alexandriacardinals

January 24

Picton

[Picton is at the northern tip of South Island; the following day we would be in the capital city of Wellington on the southern tip of North Island.  Picton is similar Timaru, but placed at the end of a long bay.]

[I’d never heard of Picton before.  But then I’d never heard of Timaru before either.  It doesn’t make me a bad person (?).  I had heard of Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch, and Nelson – I am a geography major, after all.  We even have friends who have relatives in Nelson, which is not that far from Picton.]

[The Super took this approaching photo . . . ]

[Then I took over the landing . . . ]

[Looks like another picturesque destination!]

[And looking back at whence we came . . . ]

[Beautiful day, beautiful scenery!]

[The Super took this shot – the transportation between North and South Islands.]

[And we’re ashore . . . ]

[Looks like a tropical island, n’est-ce pas?]

[The Super took the next 4 shots, first looking back at the Maasdam . . . ]

[As an older person, I really appreciate a well-marked restroom!]

[G’day, mates, from a land down under!]

[And back to me, what she was taking a photo of  . . ]

[The Super’s, as we left the waterfront ascending into town.]

[Then my same shot.]

[Then obviously the Super’s, with downtown Picton in the background.  Yup, that’s the main drag.]

[Now what waterfront is complete without a classic bar/restaurant?  The boys spent some time here while the girls shopped.]

[Please read the sign all the way to the bottom.  Thank you.]

[A quaint – yet perfect – harbor.]

[We’re going for a stroll now . . . ]

[The previous shot was from this foot bridge.]

[The Super took 2 shots of the commencement of our soon to be identified hike.]

[And here it is identified – note the listed time for this adventure.]

[On our way, the Super took the next two . . . ]

[And I this one.]

[Then three more from the Super . . . ]

[You will note this was not a casual beach walk . . . ]

[We’re already rising in elevation.]

[These next two are mine . . . ]

[This was an obvious photo op setting, but I had to wait for two-way pedestrian traffic to subside to get this shot.  Smile, Ruthie!]

[Onward . . . ]

[The Super got these next two . . . ]

[And I the latter.]

[The complete and total history of Bob’s Bay Walk, all on a single plaque.]

[And from where we are . . . ]

[From where we were.]

[We made it to the end of the 30-minute walk in about 45 minutes, as I recall.  Granted we paused for photos, but the hike involved some elevation changes.]

[A STAR . . . fish]

[In the Super’s shot, you will note it has an odd number of appendages . . . ]

[Back to mine, with Anne exploring up the beach line.]

[And we met a couple here.  He volunteered to take our group photo.  She, as part of the small world syndrome, was a marine biologist from the University of Miami and originally from Hastings, Minnesota.  Go figure.]

[As we left, climbing back up the hill, a shot back down to the beach where a family so wanting to swim just went in with their clothes on.]

[We climbed the mountain, through a dense rain forest, heading back to town.]

[The views were probably worth it.]

[A place to sit down, catch our breath, and have a drink.]

[The Super took the next three.  Yeah, it was warm, but I find it easier to wear a windbreaker than to carry it.]

[We appear to be approaching town.]

[I confirm the Super’s picture.]

[We’re all the way back to the foot bridge, crossing back into town . . .]

[From which we noticed a rather large ray in the water.]

[We survived the Bob’s Bay Walk!]

[Ahhh, back to civilization.]

[And now heading back down to the waterfront enroute back to the ship.]

[Still looks like a resort destination.]

[If it looks like a duck and swims like a duck . . . ]

[These are called flowers.  They look and smell pretty.]

I love it when the flight attendant says, “Your seat cushion becomes a flotation device.” Well why doesn’t the plane just become a boat?  ~ Steve Shaffer

March 16

[And a shout out to Jackson Grove!]

[As the winter sports season draws to a close, we once again found ourselves in the Cities following a Cardinal team in a state tournament.]

[The athletic department of the University of Minnesota welcomes you to Williams Arena.  ~  The late, great Jules Perlt

[Our Cards were taking on the No. 1-ranked Orono Spartans in the state semi-finals after having dispatched the Grand Rapids Thunderhawks, 46 – 44, in the opening round game at the Target Center.]

[Past Gopher greats . . . ]

[More Gopher greats!]

[Assigned to prevent total mayhem as the Cards take the floor.]

[Lay-up drills begin in The Barn.]

[Kendall Kohler (3) finishes followed by Kelby Olson-Rodel (13).]

