Braves Sports, Jan. 25, 2012

Braves eagerly await pregame warmups

By Bill Reynolds

La Conner High hoop teams were on a hot streak before last week's major winter storms.

But now they could face some tough sledding ahead in terms of schedule changes made necessary when the cold weather forced postponement of slated games at Shoreline Christian and Mount Vernon Christian.

La Conner must play five league games in nine days to make up for previously scheduled contests wiped out by snowy and icy road conditions.

The La Conner-Mount Vernon Christian games have been reset for this Saturday, Jan. 28, with boys' junior varsity action tipping off at 4:30 p.m.

The girls' varsity game is to start at or around 6 p.m., followed 90 minutes later by the boys' varsity clash.

The La Conner-Shoreline Christian games have been rescheduled for Feb. 1, a rare Wednesday date, with the same boys' JV  at 4:30 p.m.;  girls' varsity at 6 p.m., and boys' varsity 7:30 p.m. rotation.

Neither Mount Vernon Christian nor Shoreline Christian has a girls' junior varsity team, according to La Conner head coach Scott Novak.

La Conner players are eager to hit the hardwood again, he said, with both teams sitting atop league standings.

The Braves were 8-0 in league play and 13-1 overall going into Tuesday's late home action with Darrington.

The Lady Braves sported a 7-1 league mark and 10-4 overall ledger entering their Tuesday pairing with Darrington.

The La Conner girls' lone league loss was a December setback on the road to the Lady Loggers.

After being rendered idle by the region's extended snowstorms, the term “pregame warmups” now takes on added meaning for the La Conner squads.

But Novak is confident both teams will be fired up, despite the grueling schedule ahead.

In addition to the makeup games, La Conner is also scheduled this Friday, Jan. 27,  at Orcas and at home Jan. 31 opposite Concrete.

La Conner hoopsters haven't spent the entire month sidelined, however.

Before the snow fell, La Conner players had once again taken part in the annual Bo Alleckson Memorial Hoop Classic.

The January tourney honors the memory of one of Novak's former students, who passed away in the 1990s, after having moved to California.

The event has grown to a 32-team, three-gym format, featuring boys' and girls' teams from the fourth through eighth grades.

"Our high school students work the scorer's tables," Novak said Monday, "with community members, coaches, and former players serving as game officials."

Many current La Conner High students played in previous Alleckson tourneys, he said.

"When it was a fifth and sixth grade boys' tournament," he said, "La Conner won the championship in back-to-back years."

Those teams included present Braves' players Landy James, Bobby Poulton, Spencer Novak, Tyler Howlett, and Jamall James.

 Photo by Karla Reynolds

La Conner native raises bar on national stage

By Bill Reynolds

The past year was an uplifting one for a former La Conner resident.

Mark Reynolds, 22, a junior at Tarleton State University in Texas, was recognized Saturday night in Oklahoma City as the Natural Athlete Strength Association's  2011 male Power Sports Lifter of the Year.

He received a large trophy and two wall plaques during annual awards ceremonies held at the Wyndham Garden Hotel near Will Rogers International Airport.

Reynolds ranked first in the event, which combines the curl, bench press, and deadlift, among more than 2,000 Natural Athlete Strength Association members nationwide.

"Mark is going to be one of our future greats, and he's already great," said iconic association president and co-founder Rich Peters, who made the official presentation.

The 5-9, 200-pound Reynolds was nominated for the honor after a year in which he set personal competition bests in all lift categories.

He curled 171 pounds, benched 360, and deadlifted 623 before judges who also make sure lifters adhere to strict technique guidelines.

Reynolds also competed several times last year in the strength association’s Power Lifting division, where the squat is substituted for curls.

He set a personal best in the squat, with a 530-pound effort, at a meet this past summer.

Reynolds was attracted to the Natural Athlete Strength Association by its family atmosphere and Peters' long and tireless campaign to rid power sports of steroids and performance enhancing drugs.

"What I like about it," Reynolds explains, "is that I'm basically competing against myself. There's no place for steroids in that."

The lifters, he says, share a common bond. They travel from state to state to various meets, often using down time at the arena to encourage competitors.

