HOCKEY UPDATE

State JV boys tournament: The Oahe Hockey Association hosts this tournament at the Expo Center in Fort Pierre this weekend, but unfortunately the Caps won’t have a home team in the field. Friday quarterfinal games have #3 Sioux Falls vs. #6 Watertown at noon, #2 Rushmore vs. #7 Brandon Valley at 2:30 p.m., #4 Aberdeen vs. #5 Sioux Center at 5 p.m., and #1 Brookings vs. #8 Watertown at 8 p.m. Saturday sees the consolation semifinals at noon and 2:30 p.m. and the championship semifinals at 5 and 7:30 p.m. On Sunday will be the fifth-place game at 9 a.m., the third-place faceoff at 11:30 a.m. and the championship game at 2 p.m.

State girls tournament: The Capital girls face a huge challenge, but they are at least in the field at the state tournament in Watertown this weekend. The quarterfinal schedule has #3 Brookings vs. #6 Watertown at noon, #2 Sioux Falls vs. #7 Huron at 2:30 p.m., #4 Sioux Center vs. #5 Mitchell at 5 p.m., and #1 Aberdeen vs. #8 Oahe at 8:30 p.m. Saturday’s consolation semis will be at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. with the championship semifinals at 4:30 and 7. On Sunday they finish with the fifth-place game at 9 a.m., the third-place contest at 11:30 and the championship game at 2 p.m.

State boys tournament: These are not the official pairings for the boys tournament in Sioux Falls next week (March 12-14) because the SDAHA never posts pairings early. But according to the latest standings, these would be the quarterfinal matchups next Friday: 9:05 a.m., #3 Rushmore vs. #6 Sioux Center; 11:35 a.m., #2 Oahe Capitals vs. #7 Huron; 2:05 p.m., #4 Sioux Falls 2 vs. #5 Sioux Falls 1; 4:35 p.m., #1 Brookings vs. #8 Watertown. Saturday will have the consolation semifinals at 11:35 and 2:05 and the championship semis at 4:35 and 7:35. On Sunday there will be the fifth-place match at 9:35, the third-place faceoff at 12:35 and the championship game at 3:35.

Oahe Capitals girls varsity: The girls finished the regular season with 4-1 and 5-2 losses to Sioux Center. In the Saturday game Olivia Swenson scored the lone Oahe goal in the third period after the team was down 4-0. Abigail Stewart Fromm made 21 saves. On Sunday in a 5-2 loss Alyssa Stahl and Brylee Kafka had the goals, and Fromm made 21 more saves.

Oahe Capitals boys varsity: A 2-1 weekend ended the regular season for the Capitals who will be the #2 seed in the boys state tournament in Sioux Falls next week. In a 2-1 loss to Rushmore Friday night, Raef Briggs scored in the first period, but Rushmore tied it up in the second and won it at 18:12 of the third period. Kieran Duffy made 23 saves. On Saturday the Caps dominated Sioux Falls #2, 7-3, as Andrew Gordon accomplished a hat trick, Isaac Polak scored twice, and Briggs and Elliot Leif each added a goal. Carter Schultz made 17 saves. In Sunday’s 6-2 win over Mitchell seven different men scored a goal apiece—Cooper Swartz, Keenan Howard, Leif, Gordon, Briggs and Ashton Griese. Duffy in goal made 26 saves. The Caps outshot the Marlins 41-28.

Aberdeen Wings: It was another weekend sweep for the Wings, who beat Austin, 5-2 and 5-4. Aberdeen is home Friday and Saturday against Austin.

Sioux Falls Stampede: In their only game this week the Stampede won big over Omaha, 8-1. After a game at Lincoln last night, Sioux Falls goes to Fargo Friday and Saturday.

Rapid City Rush: The Rush won two of the first three games of a four-games-in-five-days series at Wichita, winning 5-4 in overtime and 3-2 and losing 3-1. On Tuesday night the Rush had a 4-1 lead with six minutes to go but blew it and lost in overtime, 5-4. Now 12-18-1-0, Rapid City will be home Friday, Saturday and Sunday against Greenville, S.C., making its first-ever appearance in the Rush’s arena.

Minnesota Wild: The Wild were within minutes of their seventh straight win Monday night with a 4-2 lead in the third period, but Vegas tied the game to force overtime and then won it, 5-4. Earlier in the week Minnesota had taken two from Los Angeles, 3-1 and 4-3 in overtime. After another game at Las Vegas last night, Minnesota plays at Arizona Friday and Saturday, then hosts Vegas Monday and Wednesday next week.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

“It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold; when it is summer in the light and winter in the shade.”
— Charles Dickens

BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTS

Class “AA” boys SoDak 16: These eight games this Saturday, March 6, will determine who plays in the state tournament two weeks from now:
— Game 1 of state tourney: #1 Sioux Falls Washington vs. #16 Brookings; #8 Rapid City Central vs. #9 Aberdeen Central.
— Game 2 of state tourney: #4 Sioux Falls O’Gorman vs. #13 Pierre; #5 Harrisburg vs. #12 Spearfish.
— Game 3 of state tourney: #3 Sioux Falls Roosevelt vs. #14 Sioux Falls LIncoln; #6 Brandon Valley vs. #11 Rapid City Stevens.
— Game 4 of state tourney: #2 Yankton vs. #15 Douglas; #7 Mitchell vs. #10 Watertown.

