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From the Bleachers

COLUMN BY KURT MARGGRAF IN CHICAGO

Do you ever wonder about

what little difference there is between rooting for your team and rooting against their rivals?

When I was a boy, I cheered for the Cubs to win every game, and for the White Sox to lose every game. Somewhere along the way, I realized the folly of my thinking and changed the team I rooted against to the Saint Louis Cardinals.

This made so much more sense because the teams actually played each other multiple times and competed for the championship in the same division of the same league. The fact that the Cardinals almost always beat the Cubs made it so much more satisfying when the Cubs finally started to improve and actually, on occasion, beat the Cardinals.

Football rivalries seem to be even more intense. Here in Chicago, Bears fans have hated the Green Bay Packers, and their fans, forever. With rare exception, Packer quarterbacks Bart Starr, Brett Favre, and Aaron Rogers have dominated the Bears for decades.

Lately, Rogers has been very vocal about his team’s success against the Bears, so when former Bear kicker Robbie Gold kicked a field goal to knock the Packers out of the playoffs, Bear fans celebrated almost as hard as they would have if the Bears had won the game.

My phone lit up when the ball went through the uprights and lit up even brighter when Gold and San Francisco quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (a Chicago-area nativ ) were overheard saying “BLEEP the Packers,” during the teams on-field celebration, becoming Bear legends.

This weekend featured some of the finest football games I’ve ever witnessed. There were four divisional playoff games and each one seemed better than the one before.

Saturday’s first game featured the Bengals and the Titans. The Bengals won on a field goal with no time remaining on the clock. Saturday night was the aforementioned 49er’s victory over the Packers.

Sunday’s first game had the Rams knock off Tom Brady and the Buccaneers on, you guessed it, a last second field goal. Three games, three last second field goals. What could the Chiefs and the Bills do to match the excitement?

Well, not only did they match it, they made the other three games almost seem like walks in the park. This game was one of the finest duels in the history of the NFL. Back and forth they went and twenty five points were scored in the last 114 seconds. The lead changed hands three times but when time ran out they needed overtime to settle the score. The Chiefs won the coin toss and marched down the field to cap off an unbelievable victory. What a football weekend!

William Shakespeare said, “Be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and others have greatness thrust upon them.”

Talk to you next week. Peace, love, and happiness.

I’ve got a theory that if you give 100 percent all of the time, somehow things will work out in the end. — Larry Bird

Former Bison coach likes improvements

BY STAN MADDUX

Aformer New Buffalo basketball coach likes the improvements in his old stomping University, he was third in the nation in college, with scoring averaging 26 points per game. The bruising sharp shooting 6’ 8” forward averaged just over grounds, where he once lit up the high school scoreboard before starring in college.

Dan Palombizio stopped by the Michigan City High School gymnasium Jan. 19, while the finishing touches were being made to the new hard plastic bleachers in the 5,000-seat capacity facility nicknamed “The Wolves Den.”

Wolves is the nickname of the athletic teams at the school.

“It looks awesome. It’s great. It’s great for the community and everything,” Palombizio said.

The old metal bleachers in the gym since the school was constructed in 1971 were having mechanical problems when they had to be pulled out for events and later folded back in.

Kohn said the new $2.1 million bleachers are also safer for people attending events because they have railings in every aisle, which the old bleachers did not have, she said.

Other than the new bleachers, Palombizio said the gym looks about the same as it did in his playing days capped in 1981 when he was named Mr. Basketball in the state.

He finished his high school career as the ninth all-time leading scorer in Indiana basketball history.

Palombizio played two years at Purdue University. After transferring to Ball State 20 points a game in his final collegiate season. Palombizio was drafted ninth in the ninth round by the Philadelphia 76’ers and then played professionally overseas in countries like Spain, Italy and Portugal. His visit to the gym was like going back in time for Palombizio, who looks like he can still dunk the basketball. “I got a lot of fond memories here,” he said. Palombizio, who lives in Chesterton, was head varsity basketball coach in New Buffalo for two seasons beginning in 2005.

