Teacher Tuesdays making a come back

I recently sent out an email to all the teachers and administrators who were at the school when we were. I have yet to recieve a single response. My worry is this, I work for State Farm. I sent the email from my work account, and therefore was probably marked as spam by email filters, so I will go back to the drawing board, but rest assured, Teacher Tuesdays will be back soon.

For the Tennis buffs (stolen from the Standard Journal)

Rexburg -- Madison tennis continued to roll with another victory for both the boys and the girls teams. Both groups are now 3-1 on the season after a 5-1 victory for the boys and a 4-2 victory for the girls at home against Bonneville.

The boys team won largely in part to their singles players who really dominated Bonneville. "All of our boys singles players did really well," said Madison coach Brad Parkinson. "No one in particular stood out, they all just did what they needed to do."

The girls strong play was helped by the performances of the doubles team of Melinda Fox and Claire Goodwin.

"(Fox and Goodwin) did a good job out there today, and they were one of the keys for the girls," said Parkinson.

Madison is looking to carry its stong play over to Rigby on Friday at 3:30 p.m., and extend its winning streak.

About Rigby Parkinson said, "It's too early in the season to know what to expect from Ribgy. We'll just go out there and do the best we can."

KEVIN GULBRANSEN -- sports@uvsj.com

Madison moving to 4A (Stolen from localnews8.com)

By Megan Boatwright, Local News 8 Reporter

In anticipation of state wide public school budget cuts Madison High School is already taking big steps to cut costs.

Beginning in 2010, what was once a 5A sports program will be 4A.

"Our senior class enrollment was below our usual numbers this year," said Madison High School Principal Roger Hampton.

The numbers are ever changing, but in order to play 5A the district needs at least 1,280 students.

In the 2008-2009 School Year the district has 1,276 students enrolled.

Because the figures are so close Madison School District could have continued playing 5A sports, but this year economic factors come to play.

"At this point we're also looking at the financial reasons to go 4A," said the principal.

5A teams travel as far as Twin Falls for games costing the district $1,100 per round trip.

Under the 4A schedule, teams wouldn't travel farther than Pocatello, saving the district over $600 per trip.

"We'll be able to set up our schedule with more local teams instead of traveling to Twin Falls or the Boise area," said Hampton.

Sports aren't the only programs currently on the chopping block. According to Principal Hampton state wide school budget cuts will affect many programs at the high school.

"Programs not tied to the Activities Association probably won't be able to function as an organization or travel. There's just no money," said the principal.

There are advantages to going 4A. "I think kids will be excited to play teams like Hillcrest, Bonneville and Rigby which are already rivals," said Madison High School Athletic Director, Glenn Romney. "When we play conference games against those teams will intensify that rivalry."

The Scholastic Team, Future Farmers of America, Business Professionals of America and other vocational programs are several other Madison High School programs losing district funding next year.

Remember when?

Various events that took place in 2000:

January 1 - Y2K passes without serious, widespread computer failures, despite fears to the contrary.
February 13 - The final original Peanuts comic strip is published, following the death of its creator, Charles Schulz.
March 7 - George W. Bush and Al Gore emerge victorious in the Republican and Democratic caucuses and primaries of the United States presidential election.
April 22 - In a predawn raid, federal agents seize 6-year old Elián González from his relatives' home in Miami, Florida and fly him to his Cuban father in Washington, DC, ending one of the most publicized custody battles in U.S. history.
May 4 - ILOVEYOU computer virus spreads quickly throughout the world originating in Philippines.
June 28 - Elian Gonzalez returns to Cuba with his father, Juan Miguel Gonzalez, ending a protracted custody battle.
July 31 – August 3 - The Republican National Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania nominates George W. Bush for U.S. President and Dick Cheney for Vice President.
August 8 - The Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley is raised to the surface after 136 years on the ocean floor.
September 15 – October 1 - The 2000 Summer Olympics are held in Sydney, Australia.
October 30 - This is the final date during which there is no human presence in space; on October 31, Soyuz TM-31 launches, carrying the first resident crew to the International Space Station. The ISS has been continuously crewed since.
November 7 - United States presidential election, 2000: Republican candidate Texas Governor George W. Bush defeats Democratic Vice President Al Gore in the closest election in history, but the final outcome is not known for over a month because of disputed votes in Florida.
December 31 - The Millennium Dome closes its doors one year to the day of its opening.

FOR MORE VISIT: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2000

I could not help myself, even at the peril of being sucker -punched by many women.