Class “A” boys SoDak 16: Pairings will be determined in the final regional games in the next two days for the eight SoDak 16 games around the state next Tuesday, March 9.

Class “B” boys SoDak 16: The same is true in Class “B” where play tonight and Friday will determine the teams for the eight SoDak 16 games next Tuesday, March 9.

Class “AA” girls SoDak 16: On Friday of this week these eight games will determine the state tournament pairings:
— Game 1 of state tourney: #1 Sioux Falls Washington vs. #16 Brookings; #8 Huron vs. #9 Rapid City Central.
— Game 2 of state tourney: #4 Sioux Falls O’Gorman vs. #13 Sioux Falls Lincoln; #5 Mitchell vs. #12 Watertown.
— Game 3 of state tourney: #3 Harrisburg vs. #14 Sturgis; #6 Rapid City Stevens vs. #11 Pierre.
— Game 4 of state tourney: #2 Aberdeen Central vs. #15 Spearfish; #7 Brandon Valley vs. #10 Sioux Falls Roosevelt.

Class “A” girls SoDak 16: Tonight (Thursday) these eight games at neutral sites will determine the eight state tourney qualifiers. After tonight’s games the eight teams will be reseeded to determine the state pairings:
— #1 St. Thomas More vs. #16 Miller.
— #2 Winner Area vs. #15 Tri-Valley.
— #3 Hamlin vs. #14 Mobridge-Pollock.
— #4 Aberdeen Roncalli vs. #13 Redfield Area.
— #5 Sioux Falls Christian vs. #12 Flandreau.
— #6 Belle Fourche vs. #11 Parkston.
— #7 Hill City vs. #10 McCook Central/Montrose.
— #8 Dakota Valley vs. #9 Tea Area.

Class “B” girls SoDak 16: At neutral sites tonight (Thursday) these eight games will determine the state tourney qualifiers. After tonight’s games the eight teams will be reseeded to determine the state pairings:
— #1 Castlewood vs. #16 De Smet.
— #2 White River vs. #15 Aberdeen Christian.
— #3 Corsica-Stickney vs. #14 Timber Lake.
— #4 Hanson vs. #13 Faith.
— #5 Ethan vs. #12 Faulkton Area.
— #6 Herreid-Selby Area vs. #11 Menno.
— #7 Viborg-Hurley vs. #10 Andes Central/Dakota Christian.
— #8 New Underwood vs. #9 Waverly-South Shore.

PIERRE GOVERNORS SPORTS ROUNDUP

State “A” team-duals tournament: It will long be remembered—especially among Governor wrestling enthusiasts—as one of the most exhilarating moments in Pierre sports history. In the championship match of the duals tournament in Rapid City last Friday night, Rapid City Stevens led 31-28 with one match remaining. To win the state championship for his team, Hayden Shaffer at 138 pounds would have to score at least a major decision if not a technical fall or a pin itself. With a flair for the dramatic, Shaffer waited for the third period at which point he trailed his Stevens opponent 4-1. But in the blink of an eye he rolled the Raider into a cradle and seconds later had his pin at the 4:39 mark, and Pierre had its title, 34-31. Earlier in the championship dual, Tyson Johnson won a 6-0 decision, Gavin Stotts a 13-8 decision, Regan Bollweg a 3:13 pin, Preston Taylor a 2:42 pin and Kahlor Hindman an 11-1 major decision. In the quarterfinal round Pierre dominated Mitchell, 38-19, as Shaffer and Noah Williams scored pns and Trey Lewis and LIncoln Schoenhard major decisions. Mitchell won only two matches, getting 12 of its points on forfeits. The semifinal two hours later saw Pierre lead Brandon Valley by nine points with two weights left, but the Lynx got those nine points for a 34-34 tie. However, the first tie-breaker involved an unsportsmanlike penalty called on a Lynx wrestler, taking away one of their team points, and the Governors advanced to the championship match. Deegan Houska, Johnson, Jacob Larson and Noah Williams had pins in that Brandon Valley dual, Shaffer a major decision and Bollweg and Schoenhard decisions. The other semifinal saw Stevens wallop Harrisburg, 45-18.