His son, Daniel, starred on the teams, which were loaded with other talented players like Matt Parker, Troy Robertson and Josh Zimmerman.

Home games saw a huge increase in attendance because of the dazzling play of the teams which notched a lot of blow out victories and crowd pleasing dunks.

Palombizio went on to become recreation director at Westville Correctional Center and owns Absolute Apparel & Promotions, which specializes in screen print and embroidery for team uniforms and other products.

Bison ranked No. 1 boys’ basketball

BY STAN MADDUX

For the first time ever, perhaps, the New Buffalo High School boys’ basketball team is ranked No. 1 in the state in Class D.

Head coach Nate Tripp said it’s “definitely a cool accomplishment” but his players won’t be satisfied unless they bring home a state title.

A state title is the mission for the defending District 4 champions with all five starters back from last season.

Tripp said many of the players after a disappointing loss in the first round of the regional tournament last year spent time during the off-season in the weight room and sharpening their skills on the court.

He pointed to players like speedsters Jeremiah Mitchell and Mark Shaw able to score more points at the rim while driving the lane against opposing defenders from adding strength.

“If we don’t end the season with a celebration then we’re going to have a lot of disappointed kids in that locker room,” he said.

The No. 1 ranking came out Jan. 20 from MaxPreps, a nationwide data base of high school sports information in every state.

Tripp credited the No. 1 ranking to his players proving themselves against high quality opponents like Class A Sturgis, South Bend Career Academy and a very good River Valley squad.

The undefeated Bison defended their No. 1 ranking on the road Friday, Nov. 21, by handily defeating No. 2 ranked Eau Claire.

“The guys are really fired up about it but they still say none of that matters. That’s what’s really different and cool about this team. They’re very, very focused,” Tripp said.

The only state title in boys’ basketball for the Bison was in Class C in 1963.

High School Athletic Director Matt Johnson said there’s been some very good athletic teams from New Buffalo over the years but he’s not sure if any of them ever held a No. 1 ranking.

He said there’s been a growing buzz about the team not only at school but out in the community since the No. 1 ranking was attained.

“People see not only are we beating teams in our division that are our size but we’re also competing against and beating some of the bigger schools. I think that helps build the excitement,” he said.

Johnson also said the players are not letting the No. 1 ranking go to their heads.

“They’re excited, obviously, but they’re trying not to make too big of a deal out of it. I think they have an understanding that there’s something bigger they’re playing for,” he said. New Buffalo defeated Eau Claire on the road Friday, Jan. 21, in an exciting fast paced game between the top two ranked Class D boys’ high school basketball teams in the state.

The Bison defeated the Beavers 85 to 76.

New Buffalo led by 11 points after the first quarter but went into halftime with just a two point lead.

The No. 1 ranked Bison outscored Eau Claire by 16 points in the third quarter and led by as much as 20 points in the fourth quarter.

However, Eau Claire matching the Bison with speed and quickness turned a string of turnovers by the Bison into points and pulled to within 11 points late in the game.

New Buffalo Head Coach Nate Tripp said turnovers by his players on offense also allowed Eau Claire to get back into the game in the second quarter. “We made a lot of dumb mistakes off their really good pressure,” he said.

Tripp said several of his starting players getting into foul trouble was also a factor in the Beavers cutting into the fourth quarter lead.

Ryan Vinson, who had 16 points from hitting seven of eight field goal attempts, fouled out of the game.

Three other Bison players had four fouls, which forced them to be less aggressive on offense and defense, to keep them from fouling out of the game. New Buffalo doesn’t have a lot of depth on the bench to draw from if too many players in the starting line-up reach their foul limit.

The leading scorer for the Bison was Kaden Parmley with 24 points.

Zack Forker added 12 points while Jeremiah Mitchell and Mark Shaw contributed 11 points apiece.

Anthony Lijewski scored nine points.

Shaw also had nine assists while Mitchell pulled down 11 rebounds.

