings and how I voted in the SportsTalk forum.

The top five players in the area

2007-01-29T06:30:00.000-06:00

As promised in today's Reporter, here's my list of the top 5 players in the area. As a disclaimer, I should make it known that I haven't been able to see as many teams as I would have liked. That being said, I feel pretty confident in this list.

1. Scott Gillespie, Ripon: True, the Tigers are having a down year, but this kid is giving it his all every day. According to www.wishoops.net, he's the state's leading scorer at a little more than 26 points per game. Last week, he scored 71 combined points in victories against Wautoma and Omro. Ripon still strikes fear into opponents because of Gillespie.

2. Ryan Rasmussen, Waupun: Aside from what I wrote in today's story, Rasmussen is the one player in the area that has the most college potential. If he improves a little bit more on his shooting touch, he's a bona fide mid-major Division 1 guard. Wouldn't he look good in the Missouri Valley Conference?

3. Eddie Gilgenbach, Fondy: Like Gillespie, he's had to do quite a bit for his team, but unlike Gillespie, Gilgenbach has better talent around him to work with. There are some Division I and II schools interested in the junior, who is shooting his way to a first-team all-Fox Valley Association pick.

4. Matt Haass, Mayville: He's been the unstoppable force in the Wisconsin Flyway all season and shows no signs of slowing down. If football isn't in the cards for the Cardinal, a Division II hoops scholarship would surely be an option.

5. Kieran Weed, Laconia: Without a doubt, he's the most athletic player on this list. It's a three-way race between him, Haass and J.T. Schliewe for player of the year honors in the Wisconsin Flyway.

What's your list? Share your thoughts in the SportsTalk forum.

Waupn beats Berlin, 62-54

2007-01-26T22:45:00.000-06:00

A couple of quick thoughts on this game before I enjoy the night:

1. If Waupun is going to make it to the state tournament, it will have as much to do with its senior class as it will Ryan Rasmussen and Aris Wurtz. While the juniors get the headlines, the seniors do a lot of dirty work that doesn't get noticed. Seth Hopp had a fantastic game tonight, and when he made a 3-pointer late in the game, your could just sense the fear in other teams that may cross Waupun's path. It's bad enough they have to worry about Rasmussen and Wurtz, but if Bresser and Hopp start hitting their shots, it's going to be a tall task for anyone to beat the Warriors.

2. There is no coach that physically expends more energy on the sideline than Lucky Wurtz.

3. Berlin is a good team and one that shouldn't be taken lightly come tournament time. The Indians were playing without leading scorer Jordan Gerth and still gave Waupun all it could handle. Berlin and Waupun wouldn't cross paths in the tournament until a sectional semifinal, which means the Indians would probably have to upset several Valley 8 teams first. I wouldn't be surprised if that happened.

4. There was a nice crowd on hand for the game, but I thought the Waupun faithful were rather quiet. It might have had to do with the fact they were facing directly toward me, but I thought Berlin's students were much, much louder than any other group in that gym.

For the story on the game, go to http://www.fdlreporter.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070126/FON0101/70126195/1985

To discuss the game in the SportsTalk forum, go here: http://forums.fdlreporter.com/viewtopic.php?t=388

Join our SportsTalk forum

2007-01-26T17:00:00.000-06:00

In our never-ending quest to offer you more online, we've started SportsTalk, your home for online discussion of Fondy area sports. While this blog also served that function, I feel that a traditional message board format might facilitate more conversation.

Starting today, we offer you this: http://forums.fdlreporter.com/viewforum.php?f=12

I'll post entries from my blog for you to comment on or other topics. And, you can even come up with your own.

So if you go out to a game tonight and have a comment, feel free to leave it with others on the Friday games thread here: http://forums.fdlreporter.com/viewtopic.php?t=388

Waupun on verge of putting it away

2007-01-26T14:15:00.000-06:00

Nothing will be official until at least next week, but the Waupun boys basketball team can all but end the East Central Flyway Conference championship discussion by beating Berlin tonight.

With a 5-0 record in league play and Berlin and Winneconne tied for second at 3-2, a Waupun victory would give it a three-game lead over everyone but the Wolves with four games to play.

I was on Bob Hoffmaster's radio show this morning talking about the Warriors and he brought up a good point that clinching the conference so early might not be beneficial to their playoff hopes. Granted, every team is going to go out and try to win every game, but how much would it hurt Waupun if it doesn't play a meaningful game over the last two or three weeks of the season?

Comment from a fired-up Fondy fan

2007-01-24T04:57:00.000-06:00

I wanted to share with you a comment that a reader left moments after the Fondy boys game tonight. It brings up some good points, especially the lack of fan support at the game on Tuesday night. This is one thing that I find hard to believe. How can a town with such a rich basketball tradition have such a poor following for the basketball team? I know the girls were playing in Oshkosh and the hockey team was in Beaver Dam, but I bet there were more people stuck home in front of a TV last night than were out supporting their school...

