Saturday, November 13, 2010
Photos from SKC basketball today
Here are some photos from SKC's second day of games against Montana-Western. The SKC men defeated the Dawgs 98-87 today.
Polson splits on the second day of the state tournament
The Lady Pirates had a fantastic season, but they were knocked out of the state volleyball tournament yesterday. Here is the gamer on them...
BY DIXIE KNUTSON, DAILY INTERLAKE
BOZEMAN - Too fast, too strong and too many.
The Billings Central Rams swept the Polson Pirates 25-15, 25-20, 26-24 in an afternoon loser-out contest at the Class A state volleyball tournament on Friday.
"Everybody tried so hard. The try was there, but we got a little intimidated," said Polson coach Jan Toth.
"Billings Central was quick. We got intimidated, missed serves and then the passing went," she said.
"We didn't put up the block," she added.
The effort was definitely there.
Breanne Kelley had 23 kills - in a three-set match. She also had 15 digs. Kayla Duford had 25 assists and served one ace and Kendyall Rochin had 26 digs and three aces.
The Pirates were right with Central in the early going. The teams were tied at 13-all in the first set, but Central picked up its game with seven kills in the next 10 points.
Polson, on the other hand, had four unforced errors. The Rams outscored the Pirates 12-2 to finish out the set.
The Pirates were closer in the next two sets - they were within three points at 20-23 in the second set. But Central got set point on a kill by Maggie Hanser and the Pirates were whistled in the net on the next point.
The final set was anybody's game. Neither team led by more than three points. The Pirates fought off three Central match points, but didn't have quite enough left to push through.
"But what a great bunch of kids," Toth said. "It's been fun to coach them. This is a great group of girls. It's hard to let them go. They've made a name for Polson and they've given the underclassmen big shoes to fill," she said.
"We fought through a lot of adversity this year. I was so proud of Riley (Kenney)."
Kenney played through the final weeks of the season with a shoulder injury.
"And what do you say to Breanne Kelley - 23 kills in three sets? Everything Kayla (Duford) gave to her, she put it down. She didn't want to see the season end.
"She put on a show tonight. She and Kayla work so well together," the coach said.
"Kayla did a great job offensively. She had a great four years. I am proud of what she has become as a setter."
Kills - Central 50 (Ashley Heringer 14, Maggie Hanser 14) , Polson 33 (Breanne Kelley 23), Assists - Central 45 (Katie Cummins 38), Polson 25 (Kayla Duford 25), Blocks - Central 2 (Kalli Sizemore 2), Polson 6 (Sallie Sams 3), Digs - Central 65 (Ashley Heringer 22), Polson 85 (Kendyall Rochin 26, Breanne Kelley 15), Aces - Central 5 (Maggie Hanser 2, Alyssa Melder 2), Polson 4 (Rochin 3, Duford 1).
Polson 3, Stevenville 1
The Pirates blew a 10-point first-set lead in their first match of the day, but rallied to drop the Stevensville Yellowjackets from the tournament 20-25, 25-23, 25-17, 25-17.
Kelley had 17 kills, six aces and two blocks to lead Polson.
The Pirates led Stevensville 15-5 in the first game, but the Yellowjackets crawled back in it on the serving of Michaila Funkhouser and Alexa Omlid. Funkhouser served seven straight to get the Jackets within four, then Omlid finished the set with seven straight to take Stevensville from one point down to a 23-20 lead.
The second set got off to a horrible start for Polson as it scored the first point, but fell behind 9-1.
The turnaround started when Kelley tooled a kill off the Jacket block, then jump served a pair of aces to get Polson into striking distance trailing 11-8. Polson hung around, within five or six points, until Kelley's next turn at the service line. This time, she served seven straight, including two more aces and turned the Stevensville offense on its ear.
The Pirates rolled to claim the next two sets.
Kills - Polson 28 (Breanne Kelley 17, Sallie Sams 5), Stevensville 27 (Brittney Chilcott 12), Assists - Polson 28 (Kayla Duford 27), Stevensville 23 (Michaila Funkhouser 10), Blocks - Polson 8 (Riley Kenney 3, Kelley 2, Sams 2), Stevensville 5 (Chilcott 3), Digs - Polson 102 (Kendyall Rochin 26, Shay Duford 19), Stevensville 47 (Kyla Paulsen 13), Aces - Polson 20 (S. Duford 8, Kelley 6), Stevensville 9 (Alexa Omlid 3, Maddie Jones 3).
