Great atmophere at Naasz Gymnasium on Thursday night for the Central-Stevens dual.

Great to see the student support for the Cobbler wrestlers, and head coach Lance Pearson gave the fans plenty of credit for helping get the win over the Raiders.

No doubt a big win for Joe Sigler with the late pin over Jarran Jensen, but I was equally impressed with Evan Weiler over Garrett Peterson. Two wrestlers that will be very important come postseason.

Jeff

Today is the start of a big weekend of high school basketball. The defending Class A state champion and second-ranked St. Thomas More boys host Black Hills Conference rival Custer tonight.

The Cavs (15-2) cruised to a 54-28 on Custer’s home floor on Jan. 13. Since that setback, the Wildcats have won five straight to improve to 11-5. More was tested for a half against Red Cloud on Tuesday before clamping down defensively to earn an 80-53 victory.

Can Custer close the gap? Will More, which beat Class AA Sioux Falls Washington 55-43 on a neutral floor, show once again why they are the defending champs? I’d go with the Cavaliers.

The Rapid City Stevens girls look to rebound for last week’s 48-38 loss to rival Rapid City Central against Class AA second-ranked Sioux Falls Washington tonight at Carold Heier Gymnasium. The Warriors (12-2) have won six straight since falling to top-ranked Mitchell on Jan. 10.

Can the Raiders (7-8) spring the upset? Stevens is good enough to beat anybody in the state. See wins over Sioux Falls Roosevelt and Watertown as proof. But the Raiders have enough inconsistencies to fall to anyone.

Then on Friday, the Raiders host Sioux Falls Lincoln (7-6). Stevens has only one two-game sweep this season, coming a couple weeks ago when the Raiders beat Brookings and Watertown on the road.

The Central girls (9-7), which currently sit atop the District 4AA standings, host Washington on Friday and Lincoln on Saturday. The Cobblers have won two straight games. They’ve yet to win three in a row this season. Will this be the weekend that happens?

Sticking with the girls, Sturgis, coming off a last-second Kahlie Peterson 3-pointer to earn a 42-40 win over Huron last Saturday, looks to pick up its first Greater Dakota Conference victory tonight against Lincoln. The Scoopers then host Washington on Saturday.

Flipping to the boys, Stevens (3-12) looks to bounce back from its 55-42 loss to Central tonight against Washington. The Warriors (7-7) are coming off that 12-point loss to St. Thomas More. Will Stevens (3-12) be the second Rapid City team to beat Washington? Then on Friday, the Raiders, searching for their GDC victory this season, get Lincoln (11-2).

The Central boys (4-11), also winless in GDC play, get Washington on Friday and Lincoln on Saturday.

Sturgis (0-14) gets Lincoln tonight and Washington on Saturday.    

Vance

SPEARFISH – John Reiners didn’t know if he was ready to take over the Black Hills State University football program.

When Jay Long told the Yellow Jacket staff that he was interviewing for the vacant head coaching position at Chadron State College weeks ago, Reiners knew he had a good shot at filling’s Long position.

Still, Reiners consulted his wife, Jennifer, a teacher at Creekside Elementary in Spearfish. Visiting her at the school is when Reiners knew he wanted the job.

“There’s always reservations because you don’t know,” Reiners said Tuesday at his introductory news conference in the Hall of Fame Room at the Young Center. “That next step, what do you do? What are you getting into? As I went through it, I remember walking up to my wife’s school and I remember talking to her. All I could think about was all the ways I wanted to get our guys involved there.”

His days of pondering were quickly over. Reiners knew he was ready to take Long’s post if it became available.

“I can’t wait to get our guys into the community and on to campus. They’ve already been involved extensively. We’re going to continue to do that,” Reiners said. “Getting them in front of schools and people around the community is huge. I just think that’s so important.”

Getting BHSU’s student-athletes involved is simple.  

“The thing about it is it’s easy. It’s easy to call guys up and say, ‘We need to go out to Super 8 and move all their stuff in,’” Reiners said. “In one hour and 15 minutes, that place is switched. That doesn’t happen with anybody. It happens with a great program with great kids. I’m excited to continue to get these kids out into the community.

“More than anything, I can’t wait for Sept. 8. When we walk out onto that field in Pocatello, Idaho to face Idaho State, the challenge is there in front of us.”

Vance

[Editor's Note: This is the third time in two days I've tried to post this blog. Sorry if it's a bit dated, but I'm merely hoping it gets on the site this time. --D. Lawhon]

On the large-school level, consistent girls basketball isn’t something we’ve seen a whole lot of this winter. Rapid City Central has had its moments, but this year’s group really seems a year away from rounding into state-contending form. The difference is a bit more extreme for Sturgis, which isn’t fielding a single senior this year.

