Basketball
“Stormin’ Norman” Van Lier (1947 – 2009)
The Bulls battled all the way to game seven and they kept it close through much of the game, but ultimately came up short. That was as close as the Bulls would get to the championship until the Jordan era, when Bob Love’s number would be hanging from the rafters, Jerry Sloan would be coaching the Jazz and Norm Van Lier would be analyzing his old team on television.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( 1 so far )Thoughts on the Passing of Johnny “Red” Kerr
I don’t think the term “fanboy” was in vogue at the time, but we all knew what it meant and we took great pains to avoid it. None of us wanted to be caught gasping like a fish in the presence of someone famous. I can remember one time when fame overwhelmed us all.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Building a Basketball Hoop
Daniel brought out my tool box. He brought his tool set as well, just in case. This turned out to be fortuitous for the instructions did mention we needed a hammer, several screwdrivers, half a dozen different sized ratchets and an adjustable wrench. They didn’t make it clear we’d need them all at the same time.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Bucs Take One in Playoffs, Drop to Rockford Lutheran
Belvidere had to wait a day before starting their regional playoff run last Thursday night. The small stands were full at Marengo Community High School, but the crowd was quiet for most of the game. Perhaps it was the lack of a band, or perhaps the fact the announcers introduced the teams but said nothing [...]
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Bucs Split Last Two on the Road, Look to Playoffs
It was a short game and far from home, but for the small band of fans who made the trek out to the suburbs got to see the Bucs battle it out and ultimately come away with their final win of the season against the Dundee-Crown Chargers.
The Chargers took an early lead, going up 14 [...]
Bucs Beat Huskies at Home, Take One on the Road
The Bucs led the Harlem Huskies for less than three minutes in the game. However, two of those minutes happened to be the last two of the game as the Bucs battled their way back to beat the Huskies 67 – 61 last Wednesday at Wood Gym in their last home game of the [...]
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( 1 so far )Boylan Escapes Belvidere with a Win
It’s rare to see free throws be the difference in a game between Belvidere and Boylan, but last Friday night, the Titans took on the scrappy Bucs team at Wood Gym and barely escaped with a victory.
The Titans got on the board first, jumping out to a four point lead before George Waddell made his [...]
Bucs Split Two at Home
After the Bucs battled Boylan at Boylan High School the weekend before, it could be assumed the game against the Hononegah Indians would be hard fought and a close game. After they beat Belvidere North at the home of the Blue Thunder, it could be expected that the basement dwelling J-Hawks would not much of [...]
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Bucs Split Away Games
The Bucs scored first after Brandon Fowler made a pass in to George Waddell for two points. Boylan was blocked inside on the other end, but pulled out to a 10 – 2 lead. The Bucs were trying to work the perimeter and failing to grab rebounds. They took a time out at 5:40 left [...]
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Bucs Downed by Pretzels in Final Home Game
There was a good crowd on hand to watch Belvidere’s final home game of the season last Friday night. Despite the snow, there was a long line at the ticket window and game flyers were at a premium. The last few weeks, the Bucs have been playing with energy and intensity that had taken teams [...]
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Bucs Give Vikings Close Call
The last time the Bucs played Guilford, the game was essentially over by the end of the first quarter. Outscored 26 – 6, the Bucs were never able to recover. Last Friday, the Bucs took on Guilford on the Vikings home court, vowing not to make the same mistake again. Using the lessons from their [...]
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Bucs Take Two
It wasn’t easy, but the Bucs beat East in overtime in Belvidere last Thursday night, 67 – 62. The Bucs swept the E-rabs for the season before talking on a non-conference opponent last Friday night.
The Spartans jumped out to a 6 – 0 lead in the opening minutes of the game. Sycamore seemed to [...]
Bucs Beat Huskies on the Road
Maybe the Super Bowl was on everyone’s mind last Friday night. Sloppy ball handling and poor shooting marred both teams’ performance on the court at Harlem High School. However, the Bucs were able to overcome their difficulties and overwhelm the Huskies at the line to sweep Harlem for the season.
Neither team was able to hang [...]
Bucs Split Weekend Games
The Bucs hosted the J-Hawks last Friday night. Winless in NIC-9 play, the J-Hawks played the Bucs pretty close, staying within two points most of the game. However, Jack Adams scored eight of his twelve total in the fourth period to help the Bucs pull away and win 49 – 37.