I just want to say how proud I am of the Fond du Lac Boys and also the Fond du Lac Girls Basketball Programs. This city has a lot to be proud of. This big victory this Tuesday night against 9th ranked Oshkosh North goes to prove that the Boys program is far from dead.
The Boys have 10 juniors on the team and I look at the FVA web site and look who is sitting on top of the scoring leader board but none other than Eddie Gilgenbach. Fond du Lac has produced numerous scoring leaders since Dick Diener took over the program in the 1980's. Those that are looking at Adam not doing a good job should realize the pressure that is on this 30 year old kid and his staff. Adam has assembled one of the youngest staffs in the conference and I'm proud of Adam as a coach for the future as I was of him as a player and hopefully long time confidant and friend. If you attended the game against Kenosha Bradford on December 28th, you would have seen the past as well as the future.
One thing that has me pondering what is going on at Fond du Lac High School. When we were in the old Goodrich Gym, there would be sell outs after sell outs. Who can forget all the Oshkosh West/North/Kimberly battles. Even further back, I remember the battles that Fond du Lac had in the Fox River Valley Conference against foes such as Green Bay Preble, Manitowoc and Sheboygan North.
What bothered me at the Oshkosh North Home game on Tuesday, January 23rd is that the High School Student Body was so small. Why? What has the student body done wrong that other student bodies are so saintly for. None of us are perfect and I feel that with the atmospheres at the old Goodrich gyms where a lot of memories are treasured for me to make the program as successful for Adam and the boys and Doug and the girls we have to get the fan support back the way it was. Look at Neenah in their hay day. Fond du Lac I urge you to get behind not only the boys and girls but all sports. The kids look up to us as the kids coming up look up to them. What was surprising was that when the upset was almost assured against Oshkosh North the kids on the south Fond du Lac side bleachers were the first to try and get the fans cheering. So let's get a big crowd for the boys game on Friday. Fond du Lac we cana be a power again. The boys are just learning to play under a new scheme and system as well as a brand new coach who is learning as he goes along. Let's get the Boys and Girls into the tournament. I'm a proud alumni of Fond du Lac and always will be.
God bless Fond du Lac and Wisconsin.

Now that's one proud alum. I know there are more of you out there.

What a victory for Fondy

2007-01-24T04:36:00.000-06:00

I'm not going to rush out and buy a bunch of Powerball tickets or anything, but I think I'm psychic.

Before Doug Whiteley left to cover Tuesday's Fond du Lac-Oshkosh North boys basketball game, I mentioned that I had a feeling that Fondy would put up a fight. North was coming off a huge game against Oshkosh West just a few nights earlier, and after the disappointment of losing that game may have had a hard time focusing on the gameplan for the Cardinals.

But, to be completely honest, I didn't think they'd win the game.

It's a huge win for the Cards, and is easily the biggest win for Adam Zakos in his short time here.

Looking at the way the schedule shakes out, if Fondy puts together a nice run in the second half here, it could finish in the top half of the Fox Valley Association. What a feat that would be, considering the team had two 30-point losses to North and Appleton West in the first half of the season and has had to deal with injuries to key contributors.

Let's see how Fondy comes out against Kimberly on Friday night. A victory over the Papermakers would send a clear message to the rest of the league that things are starting to come around in this neck of the woods.

How I voted this week

2007-01-22T05:57:00.000-06:00

Another reason to not trust the AP polls... me. This is the first time I've been able to vote in three weeks. Two weeks ago I had computer problems and last week I had something come up so I wasn't able to vote. I'm not sure how much of an affect it had on the process, but we'll see if anything gets shaken up this week.

Here's how I voted just now:

BOYS
Division 1
1. Milwaukee Vincent
2. Oshkosh West
3. Madison Memorial
4. Milwaukee Pius
5. Milwaukee Washington
6. Appleton East
7. Milwaukee King
8. Oshkosh North
9. Milwaukee Bay View
10. Sheboygan North

Division 2
1. Adams-Friendship
2. Seymour
3. New Berlin Eisenhower
4. Catholic Memorial
5. Waupun
6. Union Grove
7. Rice Lake
8. Evansville
9. Whitewater
10. Brown Deer

Division 3
1. La Crosse Aquinas
2. Manitowoc Roncalli
3. Oostburg
4. Cuba City
5. Iola-Scandinavia
6. Racine St. Catherine’s
7. Weyauwega-Fremont
8. Whitefish Bay Dominican
9. Cameron
10. Kenosha St. Joe’s

Division 4
1. Randolph
2. Barneveld
3. Abbotsford
4. Eleva-Strum
5. Suring
6. Seneca
7. Sheboygan Christian
8. Burlington Catholic Central
9. Lena
10. Elmwood