Landon Baslin and Damarion Travis scored 31 and 24 points respectively for the Beavers.

Tripp said Eau Claire will be the team to beat for his squad to repeat as District 4 champions followed by River Valley, perhaps, because of the Mustangs’ height.

“Eau Claire has a whole new level of speed. It’s just incredible how fast they get back on offense,” he said.

Tripp credited the improving skill level of his players for stopping the Beavers from scoring many times while running the court and handling their pressure defense well for the most part.

“They really thrive on their pressure and they really thrive on you making mistakes. The moment you make a mistake, they absolutely make you pay,” he said.

No. 1 ranked Bison soundly defeat No. 2 ranked Beavers

BY STAN MADDUX

Bison continue rolling

BY STAN MADDUX

The No. 1 ranked Class D boys’ basketball team in New Buffalo keeps proving they’re for real by toppling another Goliath.

The Bison (10-0) defeated Class C Berrien Springs on the road 76-56 Tuesday, Jan. 25.

New Buffalo Head Coach Nate Tripp called the Shamrocks the best team his players have faced in a season where they’ve already defeated Class A Sturgis and No. 2 Class D ranked Eau Claire.

The Bison had a three point lead at halftime but outscored the Shamrocks 22-9 in the third quarter.

Tripp said his players on defense made it difficult for Berrien Springs with some college level talent to penetrate.

“We kept them on the perimeter and their shots weren’t falling,” he said.

Tripp said his players running their paced offense were patient when they had to be moving the ball then capitalized whenever opportunity presented itself.

“As soon as they gave us a gap our guys still attacked hard,” he said.

Kaden Parmley led the Bison with 21 points and 11 rebounds.

Mark Shaw, Jeremiah Mitchell, Anthony Lijewski and Zack Forker scored anywhere from 15 to 10 points apiece in what’s been a balanced season long offensive attack.

Another major test for the Bison is Friday night at Brandywine and Saturday afternoon at Bridgman, teams from larger schools New Buffalo, historically, has trouble beating.

Tripp described Brandywine as dangerous with speed and quickness equal to the lightning fast players from Eau Claire.

New Buffalo, though, also has a lot of speed and quickness on the court.

“We expect to see a press. We expect to get trapped. It’s going to be a really good game,” he said.

Tripp said Bridgman is always very well coached by Mike Miller, who he described as a mastermind.

“I’m sure he’s going to throw something at us that we haven’t seen so we got to be ready but those are the types of games we want to play,” he said.

BY STAN MADDUX

The New Buffalo High School girls’ basketball team outscored Berrien Springs in the fourth quarter Tuesday, Jan. 25, but lost at home 41-25.

Head Coach Dave Kelly said it was nice to see the offense light up after struggling to put up followed by hitting a crowd pleasing 18 foot baseline jumper. An eight foot turn around jump shot from freshman Addy Lamport came next before Mercado showed her shooting touch again with a long range two point bucket. Bradshaw rattled in a 20 foot shot from the top of the key enough shots and making a lot of costly mistakes. “We got ourselves down in the first half with turnovers and not handling the passing lanes like we need to. We have some work to do. That’s where we’re at right now,” he said.

The Lady Bison with a lot of underclassmen dropped to 2-6.

It was the first victory of the season for Berrien Springs.

About two minutes into the fourth quarter is when New Buffalo came to life offensively when sophomore Ava Johnson nailed a short jump shot.

Senior Elizabeth Mercado then sank a 12 foot jump shot off a nifty pass from Johnson and junior Aaliyah Bradshaw before the final buzzer. Mercado, Bradshaw and senior Georgia Arvantis each scored six points apiece while Johnson added four points. Kelly said he was especially pleased with Mercado, who had been struggling with her shooting in recent games. He said Mercado told him before the start of the game that she was going to show him that she can shoot. “I was glad to see her get some buckets,” Kelly said. Kelly said it was also nice to see Bradshaw make some open shots. “If she has time to get that nice release she’s going to score for us,” he said.