As for Rapid City Stevens, one thought this would be their season to shine, given the two Division I prospects in the starting lineup with Katie Klapprodt and Margaret McCloud. But something has just been missing this year for the Raiders, who have hovered around .500 most of the year and lost by double digits at home to their crosstown rival Thursday night.

Maybe the background here is why I was so impressed even with just solid efforts from girls’ Class AA No. 1 Mitchell against the Scoopers and Spearfish over the weekend. I witnessed the Sturgis game in person and read Jim Holland’s Saturday report, both of which resulted in double-digit victory for the Kernels.

You know what you’re getting with Mitchell, and that’s solid, fundamental basketball. Every part of their attitude is attacking, whether on defense, making cuts and screens 20 feet from the basketball or charging in transition. The enrgy never wavers, and the role players’ persistence in maintaining that energy makes them even more valuable to stars such as Kerri Young and Macy Miller, among others.

I was especially impressed with sophomore guard Miller, whose shooting touch is dangerous at her age. Her balance when she attempts pull-up jumpers is textbook. Youngsters could learn from her, even if she herself has much to learn.

And coach Wes Morgan has a quiet way of being demanding enough that the girls don’t let up and are expecting something close to perfection each time they step out on the floor.

Even though Spearfish has turned some heads as a Class A school this year, it would have been easy for the Kernels to overlook the competition out this way. They might have a bit earlier in the season when Central pushed them to overtime at the Corn Palace.

None of that half-asleep air was present to the northwest, however. Just two by-the-numbers performances that a No. 1 team should turn in. It should definitely be interesting to watch their progress in the postseason. And if our local schools haven’t already noticed, tehy’ve got a nice measuring stick to be aspiring toward.

— Danny Lawhon

Last week, I made my first predictions for who will win the Class A state wrestling championships. Here is version 2.0.

106 — Sturgis’ Brody Jorenson stayed right with top-ranked David Potratz of Washington on Saturday before falling 3-2. Right now, I like the possibilities presented by Central’s Kyle Pfeifle (if healthy) and Pierre’s Jebben Keyes. For now, I’m going upset and Keyes.

113 — Kiggins was not all that spectacular at the GDC duals, but I have a feeling that will be his wakeup call.

120 — Tanner Bothwell gets first West River title.

126 — Make that two. Morgan Engbrecht rolls in a tough weight class.

132 — Um, I would like to see an Evan Weiler and Garrett Peterson final, but Brett Bye of Vermillion looks to be above the rest right now.

138 — Still think Cain Glanzer has too much even for Nick Montieth.

145 — Jarrick Jensen has been impressive. Add another title to the Jensen haul.

152 — Going strickly of rankings and that gives it to Harrisburg’s Mitchell Schenk.

160 — Back and forth. This week I am thinking Mitchell’s Jason Greenway in a close one over Clay Kopplin

170 — Havlik or Amo, Amo or Havlik?

182 — Chase Lettau it is.

195 — Still Rotert after that impressive win over O’Farrell.

220 — O’Farrell.

285 — I am thinking Weber and Benne showdown in the finals. I don’t know who I think wins.

Jeff

If you came to Carold Heier Gymnasium on Thursday night looking to see pretty offense and a free-flowing game between Rapid City Central and Rapid City Stevens, you left disappointed. Very.

“It was a weird game,” Stevens coach Donavan DeBoer said after the Raiders’ 48-38 loss. “It had a weird feel. I don’t think either team played very well, with the exception of their 3-point shooting, which I think was the difference in the game.”

Central making 8-of-11 shots from behind the 3-point line was the prettiest stat of the game. Here were a few things that tarnished Thursday’s contest.

Central had a scoreless second quarter and went 11 minutes and 31 seconds without a point. They turned the ball over 19 times.

Stevens was just 10-of-41 from the field and had its own dry spell of over 5 minutes in the second half. There was also a stretch of 5 minutes in the first half when neither team scored.   

But it’s a Central win nonetheless. The Cobblers put the game away with a 12-0 run that started late in the third quarter. By the time Stevens ended its dry spell with 3:29 left in the fourth, the game was out of reach.

Those offensive struggles and second quarter troubles could have crippled the Cobblers.

“At halftime, we just talked about situations when things aren’t going well and growing as a team,” Central coach Kraig Blomme said. “We had a stretch of two or three minutes where we don’t score and it just kept building and building and building. You’ve got to step up and take shots when they’re open. You’ve got to play with confidence.”

It seemed like the Raiders didn’t have confidence offensively. Cobblers did their best to take away Margaret McCloud, Stevens’ top scorer at 17.5 points per game. Though McCloud made 5-of-7 free throws, she struggled from the field, missing her first three shots and going 4-of-11 for the game.