GIRLS
Division 1
1. De Pere
2. Milwaukee Vincent
3. Sheboygan North
4. Middleton
5. Janesville Parker
6. Fond du Lac
7. Franklin
8. Eau Claire North
9. Verona
10. West Bend East

Division 2
1. Grafton
2. Greendale
3. Columbus
4. New London
5. Jefferson
6. Rice Lake
7. Wautoma
8. Monroe
9. Elkhorn
10. Campellbsport

Division 3
1. Cuba City
2. Oostburg
3. Amherst
4. Colfax
5. Markesan
6. Park Falls
7. Manitowoc Roncalli
8. Ozaukee
9. Osseo-Fairchild
10. Mineral Point

Division 4
1. Barneveld
2. Flambeau
3. Wausau Newman
4. Niagara
5. Clayton
6. Rio
7. Pecatonica
8. Rib Lake
9. Ithaca
10. Hurley

Check out our Web site and tell your friends

2007-01-15T05:37:00.000-06:00

Check out this photo and many others from the last week of action on our Web photo gallery. Our photographers did an awesome job this week, and I especially enjoyed the work Pat Flood did for us this weekend. Luckily, we had some additional space in the regular section, and were able to run some of them larger than usual. The ones that didn't make the paper, you can find in our photo gallery.

Also, remember that we are archiving all of our basketball stories since the beginning of the year in our prep basketball section.

Recruiting update on Weed

2007-01-14T06:21:00.000-06:00

He's still got a year left at high school, but it's obvious that Laconia's Kieran Weed is going to be playing somewhere in college.

Right now, that appears to be at the Division 2 level. Weed told me that several D2 schools around the region were interested, and that Michigan Tech may be the early clubhouse leader. He also mentioned St. Cloud State and Minnesota-Duluth.

I think Weed is kind of playing out of position right now. He seems to be more of a natural 3 or wing forward rather than a post player. Granted, that opinion is based solely on what I saw Friday, but I wonder what he'd be able to do from the wing spot.

Also, Tyson Apfelbeck said he's leaning toward going to UW-Whitewater for baseball. I didn't get a chance to see if Matt Haass had any more thoughts on where he was headed, nor did I get to reschedule a rematch of our video game disaster from November. I've been practicing.

More thoughts on Mayville-Laconia

2007-01-14T05:32:00.000-06:00

Friday night was the first time I had a chance to see either Laconia or Mayville, and although the Spartans came away with the 51-44 victory, both teams showed me something.

For starters, Mayville's obvious strength is Matt Haass. At 6-foot-4, he's not exactly the tallest post player around but he's physical enough to get done what he needs to get done. He also showed some nice perimeter skills, including a wicked spin move in the lane on one drive and some nice court vision to find Tyson Apfelbeck for 3-pointer.

That being said, I think its going to fall on the shoulders of the other players on the team to make enough shots to either prevent the double-team or at least soften up defenses enough that it will have to respect the outside shot. It's been a rough stretch of games for the Cardinals, and while the conference championship may be out of reach, there's still time for Mayville to regain some offensive confidence and put together a nice postseason run.

As far as Laconia, I was impressed with the first and fourth quarters, but the second and third have me a bit concerned about their state tournament chances. The one thing I love about this team is that they play with tons of emotion. But that can also be a bad thing. Even coach Tom King said after the game that he thought his team was drained a little in the second and third quarters.

But when Laconia turns it on, man, can they turn it on. Granted, Mayville kind of shot itself in the foot, but that was some fantastic defense the Spartans played in the fourth quarter.

The other thing that impressed me about Laconia was its depth. Kieran Weed is the superstar, but Aaron Rickert and Derek Semenas can score in bunches and the Wittchow boys provided added toughness. I think the Spartans may be the deepest team in the league, something that will help come playoff time.

That was the first game I ever saw at Laconia, and I liked the gym a lot. I bet it got quite loud there back in the day.

Finally, take a look at this picture. Honestly, what is up with the people ignoring Schellpfeffer's perfect shooting form?

What is going on with the Fondy boys?

2007-01-11T01:25:00.000-06:00

I think we all knew that it was going to be a tough year when it came to wins and losses for the Fond du Lac boys basketball team, but even the most positive Cardinals fan had to be a bit disappointed with Tuesday's 31-point loss to Appleton West.

It was especially a surprise considering Fondy's performance in a 60-55 loss to Kaukauna last Thursday. While I wasn't at the game, I understand that the Cards played well and probably should have come away with a victory. But on Tuesday, Appleton West just couldn't miss in the first two quarters and before Fondy knew what hit it, West had a 30-point lead.

This is the first step back that Fondy has taken all season. Taking away the loss to Oshkosh West, I think Fondy has shown signs of improvement in each game its played. Not on Tuesday.

