Sunday, February 27, 2011

Numbers Update

143 Games
15 Weeks

Beau Spencer is approaching the 150th broadcast, which could happen at Redbird Arena on Saturday March 5th during the Class 3A/4A girl's basketball state finals, a whole two weeks before the basketball seasons comes to a close.

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Game 143: Galesburg @ Moline (Boy's Basketball)

Wharton Field House
Game 143
Galesburg @ Moline (Boy's Basketball)
(2/25/11)

The final game of the regular season, at the storied Wharton Field House in Moline.  Galesburg is playing for a tie for 2nd place in the Western Big 6, while the host Maroons are looking to claim 2nd place outright.  Moline junior guard Anthony Lindauer is also looking to become the WB6 scoring champ for the 2010-11 season.  Galesburg head coach Mike Reynolds was also serving his automatic one-game suspension for picking up two technicals and ejected from the Peoria Notre Dame game on Tuesday.

Friday, February 25, 2011

Game 142: Galesburg vs. Richwoods (Girl's Basketball)

Galesburg Silver Streaks: Sectional Champs
Game 142
Galesburg vs. Richwoods (Girl's Basketball)
Class 3A Sectional Championship (@ Metamora)
(2/23/11)


Editorial
It's no secret that I follow the Galesburg Silver Streaks more than any other team.  That's because my job during the day is Sports Director at WAIK in Galesburg (and WMOI/WRAM in Monmouth), and that's what pays the bills.  IHSSN is just a hobby, and for now a not-for-profit entity. 

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Game 141: Galesburg @ Peoria Notre Dame (Boy's Basketball)

Gilfillan Court at Peoria Notre Dame
Game 141
Galesburg @ Peoria Notre Dame (Boy's Basketball)
(2/22/11)


Who would have thought that an early arrival and extra preparation to avoid an equipment disaster would blow up in my face?  Tonight, the broadcast resembled the 84-39 final score between these two teams, and I was on wrong end...

Organization, overly prepared, and early are three things that are extremely important, and words I live by for my broadcasts.  No matter how much effort is put into these three, one oversight can create a disaster.  Here's my story.

Game 140: Galesburg vs. Ottawa (Girl's Basketball)

Game 140
Galesburg vs. Ottawa (Girl's Basketball)
Class 3A Sectionals (@ Metamora)
(2/21/11)


The trip to Metamora started with my typical 3:00 lunch from the Subway drive-thru.  However, today something happened at the drive-thru that completely drew my ire.  One of my biggest pet peeves....

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

141 Games In...An Update

I think I need Wednesday night off!
Game blogs will be written for Game #140 (Galesburg vs. Ottawa girl's sectional) and Game #141 (Galesburg @ Peoria Notre Dame boy's basketball).  This is just a quick update.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Game 139: Alleman @ Galesburg (Boy's Basketball)

Silver Streaks Ready for Senior Night
Game 139
Alleman @ Galesburg (Boy's Basketball)
(2/18/11)

Senior Night for the Galesburg Silver Streaks, with a rare introduction for the seven players, Pioneers coach Bob Szorc, Matt Correthers sports a 'stache, and yet more fast food.

Game 138: Galesburg vs. Sterling (Girl's Basketball)

Class 3A Regional Championship @ Geneseo
Game 138
Galesburg vs. Sterling (Girl's Basketball)
Class 3A Regional Championship (@ Geneseo)
(2/17/11)

A regional championship is on the line at Geneseo, pitting the Galesburg Silver Streaks and Sterling Golden Warriors.  It was a good day away from the office, allowing me to catch up on some things at home.  I also made the decision in the afternoon to save some miles and stay in Annawan after the game, instead of driving all the way back to Macomb, and then back up north on Friday morning.

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Coming Up....Game Blogs #138 & #139

Stay tuned for blogs from Game 138 and Game 139.  Through 14 weeks of the season, the Quest is averaging nearly 10 play-by-play broadcasts/week.

Game 138:  Galesburg vs. Sterling Class 3A Regional championship (Girl's Basketball)

Game 139:  Alleman @ Galesburg (Boy's Basketball)

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Game 137: Galesburg vs. Geneseo (Girl's Basketball)

Geneseo High School
Game 137
Galesburg vs. Geneseo (Girl's Basketball)
Class 3A Regional Semifinal
(2/15/11)

The Class 3A Regional at Geneseo is pretty balanced.  Take for example the #4 seed (Sterling) enters the tournament with two more wins and two less losses than the #1 seed (Rock Island)!  Entering the semifinals on Tuesday night, the remaining four teams have a combined record of (88-25). 

Game 136: Knoxville vs. Brimfield (Girl's Basketball)

Knoxville Blue Bullets Mascot
Game 136
Knoxville vs. Brimfield (Girl's Basketball)
Class 1A Sectional (@ Midland)
(2/14/11)


The battle of the Lincoln Trail Conference went to the Stark County Rebels, and they would move on to the Sectional championship against a member of the Prairieland Conference, either the Knoxville Blue Bullets or the Brimfield Lady Indians.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Game 135: Stark County vs. Annawan (Girl's Basketball)

Annawan Bravettes
Game 135
Stark County vs. Annawan (Girl's Basketball)
Class 1A Midland Sectional
(2/14/11)


The Chronicles of Varna
I had the perfect date for Valentine's Day...a double header of Sectional basketball!  Midland High School was the destination to take in a hotly contested Annawan/Stark County matchup, a pair of Lincoln Trail Conference teams in the opener.  Both have been ranked in the Class 1A top ten all season in the IHSSN Coaches Poll and in the AP Poll.