BY DIXIE KNUTSON, DAILY INTERLAKE
BOZEMAN - Too fast, too strong and too many.
The Billings Central Rams swept the Polson Pirates 25-15, 25-20, 26-24 in an afternoon loser-out contest at the Class A state volleyball tournament on Friday.
"Everybody tried so hard. The try was there, but we got a little intimidated," said Polson coach Jan Toth.
"Billings Central was quick. We got intimidated, missed serves and then the passing went," she said.
"We didn't put up the block," she added.
The effort was definitely there.
Breanne Kelley had 23 kills - in a three-set match. She also had 15 digs. Kayla Duford had 25 assists and served one ace and Kendyall Rochin had 26 digs and three aces.
The Pirates were right with Central in the early going. The teams were tied at 13-all in the first set, but Central picked up its game with seven kills in the next 10 points.
Polson, on the other hand, had four unforced errors. The Rams outscored the Pirates 12-2 to finish out the set.
The Pirates were closer in the next two sets - they were within three points at 20-23 in the second set. But Central got set point on a kill by Maggie Hanser and the Pirates were whistled in the net on the next point.
The final set was anybody's game. Neither team led by more than three points. The Pirates fought off three Central match points, but didn't have quite enough left to push through.
"But what a great bunch of kids," Toth said. "It's been fun to coach them. This is a great group of girls. It's hard to let them go. They've made a name for Polson and they've given the underclassmen big shoes to fill," she said.
"We fought through a lot of adversity this year. I was so proud of Riley (Kenney)."
Kenney played through the final weeks of the season with a shoulder injury.
"And what do you say to Breanne Kelley - 23 kills in three sets? Everything Kayla (Duford) gave to her, she put it down. She didn't want to see the season end.
"She put on a show tonight. She and Kayla work so well together," the coach said.
"Kayla did a great job offensively. She had a great four years. I am proud of what she has become as a setter."
Kills - Central 50 (Ashley Heringer 14, Maggie Hanser 14) , Polson 33 (Breanne Kelley 23), Assists - Central 45 (Katie Cummins 38), Polson 25 (Kayla Duford 25), Blocks - Central 2 (Kalli Sizemore 2), Polson 6 (Sallie Sams 3), Digs - Central 65 (Ashley Heringer 22), Polson 85 (Kendyall Rochin 26, Breanne Kelley 15), Aces - Central 5 (Maggie Hanser 2, Alyssa Melder 2), Polson 4 (Rochin 3, Duford 1).
Polson 3, Stevenville 1
The Pirates blew a 10-point first-set lead in their first match of the day, but rallied to drop the Stevensville Yellowjackets from the tournament 20-25, 25-23, 25-17, 25-17.
Kelley had 17 kills, six aces and two blocks to lead Polson.
The Pirates led Stevensville 15-5 in the first game, but the Yellowjackets crawled back in it on the serving of Michaila Funkhouser and Alexa Omlid. Funkhouser served seven straight to get the Jackets within four, then Omlid finished the set with seven straight to take Stevensville from one point down to a 23-20 lead.
The second set got off to a horrible start for Polson as it scored the first point, but fell behind 9-1.
The turnaround started when Kelley tooled a kill off the Jacket block, then jump served a pair of aces to get Polson into striking distance trailing 11-8. Polson hung around, within five or six points, until Kelley's next turn at the service line. This time, she served seven straight, including two more aces and turned the Stevensville offense on its ear.
The Pirates rolled to claim the next two sets.
Kills - Polson 28 (Breanne Kelley 17, Sallie Sams 5), Stevensville 27 (Brittney Chilcott 12), Assists - Polson 28 (Kayla Duford 27), Stevensville 23 (Michaila Funkhouser 10), Blocks - Polson 8 (Riley Kenney 3, Kelley 2, Sams 2), Stevensville 5 (Chilcott 3), Digs - Polson 102 (Kendyall Rochin 26, Shay Duford 19), Stevensville 47 (Kyla Paulsen 13), Aces - Polson 20 (S. Duford 8, Kelley 6), Stevensville 9 (Alexa Omlid 3, Maddie Jones 3).