[Williams Arena is now officially referred to as “The Barn” (it’s printed on the floor) – in our day we just called it Bill’s Gym.]

[Warm-ups continue . . . ]

[And continue . . . ]

[Following Kendall a bit around the horn here . . . ]

[And congrats to her for making the all-tournament team.]

[A meeting of the captains where once again we are obviously at a size disadvantage.  Their two guards were 5’10” – our tallest player is 5’11”.]

[And our 4-year starting point and leading scorer, Macy Hatlestad (here in the leg brace), was rendered inoperative by an ACL injury in January.]

[They even had a big height advantage at the head coaching position!  😉  ]

[The bigger they are . . . ]

[Forty-five (as in the TV channel that broadcast the games)!]

[We were covered as usual by the Amazing Mr. Ripley . . . ]

[Now I have not only “white lens envy,” but “pink armband envy!”

[Coach Kohler and now student/assistant coach Macy ready the team for battle.]

[Macy grins and bears it.]

[Introductions:  Emma Ziegler (1), and her broken nose . . . ]

[Kayla Feldhake (43)]

[Kendall]

[Kelby]

[Kiyana Miller (21), completes an all-senior starting five.]

[That Moari war chant thing again . . . ]

[And the tip – 5’11” Kayla got the drop on their 6’2″ center.]

[We could always use her leadership and 3-point shooting.]

[Junior Emma Schmidt (25) gave us a little better size match-up at 5’11”.]

[In the background, Kendall (who I always thought was generously list at 5’6″) guards their 5″10″ point guard, No. 22.]

[Kendall plays catch with Kiyana, and with Kayla and Kelby form the “Special K’s.”]

[Designated 3-point shooter Kara Thomson (23) (and another Special K) came in after a slow start by the team to drain a couple of long ones to get us in the game.]

[Their forward, No. 45, is 6’1″, watched by our 5’11” sophomore center McKenzie Duwenhoegger (35).]

[Kendall scraps with their 5’10” shooting guard (23), a candidate for state player of the year, who at one point made back-to-back 3’s from 10 feet (yes) beyond the line – you don’t even start guarding people that far out!]

[Kendall works the ball with Kaye Paschke (45), 5’6″ sophomore, who made the winning shot at the buzzer against Grand Rapids.]

[Kendall looks to pass over the trees.]

[Schmidty screening for Kara.]

[Kelby may have intercepted – but her eyes were shut!]

[Kelby on the wing.  Our wing people seemed fearful of driving into their height, so we really didn’t take advantage of our speed and quickness.]

[At the half:  Goodness, did you notice how big they are?  But we’re hanging in there. ]

[Kaye tries to distract the inbounds.]

[Kayla at the free throw line.  I yelled at the ref to move – guess he didn’t hear me?]

[We played good defense the whole game but never discovered our shooting touch – and then became very hesitant because of that.  We lost a close game for 3rd place two days later against defending state champions, Academy of Holy Angels, who also had a big size advantage.  Our radio crew noted Alex was by far the smallest (height-wise) team in the class AAA field.  I mentioned to Coach Kohler later in St. Cloud that I would send a letter to the city council requesting they consider putting human growth hormone in the city water supply.  (OK, just kidding!)  But it was another terrific year, ending with a 26-5 record.]

[After the game, we went to Whitey’s at 4th and E. Hennepin to drown our sorrows and wolf down a Reuben before . . . ]

[Heading back home with an intermittent stop in St. Cloud, first at a local watering hole to watch the Gopher’s first round NCAA tournament game v. Middle Tennessee State – the Gopher’s shooting woes unfortunately matched those of our Cardinal girls – then on to Halenbeck Hall on St. Cloud State campus for our boy Cardinals section title match-up with Fergus Falls.]

[We got there in time to see the last half of another section title game between Rocori and Big Lake.  Our Cardinals split with conference foe Rocori this year, and we beat Big Lake.]

[It was a terrific game – Big Lake came back from a big deficit to win in front of full house of Alex and Fergus fans waiting for seats.]

[Our Cards warm up while the team captains meet at center court.  I have issues with Halenbeck – just getting there, parking, sight-lines, seating, steps (on the upper level) are all wanting – but I guess it’s the only venue in the area large enough for such events.]

[I have one request for next year . . . ]

[30 pounds of muscle for junior Justin Balcome (43) and he’ll tear it up!]

[Robert Anderson (3) launches a practice shot.]

[The girls’ team came back from the Cities for fan support in this game.  I guess they went home before going back down on the last day of the tournament for the 3rd place game.]