Reynolds attends meets with his wife, Courtney, young daughters Callie and Kylie, and newborn son, Bryson.

He was introduced to powerlifting while a student at Mart High School, where Reynolds is the only athlete to have earned All-State honors in three sports in the same year.

He was the starting middle linebacker on Mart High’s 2006 State championship football team, then three months later set the school record for combined weight – 1,315 pounds – in the squat, bench, and deadlift at the State Power Lifting Meet in Houston, where he placed sixth.

He closed out his senior year by leading the Central Texas area in runs batted in as the Panthers' catcher, helping Mart High advance deep into the post-season.

But it was powerlifting that really grabbed Reynolds' attention after moving to Texas from La Conner, where his childhood friends included Braves' assistant basketball coach Carl Buher.

"I liked powerlifting a lot in high school," Reynolds says, "and decided it was something I wanted to keep doing."

Reynolds' sisters, Melissa and Lauren, have since returned home to La Conner. Melissa, who graduated from Mart High, is a first-year student at Skagit Valley College. Lauren is a sophomore at La Conner High School.

Reynolds, meanwhile, continues to train regularly at Mart High's Edd Burleson Weight Room, occasionally alongside fellow Panther alum Quan Cosby, now a member of the National Football League's Indianapolis Colts.

Another local product who turns up at Burleson is Jesse Plemons, a former Mart quarterback prospect and summer baseball teammate of Reynolds', who went into acting full-time and is best known for his role as Landry Clarke on the popular Friday Night Lights TV series.

And, if Reynolds continues to raise the bar as he did in 2011, Peters predicts he, too, will soon make a name for himself.

"I was glad when I saw that Mark had been nominated," Peters said last weekend, "and even more so when he won."

UPFRONT: The writer, who no longer lifts anything heavier than a camera, is Reynolds' father.

in the Jan. 18, 2012 issue ...

Photo by Karla Reynolds

We're seeing a lot of this as Public Works crews work overtime to keep the roads and sidewalks safe for travel.

Photo by Bill Stokes

And we're enjoying views like this...

Photo by Bill Stokes

And this ....

Photo by Karla Reynolds

While kids have to do stuff like sled down Washington Street since the schools are closed for the snowstorm.

Kory is getting better

Writer Adrian Sharpe has the latest on the La Conner High School senior who was critically injured Friday night in a traffic accident. He spent the weekend in a coma, but today, Wednesday, his grandma came by our office and reported that he is awake and talking. We're keeping Kory and his family in our prayers.

Low cost housing for artists

Read Adrian's piece on Artspace, a national non-profit firm that develops affordable housing and work space especially for artists. The organization, which usually devotes its efforts to large cities, is eyeing little La Conner as a place to establish artist housing. The first phase is a feasibility study that will start next week. A public meeting is set for 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25 at Maple Hall.

Photo by Don Coyote

The Swinomish Smokehouse roof caught fire Friday evening. The blaze was extinguished quickly by Fire District 13 firefighters. Nobody was hurt. 

From the Police Blotter: 

10:39 a.m.: Public Drinking – A spectator of the accident at 6^th and Morris streets was arrested for drinking in public while he was watching deputies and firefighters who responded to the event.  

Meanwhile ...

11:25 a.m.: Cell for a Cell – A man was arrested for using a ladder to climb into someone’s apartment, 900 block of Maple Ave., La Conner. The man was violating a no contact order and claimed he was just trying to retrieve a friend’s cell phone. Deputies made sure he got a cell, but it happened to be a jail cell instead of a phone. 

  Despite lots of snow, we got the paper out on time today! (OK, there are a couple of embarrassing bonehead errors we didn't catch in our push to get'er done.) The paper is printed in south Everett and our driver, Chuck, deserves big kudos for bringing it to La Conner through this morning's major snowstorm. And Bill Stokes distributed the paper to the store shelves and filled the news boxes right on schedule this morning. In the snow. (Thank you, Honey.)

Braves Sports, Jan. 18, 2012

Photo by Melissa Reynolds

Braves follow script to reel in Cedar Park

By Bill Reynolds

There were class, glass, and brass acts on Friday when the La Conner Braves took center stage at the James Gym.

