Hi!

Hey! Quite awhile since I've posted! Life has been busy as usual. It has been quite a wet and wild spring! We have flooding all around, and another storm possibly on the way!

Last night we went to the BH Clash of Classes. I swear RJ supplied half his class with jerseys. He has always loved dressing up for the event. Tomorrow he is playing in a 3 on 3 and at night will play in an All-Star Game in Sisseton. I am getting ready for Dakota STEP testing at school, and RJ only has about 36 days of school left. Doesn't seem possible!!

Wendell is pretty busy trucking, especially for this time of year, and Cecilia is growing and learning every day. She is quite a character!

Well that's a short recap!

Ceci having fun splashing in the spring water!

The Class of 2009 hamming it up!

RJ and Ceci at the Clash

Believe

The following article appeared in today's Aberdeen American news. Our girls lost to an EXCELLENT Dell Rapids team in the first round at State A's in Watertown today, but hopefully they can win tomorrow! Good luck, girls! I am proud of you!!

**Pics taken from the Aberdeen American News and the Marshall County Journal

Britton-Hecla custodian inspired state-bound basketball girls
BY Deb Smith, dsmith@aberdeennews.com
Published on Thursday, March 12, 2009

A note left on a chalkboard by a school custodian has served as the inspiration for the Britton-Hecla girls' basketball team's run through the post season and a state tournament appearance.The Braves beat Tiospa Zina 45-37 in the opening round of District 1A two weeks ago, but faced perennial district and Northeast Conference powerhouse Sisseton in the district final. Sisseton was ranked among the top 10 teams in the state, had only three losses all season and had beaten Britton-Hecla by 28 points earlier in the season.“Not a person in the gym thought we had a chance against Sisseton - except for us,” said Britton-Hecla coach Dan Olson. “A school custodian (Treva Oland) left a note for the girls on the blackboard in the locker room about believing in themselves and the only ones that needed to believe was them. When I showed the team the note, Morgan Storley (eighth-grade player) said, 'I believe, Coach.' Treva had watched us all year and knew we had talent.”Britton-Hecla won the district game 39-34 over highly favored Sisseton.“Every girl off the bench made plays, and we stuck around and made plays at the end of the game. We gained a lot of confidence,” Olson said.The Braves' next opponent was Groton, a team that beat them twice during the regular season. The winner of the Region 1A game would advance to the state tournament. Britton-Hecla kept the dream alive with a close 42-41 win over Groton and the second trip to state in school history. The other time was 2005.“Every year, I talk to the girls about going to the state tournament and winning a state tournament,” said Olson. “The dream goal of every team that starts practice in November is a chance to win the state title. We're happy to be going to the state tournament. It's been a whirlwind. We've won some close ones and exciting ones.”The girls' team, which has no seniors on the roster, started the season with two wins and five losses. The Braves' lineup is jam packed with juniors and sophomores, and a handful of eighth-graders. The young Braves even lost the last two games of the regular season to finish at 10-10.The momentum changed in the post season as Britton-Hecla won district and region titles and a berth in the State A tournament today through Saturday at the Watertown Civic Arena. Britton-Hecla (13-10) plays the number one seed Dell Rapids (23-0) at 1 this afternoon.“Now, they have the confidence to go out and play hard,” said Olson, who is in his third season as the girls' basketball coach. “They do what they're told and execute everything they can. We (coaches) threw a lot of things at them and weeded out the things that didn't work and perfected the things that did work. The first 20 games are practice. You start playing games that count at the district tournament.”

NEC All-Conference Team

High School Boys' Basketball: NEC honorees
Published on Tuesday, March 03, 2009
The Northeast Conference has announced its boys' basketball all-conference teams.Named to the first team were seniors Michael Gjernes of Aberdeen Roncalli and the Sisseton duo of Trey Frederick and Dustin Lotzer. Juniors were Gabe Kjellsen of Groton and Derek Brown of Clark-Willow Lake.On the second team were Jared Kuehn of Redfield, R.J. Thompson of Britton-Hecla, Kyle Kunde of Milbank and Travis Vanhofwegen and Chance Olerud of Deuel. On the third team were Logan Wherry of Roncalli, Luke Holt of Redfield, Tylor Struckman of Hamlin and Brady Welk and Jacob Lindgren of Clark-Willow Lake.

What a great honor!!

The Braves Lost

More later, but unfortunately we lost to Sisseton 50-56. It was a great, hard fought game. Congrats to the Redmen. RJ had about 11 points. I am eerily calm. RJ took it pretty hard. I was VERY PROUD of the way he played. On to the next chapter!

District Finals

The Braves beat TZ 67-53 (I think) and RJ had 11 points, plus a 3 at the buzzer that didn't count. TZ had a great 3rd quarter- six threes I think. Sisseton beat Florence-Henry so that stage is set for Thursday night! RJ's dad, granny and uncle were at the game and are staying for Thursdays game.

I am feeling nostalgic, so here are some old photos of RJ. Good luck to the Braves. You CAN DO IT!!!!!!!!

Mat, RJ, Luke and Jake at a 3 on 3 in Groton

RJ and his cousins in STL

Below is RJ and his dad with one of the Cardinal's players

RJ at Headstart Graduation