However, there were some encouraging signs. There were several loose balls in the second half, and despite being down by 30 points, Fondy players showed no hesitation in diving on those loose balls. Eddie Gilgenbach played a pretty strong second half. But it was just Appleton West's night.

I think Friday's game will tell a lot about where this team is headed. I know there aren't too many coaches in the state that hate losing as much as Adam Zakos, and I know that he's going to have no problem getting the team ready to play on Friday against Appleton North.

Whether or not Fondy can turn that into a victory remains to be seen. But you can bet whatever happens on Friday will be better than what happened on Tuesday.

Waupun not shooting well?

2007-01-05T16:38:00.000-06:00

The No. 1 team in The Reporter's Power Poll since the season started has been Waupun.

The Warriors are 7-1 and now 3-0 in the East Central Flyway, poised to win the conference championship and possibly advance deep into the playoffs.

Depending on how what you call four ounces of water in an 8-oz. glass, the best may be yet to come for Waupun.

"You know, we are off to a good start, but we haven't been shooting that well," Waupun coach Lucky Wurtz told me on the phone last night when reporting his team's 66-54 victory over WLA.

That may be a scary sight. Nobody runs the floor in the area better than Waupun and if the outside shots start to fall, the Warriors are going to be a tough, tough out come playoff time.

WiFly is going to be a mess

2007-01-05T16:26:00.000-06:00

Not that anyone should be really surprised by this, but the Wisconsin Flyway continues to be jammed at the top.

With Horicon's 20-point victory over Mayville Thursday night, three teams are tied atop the conference standings. The two Marshland rivals and Laconia are tied with 3-1 records.

While there are still eight conference games left, I'd expect this to be a familiar sight. I really don't see any of the trio falling too far behind, meaning it will be quite difficult for any of the three to pull that far ahead.

That being said, I'm still sticking with my preseason prediction of Laconia to win the league title. Mayville has the conference's top player in Matt Haass, Horicon has the most experience but Laconia has the most depth, especially now that Zach Wittchow has returned to the fray.

The Spartans have home games coming up with both Mayville (Jan. 12) and Horicon (Jan. 18). A sweep would give Laconia the one step over each team that might be enough to win the conference title. A split would probably do no harm. Two losses might be too much to overcome.

WisHoops updates its rankings

2007-01-04T16:09:00.000-06:00

For those of you that have a WisHoops.net Courtside subscription, Mark Miller has updated his player rankings for boys basketball.

For those of you that don't have a Courtside subscription, you better get one. Miller forgets more about prep basketball in this state every night than I will ever pretend to know in a lifetime. So you should go check it out here.

Also, I'm going to be helping with the broadcast of Friday's Fond du Lac-Kaukauna girls basketball game on KFIZ-AM 1450, so tune in for more hilarity.

Why I love this week

2006-12-29T04:38:00.000-06:00

This is one of the greatest non-state tournament prep sports weeks of the year. In fact, it might be the best week aside from opening week of prep football. I love it.

Need a reason? Take Thursday's game between Waupun and Brown Deer. Where else are you going to find action like that at 2:15 on a Thursday afternoon? Watching Waupun coach Lucky Wurtz do calisthenics on the sidelines would be worth it even if there wasn't a basketball game going on in front of him.

But there have been great games going on all over the state this week, and some more to come tomorrow, including the Laconia boys against Adams-Friendship in Portage.

If I were the coach of a basketball team, I'd do my darndest to get my squad at one of these tourneys. Provided it's the right fit, it provides quality competition and gives your team a chance to prepare for the tourney atmosphere in March.

What was your favorite tournament of the week?

Fondy girls make huge statement

2006-12-27T04:11:00.000-06:00

The first area team to make a statement during Holiday Hoops week was without a doubt the Fond du Lac girls basketball team.

By virtue of its 35-22 victory over third-ranked Middleton, these Cardinals proved that early-season losses to Neenah and Appleton East may be abberations.

Fondy may be the best defensive girls team I've ever seen, and I covered the Oshkosh West girls team when it made it to state in 2005 despite shooting like it had one hand tied behind its back all season.

Although Middleton played without its leading scorer, nothing less than current University of Wisconsin superstar Jolene Anderson would have saved those Cardinals. Fondy can really get out and defend.

While the Cardinals do have a two-game deficit to make up in the Fox Valley Association, it has yet to play FVA-leading Appleton West. If this game is a sign of things to come, Fondy could be looking at a three-peat.

Now, if only it can figure out a way to get past Sheboygan North in the sectional.