And what a show it was.

The Braves remained unbeaten in league play, 7-0, and improved to 12-1 overall with a highlight reel effort against Cedar Park Christian.

La Conner's convincing 82-56 victory coincided with a special appearance by the University of Washington pep band and halftime ceremonies honoring the Braves' 1992 Tri-District title team.

But the night's most dramatic moment may well have been La Conner frontliner Landy James' emphatic two-handed dunk off the glass, after having snared a perfectly placed backboard feed from Braves' point guard Mike Wilbur.

The rousing slam drew oohs and aahs from a standing room only crowd.

And that was just the Cedar Park side.

The La Conner stands went absolutely bonkers.

It was a fitting hookup for James and Wilbur, who combined to torment Cedar Park from the get-go.

James finished with a game-high 30 points, going 10 of 15 from the floor while knocking down four of six treys.

He also sank six of nine free throws in addition to grabbing seven rebounds, collecting six steals, and dishing off a pair of assists.

Wilbur likewise filled the stat sheet.

He scored 15 points on five-of-nine shooting, hitting two of five attempts from beyond the three-point arc.

Wilbur's evening included a team-best four assists – including the textbook carom lob to James – three steals, and two rebounds.

Wilbur's backcourt partner, Spencer Novak, enjoyed another strong outing, as well.

Novak delivered 16 points, four rebounds, three steals, and three assists.

He continued his hot outside shooting of late, burying four of seven trey attempts.

Jonah Cook (7), Sean Hulbert (5), Jared Fohn (3), Wil James (3), Skyler Krueger (2), and Bjorn Mejlaender (1) rounded out the potent La Conner attack.

Fohn helped stretch Cedar Park's defense with a three-pointer and three assists from the perimeter, then went inside for five rebounds. 

La Conner bolted to a 22-12 first period lead and never looked back, allowing Braves' head coach Scott Novak the luxury of tapping his deep and talented bench.

"The guys stepped it up defensively," he said afterward, "and played a great game. The neat thing is we were able to play many different combinations of players."

He noted that Jamall James and Cameron Sherman also logged quality minutes in reserve roles. James grabbed two rebounds and handed out an assist. Sherman pulled down three boards.

Cook was La Conner's most effective board man, finishing with a game-high 10 rebounds. He also assisted twice on nice feeds from the post.

All in all, it was a festive night against a potentially dangerous league foe.

"We had a bit of a sluggish start," coach Novak allowed, "but we got into a rhythm."

So did the Husky and La Conner High bands, which had the gym rocking from start to finish.

"It was a fun night with the Husky band and just a great atmosphere," Novak said.

The Braves were hoping to produce yet more positive notes in Tuesday's scheduled late action at Shoreline Christian.

La Conner is slated to resume its league slate this Friday, Jan. 20, at Mount Vernon Christian.

Photo by Karla Reynolds

Lady Braves force hoop foes into meltdowns

By Bill Reynolds

The weather outside was frightful, but indoor conditions of late have been just as tough on La Conner High girls' hoop opponents.

The Lady Braves last week stormed past Cedar Park Christian and Seattle Academy, two teams that couldn't weather La Conner's hot shooting.

La Conner routed Cedar Park 51-15 Friday at home, then downed Seattle Academy 57-20 Saturday on the road.

With the twin wins, La Conner improved to 10-4 overall and leapt atop league standings with a 7-1 mark going into this Tuesday's late scheduled action at Shoreline Christian.

The Lady Braves are slated this Friday, Jan. 20, at traditional local rival Mount Vernon Christian.

But given the fact La Conner's entire roster contributed to the Cedar Park and Seattle triumphs, the Lady Braves allowed themselves the luxury of briefly celebrating those wins before going forward.

"The girls played really well against Cedar Park," La Conner head coach Scott Novak said afterward. "And what was great about it was everyone got to play and make an impact."

Same was true a day later against Seattle Academy, a club not lacking in speed and athleticism.

"They're a fast and aggressive team," coach Novak acknowledged. "They put pressure on us, but we responded well."

