Winter Basketball League Sign-Ups for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Graders

Registration for the 1st grade and 2nd and 3rd grade combined basketball leagues at Apple Athletic Club will be available from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Skyline home games on December 18th vs. Bonneville and on December 23rd vs. Hillcrest.

League play will be on Saturdays mornings from Jan. 9th through the first week in March. Several Skyline players will be refereeing the league games, as in years past, with a focus on explaining and reinforcing the rules. The league is run by 15 year NCAA Division I women's basketball coach Barbara Ehardt. 1st grade teams will play on 8 foot rims. 2nd and 3rd grade teams can choose to play on either the 8 foot or the regular 10 foot rims.

This year Skyline basketball is facilitating individual sign ups with the goal of getting more of our kids playing at a younger age. The cost for individuals is $25 plus $12 for a reversible, if needed. Click here for the individual registration form. Team sign ups are also available directly through the league (a great option if you have a full team). Contact Barbara Ehardt at 403-6686 or click here for the team registration form if you have an entire team you'd like to sign up. You can also sign up your team during the Skyline JV games on the 18th and the 23rd. The last day to register is December 28th, but space may be limited so the earlier the better.

Free Clinic on December 30th!

A free clinic for league participants and coaches will be held on December 30th from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Skyline High School. Please note that all kids who sign up individually need to arrive by 7 p.m. to meet their teammates and coaches and get their jerseys!

Skyline High School Basketball Web Site

Visit the new Skyline basketball web site at http://www.skylinehoops.net/ for scores, stats, highlights, and more. 

Go GRIZZ!

Meet the Players Night Scheduled for November 30th

Meet the 2009-2010 Skyline 9th-12th grade basketball players at a fun-filled fundraiser that will include a raffle, team scrimmages, and more on Monday, November 30th at 6:30 p.m.  Check back for more details!

Above the Rim Event at Skyline October 19th

Come witness a new breed of basketball. See the world's greatest dunkers, ball handlers, and playmakers live at Skyline High School!

Event Date: October 19th
Doors Open: 6:30 p.m.
Tip Off: 7:05 p.m.
Location: Skyline High School
1767 Blue Sky Drive
Idaho Falls, ID

Advance Tickets are available here for $10. At the door: $15.

That's Grizz Football 3: Highlights from Pocatello

Produced By Diane Jensen

Skyline Fall Basketball for Kids in Grades 1-7

Boys & Girls Basketball Clinics at Ethel Boyes for Grades 1-4  Contact Kaly at 208.757.8872

4th-6th Grade G.I.G. League for Girls at Skyline  Contact Gretchen at 208.241.8937

5th - 7th Grade Fast Break League for Boys at Skyline  Contact Coach Shippen at 208.390.9719

You can sign up by emailing your phone number along with your child's name, grade, and desired session (for Ethel Boyes clinics).

Waiver must be signed and payment made at the door prior to the first session.

Thank You Jim Garchow

It’s difficult to describe how much Jim Garchow has meant to Skyline High School players, coaches, and fans. I'll never forget how he would come to our basketball practices early in the season with his pad of paper and pencil to take notes and ask questions about the squad. He always wanted to be prepared with not just names and numbers, but also perspectives from the coaching staff. It didn't feel like the season had officially started until I had the chance to visit with Jim. He made me feel welcome at Skyline from the moment I met him. Often he would hand me a little note about an opponent’s record, or he would stuff some free throw shooting percentages in my pocket saying, "Every little bit helps, just thought you should know."

Jim Garchow was brief and to the point. He told it like it was. His radio commentary and play by play was clear and professional. On a personal level, his 980 AM broadcasts meant a lot to my family. Many times my wife wouldn't make it to games because she didn't want to battle our little ones. She often enjoyed listening to the radio more than being there, thanks to Jim’s vivid commentary. She even went so far as to record some of Jim’s audio broadcasts with her laptop microphone so we could use the clips in our highlight videos.

Garchow would also MC many of our basketball banquets. Even after some difficult seasons, he managed to find the silver lining that made the season special and boosted my confidence as a coach. He had faith in me. Many times he made supportive statements to players and fans to trust me, saying that he had been around long enough and knew enough coaches to be confident that we were doing the right things at Skyline. Jim seemed to recognize the struggles I was going through and made me feel like my efforts weren't in vain. He'd even call after a tough loss or big win with a short message like "How's the beleaguered old coach?", "Keep your head up." or "It's a great day to be a grizzly, I thought that was something special last night!"