State “A” individuals tournament: The Governors finished third with 144 team points. Brandon Valley won its first-ever championship in this tournament with 188 points, the first for a Sioux Falls Metro-area school since Washington won the only Metro title ever in 1972. Stevens was runner-up with 166.5 points. Trailing Pierre in order were Watertown 137, Harrisburg 118.5, Sturgis 113.5, Mitchell 103, Chamberlain 70, Brookings 68, Tea Area 67.5 and Rapid City Central 63. (Canton repeated as “B” champs with 216.5 points, followed by Winner, Philip, Kimball-White Lake/Platte-Geddes, Redfield, and Wessington Springs/Woonsocket/Wolsey-Wessington.) Pierre had one individual state champ as Regan Bollweg, continuing an outstanding athletic career for Governor teams, finished his senior season unbeaten. The Govs had two runners-up, one third place, two fourths, one sixth, one seventh and one eighth. The Pierre placers:
— 220, Regan Bollweg, first. He scored two pins and a decision to reach the title match where he shut out Brandon Valley’s Owen Warren, 3-0.
— 126, Blake Judson, second. He had two pins and a decision en route to the finals where he lost 3-0 to Brandon Valley’s Trason Oehme.
— 145, Tyson Johnson, second. A decision and a pair of pins put Tyson in the finals where he lost 3-2 to Chamberlain’s Gabe Shustad.
— 285, Preston Taylor, third. The big guy had two pins, then lost a decision in the semis. In the third-place match he scored a pin in 13 seconds over Sebastian Cardona of Huron.
— 132, Kaylor Hindman, fourth. A pin, a decision and a semifinal decision loss put Kahlor in the third-place go where he lost 5-3 to Kolton Olson of Sturgis.
— 138, Hayden Shaffer, fourth. Shaffer won by major decision and decision, then had to face R.C. Central’s unbeaten Cael Larson in the semis, and Larson scored a tech fall there. Hayden lost 2-1 in the third-place match to Logan O’Connor of Harrisburg.
— 152, Deegan Houska, sixth. A win by major decision, a loss the same way, a pin, a decision win and a major decision loss left Deegan in the fifth-place match where T.J Morrison of Central beat him 6-4.
— 195, Jacob Larson, seventh. A decision win, a loss to an unbeaten Brookings wrestler, a pin, and a decision loss left Jacob in the seventh-place match where he scored a 3:40 pin over Jase Langbehn of Lennox.
— 182, Gavin Stotts, eighth. Gavin won a decision, lost a quarterfinal pin, won by decision and lost by decision. In the seventh-place go he was pinned in 5:47 by Nolan Ander of Brookings.
— The other state tournament wrestlers for Pierre were Lincoln Schoenhard, 106; Noah Williams, 113; Nathan Williams, 120; Jayden Wiebe, 160, and Lucas Chamberlin, 170.

State “A” girls tournament: Pierre was represented by seven in the first-ever girls state tournament, and there are two state champions in this first year of competition. Marlee Shorter won first at 185 pounds with three pins. Ciara McFarling was also a state champion when she had a bye, scored a pin and then won by pin her championship match at 275 pounds. At 143 Hattie Baldwin scored two pins to reach her finals where she lost by a pin and placed second. At 131 Gianna Stangeland was second with two pin wins before a finals match loss. Mary Mehlhaff at 167 won with two pins and had a loss until the third-place match where she won by pin. Emalee Larson at 185 also placed third going 1-2, all on pins. Sydney Uhrig was third at 112 won by pin, lost by decision, won by pin and then won a decision in her third-place match.

This week’s schedules:
— FRIDAY
Girls basketball: at Rapid City Stevens in SoDak 16 game, 6 p.m.
— SATURDAY
Boys basketball: at Sioux Falls O’Gorman in SoDak 16 game, 2 p.m.

Boys basketball: In the last game of the regular season the Governors lost at Sioux Falls O’Gorman, 65-38. Bennett Dean was high scorer with 12 points, and LIncoln Kienholz had 10. The regular-season record was 7-12. Pierre goes back to O’Gorman for its SoDak 16 game Saturday.

All-conference wrestling: Four Governors were named to the ESD Conference all-conference wrestling team. They are Hayden Shaffer, 138 pounds; Tyson Johnson, 145; Regan Bollweg, 220, and Preston Taylor, 285.

STANLEY COUNTY BUFFALOES SPORTS ROUNDUP

State “B” individuals tournament: Chase Hanson at 113 pounds with two wins and two losses reached the seventh-place match where he lost to a wrestler from Kimball-White Lake/Platte-Geddes, 1-0, to finish seventh. Levi Stover at 160 and Dylan Endres at 285 were the other two SCHS state qualifiers. Levi lost his first two matches, and Dylan lost his first, won his first wrestleback and lost his next match.

This week’s schedule:
— THURSDAY
Boys basketball: at Mobridge-Pollock in Region 6A semifinal (winner advances to SoDak 16 game Tuesday).