Yep, they even make us vote on Christmas

2006-12-25T15:18:00.000-06:00

Happy Holidays to all the FSI readers. Here's my latest ballot:

Division 1
1. Oshkosh West
2. Milwaukee Vincent
3. Madison Memorial
4. Milwaukee Tech
5. Milwaukee Pius
6. Milwaukee King
7. Milwaukee Washington
8. Wauwatosa East
9. Wausau East
10. Oshkosh North

Division 2
1. Catholic Memorial
2. Seymour
3. Waupun
4. Adams-Friendship
5. Altoona
6. New Berlin Eisenhower
7. Wisconsin Dells
8. Rice Lake
9. Evansville
10. Mayville

Division 3
1. La Crosse Acquinas
2. Manitowoc Roncalli
3. Whitefish Bay Dominican
4. Cuba City
5. Racine St. Catherine’s
6. Laconia
7. Eau Claire Regis
8. Kenosha St. Joe’s
9. Iola-Scandinavia
10. Oostburg

Division 4
1. Randolph
2. Barneveld
3. Burlington Catholic
4. Eleva-Strum
5. Abbotsford
6. Gilman
7. Suring
8. Columbus Catholic
9. Sheboygan Christian
10. Seneca

GIRLS
Division 1
1. De Pere
2. Janesville Parker
3. Milwaukee Vincent
4. Franklin
5. Sheboygan North
6. Middleton
7. Eau Claire North
8. Milwaukee King
9. Verona
10. West Bend East

Division 2
1. Grafton
2. Richland Center
3. Greendale
4. Jefferson
5. Rice Lake
6. New London
7. Elkhorn
8. Campbellsport
9. New Berlin Eisenhower
10. Monroe

Division 3
1. Cuba City
2. Oostburg
3. Markesan
4. Park Falls
5. Amherst
6. Osseo-Fairchild
7. Ozaukee
8. Lomira
9. North Fond du Lac
10. Mineral Point

Division 4
1. Rio
2. Wausau Newman
3. Flambeau
4. Clayton
5. Pecatonica
6. Barneveld
7. Niagara
8. Ithaca
9. De Soto
10. Burlington Catholic

Hear me on the radio today

2006-12-22T06:32:00.000-06:00

Yep, that's right. KFIZ is letting me on the air once again. I'll be providing color commentary for the Fondy-West girls game tonight. I'm sure I'll say something stupid, so be sure to check in. The game starts at 6.

As for the boys game, I'm expecting Fondy to come out and give West all that it can handle. Obviously, West is a huge favorite in this game, but I think the Cards may have a trick or two up their sleeves.

Enjoy the game if you are going, and remember to check out www.fdlreporter.com for updates.

How I voted

2006-12-18T07:23:00.000-06:00

Ah, your favorite feature returns. You'll see below how I voted in the AP state basketball poll. Again, don't take these too seriously.

Division 1
1. Oshkosh West
2. Milwaukee Vincent
3. Madison Memorial
4. Milwaukee Tech
5. Milwaukee Pius
6. Oshkosh North
7. Milwaukee King
8. Verona
9. Wauwatosa East
10. Milwaukee Washington

Division 2
1. Catholic Memorial
2. Altoona
3. Seymour
4. New Berlin Eisenhower
5. Waupun
6. Wisconsin Dells
7. Adams-Friendship
8. Rice Lake
9. Evansville
10. Dodgeville

Division 3
1. La Crosse Acquinas
2. Manitowoc Roncalli
3. Whitefish Bay Dominican
4. Racine St. Catherine’s
5. Cuba City
6. Oostburg
7. Laconia
8. Kenosha St. Joe’s
9. Iola-Scandinavia
10. Fennimore

Division 4
1. Randolph
2. Barneveld
3. Burlington Catholic
4. Eleva-Strum
5. Abbotsford
6. Gilman
7. Suring
8. Seneca
9. Columbus Catholic
10. Sheboygan Christian

GIRLS
Division 1
1. De Pere
2. Janesville Parker
3. Milwaukee Vincent
4. Franklin
5. Sheboygan North
6. Middleton
7. Ashwaubenon
8. Eau Claire North
9. Divine Savior Holy Angels
10. Milwaukee King

Division 2
1. Greendale
2. Jefferson
3. Grafton
4. Monroe
5. Richland Center
6. Elkhorn
7. Ripon
8. Rice Lake
9. New Berlin Eisenhower
10. Campbellsport

Division 3
1. Cuba City
2. Oostburg
3. Markesan
4. Park Falls
5. Amherst
6. Osseo-Fairchild
7. Ozaukee
8. Lomira
9. North Fond du Lac
10. Mineral Point

Division 4
1. Rio
2. Wausau Newman
3. Flambeau
4. Clayton
5. Pecatonica
6. Barneveld
7. Niagara
8. Ithaca
9. De Soto
10. Burlington Catholic

Travis Diener update

2006-12-14T04:09:00.000-06:00

After spending most of the season on the bench, Fondy's own Travis Diener has seen more action as of late.

Unfortunately for all involved, it's mainly because of injuries. Hedo Turkoglu and Keith Bogans are both out, and apparently Jameer Nelson and Grant Hill will be out of action as well.

