Tournament a boon for Spearfish businesses

By Dan Daly, Journal staff | Sunday, March 11, 2007

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SPEARFISH -- Thousands of basketball fans descended on Spearfish last week for the 2007 South Dakota Class A High School Girls Basketball Tournament, and Nicola Meeks couldn’t be happier.

“There are so many people in town; this is huge for my business,” she said.

Meeks owns Nic's Nax Handcrafted Jewelry & Art and British Aisles. The basketball tournament, which began Thursday, has brought a steady flow of out-of-towners to her Main Street shop during what is otherwise a slow time of year.

The event also introduces the Spearfish community to many South Dakotans, some for the first time. Teams from as far away as Milbank, Vermillion and Dell Rapids are in town for the tournament. That could pay economic dividends later when people return for summer vacations, ski trips or even college.

Meeks applauded the school and community officials that won for Spearfish the chance to host the tournament. “They did a fantastic job of bringing this here,” Meeks said. “Now, it’s up to us to show people why they need to come back,” she said.

Joline Dunbar and Brenda O’Hara were part of a large contingent of tournament-goers from Dell Rapids. The two spent Saturday afternoon checking out the shops along Spearfish’s Main Street with children and friends.

Dunbar said that as many as 250 people, maybe more, traveled from Dell Rapids to Spearfish for the tournament. She has been in Spearfish previously, but this was her first time in downtown Spearfish.

“I love the Northern Hills. We come out to ski,” O’Hara said. In fact, her family was in Deadwood a few weeks ago for a ski trip. Asked whether she was happy Spearfish had been chosen for the state basketball tournament, O’Hara hedged a bit. “Well, it is a long way from Dell Rapids,” she said.

This is the first time ever that Spearfish has hosted a statewide high school basketball tournament.

Years ago, Sioux Falls had a monopoly on statewide basketball tournaments. Later, after Rushmore Plaza Civic Center was built, Rapid City got a piece of the pie. And in recent years, Aberdeen and other cities have joined the ranks of tournament hosts.

Three years ago, the South Dakota High School Activities Association posted a list of criteria and requirements for hosting state events. Karen Hahn, Spearfish High School athletic director, said it looked like Spearfish. Hahn said the community put together a proposal and won the chance to host the State “A” girls tournament.

“It was kind of a trial situation. They didn’t know how well it would be received this far out in the state,” Hahn said. “But we’ve had great numbers, so we hope we’ll be awarded another one.”

It’s hard to know for sure how many people have come to town for the tournament, but Hahn said 3,600 attended the first night’s games at the Donald E. Young Center.

“In terms of economics, it’s a huge boost to all of our businesses,” said Lisa Langer, executive director of the Spearfish Chamber of Commerce. “It’s a fabulous thing to have this many people in town.”

Langer said nearly all Spearfish motels were booked solid this week. “It’s great to have this many people here in March, and it’s wonderful to have this kind of weather,” she said.

She said Spearfish residents from throughout the community have volunteered to help host the tournament. They made gift baskets for tournament officials, they rounded up corporate sponsors for cheerleading squads and posted welcome signs around town.

Meeks was among the members of the Spearfish Downtown Business Association who helped tourney promoters assemble gift baskets for tournament officials.

Contact Dan Daly at 394-8421 or dan.daly@rapidcityjournal.com