Stay Tuned....

Apologies for the blog delays.  I didn't arrive at home until midnight both Monday and Tuesday nights, then a 4:30 a.m. wakeup call on Tuesday morning and a 5:30 a.m. wakeup call on Wednesday morning coupled with full workdays have put me behind. 

I'll have an update on the last three broadcasts on Wednesday night.  Blog updates will be the following...

Game #135 - Annawan vs. Stark County (Class 1A Midland Sectional)
Game #136 - Knoxville vs. Brimfield (Class 1A Midland Sectional)
Game #137 - Galesburg vs. Geneseo (Class 3A Geneseo Regional)

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Game 134: Macomb vs. Williamsville (Boy's Basketball)

Riverton's Hawk Center
Game 134
Macomb vs. Williamsville (Boy's Basketball)
Riverton Shootout
(2/12/11)


Before the last game tipped off, I made a fast jaunt down to the hospitality room.  I chowed down on a few pieces of delicious mushroom pizza from Gallina's in Riverton.  As I sat down at a table in the room, a plate of home made brownies caught my eye.  I've been (trying) eating healthier in the last week, so I was able to abstain from the sweets. 

Game 133: Princeton vs. Riverton (Boy's Basketball)

Princeton Tigers
Game 133
Princeton vs. Riverton (Boy's Basketball)
Riverton Shootout
(2/12/11)


I was greeted by another coach before the Princeton/Riverton game.  It was Merritt Burns, the former Annawan Braves head coach.  He is now an assistant at Beardstown.  We caught up with some Annawan chat, and filled me in on the Beardstown season.  His quote when he walked up..."You look better than I thought you would after all these games."  For those that follow the blog and count up the trips through the drive-thru's would probably say the same thing, LOL.

Game 132: Newark vs. Nokomis (Boy's Basketball)

Newark Norsemen Warming Up
Game 132
Newark vs. Nokomis (Boy's Basketball)
Riverton Shootout
(2/12/11)


Before Newark and Nokomis tipped off, I got a visit from Princeton Tigers head coach Jesse Brandt.  We talked about his team's progress this season, coming off a close loss on Friday night to a very strong (Chillicothe) IVC team, who they had beat earlier in the season.  He mentioned that his team lost to Newark by one point in the semifinals of the Plano Christmas Tournament.  It was a controversial ending, as his team was fouled on a three-point shot...but it was overruled and called a two-point attempt.  The second free throw was missed and the Tigers lost by one.  I've had great respect for coach Brandt, because of an earlier experience in broadcasting one of his Sectional games...

Game 131: Dwight vs. Pleasant Plains (Boy's Basketball)

IHSSN Broadcast Central at Riverton
Game 131
Dwight vs. Pleasant Plains (Boy's Basketball)
Riverton Shootout
(2/12/11)


One of the student helpers at the shootout brought me up something before the Dwight/Pleasant Plains game.  It was a music stand.  Since my stool was to the left of the table, I was putting my score book on my legs during the broadcasts.  I'm not sure who the innovative person was who noticed this, but it is extremely appreciated.  In fact, I had never even thought of it.  The hospitality at the Riverton Shootout continues to amaze me!

Game 130: Herscher vs. St. Joseph-Ogden (Boy's Basketball)

St. Joseph-Ogden Takes the Floor
Game 130
Herscher vs. St. Joseph-Ogden (Boy's Basketball)
Riverton Shootout
(2/12/11)


I was able to catch up with a fellow member of the Illinois High School Sports.com family, KJRYNO.  He has sons that play for Windsor, and the Blue Devils are playing tonight at the Illini Central Coaches vs. Cancer Shootout.  He made the trip to Riverton to catch the first few games, before heading to Mason City. 

Game 129: Midland vs. Maroa-Forsyth (Boy's Basketball)

Maroa-Forsyth vs. Midland
Game 129
Midland vs. Maroa-Forsyth (Boy's Basketball)
Riverton Shootout
(2/12/11)

It was a late decision in the week to head down to Riverton for their annual shootout.  I'm glad I made the trip, because in the end there was great basketball games, and I was able to catch up with several people I don't get a chance to see too often, and meet some new basketball friends. 

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Random Thoughts: Filler

I arrived back home at 11:30, and instead of staying up to write long blog entries from the six broadcasts today, I decided to blog with filler material.  I will have a game-by-game blog recap on Sunday.

After today, through 13 weeks of the 18-week high school basketball season I have broadcasted 134 games.  I need to broadcast 16 games in the next five weeks.  I think I can handle that!