I want Jim’s family to know how thankful the basketball program is for his time. He impacted many young men, as well as a young coach trying to get his feet under him. As a friend, thank you Jim Garchow. You will be missed, but never forgotten. To quote a favorite sports movie, “Heroes get remembered, but legends never die.” Jim Garchow was truly a legend.

--Coach Ty Shippen

That's Grizz 2 (Skyline Football Highlights from the Hillcrest Game)

Created by Diane Jensen

2009 Skyline Basketball Shorts Drive

Please help us with our effort to collect basketball shorts to donate to kids in Africa!

All shorts collected at basketball camp this week will be donated to youth attending the 2nd Annual Gulu Go! Basketball Camps that will be held in Gulu, Uganda in August. Two of Kaly Shippen’s former college teammates are organizing the camp--Atim Otii from San Diego State whose parents are natives of Uganda, and Cady Williams from BYU. For more information, please visit http://www.gulugo.com/

Download the Flyer

Did you know that last year Skyline basketball campers donated over 150 basketball jerseys to these kids? Way to go Grizz!

On the Recruiting Trail: Robert Edwards

While most high school athletes are looking for a college to take them on, Skyline’s Robert Edwards is going a different route.

The 6-foot-5 center committed in April to play basketball for Phillips Exeter Academy, a prep school in New Hampshire, next year.

“I think it’s something where he can develop, get stronger, and play more of perimeter, a three or four position,” Skyline basketball coach Ty Shippen said. “If he’s going to play the four, he’s playing behind a 6-8 kid. So he’s got his work cut out for him, and it’s going to make him better.”

Edwards averaged 14.1 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game as a senior.

Read the full Post Register blog article here.

(Robert is pictured here with two basketball jerseys he donated to kids in Gulu, Uganda.)

Girls Basketball Camp Registration

Click here for the 2009 Skyline Girls Basketball Camp Registration Flyer

The camp will be held Monday-Thursday, May 18-21st for Grades 3-9.

Skyline High School Summer Basketball Meeting for Parents & Players--April 15th at 7:30 p.m.

Coach Ty Shippen and his staff will be holding an informational meeting at Skyline in the new gym at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 15th for all 8th-11th graders interested in playing basketball at Skyline next year. Parents are encouraged to attend.

Coach Shippen will explain the summer basketball program, including camps, tournaments, and practice expectations, and hand out registration forms.

Waiver Notice: District 91 recently changed its policy to open enrollment. 9th graders who intend to go to Skyline next school year and do not live in Skyline’s attendance zone must complete and submit to Skyline a zone waiver application by Wednesday, May 13th, 2009. Zone waivers will not be accepted for 1st trimester of the 2009 – 2010 school year after May 13th, 2009. Students and parents of all zone waiver requests will receive the results of their request by July 1, 2009. (Information courtesy of Skyline Principal Trina Caudle.)

Skyline Basketball This Week

Spring Basketball, Monday, April 6th - Thursday, April 9th for Grades 7-11

Offensive Skills Clinics at Skyline
Monday, 7-7:45 a.m.
Tuesday, 7-7:45 a.m.
Thursday, 7-7:45 a.m.

Team Practice / Open Gym at Skyline
Wednesday, 6 p.m for 7th and 8th Graders in the old gym
Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. for 9th - 11th Graders in the main gym

Skyline Girls Basketball open gym is at Wednesday at 6 p.m. in the new gym.

Note: The 7th, 8th, and 9th graders had scrimmage games at Apple Athletic Club on Friday, April 3rd. I want to thank Barbara Ehardt and Apple for the use of the facility, Rick Wallis for refereeing, and the Rigby players and parents for coming.

Every day a little better!