Nikki Finley had 10 points to lead 11 La Conner scorers against Cedar Park. Her stat line included two perimeter treys in five attempts.

Katie Novak added seven tallies for the victors, including the Lady Braves' one other three-point bomb.

The issue was decided early as La Conner raced to a quick 18-2 lead. By halftime, the margin had swelled to 28-5.

Priscilla Ponce-Venegas (6), Siomi Bobb (6), Alyssa McCormick (5), Emily Anderson (4), Carly Anderson (4), Aubrey Stewart (4), Kelley McClung (2), Lauren Reynolds (2), and Emma Christianson (1) all joined the La Conner point parade.

But those numbers don't begin to tell the whole story.

McClung continued her extended stretch of fine all-around play, adding three steals, two assists, and two rebounds to the Lady Braves' cause.

Ponce-Venegas snared a team-best 11 rebounds despite playing limited minutes. McCormick and Stewart each grabbed seven boards.

Reynolds added six rebounds and three steals, and dished off an assist, as did Ponce-Venegas and both Carly and Emily Anderson.

The Lady Braves played unselfishly and again looked for open shooters at Seattle Academy.

Ponce-Venegas, who led all scorers Saturday with 16 points, also paced the Lady Braves with five assists.

McClung added three assists to go with four points, four rebounds, and two steals.

McCormick (7), Katie McKnight (5), Emily Anderson (5), Christianson (5), Finley (4), Stewart (4), Novak (3), Bobb (2), and Carly Anderson (2) likewise reached the scoring column for La Conner at Seattle Academy.

Novak meshed La Conner's lone trey, while Christianson was perfect both from the field, two-of-two, and charity stripe, one-of-one.

Carly Anderson hit her only shot of the night as La Conner was a torrid 52 per cent – 24 of 46 – from the floor.

In addition to McClung, four other Lady Braves – Ponce-Venegas, McKnight, McCormick, and Stewart – had at least four rebounds.

Reynolds chipped in two caroms and an assist, while Finley forced a pair of Seattle turnovers with steals.

La Conner led 27-15 at the break, then put the game on ice with a 15-0 third period run. The Lady Braves finished strong, closing with a 15-5 spurt in the final stanza.

Photo by Christy Hoagland

La Conner Braves wrestlers participated in the match held Friday at Chief Leschi.

In the Jan. 11, 2012 issue

The "Classified Ads" link above is fixed and you can see them now 

Photo by Adrian Sharpe

The otter destruction of First Street

Writer Adrian Sharpe has the story on who caused sections of downtown La Conner sidewalk to be torn out and left the town and store owners with hefty repair bills. Don't be fooled by the cuteness of the vandalism suspect in the mugshot. 

Water Bills

We picked apart the town's water bills and detailed the increases. (We don't make too many friends in government by doing this, but we figured residents would want to know what's coming in the mail next month.)

Please take the survey

Alex is leaving the reader survey up through the end of the month. We'll have a story on what we learn in early February. 

Please let us know what we do right and what we should be doing better.

The button to the 10 question survey is to the right of this page.

Photo by Kirsten Morse

Evening on the channel under January skies. 

(And we get to live here!)

Photo by Kirsten Morse

Eagle Lunch on Fir Island near Conway. 

Today's special: raw critter.

Photo by Amylynn Richards

Students in La Conner School District participated in the Elk’s Hoop Shoot event open to kids eight to 13 years old. La Conner’s winners are, on top Andre Knutson, and from left in the middle Emily Montoya and Katie Watkins and at the base, Kyla Fast, Khalid Al-Dossari and Cole Ellis. 

From the Police Blotter:

12:48 p.m.: Explosive - A report of a possible explosive floating in the water near Pioneer Point ended with deputies determining that it was only a seal bomb, a device used by fishers to scare seals away from fishing nets. No sign of malicious intent was found. 

Read it all in today's paper, in the red quarter-gobbling news racks and on shelves at both gas stations, the drug store, the liquor store and book store. Or stop in at the office on your way back from lunch at the Station House and grab a copy. 