Saturday night, the Auburn Knights [...]
Bucs Drop Weekend Pair
The Bucs started the weekend, traveling to Freeport last Friday night to take on the Pretzels. The Bucs scored first, but that was the only lead they would have all night. Freeport went on an 11 – 0 run and all but shut down the Belvidere offense. The Bucs were down 17 – 4 at [...]
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Bad Weekend for Bucs on the Road
The Bucs had a pair of long trips last Friday and Saturday as they traveled to Rockton on Friday night to take on the third place Indians and then trekked into the Chicago suburbs to take on the 7 – 7 Chargers.
Hononegah jumped out to a 9 – 0 lead in Friday’s game on a [...]
Bucs Overwhelmed by Vikings
The Bucs Boys Basketball team was back in action last Friday night. The stands were filled on the home side of Wood Gym. Across the court, the Vikings visitors were half empty. Unfortunately, that was one of the few points of the game that Belvidere was able to beat the Vikings. The large home crowd [...]
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Bucs Survive East Challenge
To get to the gymnasium at Rockford East, one must walk down a paneled hall, covered in pictures of league leading players and championship teams from all manner of sports. This year’s E-rabs were winless coming into the game last Friday night, but they were able to channel the spirit of those elder athletes and [...]
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Bucs Split Weekend Games
After Mother Nature cancelled last week’s home opener, the Bucs were able to finally play their first home game of the season Saturday night. First, they had to travel to Auburn Friday. While the Knights didn’t have cheerleaders, they did have a DJ and a loud home crowd.
The Bucs scored first; Josh Easley hitting a [...]
Bucs Drop Last Two, Look to Playoffs
Senior Night at Belvidere High School a few Friday nights ago seemed like it should have been the swan song for the graduating Bucs; full of the pomp and circumstance and tradition to make the game seem special. By contrast, the Bucs actual last home game last Wednesday seemed like an afterthought. It was a [...]
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Bucs Win at Home, Lose on the Road
Senior Night at Belvidere High School Friday night started with tributes to the players graduating this year, the cheerleaders and all of the people who supported them throughout the season. However, the best tribute for the seniors was inspired play to give the Bucs a victory over the visiting Harlem Huskies.The Bucs missed their first [...]
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Bucs Split Weekend Games
It was a colorful crowd at Belvidere High School Friday night. A number of the band members were dressed like Disney characters. Favorite teachers sported Bucs jerseys and were honored by the players in a ceremony at half-time. While the crowd may have been colorful, the game was primarily dominated by black and white as [...]
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Bucs Lose to Titans, Down East on the Road
The gym at Belvidere High School was packed tight Friday night when the NIC-9 leading Boylan Titans came into town. With the crowd firmly on their side, the Bucs hoped to better their 67 – 48 loss at Boylan in December. While the Bucs did play tough and keep things pretty even, Boylan took the [...]
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Tough Weekend for Bucs
With snow coming down fast and furious Friday night, only the dedicated Bucs fans (and really dedicated Pretzels fans) made the trip to Belvidere High School to watch a game between two teams that matched up pretty evenly on the court.The Pretzels missed their first shot. Dustin Boardman picked up the board and the Bucs [...]
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Bucs Start New Year with a Pair of Wins
After a third place finish at the Chuck Dayton tournament over the winter break, the Bucs were ready to return to NIC-9 play at home against Jefferson Friday night. The home crowd was larger than normal, aided by the band that was playing down in the stands rather than from their normal place in the [...]
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Bucs Take One on the Road
The Bucs were on the road last weekend, taking on two NIC-9 rivals on their respective home courts. The Bucs hit Auburn Friday night. The Bucs started slow and Auburn got on the board first. Keenen Knowles stole the ball away and took it all the way for a lay-up in the opposite basket. Tim [...]
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Bucs Split Games
It was the best of times; it was the worst of times. The Bucs traveled to Boylan Friday night, facing a Titans team predicted by many to be at the top of the NIC-9, playing in front of a loud and very unfriendly crowd.It was an uphill battle from the opening moments of the game [...]
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Bucs Drop Two at Home
After a 2 – 3 tournament start Thanksgiving week in the Hoops for Healing tournament, the Bucs kicked off their NIC-9 season, hosting the 4 – 1 Hononegah Indians Friday night. The Bucs played for ball control in the first quarter. Everything was designed to slow the tempo of the game, allow the Bucs to [...]
