Hello Billings!

It's good to be here. If you're wondering what this blog will be about, it'll be a little bit of everything in the sports world. Of course, my thoughts on the Billings sports scene will take up a lot of space, I'll also weigh in on statewide and national stories, as well as interesting articles, websites, videos, etc. I come across that I feel you should take a look at.

Anyways...here we go!

Only one event in town last night...West at Skyview Boys Basketball...Skyview is such an exciting team to watch (major props to 1st year head coach Toby Hill). His Falcons may be the only team that actually can run with West. They can also shoot the lights out with Jordan Clark, Cole Cavan, and Chris Thrower. Not to mention the lightning bolt that is Mike Clause off the bench.

They're record is not as good as they've played, mainly because they always seem to have one quarter where they go cold an get lost on defense (see last week's Bozeman game when they dominated the 1st half and then scored 3 points in the 3rd...lost 51-40.) But they're only getting better...they stuck with the undefeated Bears last night, cutting their deficit to as few as 5 in the 3rd quarter, before losing by 13, West's smallest margin of victory of the season.

Speaking of the Bears...wow, do they look good! After watching Casper Natrona handle Senior last Friday night, I thought they would give West a big challenge. Then West goes out and wins by 21 in a game that wasn't that close.

The Bears can do it all, especially offensively. Casey Rogers (heading to Carroll next year) is the ultimate point guard...great court vision, very smart, good shooter, plus he is the unquestioned leader of that team. He's a big reason West is the only undefeated team left in the AA. But he's got tons of help.

The Bears have a great post game with Eric Halverson, Mitchell Craig, and Ben King. King was especially impressive last night...absolutely owning the offensive glass and getting a couple of huge three-point plays in the 1st half. Joel Reitz and Peter Stordahl are big helps in the backcourt as well (Stordahl had a lay-up last night that was as impressive as any I've seen this season...up an under two defenders with his left.) The Bears are definitely the favorite to repeat as State Champs.

Gotta go for now...I'm off on Wednesdays and Thursdays...huge game for me tonight on the college scene...#2 Kansas at #24 Kansas State, 6:00 PM on ESPNU...I've been a Jayhawks fan since birth (dad is a Kansas alum)...but K-State is definitely going to be our toughest test so far...Michael Beasley is an absolute beast on the court, averaging 25 and 13...leading rebounder in the country.

I think we'll take 'em though. We're the deepest team in the country, especially in the front-court. We're just fun to watch. The way basketball is supposed to be played. Should be the best game on tonight.

Talk to you later!

-Casey