Braves Sports, Jan. 11, 2012

Photo by Karla Reynolds

Ben Rolton  of the Morningstar Breakers traveling Australian team trying for a shot and eluding Braves' defenders Jonah Cook, Tyler Howlett, and Spencer Novak during last week's hoop action in La Conner. 

Playing basketball is Australian for fun

By Bill Reynolds

The guys from Down Under nearly came out on top last week at James Gym.

Which was okay with all involved because both sides were deemed winners in the much anticipated La Conner High-Morningstar Breakers hoops matchup.

“It was a lot of fun,” Braves’ head coach Scott Novak said after La Conner’s 83-70 triumph over the Melbourne select squad. “That’s one of the big reasons we do this.”

The fun started prior to tipoff when the teams took part in a traditional gift exchange. The Aussies presented commemorative clocks and key chains, while La Conner players responded with colorful Braves’ tee-shirts.

What followed was a fast-paced, up-tempo contest in keeping with La Conner’s tradition of hosting talented Australian traveling teams, dating to early in Novak’s tenure here.

“Every three years,” he said, “the WIAA (Washington Interscholastic Activities Association) allows us to play an international team from some place other than Canada. This is the fifth time we’ve had a boys’ team here from Australia.”

Because of Australia’s location well south of the equator, the Breakers were in La Conner during what is akin to the American summer break, noted Braves’ assistant Danny Hagen.

“It would be like us going somewhere in July,” he said, “because the seasons are flip-flopped.”

The temperature in Melbourne, for instance, was in triple digits when the Breakers arrived in cool, damp La Conner.

But the globetrotting visitors brought the heat with them in terms of torrid shooting. This was especially true in the late going, when they cut into a seemingly safe 40-24 La Conner halftime lead.

“You never like to give up 70 points,” said Novak, “but this was a very solid team. They did a nice job.”

Josh Watt led the Breakers with 18 points, 10 of which came after intermission.

Ben Rolton scored 12 of his 14 points, including a perimeter trey, in the second half.

Agile 6-9 post James O’Connor chipped in 10 tallies, six before halftime.

Jacob Smith (8), Zach Smith (7), Mark Whitehead (5), Nick Bird (4), and Ethan Bowering (4) also scored for the guests.

Whitehead’s total included a jumper from beyond the arc.

“This,” stressed Novak, “was easily one of the best Australian teams we’ve played.”

La Conner’s Landy James led all players with 32 points, scoring both in the paint and behind the three-point stripe.

James buried two treys and wowed fans with a pair of dunks.

Mike Wilbur (19), Spencer Novak (13), and Jonah Cook (11) were likewise in double figures for the Braves.

Wilbur iced the game with six straight free throws to thwart a late Breakers’ rally.

Novak, meanwhile, helped fuel a fast start for La Conner, which led 56-36 at one point. He scored 11 points in the first half, meshing two three-pointers in the second period.

Tyler Howlett rounded out the Braves’ scoring with eight points.

The La Conner stop was just one of many travel highlights for the Australian team.

“They’ve toured Vancouver and Seattle,” said coach Novak, “and they’ll go on to Los Angeles for a Clippers game and other events.”

While in Seattle, the Breakers played traditional big school power Mercer Island and visited the famed Pike Place Market.

During the La Conner leg of their trip, they stayed with host families and enjoyed an on-campus dinner.

The Australians impressed both in terms of demeanor and speech.

“From everything I saw,” said Braves’ assistant Carl Buher, “they were a really good group of kids.”

Which meant the accent last week in La Conner was truly on fostering goodwill.

Photo by Bill Reynolds

Strong finish cements Lady Brave win at Concrete

By Bill Reynolds

La Conner saved its best for last Friday in Concrete.

The Lady Braves rebounded from a slow start to win their fifth game in six NW 1A/2B starts with a 49-33 verdict over the hosts.

La Conner’s Katie McKnight hit back-to-back jumpers, including an outside trey, to trigger a decisive 13-4 La Conner run in the third period.

It was for McKnight what La Conner head coach Scott Novak called a “break out” game.

And it couldn’t have come at a better time.

The Lady Braves, who trailed 24-23 at halftime and were on the verge of being upset, seized command when McKnight found her range from the baseline and out top right after the break.

