The NBA playoffs are starting. We will see round one matchups of: Rockets vs. Timberwolves, Thunder vs. Jazz, Warriors vs. Spurs, Pelicans vs. Trail Blazers, Raptors vs. Wizards, Bucks vs. Celtics, Cavaliers vs. Pacers, and Heat vs. 76ers.
This year’s playoffs should be much more interesting than last year’s. Last year, the playoffs were made up of predictable series, and a very predictable finals. Some series this year are very exciting. The Heat should be able to force the 76ers to 6 or 7 games, and New Orleans should have an interesting time trying to slow down Damian Lillard. I personally believe that we will see the Rockets play the Warriors in a very exciting 7 game Western Conference Finals series.
This may be the first time in four years where we will not see LeBron James in the NBA Finals. The Cavs will have a very difficult time trying to reach the Finals. They will likely have to face Indiana, Philadelphia, and a Toronto team that looks ready to redeem their last few playoff losses. We seem prepared to see Houston play talented teams such as Minnesota, Oklahoma City, and Golden State.
NBA fans are gearing up for an interesting and unpredictable playoffs. With any luck, injuries will not ruin the postseason as they have the regular seasons. Injuries cost teams like the Timberwolves, Warriors, and Spurs, who were hampered by injuries. The NBA Playoffs will be very fun in 2018, and NBA fans will have a lot of fun watching.
There was supposed to be a relay track meet, last Thursday, April 12, but it was canceled due to the remaining snow on the Central track field. The head coach of the track & field team decided that since the meet was canceled, we should prepare ourselves for the outdoor season. It was going to be Highland’s first track meet outdoors, but it also was canceled.
image courtesy of Arrieal
Highland hosted a relay meet just for the Highland track team. The events included all the relays except the 4 x 100 or the 4 x 200 relay teams, because of a few lanes that still had a bunch of snow on them. So, we only had 3 lanes cleared that could be used, but the 4 x 400, 4 x 800, 4 x 1600, long jump, triple jump, and discus throw still happened.
It was a very good practice meet. We were able to get outside for the first time this season, and run or do our field events. As a team, we looked pretty good. There are some events we do need to improve in though. Long jump is one of those events. Many people did long jump, but honestly, not many put up good numbers. In order to go to state in long jump for boys, you need to jump 20 feet or longer to make it to sections/state. Many boys jumped about 14-18 feet, which isn’t bad, but it also isn’t good enough. You get points in long jump the farther you jump, so in order for us to win Conference again (5 years in a row) we need to improve on our long jump event.
Overall, the Highland track team is improving as a whole. Sprinters are getting faster, distance runners are getting better, and the jumpers are getting better too.
This track season is going to be worth coming to watch. Everybody is going their hardest.
Boys JV Tennis @ Mpls. Southwest 3:15pm (Bus 2:30/5:15pm)
Boys ‘Bobcat’ Lacrosse vs. Coon Rapids @ Central HS 5:30pm
JV Baseball vs. Central @ HP 4:30pm B-Squad @ Jimmy Lee Rec. Center 3:45pm (Bus 2:45/5:15pm) Saturday Apr. 21:
Girls ‘Bobcat’ Lacrosse @ Columbia Heights 11am
Varsity Baseball vs. Central @ CHS Field 7pm (Bus 5:45/8:45pm)
Ever since I have known about Highland Park Senior High, I have been aware of the Highland-Central rivalry. When I was 7, my cousin Stefan Landreau, started at HPSH and there came the football season. Stefan would report back to his parents, Charlotte and Carlos, disappointed at how Highland would lose most sports games to Central and other tough SPPS schools like Como. In particular, they would get trounced in football every year which seemed to be the most important game of them all.
Next, followed Stefan’s younger brother, Ian, who was even more socially involved and outspoken and therefore even more angered and disgusted with how poor Highland athletics were. Maybe it was out of luck, or Ms. Galligan, the former Athletic Director, worked some magic of her own behind the scenes, but something changed in/around 2014.
I was keen to flip the switch in the sports that I could: soccer. I played varsity tennis in 8th grade, and our tennis program has been at the top of the conference, along with Harding, as one of the state’s best in boy’s tennis for several years. The soccer team was a different story.
I know of, and am friends with, some guys from the middle school that entered in with me: Josh Aune, Charlie Weill, Declan Flynn, Gabe Nelson, Mohamed Bue, Charlie Dombrow, and Abdi Gutu just to name a few star athletes in my grade. I had a feeling with the guys above us heading into their sophomore years such as, Amitri, Dreem, Joe, and some upperclassmen that this continued lack of achievement in athletics was bound to change.
Every year since I have been here, the records of our teams have gotten better and better. In my freshman year on the varsity soccer team we had a record of 5-12-1; already better than the past years.
