Saturday, March 16, 2013

Boise State Leads Portland State 2-1

Three hits in the PSU sixth, but only one run and Boise State still leads at Dona Larson.

Boise State Softball Team Loses 6-4 to Idaho State, Leads Portland State in Nightcap

Well, a second loss at home in their own tournament for the Bronco softball team.  Boise State of the Mountain West lost yesterday to Utah State of the WAC, and they fell today to Idaho State of the Big Sky, 6-4.

The Broncos are trying to salvage some pride against Portland State, up 2-0 in the 4th.  Rebecca Patton has a no-hitter through four.

UMass Loses

That's pretty much the last team that can take a bid away from Boise State.  Mississippi is likely in by getting to the SEC final, but that shouldn't be enough to back the Broncos out of the tourney.

I am about 95% sure Boise State will be in the tournament.  The main question is:  will Boise State play in the opening play-in game or move directly to the second round.  We'll know this time tomorrow.

Bettles Breaks Serve, Leads Boise State To Dramatic Win Over #22 Notre Dame

(An Idaho exclusive--brought to you here before anyone in the state...)

This was an exciting win for the Boise State tennis program.  They lost the doubles point, and had to win four singles matches to knock off #1 seed Notre Dame at the Blue Gray Tennis Classic in Montgomery, Alabama.  They did it.

The story revolves around #1 singles player Andy Bettles.  Bettles fell behind when he lost the first set 6-4.  He was then down 5-2 in the second set and, facing elimination each game, rallied to win five consecutive games and take the second set 7-5.  Then, with a 5-4 lead in set #3, Bettles broke serve to win his match and lead Boise State to a 4-3 win over #22 Notre Dame, the favorite to win the Blue Gray.

The Broncos take on Texas Tech for the championship tomorrow afternoon.

Garrett Patton put the first Bronco points on the board with a 6-4, 6-2 win at #6 singles.  Thomas Tenreiro then won his match at #4 singles, 6-4, 6-4.  Nathan Sereke then topped his opponent at #3 singles, 6-3, 6-3 to make it 3-1.  Scott Sears was unable to rally at #5, losing 6-4, 6-3.

Fillipp Pogostkin won his first set 7-5, but lost the second 6-4 at #2 singles.  Fillipp and Bettles were the only two Broncos remaining on the courts.  If one of them could emerge victorious, the Broncos would score the impressive upset.  But Pecor of Notre Dame prevailed over Pogostkin in the third set, 6-4 to tie the match at 3, leading to the dramatic finish.

Pecor Stops Pogostkin

Pecor of Notre Dame rallied from a 7-5 first set loss to win the next two sets, 6-4, 6-4 and tie the match 3-3.

It's all up to #1 singles.  Bettles just held serve and leads 5-4.

Andrews of Notre Dame Comes Back for Break

It's never over 'til it's over.  So we're back to even, with Bettles and Andrews tied at 4.  Pogostkin of Boise State will need to hold serve to continue his match, down 5-4 in second set.

Bettles Gets Break in Third Set

Andy Bettles has scored a service break in set #3 and leads 4-2.  No breaks at #2 singles where Fillipp Pogostkin is behind 4-3.

Bettles Wins Second Set

Talk about determination.  On the brink of elimination in the second set, being down 5-2, Bettles came back for a 7-5 win to even the score.  Third set underway with Bettles leading 3-2.

No breaks in the only other remaining match at #2 singles.  Pecor of Notre Dame leads Pogostkin of Boise State 3-2.

Broncos Grab 3-2 Lead on Notre Dame

Nathan Sereke won his match at #3 singles, 6-3, 6-3, giving Boise State their third point of the afternoon.  Scott Sears was unable to rally at #5, losing 6-4, 6-3.

So the Broncos lead 3-2 and trying to lay down that elusive point to finish the match.  Bettles has rallied from being down 5-2 and now leads 6-5 in the second set.  He lost the first set and his play has sparked the Broncos.

Filipp Pogostkin was unable to close out his opponent after winning the first set 7-5, or the match would be over.  He lost the second set 6-4 and they are now playing in the third and final set.

Notre Dame needs both remaining singles matches, but the great teams always seem to get it done, no matter how much their backs are against the wall.

Tenreiro Makes It 2-1

A nice 6-4, 6-4 win for Thomas Tenreiro to put the score at 2-1 vs. Notre Dame at the Blue Gray Tennis Classic.  Boise State only leads one other match of the remaining four, although no other breaks.

Garrett Patton Wins

Garrett has evened the score with #1 Notre Dame at the Blue-Gray Tennis Classic.  Patton put away his opponent 6-4, 6-2 and will join his Dad as cheerleader for the other remaining five singles matches.

Boise State is winning one of the other five matches, but no break points as of the moment.

Bettles Tries To Rally

Bettles was down 5-2 but has won two games in the second set.  

Bettles Down 5-2 in Second Set

Andy might be the first Bronco to go down.  He lost the opening set as well.