Photos from SKC yesterday
Here are some photos I took from the SKC-Montana Western matchup yesterday of both the men and the women.
Friday, November 12, 2010
Polson falls in first state game
Here is the action from the Montana State Volleyball Tournament. Whitefish also lost in their first match of the state tournament.
By Dixie Knutson, Daily Inter Lake
BOZEMAN - It's a long way back for the Polson Pirate volleyball team.
Laurel defeated the Northwestern A divisional champions 25-17, 22-25, 25-16, 25-23 in the first round of the Class A state tournament at the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse on Thursday.
To be state champions, the Pirates will have to win six straight volleyball matches between noon today and 5 p.m. on Saturday.
"We are used to the long way," said Polson coach Jan Toth.
"We will let this roll off of our backs and see what tomorrow brings," she said.
"But you can't win a game where you are always on the defensive and where you have only one hitter putting the ball down," Toth said.
Breanne Kelley had 19 kills for the Pirates. That's terrific, but the next closest person was Ashley Johnson with six. On the other side of the court, the Locomotives had three people bunched together with 10, eight and five.
Added to Laurel's stellar play was an erratic showing from the Pirates.
"If we added the points (the Locomotives) scored themselves and then added the points we scored for them ... we would be on the winning side," the coach said.
One example came in the forth game - the Pirates, trailing 21-17, put together four straight points with a kill, an ace and a block. But at 21-all, an easy tip from the Locomotives found the floor. Polson tied it again at 22-all, but then gave up a point when the Laurel setter dumped the ball. Another point slipped away when a hitter dumped the ball into the net.
The Pirates fended off one match point but down 24-23, a set sailed wide of the antenna.
Kelley made a valiant effort to keep the ball in play, but her final shot was called wide of the antenna.
"We didn't come ready. We didn't come hungry enough and Laurel outplayed us," Toth said.
"They didn't let anything hit the ground and they controlled the ball the whole time. They didn't hit the ball hard and it wasn't anything we hadn't seen before," she said.
The Pirates will play at noon today in loser-out action.
Other leaders for Polson were Johnson and Shay Duford with three aces each. Kayla Duford with 38 assists and Kendyall Rochin with 32 digs.
By Dixie Knutson, Daily Inter Lake
BOZEMAN - It's a long way back for the Polson Pirate volleyball team.
Laurel defeated the Northwestern A divisional champions 25-17, 22-25, 25-16, 25-23 in the first round of the Class A state tournament at the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse on Thursday.
To be state champions, the Pirates will have to win six straight volleyball matches between noon today and 5 p.m. on Saturday.
"We are used to the long way," said Polson coach Jan Toth.
"We will let this roll off of our backs and see what tomorrow brings," she said.
"But you can't win a game where you are always on the defensive and where you have only one hitter putting the ball down," Toth said.
Breanne Kelley had 19 kills for the Pirates. That's terrific, but the next closest person was Ashley Johnson with six. On the other side of the court, the Locomotives had three people bunched together with 10, eight and five.
Added to Laurel's stellar play was an erratic showing from the Pirates.
"If we added the points (the Locomotives) scored themselves and then added the points we scored for them ... we would be on the winning side," the coach said.
One example came in the forth game - the Pirates, trailing 21-17, put together four straight points with a kill, an ace and a block. But at 21-all, an easy tip from the Locomotives found the floor. Polson tied it again at 22-all, but then gave up a point when the Laurel setter dumped the ball. Another point slipped away when a hitter dumped the ball into the net.
The Pirates fended off one match point but down 24-23, a set sailed wide of the antenna.
Kelley made a valiant effort to keep the ball in play, but her final shot was called wide of the antenna.
"We didn't come ready. We didn't come hungry enough and Laurel outplayed us," Toth said.
"They didn't let anything hit the ground and they controlled the ball the whole time. They didn't hit the ball hard and it wasn't anything we hadn't seen before," she said.
The Pirates will play at noon today in loser-out action.