Diener tried to make the most of the situation, but only scored five points on Monday against the Suns and six against the Raptors on Wednesday. Still, for a guy that has spent most of the season on the bench, it's going to take a while to heat up.

One of the reasons that the Magic didn't deal Diener in the offseason was because of situations like this. He's a relatively cheap insurance policy and gives the Magic some shooting off the bench without having to rush the development of former Duke player J.J. Redick.

In case you are wondering, Diener and the Magic are scheduled to play the Bucks on Feb. 7. Last year's game at the Bradley Center was Diener's best of his career.

Student section patrol

2006-12-13T04:46:00.000-06:00

I found this article in Tuesday's Journal Sentinel to be rather interesting.

If you think I'm playing a dirty trick on you, or you are too lazy to click a mouse, I'll give you the short version here:

A group of students at New Berlin West got into some hot water for cheers which the administration deemed were in poor taste. They also had sexually-suggestive sayings on T-shirts. As a result, the school's principal gave the students a somewhat demeaning quiz asking questions such as: True or False, When my kids grow up, I want them to be exactly like me after two were kicked out of a girls basketball game on Friday.

The article goes on to adress some of the questionable cheers the student section performs, such as chanting "air ball" at a player that, surprise, shot an air ball.

I go back and forth on the issue. One of the best aspects of covering high school sports is the crazed student section. I love it. It makes those long January games all the more interesting.

There has to be a line, however. You can keep it creative and positive at the same time. Don't be overly mean toward an individual or team and don't say anything you wouldn't want said to you in return.

With that being said, I think some administrators need to lighten up. Chanting "air ball" is something that has been going on at games for years. While it's not the most creative chant in the world, it certainly isn't as horrible as the administrators make it seem to be.

Student support should be cultivated at every opportunity, not thwarted. Administrators should work with students — not against them — to foster a positive and creative environment for everyone.

Now

Go watch the Campbellsport girls

2006-12-09T10:23:00.000-06:00

I'm going to make this brief, because I'm already late for today's Marquette-Wisconsin game.

If you are prone to believing that girls basketball is boring, then do yourself a favor and go check out the Campbellsport girls team. The Cougars really like to get up and down the floor and man, can they shoot.

I always get ticked off at people that blindly say that girls basketball is inferior to boys hoops. I know that it isn't the same. The game is different, and in my opinion, no better or worse. But I have a feeling that if many of you go check out a Campbellsport game, you won't be disappointed.

Other quick thoughts ...

WiFly will be close again: Laconia missed a 3-pointer with 1 second left and fell at Horicon, 58-56. These two teams, along with a handful of others, battled it out until the final game of last season for the conference title, and judging from the opening game it will be a close race again.

Fondy getting better: The Cardinals boys fell by 8 on the road at Kimberly and definitely showed signs they are getting better. Fondy led after the first quarter and even when it fell behind in the second half, still managed to battle back to get within 4 before the Papermakers pulled away. Look for a couple of Fondy wins next week at home — finally — against Appleton East and Menasha.

Saturday coverage: Yeah, so we don't have a Saturday paper. That doesn't mean you have to wait until Sunday to get coverage of Friday night games. Log on to www.fdlreporter.com for what you need to know from last night's action.

Marquette 77, Wisconsin 71: While I think that Bo Ryan is a fantastic X's and O's coach, there is nothing in his bag of tricks that can stop Marquette's Dominic James, who will go off for 25 points and a big 3-pointer late that ices it for the Golden Warrior Chickens.

Hoops season starting to pick up steam

2006-12-08T15:46:00.000-06:00

There still haven't been any huge surprises thus far concerning our area high school basketball teams, but tonight should tell a lot about some of them.

The best on the slate is Laconia at Horicon. The Marshmen return three all-conference players from last year's conference title team, but I'm very high on the Spartans this season. I'd look for Laconia to make a major statement with a victory on the road tonight.

Fondy hopes to get something positive going when it plays at Kimberly. When the schedule came out, I don't think anyone would have been surprised if the Cardinals started 0-3, but from what I've heard it's been a great week of practice at Fondy. I'm not saying the Cards can pull off the upset, but this one might be a bit closer than you think.

I'll be in Campbellsport tonight for what looks to be a great girls basketball matchup between the Cougars and Two Rivers. Campellsport's Kallie Benike and Two Rivers' Dianna Taddy are two of the top players in the state, and I'm looking forward to watching them go head-to-head.

Watch out for Lomira

2006-12-05T17:06:00.000-06:00

A few posts down, someone was incredulous that I picked Lomira for seventh in the seven-team Wisconsin Flyway and claimed that the Lions would finish no lower than third.

While I respected the opinion, I thought to myself "three-win teams that return one starter usually don't do too well." That's why I felt the other six teams in the conference were going to have better seasons.