Friday, February 11, 2011

Game 128: Galesburg @ United Township (Boy's Basketball)

Panther Den: United Township
Game 128
Galesburg @ United Township (Boy's Basketball)
(2/11/11)

My first trip to the Panther Den at United Township High School in East Moline since the 2002-03 season.  That season, I was broadcasting Geneseo Maple Leafs basketball games on the now defunct AM 1500 WGEN.  A funny story about that trip...

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Game 127: Moline @ Galesburg (Girl's Basketball)

Galesburg Seniors
Source: Massey Basketball
Game 127
Moline @ Galesburg (Girl's Basketball)
(2/10/11)

Senior Night at Galesburg High School.  There are five senior basketball players (Tai Peachey, Jessica Howard, Megan Young, Mickey Rodriguez, and Jamie Johnson) and two managers (Sarah Main and Lauren Riggs).  It's an extremely tight-knit group of girls.  Coach Evan Massey talked about this group of seniors on Sportsline today.

Game 126: United vs. Abingdon (Girl's Basketball)

Game 126
United vs. Abingdon (Girl's Basketball)
Class 1A Regionals (@ United)
(2/9/11)


The second game of the doubleheader in the regional semifinals pitted the host and #2 seed United Red Storm against the Abingdon Commandos.  The two teams split during the regular season, and both enter with 20 wins on the year.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Game 125: B-PC/A vs. Knoxville (Girl's Basketball)

Game 125
B-PC/A vs. Knoxville (Girl's Basketball)
Class 1A Regional (@ United)
(2/9/11)


Prior to heading out to United High School, I made a stop at the Subway drive-thru for the dinner-lunch.  Throughout the day, I got by on a couple apples and crackers.  I ordered a 6-inch tuna on wheat with lettuce, tomatoes, black olives, and pickles.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Game 124: Abingdon vs. West Prairie (Girl's Basketball)

United High School outside of Monmouth
Game 124
Abingdon vs. West Prairie (Girl's Basketball)
Class 1A Regional (@ United)
(2/7/11)


This game was broadcast on IHSSN.net.  It would have been carried on 97.7 WMOI like the previous game, however there was a Monmouth-Roseville girl's basketball game from Farmington that followed our West Central coverage. 

Game 123: West Central vs. B-PC/A (Girl's Basketball)

United High School
Host: Class 1A Regional
Game 123
West Central vs. B-PC/A (Girl's Basketball)
Class 1A United Regional
(2/7/11)


You're kidding me, right?  Regionals?!?!  Already!!!  Talk about time flying, but it's bittersweet.  With the onset of postseason basketball, it means that spring and warmer weather is on the way.  On the flip side, it means that basketball season is almost over. 

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Game 122: Blue Island Eisenhower @ Galesburg (Boy's Basketball)

Blue Island Eisenhower Warming Up
Game 122
Blue Island Eisenhower @ Galesburg (Boy's Basketball)
(2/5/11)

After broadcasting the reigning IHSA Girl's Basketball 3-point record holders (Galesburg single-season in 2009-10), it was time to broadcast the IHSA Boy's Basketball single season 3-point record holders.  The Blue Island Eisenhower Cardinals just broke the record the night before, set by Lincoln in 2004-05.  Coming in, the Cardinals have knocked down 292 three-pointers.

Game 121: Galesburg @ Dunlap (Girl's Basketball)

Dunlap High School
Game 121
Galesburg @ Dunlap (Girl's Basketball)
(2/5/11)


Another short night of sleep, before turning around and heading back to work.  Upon returning home from Rock Island late Friday night, I had to spend about an hour cleaning the house and preparing it for the showing on Saturday afternoon.  By Saturday morning, about 3.5 hours of sleep ended, and another day began.

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Game 120: Galesburg @ Rock Island (Boy's Basketball)

Rock Island Fieldhouse
Game 120
Galesburg (3A #7) @ Rock Island (3A #2)
(2/4/11)

Before this big game at the Rock Island Fieldhouse, I talked with both head coaches (Mike Reynolds & Thom Sigel) on my Sportsline (click to listen to full show) program.  Coach Reynolds and I talked at 10:45, as Ryan Ricketts was getting set to publicly sign his letter-of-intent to play football at Western Illinois University.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Game 119: Galesburg @ Alleman (Girl's Basketball)

Game 119
Don Morris Gymnasium @ Alleman
Galesburg @ Alleman (Girl's Basketball)
(2/3/11)

Throughout the day, I was eagerly anticipating getting back into the gym.  It's only been two nights away from basketball, but cabin fever and hoops withdrawals were settling in.  I was also ready to sleep in my own bed, and take a shower from home.  For some reason, hotel showers just don't make me feel as clean as a home shower.  That may sound very weird.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Bizzard of 2011 Coverage

Snow Drifts at Super 8 in Monmouth
Blizzard of '11
(2/2/11)

Remember in yesterday's blog, when I mentioned the word, "excited", when talking about the impending blizzard?  Well....

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Only a Blizzard Can Slow Down the Quest

Route 34 in Monmouth
Blizzard of 2011
(2/1/11)

Tonight was scheduled to be the 119th broadcast in the Quest 2: 150.  The game was to be Annawan @ United in the Lincoln Trail Conference Tournament.