Skyline Summer Basketball Camps for Grades 1-12

Grades 1-6: June 2^nd-3^rd (5:00pm-7:30pm) and June 4th (9:00am-11:30am)
Cost is $40

Grades 7-9: June 8-10 (5:00pm-7:30pm)
Cost is $40

Grades 10-12: May 26^th –28^th (4:00pm-6:00pm)
Cost: Free if attending tournaments and/or helping with younger Grizz Camp, otherwise $40

Email Coach Shippen with player's name, grade, and contact information to get on the pre-registration list. Payment and signed waiver should be completed at the door.

Varsity Players Headed toTwin Falls for Idaho Prep Tournament

Zack Smith, Jeramie Thomas, Blake Hansen, Boston Murdoch, Houston Moore & Matt Miller are headed to Twin Falls this weekend to play in the varsity division of the March 20th and 21st Idaho Prep Tournament. They face off at 5:30 p.m. on Friday at Kimberly High School against one of the Boise Flite All-Star teams. The complete schedule is posted on the Idaho Prep Basketball Tournament web site.

Summer Tournament Schedule for Skyline Boys Basketball

Mark Your Calendars!

May 29^th & 30^th Madison Tournament (JV & Varsity)

June 5^th & 6^th Highland Tournament (JV & Varsity)

June 11^th – 13^th CSI Team Camp (JV & Varsity)

June 18^th – 20^th Boise Summer Shootout (JV & Varsity)

July 22^nd - 26^th Las Vegas Reebok Summer Championships (Invitation Only--Varsity)

Coach Shippen will be posting registration information and the open gym / skill work schedule in the next few weeks. If you have questions, email Coach Shippen.

Spring Basketball Camps at Skyline

Tuesday nights, March 31st to May 5th at Skyline for Grades K-6

Click here for the registration page.

Great Article on Basketball Coach Tommy Connor

I'm a fan of Westminster Basketball Coach Tommy Connor. (I thought he
should have gotten the ISU job, no offense to their current coach!) Check
out this article about him from the Deseret News:
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705282541,00.html --Kaly

Skyline Spring Basketball Camp Information

Visit the IdahoHoops.net Web Site to learn more about spring basketball camps at Skyline for Grade K-6, as well as spring basketball tournaments for grades 7-11.

Skyline Basketball Awards Night

The 2009 basketball awards night for players and their families is scheduled for March 18th at 6 p.m. at the new Hard Hat Steakhouse in Snake River Landing.

Calling all Skyline Fans!

Travel Bus to Twin Falls on Tuesday!

If you'd like to ride a nice travel bus to Twin Falls for only $5, please call Diane Jensen at 351-9292 by noon on Tuesday.

Students, sign up at the office to ride the student spirit bus!

Skyline Wins at Highland!!!!

The Skyline faithful made the trip to Pocatello in force to cheer on the boys basketball team to victory against Highland. Skyline led most of the game and came out on top in a hard fought contest. The Grizz will travel to Twin Falls Tuesday for a State Tournament play-in game. The last time Skyline won at Highland was in 1989, when the Grizz won by a point.

Check out the last few seconds of the game:

Here is the recap from the Post Register:

"At Pocatello, Skyline earned its first win at Highland since 1989, knocking off the Rams 57-54 in a 5A District 4-5-6 loser-out game.

"I'm so proud of these boys," Skyline coach Ty Shippen said. "We've had some close games at Highland over the years, but this group of boys was able to get it done."

Robert Edwards led the Grizzlies with 25 points. Adrian Johnson added eight points, Braxton Facer scored seven and recent junior varsity call-up JC Scrogum added five.

Shippen also singled out the defensive play of junior guard Michael Berger.

Taysom Hill scored 25 points to pace the Rams. Check out the Post Register sports blog at: http://www.postregister.com/blogs/sports/

720 Dunk Clip

IDAHO SELECT Basketball Camp

Idaho adidas Junior Phenom will be hosted by Idaho Select Basketball on April 3, 4, 5 in Boise, Idaho. Normal registration closes March 1.
The Idaho adidas Junior Phenom Basketball camp is truly becoming an Idaho State Camp, as representatives from over 20 cities will be attending the camp in Boise this April. East Idaho continues to grow as there are now players from Rexburg, Pocatello, Salmon, Idaho Falls and Driggs to name a few.
The camp is for boys in the 5th, 6th and 7th grades. For more information about the camp including a list of all the representatives locations, visit www.idahojuniorphenom.com.
Returning this year will be the Parisi Speed School. In addition to the normal basketball activities at the Phenom Camp, participants will all get to work with the staff from Parisi, who will be teaching training techniques that improve quickness, strength and vertical jump.