Other leaders for Polson were Johnson and Shay Duford with three aces each. Kayla Duford with 38 assists and Kendyall Rochin with 32 digs.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Hot Springs and Plains end football co-op
This should interest Mission football fans and perhaps Charlo football fans. Plains and Hot Springs have ended their co-op deal for football. That means that Plains, a B school, will be short at least the nine players they got from Hot Springs last year, and that Hot Springs will be starting a new six-man football program.
Could this mean that Plains drops down to C-8 for football if their numbers are low? Could this mean that Mission may not have a B-team to play from Sanders county? Some interesting things could happen.
Here's the story from the Valley Press' Mike Miller...
Click on the "Read More" for the story on this blog...
Could this mean that Plains drops down to C-8 for football if their numbers are low? Could this mean that Mission may not have a B-team to play from Sanders county? Some interesting things could happen.
Here's the story from the Valley Press' Mike Miller...
Click on the "Read More" for the story on this blog...
University of Montana made the right choice
The University of Montana made the right choice, announcing today that they'll be staying in the Big Sky Conference. They flirted with the WAC and that was the big elephant in the room during this season, but it was promptly shoved out the door as the Grizzlies put them in a spot where it will be very difficult to win their 12th straight conference championship. It makes the most sense that they stay in the FCS as they'll continue to compete for national titles and always be in the playoffs.
Had they made the choice to move to the WAC, they would have relegated their program to obscurity. Even in the second-tier FCS, fans come to Washington-Grizzly Stadium knows that they're watching a team that has a very good shot at being the best in the nation for their class. If they went to FBS, even if their team was good they'd be reduced to hoping for a berth in the PapaJohn's Bowl against the eighth-best team from the Sun Belt Conference. Even if everything went well and they were the next Boise State... well look how the Broncos are dropping in the BCS rankings...
It's not likely they'd even be the next Boise State. While Boise actually has a rather large metro area of over a half million people, Missoula has a metro-area of 100,000. That's perfect for the FCS, and they get the job done with fan support. However, the corporate money would be significantly lower than most of their FBS counterparts. Heck, just look at the issues WSU is having and the Cougars have the Spokane metro area to draw from. You need corporate money to expand. You need rich alumni or boosters (read:Oregon) and you need fans to show up regardless.
Over half of Montana's season ticket base is outside of Missoula County, so that sold out stadium might dwindle if the team is no longer competing for national championships. In fact, you can count on it. Only the most delusional marketing rep would tell you otherwise. It's easy to sell out when you're winning, not so much when you're not.
Throw in the MSU rivalry and the Big Sky is just the right choice. Hands down.
Local results from Big Sky Martial Arts Championships
Mission Valley Taekwondo had a tournament in Kalispell at the Big Sky Martial Arts Championships held at Glacier High School this Saturday Nov. 6th.
Results for the tournament
Levi Talsma: 2nd in forms, 3rd in sparring
Alex Dulmes: 2nd in forms, 2nd in sparring
McKenzie Dulmes: 3rd in forms, 1st in sparring
Naomi Dulmes: 3rd in forms, 3rd in sparring
Daisy Adams: 4th in forms
Benton Adams: 3rd in forms, 3rd in sparring
Taylor Lammerding: 3rd in forms, 3rd in sparring
Peyton Lammerding: 4th in forms, 4th in sparring
In doubles forms Alex, McKenzie, Naomi and Levi took 1st; Daisy and Benton took 1st; Peyton and Taylor took 3rd.
(Photo courtesy of Naomi Dulmes)
Results for the tournament
Levi Talsma: 2nd in forms, 3rd in sparring
Alex Dulmes: 2nd in forms, 2nd in sparring
McKenzie Dulmes: 3rd in forms, 1st in sparring
Naomi Dulmes: 3rd in forms, 3rd in sparring
Daisy Adams: 4th in forms
Benton Adams: 3rd in forms, 3rd in sparring
Taylor Lammerding: 3rd in forms, 3rd in sparring
Peyton Lammerding: 4th in forms, 4th in sparring
In doubles forms Alex, McKenzie, Naomi and Levi took 1st; Daisy and Benton took 1st; Peyton and Taylor took 3rd.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Bagnell commits to Oklahoma State
Polson sports fans shouldn't be too alarmed that athlete Kyle Bagnell will be dawning the orange and black next fall.