The paint was plugged and McCloud couldn’t get going. The 6-foot-2 University of South Dakota signee had either Tori Holt or Grace Weeks on her back. Then there was one, two or even three guards sinking down in front of her. Absolutely no room to move.

Not that that surprised DeBoer.

“They had a good game plan. They were packing it in,” DeBoer said. “They had four or five kids in the paint when she caught. We anticipated it. We just didn’t have the offensive execution like we hoped we should have.

“We were 10-of-41 from the field. You’ve got to shoot better than that. If they’re going to pack it in like that, our guards have to step it up and make some shots.”

They didn’t fall. The best offensive punch outside of McCloud and getting to the free-throw line as a team was Courtney Buck slashing to the basket. The 5-7 reserve guard scored 11 points and was one of few Raiders willing to penetrate the gaps and lanes left open because of the Cobblers paying so much attention to McCloud.

Central looks to ride the momentum from the crosstown rivalry win to a late-season run. The Cobblers have their last four games at home, including a Feb. 21 rematch with Stevens. The Raiders have four of their next five at home, and they don’t leave the city for the lone away game.

Feel free to share your thoughts on Thursday’s game.

Vance

Here’s a few extra tidbits from Wednesday’s National Signing Day celebrations in Rapid City.

Taylor Houchin is one of three West River players headed to Northern State. Good haul by the Wolves, who also signed St. Thomas More senior Austin Schmitt and Spearfish senior Monte Meyerink.

Houchin, a 5-foot-10, 170-pound senior running back at Rapid City Central, liked the University of South Dakota. Being an alum, I razzed Houchin about not picking the Coyotes. He took it in stride.

“I loved it there,” Houchin said of Vermillion. “I liked it a lot. But they had already offered two other running backs, so it was walk-on for the first year. I thought I might go where my college was paid for. I fell in love with Northern State’s program as well. It’s nice.”

Houchin proved he’s a good kicker. He made 6-of-6 field goals this season, including a 48-yarder against Mitchell. But right now, his focus is on playing running back.

“I’m happy with kicking. I think that I’m going to go out and show them (Northern coaches) that I can kick a little bit,” Houchin said. “I want to see if they’ll throw me out there.”

If he kicks like he did this past fall, there’s no doubt he may have another position.

Houchin’s commitment to Northern came about two months after Schmitt gave his word to the Wolves.

“I’m exited to go up there with him because it’s a face that I know,” Schmitt said of Houchin. “Also, Skye Warwick (STM senior basketball player) is going up there. I’ve known him forever. It’s really good to have them go up there and know them. It will be good.”

Rooming together hasn’t been discussed, Schmitt said. But having a bit of a built in support system is comforting thought, Schmitt said. 

“They’re going to be going through the same stuff that I am,” Schmitt said. “It’s kind of a nice thing to have them going through it with me.”

As many of you loyal readers know, Rapid City Central senior Mike Norberg and STM senior Taton Bolton each signed with South Dakota Mines. At Bolton’s signing in More’s gymnasium, he had the Hardrockers’ home No. 41 jersey – the same number he wore as a senior with the Cavs.

“That’s going to be awesome if I have the 41 jersey. I don’t know if I have it locked up yet,” Bolton said. “But I have the jersey today and it’s nice. I had to try it on a couple times.”

I’ll go to bat for Bolton – the jersey ought to be his. He’s a Rapid City kid and one of the initial eight in first-year coach Stacy Collins’ recruiting class. Should give ya dibs, right? Bolton agreed.

“Oh yeah, definitely,” he said with a smile.

STM senior tight end Jeremy Henderson is a Coyote. He signed an institutional letter of intent. That means he won’t get any scholarship money his first year.

But if he makes plays like he did as a senior at STM – 30 receptions for 766 yards and nine touchdowns – there’s no doubt the 6-5, 205-pounder could get some scholarship money.

Seeing field probably won’t happen this fall, as Henderson said he’s likely to redshirt. Makes sense. Learn offensive coordinator Wesley Beschorner’s system. Figure out where exactly you’re going to play – Henderson could be a tight end or a wide receiver – and get adjusted to life in Vermillion and football at the Football Championship Subdivision level.

He’ll have a few friends to lean on. Former STM standout Kevin Robb will be entering his junior season this fall, while Cavs product Tyler Richardson is a redshirt freshman.

“They can help me out, knowing they’ve already transitioned from our school to college,” Henderson said. “They know how the football team is there and how it works.”

Vance

The rosters are starting to trickle in for colleges across the country, and of course in South Dakota, too.

If you know your school’s early returns and have some thoughts to share, feel free to use this space to do so.