McKnight’s three-pointer and layup on a run-out, sandwiched around two Priscilla Ponce-Venegas free throws, helped quickly turn the slim La Conner deficit into a 34-24 Lady Braves’ lead.

The margin swelled to 36-24 moments later when La Conner’s Aubrey Stewart, who tallied eight points, drilled a 10-footer.

Kylee Warner broke a six-minute Concrete scoring drought with a 15-foot jumper, but by then the issue was pretty much decided.

“One of the keys,” Novak said, “is we changed up our defense and only allowed Concrete nine second-half-points after allowing 24 in the first half.”

Ponce-Venegas led all scorers with 21 points, all but three coming from the floor.

“Priscilla had an excellent game,” said Novak.

One that went well beyond her scoring.

Working much of the night along the baseline, Ponce-Venegas also grabbed a team-best 10 rebounds, six off the offensive glass.

Nikki Finley (3), Alyssa McCormick (2), and Kelley McClung (2) rounded out La Conner’s scoring.

Finley got LaConner on the board first. She sank three charity tosses after being fouled on an early trey attempt.

McCormick was perfect on two free throws, while McClung earned kudos afterward for her all-around game, which included four steals, two rebounds, and an assist.

“Kelley really played well defensively,” Novak stressed.

Jessica Filtz paced Concrete with seven points. Her put-back and free throw gave the Lady Lions a brief 20-16 edge late in the first half.

La Conner, which improved to 7-4 overall, was at Friday Harbor in Tuesday’s late action. The Lady Braves are slated to host Cedar Park Christian this Friday, Jan. 13, before traveling Saturday to Seattle Academy.

Photo by Melissa Reynolds

La Conner tames Lions with first half flurry

By Bill Reynolds

The buzz going into La Conner’s league showdown Friday at Concrete was all about Lions’ shooting star Tyler Clark.

But Clark was eclipsed early by Braves’ guard Spencer Novak, who enjoyed an un-bee-lievable first half.

Novak stung the Lions with what many courtside observers, including iconic La Conner record holder Gail Thulen, said later was likely the best shooting performance in recent school history.

Novak hit 11 of 12 first half shots, including two from behind the arc, to help give the Braves a commanding 60-25 lead at intermission.

La Conner went on to cruise to an 85-42 triumph.

“I have to agree with Gail,” La Conner head coach Scott Novak, Spencer’s dad, said afterward. “Spencer’s first half was a good as I’ve seen a high school player play in a half.”

The younger Novak’s stat line at halftime read: 26 points, four assists, and three steals.

Or, roughly, the same numbers posted by the entire Concrete team.

Novak, who finished with a season-high 28 points, had plenty of help, Braves’ coaches stressed.

“It was a great effort,” said coach Novak. “The boys really took care of business in the first half.”

Landy James (19), Tyler Howlett (12), and Mike Wilbur (11) joined Novak in double figure scoring for La Conner.

Skyler Krueger (6), Cameron Sherman (4), Wil James (3), and Jared Fohn (2) rounded out the Braves’ attack.

James and Wilbur, like Novak, each buried treys. Howlett chipped in three rebounds and a pair of steals and was perfect (four-of-four) at the foul stripe.

Krueger led the Braves with six rebounds, while Fohn was coming off a superb Tuesday outing against Orcas in which he knocked down three treys.

Sherman hit both his field goal attempts at Concrete, and Wil James worked inside for a hoop and free throw.

Jonah Cook led all players with two blocked shots, and Braves’ teammate Bobby Poulton  battled inside for five boards.

In addition to Novak’s marksmanship, the large crowd on hand was left buzzing afterward by Landy James’ poster quality dunk.

Novak was extending a hot shooting streak at Concrete that had begun the prior week during a second quarter flourish in La Conner’s key non-league comeback victory at Toutle Lake.

Clark ended up leading all scorers with 31 points, most coming in the second half.

With the win, the Braves remained unbeaten, 6-0, in league play and improved to 11-1 overall going into Tuesday’s late action at Friday Harbor.

La Conner is slated to resume play this Friday, Jan. 13, at home opposite Cedar Park Christian. The Braves visit Chief Leschi on Saturday.