[This team was kind of an enigma all year.  When we were on, we were very good.  Fergus (22-4) was the No. 1-seed, the defending state runners-up, and we (19-7) , the No 2-seed, beat them both times in the regular season?  So, which team would show up?]

[Anderson, at 6’1″ got the jump on their very good 6’5″ center.]

[It’s hanging on the rim . . .  Fergus had a huge fan base at the game, I’m thinking ours may have been diluted by the girls playing the same day in the Cities?]

[And it drops!]

[Spencer Hockert (15) the free throw line.]

[Justin attempts in the lane.]

[The tone of this game was set early.  The Cards came out inexplicably flat?  It was the seniors last chance to make the state tournament in basketball – 4 of the 5 starters played on the state football team.  But Fergus hustled off to a big early lead, hitting open 3’s from all over the court, but we showed little urgency in trying to catch up?]

[Jake Drew (33), for whom I’m going to name a future hustle award, is always in there battling.  But more often than not, it seemed the Otters were outmanning us in the offensive zone.]

[But sheer number of chances through his offensive board work, Jake became a pretty good free throw shooter by the end of the year.]

[Jaran Roste (31) was our one offensive threat the whole game.  He always presents match-up problems because of his size, and he was taking it to the hole all night.

[And a free throw.]

[He has good speed and quickness for his size and here he starts another drive.]

[Am open lane . . . ]

[And No. 3 is their best player, but we held him in check for the whole game.  It’s just that the rest of the team our clones of fast, good-shooting athletes.]

[Mr. Anderson at the line.]

[Jake applying the type of defense we brought out in the 2nd half.  We made life difficult for them for a good part of the half, we made a mini-run, but ultimately were starting from too far back and when the shots stopped falling again Fergus opened it up . . . ]

[To the ultimate 64-48 win, the same score we beat them by the last time we played?]

[Roste tries to get something going late.]

[And we get one to drop.]

[It’s too bad the season ended like this – but it was a good year.  Fergus is a very good team, I like their style, and will be pulling for them at state.]

[Looking forward to next, the girls have to replace all five starters; the boys have to replace four starters.  It seems a daunting task, but . . . ]

[We think that every year – how are we going to replace so-and-so?  But both JV teams had excellent years, actually better records than both varsities, I believe?  So, we’ll likely survive, if not thrive, again next year.]

p.s.  You’ve heard of those days when a team can’t “throw the ball in the ocean?”  Well, that’s kinda what happened to all three teams on this Black Thursday.  The only conclusion I can draw is that Minnesota . . . must just be too far from the ocean!

I always laugh when people ask me about rebounding techniques.  I’ve got a technique.  It’s called just go get the damn ball.  ~ Charles Barkley

January 23

Timaru

[We left the stormy weather behind in Dunedin and found beautiful weather in Timaru, just up the coast a bit.]

[Lest it’s not obvious, the port.  Yup, it’s a port town.]

[Leaving the Maasdam behind . . . ]

[We hiked into the city.]

[Stopping to smell the roses . . . OK, maybe they’re not roses?]

[The Timaru “urban” area has a little less than 30,000 citizens – a lovely downtown.]

[And apparently one of the few (only?) towns that decorates for Christmas – like this!  I guess they leave them up for a while.]

[And a photo op oceanside park . . . ]

[Hi, I’m having fun in Timaru!]

[And there’s our boat, again.]

[The park – at the end of our walking tour, we were going to come back here to walk along the beach back to the boat.  At the end, however, we had hiked about 7 miles (according to Anne’s super-duper pedometer) around the city and were too pooped to come back here.]

[Hi, I’m still here!]

[And here’s here.]

[Well, I would have been dizzy going down the switchbacks anyway.]

[Probably missed another nude beach . . . ]

[OK, kids, where are we going next?]

[We discovered it’s difficult to read maps in the wind.]

[The Biddies seeks shade from the wind . . . OK, it was starting to warm up a bit.]

[Also not a rose.]

[And the Super chimed in with the next six photos from the piazza.  A sure sign that it’s windy is holding onto one’s hat.]

[Hi, Mom!]

[Reetz, ISO a photo op.]

[OK, we’re getting close to decision time . . . ]

[So long Bay Hill Piazza!]

[See you later, Maasdam.]

[Then we walked downtown to the library – everybody wanted to catch up on their social  media.  Since all my social media devices reside in our house in Alex, I decided to meander the immediate area.  Thought this an attractive church across the street from the library.]