"I look at it as Oklahoma State colors and not Ronan colors," Bagnell said just after he signed his letter of intent this Wednesday to play baseball for Oklahoma State University.
The lefty flamethrower for the Mission Valley Mariners said he'll be the only southpaw on the pitching staff for the Cowboys, who know a thing or two about recruiting after having last year's recruiting class ranked 15th in the nation.
"It kind of is like taking a weight off your shoulders," Bagnell said of committing to a school after checking out OSU, Kansas and talking with Arizona State, UCS, Pitt, East Carolina University and Wichita State.
It was a Arizona Sun Devils scout that asked him to attend a baseball camp in Las Vegas with around twenty schools in attendance.
"He was the one guy that wasn't there," Bagnell said.
However, the exposure paid off and Bagnell will move from Legion A ball to playing Division 1 baseball.
"I'm pretty excited, I didn't really expect to be at this level," Bagnell said. "It's all surreal."
Anyone who watched Bagnell pitch for the Mariners would beg to differ as he was no stranger to strikeouts, shutouts and no hitters. Bagnell threw two no-hitters this summer and struck out 20 batters in one game.
Bagnell will not be getting a full-ride scholarship but it will definitely help and he said once he gets his academic scholarships, it should cover 75-80 percent of the costs. Academics is something Bagnell definitely factored into his choice.
"It pretty much came down to what I wanted to major in," he said, pointing out that Oklahoma State has an excellent pre-med program and that he would like to go to dental school. That certainly would be in the family business as his father is a dentist in Ronan.
Bagnell will report in the fall and participate in the baseball's fall program which is largely scrimmages.
A look at the Big Sky Conference in football this week...
This week is actually pretty lame because some teams have decided to throw in some non-conference games at the end of the season. I'm not trying to be a debbie-downer, just getting revved up for the Griz-Cats game in two weeks.
North Dakota (3-6) at No. 13 Montana (6-3)
This is pretty smart scheduling for the Grizzlies. They should beat ND and that should allow them to have some momentum going into their game against MSU.
Southern Utah (6-4) at No. 5 Eastern Washington (7-2)
I wouldn't be surprised if EWU loses this game. The game is essentially meaningless. But it is as home and you know the school would like to remain undefeated on the red turf.
Northern Colorado (2-8) at Portland State (2-7)
Their records may not show it, but this may be quite the game. However, it's just for bragging rights.
Weber State (5-4) at Northern Arizona (5-4)
There is three tiers in the conference. The not-so-good-teams, the good teams and the elite teams. This is a battle of the two good teams in the Big Sky Conference. While a championship is out of the question, if Montana stumbles against MSU, one of these two teams could pick up that third playoffs spot.
Sac State (5-4) at Idaho State (1-8)
Sac State could be one of those playoff teams too but I'm hoping Idaho State gets an upset win out of their system so I don't have to worry about it happening against EWU next week.
There you go, big thanks go to the Daily Inter Lake for coming up with the matchups each week. It's great to live in a state that takes it Big Sky Conference football seriously.
North Dakota (3-6) at No. 13 Montana (6-3)
This is pretty smart scheduling for the Grizzlies. They should beat ND and that should allow them to have some momentum going into their game against MSU.
Southern Utah (6-4) at No. 5 Eastern Washington (7-2)
I wouldn't be surprised if EWU loses this game. The game is essentially meaningless. But it is as home and you know the school would like to remain undefeated on the red turf.
Northern Colorado (2-8) at Portland State (2-7)
Their records may not show it, but this may be quite the game. However, it's just for bragging rights.
Weber State (5-4) at Northern Arizona (5-4)
There is three tiers in the conference. The not-so-good-teams, the good teams and the elite teams. This is a battle of the two good teams in the Big Sky Conference. While a championship is out of the question, if Montana stumbles against MSU, one of these two teams could pick up that third playoffs spot.
Sac State (5-4) at Idaho State (1-8)
Sac State could be one of those playoff teams too but I'm hoping Idaho State gets an upset win out of their system so I don't have to worry about it happening against EWU next week.
There you go, big thanks go to the Daily Inter Lake for coming up with the matchups each week. It's great to live in a state that takes it Big Sky Conference football seriously.
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