Cats come up short(Thanks to the Standard Journal)

Published: Tuesday, March 10, 2009 11:06 PM MDT
NAMPA -- After Lewiston center Peter Gregg rocked the rim, slamming down the final two points of the state 5A boys basketball championship game on Saturday and sealing Lewiston's 56-48 win, Madison coach Bill Hawkins could only reflect on the amazing run that his short-handed Bobcats had made to get to the state championship game -- and almost win the title.

"You cannot fault the resilient hearts of these kids," Hawkins said. "They had a chance. Just a couple of bounces go our way when it's a two point game, right there it could be anybody's baby."

Lewiston (22-4) opened up a 45-35 fourth-quarter lead as Jared Heitzman nailed one of his five 3-pointers to open the quarter.

But in what was a recurring theme during the game, the Bobcats wouldn't go away, pulling to within two points at 47-45, as Brady Hastings hit a pair of free throws with 2:39 remaining in the fourth quarter. His free throws were preceded by a Bo Dayton steal and a layup.

But the Bengal defense didn't allow the Cats to get much after that. Lewiston also hit on seven of its final eight free throw attempts and the Gregg dunk to seal the victory.

Josh Fuller led all scorers with 21 points and eight rebounds for Madison (17-10).

The 6-foor-6 Fuller was the offensive leader for the Bobcats the entire tournament as he also hit on a pair of 3-pointers to go with his stellar play under the basket.

"Josh has been big for us all year long, there's no question about it," Hawkins said. "He's got such a big heart and he's got a great mind and he plays so intelligent. He's a good leader.

Hawkins also knows he will have a good chance of getting back to the Idaho Center next year, because of the return of his all-star center.

"He's just a junior and he's got a lot of potential," Hawkins said. "He had a great tournament there's no question."

Because of injuries, he was the Cats' only big man as Hawkins ran an eight-man lineup through the tournament.

Lewiston, however, boasted a large front line of Gregg (6-8) and Justin Podrabsky (6-7) to go along with their hot-shooting guards. In the end, it was too much for Madison.

Gregg had 11 points, Podrabsky had 12, Heitzman had 18 points and Ryan Strong finished with 10.

"The difference is we probably played the best team in the state Idaho," Hawkins said. "They've been ranked in the state No. 1 all year long."

The two teams played last year in the state consolation final, where the Bengals beat the Cats again. Hawkins knew that his team would probably be back, because they had all the pieces to make a good run when the season began.

"Intact we always knew that we had a chance to play for it," Hawkins said. "And when we got injured I still felt like we did. It's just that we had to be more disciplined, and run our system to a higher efficiency."

That the Cats did as they played as hard as they could in every game this season.

"Almost every game they played they were in this year," he said. "They gave themselves a chance to win and it showed in the tournament and was able to play on the greatest stage that there is."

The game started out on a Lewiston 8-2 run. But every time the Bengals surged ahead, the Cats clawed right back.

A scary moment occurred in the second quarter when Madison's Rhett Sutton got the ball on a breakaway layup. He missed, however, landing hard and clutching his knee. While he laid on the floor, Lewiston took advantage of the missing defender and hit a 3-pointer before Madison could call time out.

Sutton was not seriously hurt, as he got back into the game to a standing ovation with 2:25 left in the second quarter.

At that point, Fuller had hit a pair of free throws to tie the game at 22-22. But Lewiston led at halftime, 26-22.

Madison opened up the second half with a big 3-pointer from Dayton, who finished with 10 points, then a basket by Fuller tied the game up at 29-29. But a 3-pointer by Lewiston's Strong and another 3-pointer by Heitzman extended the lead late in the third.

In the fourth, a loose ball out of bounds along Lewiston's baseline appeared to be out off of a Bengal. But the ball was awarded to Lewiston, leaving Hawkins shaking his head afterward as the momentum that was Madison's ebbed away.

"If that would've come to us, it's a two-point game. We tie it, now the pressure really comes on them and then who knows what might happen," Hawkins said.

But it was not to be Madison's night.

Hawkins credits his players for getting to the championship game.

"I feel like very one of them reached their potential, and they strived to reach their potential," Hawkins said. "And as a coach you can't ask for anything more. Because that's all you want to do, is you want to see if there is way to get kids to dig down and reach for their potential, and they did.

"I don't know how many people come up to me and said, 'Coach, wow those kids give you everything they have,' and I say, 'You know what, that's all you can ask for as a coach.'"