How 'Bout that White Out!

Grizz Nation came out in force on Friday night. The junior varsity game was a nail-biter with the Grizz coming out on top. Great defense and rebounding led the varsity to an impressive 11 point win. Video coming soon!

Don't miss Senior Night at Skyline on Wednesday, 2/11 against Hillcrest! Skyline closes out the regular season at Rigby on Friday, 2/13. They will play at Twin Falls on Tuesday, 2/17 in their first game of the district tournament.

Grizz Take Care of Business, Defeat Pocatello 68-60

Box Score

SKYLINE 68, POCATELLO 60

Pocatello 15 13 15 17 -- 60

Skyline 17 15 12 24 -- 68

POCATELLO (60) Korrell 9, Morton 19, Pearson 5, Hancock 4, Decker 12, Andrews 11. FG 17-34. FT 20-25. 3-pointers: 2-6 (Fortin 1, Pearson 1). Fouls: 24. Fouled out: Morton, Decker

SKYLINE (68) Adrian Johnson 9, Connor Flaherty 4, Kaleb Jensen 1, Braxton Facer 9, Jose Abreo 2, Tony Jones 7, Zach Smith 13, Robert Edwards 21, Matt Miller 2. FG 18-36. FT 21-30. 3-pointers: 3-9 (Facer 2, Jones 1). Fouls: 20. Fouled out: none.

Shout out for Tony Jones

Childress Crossover, Taking it Back to 95

My friend Rob Foster from North Carolina posted this clip on Facebook. I thought it was worth sharing!

Skyline Varsity Upsets Twin Falls 73-72, Junior Varsity Wins

Twin Falls, ID
Article excerpt by Times-News Reporter David Bashore

Skyline senior Connor Flaherty lived the dream at Baun Gymnasium on Friday night. His team trailing by two points with just six ticks left on the clock, the 6-foot guard took the inbound pass after T.J. Ellis' made free throw and sprinted down the court against tight defense.

With a hand in his face as the final horn sounded, assumed the role of ruthless assassin as his 3-point bid from the left wing struck true to give the Grizzlies a 73-72 victory over Twin Falls.

The buzzer-beater capped a frantic last-gasp rally for Skyline (4-9, 2-3 Region Four-Five-Six), which trailed 71-67 with 22.9 seconds to go. But the Bruins (9-4, 3-2) melted down in the final few seconds to open the door for the Grizzlies.

"We didn't get a clean break off the (made) free throw, but time's running out. You just kind of hope for a prayer, and I got a little lucky tonight," said Flaherty. "We got back in with a great team effort, being down six with a minute and a half to go - a conference win, on the road, this is really big for us."

READ THE FULL TIMES-NEWS ARTICLE BY DAVID BASHORE.

JV Wins, Varsity Falls to I.F. 55-48

The Skyline faithful were out in force tonight but poor shooting led to a disappointing loss against the Tigers in the varsity game. The score was just 9-9 after the first quarter. Idaho Falls pulled ahead to a 20-16 halftime led. They broke loose in the 3rd with a 22 point quarter, led by Walker with ten points. Skyline fought back to within 7, but couldn't get any closer. Idaho Falls went to the line 33 times, hitting 22. Skyline was 5-12 from the line.

The Junior Varsity team was down at half, but pulled ahead in the 3rd quarter and won comfortably.

Skyline has a road game at Twin Falls on Friday.

Skyline Defeats Bonneville 64-41

Read about the game on the PR Sports blog: http://www.postregister.com/blogs/sports/?p=2699

My favorite part about tonight (beside jv and varsity WINS) was the play of the 5^th and 6^th grade boys at halftime. They did GREAT! Here is a short clip of the kids:

Apple Athletic Club 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Grade League Schedule

Here is the schedule for the Apple basketball league, officiated by Skyline basketball players:

http://www.idahohoops.net/2009AppleHoopsSchedule.pdf

Skyline Defeats Madison 55-54

Thanks to Amanda for getting this great Flip camcorder footage of the final seconds of the game on Friday, 1/9!