[And the Super’s shot.]

[Thought this an attractive stout dispenser.]

[And yet another nearby church.]

[And the Super’s shot.  Apparently you could climb the tower for a view, but church was in service . . . and it looked like a lot of stairs!]

[A major commercial street – with out boat visible in the distance.]

[“Give Way” or “Yield”?  We’re conducting an very unscientific survey.]

[The Seafarers’ Monument . . . ]

[See, it says so on the sign.]

[An obviously important building.]

[Then we went on a long cross town hike to the Trevor Griffiths Rose Garden . . . ]

[With The Biddies, ambling through the garden’s nature area.]

[A really big tree]

[You have to be a Camp Brosius denizen to appreciate this.  All the campers, for whatever reason, always visit the “Vinnies” in Plymouth, Wisconsin.]

[Back to the boat, pooped from our long walk.]

[Goodbye, Timaru!  The locals all came out to bid us adieu . . . or are they saying “Yankee go home”?]

[Leaving port . . . ]

[With the aid of our “tug” friends.]

[The Southern Alps in the distance, the sea looks calm . . . ]

[But there must have been some serious swells – the tug was bouncing around like a bobber.]

[My guess – islands?]

[Nobody in the pool . . . I think the water was bouncing around like a bobber too.]

[Kinda looks like the south seas, eh?]

[Now this is the life!]

[Must be dinner or post-dinner time.]

[More beautiful landscapes as we’re hugging the shoreline.]

[As the sun begins to set . . . ]

[Say goodnight, Ruthie!]

Cars will soon have the Internet on the dashboard. I worry that this will distract me from my texting.  ~   Andy Borowitz

March 7

[Last home game for the seniors . . . ]

[The “A” team – last home game for seniors here too . . . ]

[How ’bout that Maori war chant the hockey team used?]

[It begins with Trey Hoepner (1) on the point of the defense against the Prowlers.]

[Jaran Roste (1) on No. 24.  Very early on (though we got off to our usual slow start again (?)), I thought I’d be surprised if we didn’t win by 30 – we had a visible manpower advantage.  Next year the Prowlers will drop down a class to AA.]

[Besides they had a long road trip to get here.  I believe Alexandria is closer to San Francisco than it is to Thief River Falls.]

[Spencer Hockert launches a ‘3’.  He had a slow start early – we need him on his ‘A’ the rest of the way.]

[This was pretty much the Prowler view throughout the game.  The first ball handler would be trapped immediately – here by Spencer and Jake Drew (33).]

[To the Prowlers credit, they handled our pressure very well in the 2nd half.]

[A lot of Cardinal points in the first half came from jumping the pass and going the length of the court for lay-ups.]

[Where’s the ball??]

[Jake had 9 points in the game – all in the first half – all on free throws.  He was 9 for 12 from the line, which is just fine.  He’s a beast on the offensive boards, and he kept getting fouled doing it.]

[The guy in the background holding up the door is the father of two Cardinal athlete alums who are now starring for the Gophers because they can go from point A to point B faster than most folks.]

[Jake and Jaran coming off a trap.]

[Robert Anderson (3) at the foul line.]

[The Cards weren’t doing much . . . ]

[Too many unforced turnovers and cold shooting . . . ]

[And then we got notice of what was to happen the rest of the game.  Spencer on a steal took off on a 2-on-1 break with Justin Balcome (43).  He fed Justin about the free throw who continued on for a one-handed stuff.  The crowd went wild.]

[There’s Jake again.]

[And the Cards on D again.]

[Although not here, the Prowlers kept in touch with good 3-point shooting in the 1st half.]

[Yup, Jake again.]

[In the 2nd half, the Cards started to find their shooting touches.  Here’s Jaran at the line.]

[Spencer made a couple of ‘3’s’ from that corner.]

[And “The Boys” were on hand again.]

[I talked to Jaran.  I think we’ve got it.]

[But then there’s got to be a little little boy roughhousing.]

[That was Justin’s 2nd stuff!  It was somewhere in this half where I stopped being a cub reporter and just watched young Mr. Bascome’s coming-out party.  It was his game.  He finished with 31 points, 12 rebounds, 4 for 6 on 3’s, and showed he could get out and run with the guards.  If he can continue this kind of play through the tournament . . . well?]

[The JV guys did a good job finishing off the game.  Cameron Rice (21) here.]

[Bemidji is next in the section semifinals in Moorhead.]

If you are going to take it to the bank, then you better cash it in.  ~  Shannon Fish