More photos of Donovan Blackburn:
posted by clovercricket at 7:00 PM
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Monday, September 11, 2006
St. Stevens Basketball
About two weeks before 1-A regional basketball tournament in Lander, Wyoming—I dropped into a Saint Stephen's high school boys basketball team practice. A friend’s mother, who worked at the elementary school, told me the team was tremendously talented.
She was right.
For the last two years, St. Stephens has captured the 1-A state title. This year, the team came close to bringing another first place championship to the Wind River Indian reservation. However, the team lost by two points during final quarter of the championship game.
Although the team was disappointed by the loss— not all measures of success can be valued in points. According to coach Tony Selph, the team has grown tremendously during the last few years— both on and off the court.
The following pictures were captured during the two weeks leading up to the championship game.
Darryn Davis, Phillip Whiteplume and Donovan Blackburn rest during a practice inside the St. Stephen's gym. Saint Stevens high school, located on the Wind River Indian Reservation in central Wyoming, is one of only two Native American schools in the state that compete in sports.
After spraining his ankle during the regional tournament in Lander, Wyoming— team captain Darryn Davis reads a history book during practice. Head coach Tony Selph said, “His work ethic in the classroom is very good. He’s never, ever, missed class. He’s not a kid that will ditch, even though he could ditch. The bus picks him up first and gets dropped off last. He gets up, makes his little sister breakfast and does all the cleaning… He also plays Mr. Mom, Mr. Big Brother, goes to school, plays basketball… So he’s got a lot on his plate.”
The week before, Selph took Davis and seven honor roll basketball players to visit the elementary school.
“Three years ago you wouldn’t of had a kid on the honor roll, let alone to take them over there,” Selph said. “So these kids, are really, really good kids. They are not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but they really have come a long way.”
Jake Iron Cloud rises for a jumpshot during the regional 1-A game against the Cokeville Panthers in Lander, Wyoming.
Donovan Blackburn catches his breath after running sprints during practice. The St. Stephen's team is known for their speed and endurance.
Before returning to the second half at the regional tournament, the team comes together in the locker room. Before the regional games, Davis said, “I hope the team can come together as we did the past two years, you know. I hope our big guys can learn to keep our feet. I hope our guards can learn to make good decisions, you know. When we are down, when time is running out— to just have everyone keep their cool instead of thinking we have to go down and get a shot. Cause, damn, it’s here. Just hope for the team to stay calm.” The Eagles placed second during regionals.
Darryn Davis practices shooting before going out to the third quarter of the championship game against Burlington.
During practice, Steven C-Hair attemps to steal the ball from Ryan "Bunker" Gambler.
The St. Stephen’s mascot— The Eagle— is tattooed on Donovan Blackburn's calf.
Davis poses for a local portrait photographer and his teammates during team pictures.
Linh Nguyen goes up for a basket before the second half of the championship game.
Coaches Mike Noseep, Ricky Blackburn and Tony Selph discuss plays before facing the Panthers in the second half.
The Eagles (most of them...) pose for a portrait outside of the school.
Phillip Whiteplume pushes for a basket against a Guernsey-Sunrise player during the first game of the 1-A State Championship.
Coach Selph speaks to the team during a practice before the regional tournament.
After completing an English test on Shakespeare's MacBeth, Darryn Davis concentrates on reading a history book he borrowed from his social studies teacher. Earlier during the hour, he is pictured joking around with Jared Bell.
Stephen C'Hair flies underneath the basket during the 1-A tournment in Casper, Wyoming.
After the Eagles’ second win at state, a local television station interviews Donovan Blackburn at Casper College.
At the end of practice, the team comes together.
Darryn Davis sinks his shot during an impromptu slam dunk contest,
During a break during practice, Ryan Gambler listens to J.D. Whiteman's music.
The team prepares for the second half against the Cokeville Panthers.
Lawrencetta Bell, 23, Jamie Bell, 18, and April Friday, 18, follow St. Stephen’s final game against Burlington. Families— ranging from grandparents to grandchildren— came out to support both the boys and girls team.
Coach Tony Selph intently watches the progression of the championship game.
Phillip Whiteplume reacts at the close of the championship game, with the final score of 47-49.