Sophomore year, we were about .500 and saw a coaching change.
These past two years, we have been under a fantastic coach, have really impressive records (as well as two consecutive appearances in the section semis in which we lost to the eventual state champions last year and runners-up this year), have won a conference championship, and a one game slip-up caused us the championship last year.
The rise has not just been in soccer though. We have beaten Central in football for two straight years now (lead by Josh Aune), have been contenders for basketball (lead by Mohamed Bue and Ian Gallagher) and football conference championships, as well as being in section championships for the past couple years as well.
Now, the gradual success does not stop there. In volleyball, we have now won the conference championship four out of the last six years, led by Ellie Egbert and Michaela McGough, and girl’s tennis has had significant improvement in conference play lead by Sami Linssen and Neesha Moore.
Boys track has now won three conference championships in a row, lead by Josh Aune and Abdi Gutu.
The boys lacrosse team, lead by Declan Flynn, has improved their record drastically during my time at Highland.
The biggest surprises, however, came in cross country running and skiing. Both have now won the conference championship six or seven times in the last decade, with many finishes in the top 15 of state in recent years.
This new wave of achievement is remarkable, yet not overwhelmingly surprising or unprecedented. Even with fewer people at Highland, continued work-ethic and persistence have paved the way for significant results building reputation. Highland did have success in the 90’s and 80’s but gradually declined toward the turn of the 21st century.
I am willing to bet that Ms. Galligan’s magic propelled the next wave of athletes into stardom rather than a random group of talented athletes enrolling Highland Park High School. At least, that’s this writer’s opinion.
Co-Ed Track & Field St. Paul Relay Meet @ Griffin Stadium 4:15pm (Bus 2:45/6:45pm)
Friday Apr. 13:
Softball @ Dunning Field 4pm (all levels) (Bus 3/5:45pm) Varsity & JV Baseball @ River Falls HS 4:15pm ( Bus3/6pm) C-Squad vs. Nova Classical Academy @ HP 4:30pm
Adapted Bowling @ Sunray Lanes (Bus 2:10/4pm)
Saturday Apr. 14:
Girls ‘Bobcat’ Lacrosse vs. Robbinsdale Cooper @ St. Paul Central Track Field 11am
Varsity & JV Baseball vs. International Falls @ HP 12pm
The NFL free agency started of with a few key players moving around. First, the Denver Broncos signed quarterback Case Keenum. The Broncos are hoping that Keenum can emulate his success from last year, where he lead the Minnesota Viking to a heartbreaking NFC Championship game loss.
The Viking continued the theme of losing all of their quarterbacks as Sam Bradford signed with the Cardinals and Teddy Bridgewater signed with the Jets.
The Vikings picked up Kirk Cousins from the Redskins. The Vikings believe Cousins can be their quarterback of the future.
Drew Brees also re-signed with the Saints. This move keeps New Orleans in the hunt for the playoffs and maybe the Super Bowl.
This free agency shook things up quit a bit. Above were the big moves made by teams, but every team made moves that will be significant next year, whether we know it or not. NFL teams are still signing players in free agency even though all the star players are signed. At this point of the year, teams are looking to fill in holes in their team. Most of those holes are at positions like offensive lineman, and getting a third cornerback that fits your system.
After free agency, teams look to secure their future through the draft. The draft allows teams to take risks, and potentially draft a star player. Some teams will be making smaller moves later in the draft while other teams such as the Cleveland Browns will be attempting to draft a franchise player in order to give themselves a glimmer of hope that things will get better.
The Highland Scots made a good run to make it to the 2nd round of the playoffs. In the first round, the Scots played Harding again, and came over on top at their home court.
photo courtesy of Maddie T.
After Highland defeated Harding, we celebrated our victory and were able to advance to the 2nd round. The 2nd round was tough, and we had a very competitive game against St. Croix, who played very hard. They moved the ball well and got a lot of fastbreak points off of turnovers.
Highland and St. Croix battled to the end, playing like it was the last game, which it was; it was win or go home. St. Croix wanted it more than us though, and they played team ball more than us.
The Highland Park Scots pregame talk was nice, we talked about how we can defeat them and how to out work them. It applied to us in the first half, as it was a back-and-forth game, but the second half was an upset as the Scots let St. Croix wheel their way past us.
It was play hard, or go home, and we didn’t play as hard, so that was the last of the Highland Park Scots boy’s basketball season. It was fun while it lasted, but also depressing at the end.
– Great playing
– Forced/Bad shots
– Foul trouble
– Depressing loss
– A bunch of T.O.
Since this year’s team was a pretty veteran team, with a lot of seniors, next year’s team will be a fairly young one, but one with some experience.