The Journal will have its summation of the state’s signees, as much as we receive, over the course of the night. I’ll update this post with a link to our article and list when it’s complete.

– Danny Lawhon

The Douglas boys believe.

Nevermind that the Patriots (4-8) have lost four straight. They still reside at the top of the District 4AA standings. They want to get back to .500. They want to win the district.

“That’s definitely a big goal for us. We really don’t want the season to end in districts,” junior guard Matt Vinson said. “We want to get past that.”

Getting out districts, though, doesn’t seem likely. In head-to-head meetings with other District 4AA foes this season, the Patriots are 1-2. The good is Douglas downing Sturgis 56-46 on Dec. 15.

Facing Rapid City Central and Stevens, however, didn’t go well. The Patriots were drubbed 94-42 by Rapid City Central on Dec. 20. A month later, Stevens topped Douglas 70-54.

So how do the Pats make up the difference in those blow outs? Can they somehow survive through postseason play?

One thing is certain, first-year Douglas coach Travis Miller – a former Rapid City Central assistant coach – is doing a good job.

“He’s definitely one of the best things to happen to Douglas in a while,” Mack Vinson said. “We’ve got a good respect between the players and the coaches. He trusts us, we trust him. He’s doing a great job.”

Miller and the Patriots don’t have an overwhelming lineup or an impressive roster. But Miller’s getting the most out of his team.

“I think he plays to our team,” Matt Vinson said. “We aren’t a very big team, so we have trouble getting the ball inside. When we do get the ball inside, he makes sure that we’re cutting and dishing off and stuff. The last couple years, we’ve had a lot of freedom. I don’t think that’s great for us. Coach has brought in some plays and stuff that’s really helped us out.”

Vance

Here are the Journal’s votes in the latest S.D. Sportswriters Association high school basketball rankings, followed by the actual poll.

JOURNAL VOTES
Class AA boys
1. Mitchell
2. SF O’Gorman
3. SF Lincoln
4. Pierre
5. Brookings

Class A boys
1. Dell Rapids
2. STM
3. McCook Central/Montrose
4. SF Christian
5. Madison

Class B boys
1. White River
2. Canistota
3. Rosholt
4. Faith
5. Viborg/Hurley

Class AA girls
1. Mitchell
2. Washington
3. Aberdeen
4. Brandon Valley
5. Yankton

Class A girls
1. Wagner
2. STM
3. Sisseton
4. Spearfish
5. Beresford

Class B girls
1. Summit
2. Eureka/Bowdle
3. Herreid/Selby Area
4. Estelline
5. Warner

ACTUAL POLLS
BOYS
Rank First place votes in parentheses Total votes Last week
Class AA
1. Mitchell (8) 40 1 12-1
2. S.F. O’Gorman 31 3 11-3
3. S.F. Lincoln 19 4 8-2
4. Pierre 16 2 11-3
5. Brookings 11 5 9-4
Others – S.F. Roosevelt, Watertown.

Class A
1. Dell Rapids (7) 38 1 11-2
2. St. Thomas More (1) 33 11-2
3. McCook Central-Montrose 17 4 10-3
4. Flandreau 11 NR 11-2
5. S.F. Christian 8 5 10-3
Others – Aberdeen Roncalli, Sisseton, Garretson, Spearfish, Madison, Crow Creek, Dakota Valley.

Class B
1. White River (8) 40 1 12-0
2. Canistota 31 2 13-0
3. Rosholt 21 3 13-0
4. Viborg/Hurley 17 4 11-2
5. Faith 10 5 13-0
Others – Dupree.

GIRLS
Rank First place votes in parentheses Total votes Last week
Class AA
1. Mitchell (8) 40 1 13-1
2. Aberdeen Central 30 2 11-2
3. S.F. Washington 26 3 11-2
4. Brandon Valley 16 4 10-4
5. Yankton 6 NR 8-5
Others – S.F. Roosevelt. S.F. Lincoln.

Class A
1. Wagner (7) 35 1 15-0
2. St. Thomas More (1) 33 2 14-1
3. Sisseton 25 25 4 12-1
4. West Central 8 NR 10-2
5. Spearfish 4 5 9-2
Others – Beresford, Aberdeen Roncalli, Parkston, Cheyenne-Eagle Butte, Elkton/Lake Benton, Dell Rapids, Clark/Willow Lake, Baltic.

Class B
1. Summit (7) 35 4 14-2
2. Estelline 21 2 13-1
3. Herreid/Selby Area (1) 20 1 13-1
4. Eureka/Bowdle 17 NR 10-1
5. Centerville 12 5 12-3
Others – Warner, Sully Buttes.

- Padraic