Not that it's a big surprise, although it happened a bit earlier than usual, it turns out I could be very wrong.

Lomira kicked off its season with a 70-65 victory at Fox Valley Lutheran on Monday night, and the Weninger brothers had a big night, combining for 51 points. According to the Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook, FVL is supposed to finish third in the Valley 8. No matter how you spin it, this is a nice win for Lomira and could mean it's one more team to look out for in a Wisconsin Flyway race that should be a dandy.

Keep up with basketball stories online

2006-12-03T05:54:00.000-06:00

Just a reminder that in addition to our basketball preview issue, you can read every hoops-related story all season by logging onto our Prep Basketball '07 page.

I'll be sprucing it up over the next few days and adding more features and playing around with some other things, so check back often.

Waupun is pretty good, and other random thoughts

2006-12-02T15:11:00.000-06:00

There are still plenty of games to be played, and I've only seem one team in person, but I was really impressed with Waupun in its 52-29 victory over Beaver Dam on Friday night.

Now, Beaver Dam is definitely not the same team that went 16-8 last year and almost knocked off Madison Memorial in a sectional final last year.

But Waupun couldn't get anything to fall from the outside last night, and while those shots will eventually find the net, the defensive effort I saw from the Warriors was incredible. And most of it started with Ryan Rasmussen, the Warriors' top offensive threat and Division I prospect at point guard. He had at least three steals in the first quarter, and I think all of them led to baskets at the other end.

I talked to coach Lucky Wurtz about his defense and asked if he charts deflections, which basically shows how often the defense gets its hands on the ball. He said that he does, and he went on to say he got the idea for this defense from George Mason coach Jim Larranaga, who took George Mason to the Final Four last year.

Waupun is going to have no problem scoring points. Along with Rasmussen, Aris Wurtz can make some shots and I was impressed with Tom Bresser's ability to step out and hit the 3. But for those nights where the shots aren't falling, Waupun can always rely on its D to keep it close.

Fondy off to a slow start: It's definitley not the start Fondy coach Adam Zakos envisioned when he took over the program this summer, but very few teams started off with a tougher schedule than the Cardinals. Both Cedarburg and Oshkosh North are capable of winning 15 or 16 games this year, and while Zakos would eventually like his team to reach that level, they aren't there yet. It's going to take a while for Fondy to get rolling, mainly because they've had a few guys out for various reasons. But they are going to be much better at the end of the season than they are right now.

What's up with these girls scores?: The only suspense in the Trailways-North, it seems, is what team will win by the most ridiculous margin. Randolph took it to Green Lake, 52-3, on Friday. Markesan beat Valley Christian, 89-16. Barring unforseen circumstances, Markesan is going to win the league (it beat top challenger Randolph by 27 on the road), but the possiblity of ridiculous scores is going to keep my interest for most of the year.

Odds and ends: Ripon's Scott Gillespie could very well have the highest scoring average in the state this year, but if he's scoring 30 points a game and everyone else on the team combines for less than 15, the Tigers aren't going anywhere. ... WLA's Jennifer Herrick had 30 points in the Vikings' loss to Kettle Moraine Lutheran on Friday, while Ripon's Taylor Wurtz had 29 in a win over Fox Valley Lutheran on Tuesday, proving that the East Central Flyway player of the year race will be a dandy. ... Remember that we are updating scores on game nights. Log on to www.fdlreporter.com for the updates.

Go read our section

2006-12-01T12:31:00.000-06:00

In case you haven't picked up a copy of today's Reporter, we came out with our basketball section.

I'm sure most of you have been waiting on pins and needles. But the day is finally here.

While I encourage you all to actually buy the paper, you can also read it online for free. You can do that by clicking here.

As always, it was a lot of work, and a lot of fun. I hope you enjoy it.

I hate snow

2006-12-01T12:23:00.000-06:00

Every year, during the first real big snowstorm, I curse the fact that I live in Wisconsin.

I love the state, I really do. But I hate snow. Can't stand it. It makes everything a hassle. The bottom of your pants are wet. The roads are slippery. Sure, it's nice to look at for a while, but wait until it turns into that grayish slop that stains your shoes.

The one good benefit of snow, I suppose, is that we get to see the TV stations completely overreact to the situation. I watched Channel 4 for about 45 minutes this morning and they kept saying the same thing, over and over. It's snowing. Roads are bad. This is what snow looks like.

ANYWAYS, there are some postponments in our area. I know that the Kewaskum girls game against Roncalli was postponned (Kewaskum didn't have school today). I just got off the phone with Waupun coach Lucky Wurtz, and while the girls game against Milwaukee South is off, the boys game against Beaver Dam is still on. And if I don't wuss out, I'll be in Beaver Dam tonight.

If you know of any postponments, feel free to leave comments here. Or, if you just want to make fun of TV reporters stuck in the snow, you can do that, too.