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Knights Squeak Past Bucs in Playoffs
Three times the Bucs met the Knights this season. Three times the Bucs beat the Knights. Going into the playoffs, the fourth seed Bucs had high hopes of going 4 – 0 against the fifth seed Knights. However, the Knights had high hopes of their own. Each of the previous meetings had been decided in [...]
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Bucs End Season on Sour Note
Belvidere’s win over Jefferson last month was the highlight of their season. They were hoping to play the spoiler again last Wednesday night. This time, the J-Hawks were more than ready for Belvidere. With the home gym advantage, three starters taller than the tallest Belvidere player and a reason to extract revenge, the J-Hawks overwhelmed [...]
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Bucs Win Last Home Game
The first playoff game is still a week away for Belvidere and Auburn, but the teams got a taste of what’s to come Friday night. Every pass was defended from the moment the ball was inbound. Every rebound was fought over bitterly. Every possession had a desperation to it; as if it were the deciding [...]
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Bucs Secure Winning Season
The Bucs first game against Guilford went down to the wire and beyond; Belvidere beat the Vikings in overtime. Last Friday’s match against Guilford was a little less nerve-wracking and a lot more rewarding.
Nick Wirth worked to give the Bucs a 15 – 4 lead, draining two three pointers in the first period. Adam Heaton [...]
Perfect Weekend for Bucs
Coach McCarthy celebrated his 300th coaching victory over Rockford East last Wednesday night. Belvidere supporters gave the coach a cake after the game. The Bucs players took it a step farther; giving the coach wins 301 and 302 over the weekend.
Jason Fiske started the scoring with a quick lay up in the first minute [...]
Bucs Split Weekend Games
Coming off their biggest win of the season against Jefferson, the Belvidere Bucs were hoping to play the same kind of game against Boylan last Friday. It was successful at first as the Bucs and the Titans were tied 4 – 4 halfway through the first quarter. However, the Titans pulled ahead for good with [...]
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Bucs Play David to J-Hawks Goliath
It wasn’t exactly standing room only Tuesday night at Belvidere High School. Even the band had the night off. However, as Shakespeare wrote in Henry V, “And gentlemen in England now-a-bed shall think themselves accurs’d they were not here”. Those few, those happy few at Wood Gym Tuesday night were witness to the most exciting [...]
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Bucs Win at Home and on the Road
After a long rest through the Christmas season, the Belvidere Bucs regrouped to begin 2005 on a positive note, winning two games in a row for the first time this season and getting back to the .500 mark for the first time in conference play.
The game against East was never in doubt. Nick Wirth scored [...]
Bucs Start New Year with a Pair of Wins
After a third place finish at the Chuck Dayton tournament over the winter break, the Bucs were ready to return to NIC-9 play at home against Jefferson Friday night. The home crowd was larger than normal, aided by the band that was playing down in the stands rather than from their normal place in [...]
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Bucs Edged Out in Close Game
Two evenly matched teams clashed at Belvidere High School Friday night as the Bucs hosted the Harlem Huskies. The lead changed hands a dozen times as each team’s shooting turned hot then cold. In the end, it was the Bucs that were cold. They were unable to overcome the slimmest of leads and Harlem won [...]
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Bucs Lose at Home, Win on the Road
The Bucs returned to the cozy confines of Wood Gym at Belvidere High School Friday night when they hosted the Boylan Titans. While Belvidere was able to play a solid three quarters of basketball, a disastrous first period put them in a hole they couldn’t get out of. Boylan’s quickness allowed them to take control [...]
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Bucs Lose NIC-9 Opener to Freeport
The Belvidere Bucs kicked off their NIC-9 season as far away from home as possible: in the Freeport gymnasium, packed full of Pretzels fans, under the black and white gaze of the Pretzels state championship team from 1951. It was a noisy game where the fans chanted insults at each other. The Bucs defense kept [...]
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Bucs Basketball Tournament Has Ups and Downs
The Belvidere Bucs kicked off their 2004 – 2005 basketball season last week, co-hosting the Hoops for Healing tournament with Woodstock High School. While the tournament raised money for the American Cancer Society, it also gave the Bucs a chance to play against a number of teams from the Fox Valley Conference, each playing a [...]
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