Lewiston 56, Madison 48

Madison 13 9 13 13 -- 48

Lewiston 14 12 16 14 -- 56

Madison--Trevor Blanchard 0, Brady Hastings 3, Bo Dayton 10, Kyle Blanchard 0, Trent Ricks 7, Austin Blair 2, Rhett Sutton 5, Josh Fuller 21. Totals 18 7-10 48.

Lewiston--Peter Gregg 11, Devin Brown 0, Ridge Fuentes 0, Justin Podrabsky 12, Mark Bolland 0, Jared Heitzman 18, Ryan Young 5, Ryan Strong 10. Totals 20 8-11 56.

3-pointers--Madison 5 (Dayton 1, Ricks 1, Sutton 1, Fuller 2), Lewiston 8 (Heitzman 5, Young 1, Strong 2). Fouls--Madison 16 (Fouled out: none), Lewiston 12 (Fouled out: none). Technicals--None.

MATT EICHNER -- editor@uvsj.com

Cats lose title game.

They played hard, and came close but unfortunately the Cats lost the state championship game to Lewiston. More on this when one of the local papers puts together a story.

Madison shoots down Eagles (From the Standard Journal)

Published: Thursday, March 5, 2009 10:54 PM MST
Madison 56, Capital 48

Due to injuries early in the season the Madison Bobcats have played undersized for every crucial game of the year. The first-round game of the state tournament against the Capital High Eagles would be no different. The Eagles boast 6-foot-8 inch forward Paul Egwuonwu and All State Forward Dontese Towers, but the Bobcats didn't allow them to be difference makers.

Madison Coach Bill Hawkins said, "Brady Hastings was one of the unsung heroes of the game. He played great defense against Towers, who has been averaging 20 points per game."

Madison attacked the basket relentlessly and drew numerous fouls. Through the first three quarters, they shot poorly from the free throw line, but in the fourth the Bobcats were near perfect from the stripe. Madison brought the pressure defensively, and forced some key turnovers in the final minutes to turn the momentum in its favor. The Bobcats carried the momentum to final buzzer, finishing the game with a well earned 8-point victory.

Madison got off to a quick start from the tip off, hustling at both ends of the floor. Josh Fuller and Bo Dayton led the early offensive surge. The Bobcats were not intimidated by Eagles' big man Egwuonwu, who is a well-known shot blocker. Fuller opened the game with 8 points in the first quarter. The Bobcats were able to cause a few turnovers and play at a high tempo. Madison carried a 19-13 lead into the second quarter.

Both teams began the second quarter with 3-point field goals, and after a couple minutes the Eagles were able to tie the game back up. The offensive tempo slowed down which favored the interior size of the Eagles. Capital forward Dontese Tower was a key player for the Eagles in the second quarter, particularly on the offensive boards. Neither team was able to establish very much offensive rhythm in the quarter, and the teams headed into half time tied at 27-27. The Bobcats struggled from the free throw line in the first half; making only one of six attempts from the charity stripe.

Capital opened the third quarter with offensive energy and took a four point lead. The Eagles were on the verge of breaking the game wide open on a couple of occasIons, but the Bobcats were saved by two clutch 3-pointers from senior Rhett Sutton. The free-throw woes for the Bobcats continued in the third quarter, and the two teams headed to the fourth with Capital up 43-39.

But Madison stepped up its intensity in the fourth. A couple minutes into the quarter Bo Dayton nailed a three pointer, and followed it up with a steal and an easy bucket, and the Bobcats went up by one for the first time since the second quarter. The Bobcats continued their defensive intensity and allowed only one more meaningless basket the rest of the game. The Eagles were forced to start fouling in the latter stages of the final quarter and Madison made 10 of 12 free throws to finish out the game. The Bobcats defensive pressure, hustle and free throw shooting in the fourth quarter were important factors to the victory.

Hawkins added, "We played with great resiliency and heart all game, and did a terrific job from the free throw line there at the end."

Madison will play Friday night at 8 p.m. against the Post Falls Trojans, who barely beat Borah High 63-59, earlier today in their first round match. On the upcoming match-up, Hawkins said, "Post Falls is a lot like Capital. They're very scrappy and athletic, but if we play patiently and with energy, this is a game we can win."

The game will be held in Nampa at the Idaho Center.

KEVIN GULBRANSEN

sports@uvsj.com

State Basketball

In case you can't read it, the Cats play Capital for their first game of the state playoffs.