I promise, regular blogs will commence shortly

2006-11-30T05:26:00.000-06:00

Sorry for the lack of updates. We've been crazy busy with our basketball preview issue, which will hit newsstands on Friday. Basketball is always a tough one to preview... it's very easy to skip over a team or two that didn't turn in any information or may not have the best record.

But we've made every effort to have all 31 teams represented in the section. There were some that we weren't able to get to, and I feel bad about that, but I'm sure you'll enjoy what we were able to throw together.

As for me, I'm going a little stir-crazy. I haven't covered a live event since Mayville's state championship game two weeks ago. I need to cover something soon.

I'm still debating what I should attend on Friday night. I'm leaning toward Waupun at Beaver Dam boys basketball. If anyone has any other suggestions, feel free to let me know.

Ripon drops opener

2006-11-24T22:34:00.000-06:00

Scott Gillespie scored 26, but Ripon lost to Sussex Hamilton, 52-42, in the Sheboygan South Redwing Tournament. Read more on our Web site here. And remember, we'll be updating the site all season long so check back for scores and highlights.

Break is over, let's get back to it

2006-11-24T13:22:00.000-06:00

We have two more all-conference stories to go before we officially put the fall sports season to bed. And while the winter sports season has already started, we certainly haven't discussed it here too much.

That's going to change, starting today.

We're putting together our annual prep basketball preview this week, so be on the lookout for that. Our very own Carlos Munoz put together preview stories on the Fondy boys and girls hockey teams. Next week, he'll have a look at the area prep wrestling scene.

It's a fairly light schedule this weekend, but there's one boys basketball game in particular I'll have my eye on: Ripon vs. Sussex Hamilton tonight in the Sheboygan South tournament.

The Tigers advanced to a sectional final last year and gave mighty Seymour all it could handle. And while East Central Flyway-Lakes player of the year Scott Gillespie returns, Ripon doesn't have much to speak of down-low experience-wise. Hamilton has one of the top big men in the Greater Metro Conference in 6-foot-6 Alan Carsky. It will be interesting to see how Ripon handles a team that has a solid post player.

We'll post the score and any highlights on www.fdlreporter.com tonight.

Speaking of Ripon, if you are from the Ripon/Waupun/Laconia area and you'd like to help out with our new fan blog, send me an e-mail at jcasper@fdlreporter.com. We are also looking for another volunteer for the Fond du Lac area, and/or anyone that may know a thing or two about wrestling. For more information on the fan blog, check out the post directly below this one.

Want to have a blog of your own?

2006-11-19T20:52:00.000-06:00

Do you attend a lot of sporting events? Do you feel that your favorite teams are not covered enough either in The Reporter or on my blog? Do you know how to type in complete sentences?

Then we would like to work with you. We are currently looking for die-hard high school sports fans to help us with a new project.

It's a blog called "The Sixth Man," and will be written entirely by you — the fans. The blog would cover all sports — basketball, wrestling, hockey, baseball, cross country, track, football, softball, soccer and more. We'd like to have a staff of 4-6 writers to start off with, with each one contributing 2-3 blogs a week on any topic involving high school sports.

Did your favorite team have a good game on Tuesday night? Write about it.

Is there a player on another area team that you think is having a good season? Share your thoughts.

Who do you think will win the state championship? Make your picks public.

While we would like to involve high school and college students, this offer is open to anyone in the community as long as you are willing to actively contribute to the blog and regularly attend high school events.

If you are interested, or know someone that does, drop me an e-mail at jcasper@fdlreporter.com and we can talk about it more.

Check out some Mayville video

2006-11-17T02:19:00.000-06:00

We newspapermen are just getting into the latest in technology, and while I had nothing to do with this, some much more talented journalists that work for The Appleton Post-Crescent did.

Check out some video highlights from Thursday night's game here.

You'll see more video from our newpapers and other within the Gannett chain, so keep your eyes out for Web features.

Mayville falls, 41-23, in title game

2006-11-16T21:53:00.000-06:00

Click here to read the story I threw up on our Web site. I have to get to work now, but I'll have more later. Be sure to check www.fdlreporter.com for complete coverage tomorrow, as well as video highlights from tonight's game.

Wrightstown takes the lead

2006-11-16T20:48:00.000-06:00

You can feel the momentum shifting here at Camp Randall Stadium.

Stephen Williams scored his second touchdown of the third quarter on a 4-yard burst to give the Tigers their first lead since early in the second quarter, but Mayville blocked the extra point to keep it a 26-23 game.

Mayville, however, has the ball deep in Wrightstown territory.

Mayville squanders an opportunity

2006-11-16T20:39:00.000-06:00

Consecutive penalties negated a nice drive Mayville had going, and the Cardinals were forced to punt. The Cardinals still have the lead, 23-20, but Wrightstown has the ball at its own 36 with 2:32 left in the third quarter.