It's rally time for the #1 seed in the tourney.  Boise State leads just two of the six second sets, but they need four.  Patton at #6 has the only break so far for Boise State and is up 4-1.

Scoreboard Malfunction

No updating of scores from the Blue-Gray.  This usually happens when Boise State is ahead of an elite team and no surprise.

Tenreiro Wins At #4 Singles

Thomas Tenreiro has won, after one set at each singles battle, Boise State now has won four.  Notre Dame won the doubles point, meaning Boise State needs 4 of 6--a split will do them no good.

Mixed Results in Montgomery

Pogostkin won his set 7-5 but Sears lost at #5 singles 6-4, so the singles matches are still split at 3-3 thus far.

Bettles Loses First Set

Andy Bettles, previously the #30 ranked singles player in the nation, lost his first set 6-4 today vs. Andrews of Notre Dame.  The Broncos are counting on him to win to get the match.

Sereke and Patton have done their jobs, winning first sets at #3 and #6 singles, respectively.

Singles Action in Notre Dame-Boise State

Boise State leading in three sets, Notre Dame in three sets.  Of course, that would produce a Notre Dame win in the match.

Automatic NCAA Bids Thus Far


Belmont (Ohio Valley)
James Madison (Colonial)
Valparaiso (Horizon)
Creighton (Missouri Valley)
Liberty (Big South)
Harvard (Ivy)
Long Island (Northeast)
Akron (Mid-American)
Bucknell (Patriot)
Gonzaga (West Coast)
Western Kentucky (Sun Belt)
South Dakota State (Summit)
Davidson (Southern)
Iona (Metro Atlantic)
Florida Gulf Coast (Atlantic Sun)
Albany (America East)

Notre Dame Easily Wins Doubles Point

A breeze for the Irish here.  Andrews and Talmadge beat Andy Bettles and Nathan Sereke 8-2, while Bandy& Dooley of Notre Dame finished Mitchell & Pogostkin of Boise State 8-2.

Maryland and Vanderbilt Lose

Mississippi may have wrapped up a bid in the SEC with a win over Vanderbilt.  Maryland fought to the finish before losing to North Carolina in the ACC, but the Terps' schedule is rated #111.

Boise State-Notre Dame Tennis

Just underway at the Blue-Gray Classic.

Utah, Southern Mississippi and Alabama Lose

Three underdogs have lost and are out of their conference tournaments.  Utah lost last night to Oregon in the Pac-12 semifinal while Alabama lost today to Florida in the SEC semifinal and Southern Mississippi fell to Memphis in the Conference USA final in two overtimes.

Four teams remain in the hunt that could steal a bid from Boise State:  Massachusetts plays in the Atlantic 10 semifinal vs. VCU while Maryland takes on North Carolina in the ACC semifinal.  UMass and Maryland are teams on the bubble.  Vanderbilt plays Mississippi in the SEC semifinal; both teams are alive for a bid and Ol' Miss may already have one.

Great Photo of NFL Broncos

There's a few more that aren't included, but still a great pic:

Photo of Bronco Stadium Construction

Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos

Boise State Defensive Rebound Average Currently Second All-Time

To date, the Boise State basketball team has allowed opponents 29.7 rebounds per game, which ranks second in school history to the great 1987-88 team.  That legendary team allowed opponents just 29.1 rebounds per game.

The Top Five:

1. 29.1 1987-88
2. 30.0 1998-99
3. 30.5 1983-84
4. 30.6 1984-85
 30.6 1999-00

Boise State Still On Pace To Set Free Throw Percentage Record

The Boise State basketball team is still on schedule to shatter the school record for best free-throw percentage in a season.  And it's not close.

The Broncos have made 434-579 attempts this season for a sizzling 75.0%.  That is significantly better than the 73.8% record set in the 2003-04 season.  To show how great Coach Leon Rice's team has done, they could be 9-20 in the next game and still break the record.

Derrick Marks Four Free Throws Shy of Fifth-Place

With 144 free throws made this season, Derrick Marks sits in sixth place in school history.  Marks is just four short of the great Tanoka Beard, who made 148 his sophomore season of 1990-1991.

The Top Five:


1. 194 Ron Austin 1970-71
2. 171 Greg Bunn 1971-72
3. 168 Tanoka Beard 1992-93
4. 166 Tanoka Beard 1991-92
5. 148 Tanoka Beard 1990-91

Drmic Now 7th in Single-Season Scoring at Boise State

Boise State's Anthony Drmic now has 537 points this season to rank seventh all-time at the school.  He recently passed Bronco great Steve Connor for the honor.  Drmic is 20 points shy of Abe Jackson for sixth.  

The Top Five:
1.  Reggie Larry (2007-2008) 661
2.  Roberto Bergersen (1998-99) 644
3.  Ron Austin (1970-1971) 636
4.  Roberto Bergersen (1997-1998) 582
5.  Tanoka Beard (1992-1993) 566