Steven C'Hair is hugged after coming off of the bus after the state championship game. Families and friends gathered in the Riverton K-Mart parking lot to congratulate the team on their second place victory.
Darryn Davis walks out of the Lander lockeroom.
She was right.
For the last two years, St. Stephens has captured the 1-A state title. This year, the team came close to bringing another first place championship to the Wind River Indian reservation. However, the team lost by two points during final quarter of the championship game.
Although the team was disappointed by the loss— not all measures of success can be valued in points. According to coach Tony Selph, the team has grown tremendously during the last few years— both on and off the court.
The following pictures were captured during the two weeks leading up to the championship game.
Darryn Davis, Phillip Whiteplume and Donovan Blackburn rest during a practice inside the St. Stephen's gym. Saint Stevens high school, located on the Wind River Indian Reservation in central Wyoming, is one of only two Native American schools in the state that compete in sports.
After spraining his ankle during the regional tournament in Lander, Wyoming— team captain Darryn Davis reads a history book during practice. Head coach Tony Selph said, “His work ethic in the classroom is very good. He’s never, ever, missed class. He’s not a kid that will ditch, even though he could ditch. The bus picks him up first and gets dropped off last. He gets up, makes his little sister breakfast and does all the cleaning… He also plays Mr. Mom, Mr. Big Brother, goes to school, plays basketball… So he’s got a lot on his plate.”
The week before, Selph took Davis and seven honor roll basketball players to visit the elementary school.
“Three years ago you wouldn’t of had a kid on the honor roll, let alone to take them over there,” Selph said. “So these kids, are really, really good kids. They are not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but they really have come a long way.”
Jake Iron Cloud rises for a jumpshot during the regional 1-A game against the Cokeville Panthers in Lander, Wyoming.
Donovan Blackburn catches his breath after running sprints during practice. The St. Stephen's team is known for their speed and endurance.
Before returning to the second half at the regional tournament, the team comes together in the locker room. Before the regional games, Davis said, “I hope the team can come together as we did the past two years, you know. I hope our big guys can learn to keep our feet. I hope our guards can learn to make good decisions, you know. When we are down, when time is running out— to just have everyone keep their cool instead of thinking we have to go down and get a shot. Cause, damn, it’s here. Just hope for the team to stay calm.” The Eagles placed second during regionals.
Darryn Davis practices shooting before going out to the third quarter of the championship game against Burlington.
During practice, Steven C-Hair attemps to steal the ball from Ryan "Bunker" Gambler.
The St. Stephen’s mascot— The Eagle— is tattooed on Donovan Blackburn's calf.
Davis poses for a local portrait photographer and his teammates during team pictures.
Linh Nguyen goes up for a basket before the second half of the championship game.
Coaches Mike Noseep, Ricky Blackburn and Tony Selph discuss plays before facing the Panthers in the second half.
The Eagles (most of them...) pose for a portrait outside of the school.
Phillip Whiteplume pushes for a basket against a Guernsey-Sunrise player during the first game of the 1-A State Championship.
Coach Selph speaks to the team during a practice before the regional tournament.
After completing an English test on Shakespeare's MacBeth, Darryn Davis concentrates on reading a history book he borrowed from his social studies teacher. Earlier during the hour, he is pictured joking around with Jared Bell.
Stephen C'Hair flies underneath the basket during the 1-A tournment in Casper, Wyoming.
After the Eagles’ second win at state, a local television station interviews Donovan Blackburn at Casper College.
At the end of practice, the team comes together.
Darryn Davis sinks his shot during an impromptu slam dunk contest,
During a break during practice, Ryan Gambler listens to J.D. Whiteman's music.
The team prepares for the second half against the Cokeville Panthers.
Lawrencetta Bell, 23, Jamie Bell, 18, and April Friday, 18, follow St. Stephen’s final game against Burlington. Families— ranging from grandparents to grandchildren— came out to support both the boys and girls team.
Coach Tony Selph intently watches the progression of the championship game.
Phillip Whiteplume reacts at the close of the championship game, with the final score of 47-49.
Steven C'Hair is hugged after coming off of the bus after the state championship game. Families and friends gathered in the Riverton K-Mart parking lot to congratulate the team on their second place victory.
Darryn Davis walks out of the Lander lockeroom.
posted by clovercricket at 10:17 AM
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