Boys basketball: The Buffaloes finished the regular season with an 11-8 record after whipping North Central, 56-43, last Thursday. SCHS plays its Region 6A game Thursday at Mobridge-Pollock to try to get into the SoDak 16 next Tuesday.

Girls basketball: The season ended for the SCHS girls with a 59-29 loss to Mobridge-Pollock in their Region 6A semifinal game.

SULLY BUTTES CHARGERS SPORTS ROUNDUP

State “B” individuals tournaments: At 138 pounds Chase Yellowhawk lost his first two matches to be eliminated. In the girls tournament at 129 pounds Cateri Yellowhawk lost her first match, won by pin in her second, lost her third and won by pn in her final match.

Boys basketball: The Chargers won their regular-season finale over North Central, 57-47, and finished with a 9-11 record. Caleb Chicoine and Rafe Wientjes had 16 points each. Sully Buttes had to go to Lower Brule for the quarterfinal round of the Region 2B tournament Tuesday, and the result was a 78-36 loss, ending the Chargers’ season. Just 10 days ago the Chargers had lost to Lower Brule by only five points. But the Sioux canned 16 3-point field goals and led at halftime 45-12. Rafe Wientjes was high scorer for SBHS in his final high school game with 13 points. The semifinal games Thursday which will send the two winners to the SoDak 16 will match Potter County vs. Herreid-Selby Area as well as Lower Brule vs. Ipswich.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Directions: Draw a box of 16 squares in a 4×4 format. Number your top row of boxes 1, 2, 3 and 4 from left to right. Number your left-hand row of boxes 1, 5, 6 and 7 from top to bottom.

Clues:
— ACROSS
(1) Full of occupied cells
(5) —cadabra
(6) Country singer Walker
(7) —- Superfair, Aberdeen grocery store
— DOWN
(1) Milo Ventimiglia’s character on “This Is Us”
(2) Fit; qualified
(3) Once called Persia
(4) Sets down

Puzzle answer at the bottom of this Update.

COUNTDOWN

1 day: State JV boys hockey tournament, Expo Center (March 5-7).
1 day: State girls hockey tournament, Watertown (March 5-7).
2 days: Summit League basketball tournaments, Sioux Falls (March 6-9).
3 days: Critics’ Choice Awards, CW network (March 7).
7 days: State girls basketball tournaments, B Huron, A Watertown, AA Sioux Falls (March 11-13).
8 days: State boys hockey tournament, Sioux Falls (March 12-14).
9 days: NCAA Div. II men’s basketball Central Region tournament, Aberdeen (March 13-14, 16).
10 days: Daylight Saving Time begins (March 14).
10 days: Grammy Awards, CBS (March 14).
10 days: NCAA Div. I men’s basketball Selection Sunday (March 14).
11 days: NCAA Div. I women’s basketball Selection Monday (March 14).
14 days: State boys basketball tournaments, B Aberdeen, A Sioux Falls, AA Rapid City (March 18-20).
14 days: NCAA Div. I wrestling national championships, St. Louis (March 18-20).
20 days: NCAA Div. II men’s basketball Elite Eight, Evansville, Ind. (March 24-27).
22 days: All-State Band, Mitchell (March 26-27).
24 days: Palm Sunday (March 28).
28 days: Twins season opener, Milwaukee (April 1).
29 days: NCAA Div. I women’s basketball Final Four, San Antonio (April 2, 4).
30 days: NCAA Div. I men’s basketball Final Four, Indianapolis (April 3, 5).
30 days: Major League Soccer season begins (April 3).
31 days: Easter (April 4).
31 days: Screen Actors Guild Award, TBS (April 4).
35 days: The Masters golf tournament, Augusta, Ga. (April 8-11).
35 days: NCAA Div. I men’s hockey Frozen Four, Pittsburgh (April 8, 10).
40 days: Fort Pierre city election (April 13).

WEDDING DAYS

May 1: Dan Nielsen/Kim Borbely.
June 18: Chris Rumrill/Katya Vakshteyn.
July 31: Jack Carpenter/Leesa Johnson.
Oct. 2: Jordan Lamb/Abbey Fjeldheim.

COLLEGE SPORTS ROUNDUP

Summit League women’s basketball final regular-season standings: SDSU 14-0, USD 12-2, NDSU 9-7, Kansas City 7-8, Western Illinois 6-8, Denver 5-9, Oral Roberts 4-8, Omaha 4-8, UND 2-13.

Summit League men’s basketball final regular-season standings: SDSU 9-3, USD 11-4, NDSU 11-5, Oral Roberts 10-5, UND 8-8, Kansas City 7-7, Western Illinois 5-9, Omaha 3-11, Denver 1-13.

Dakota Wesleyan men’s basketball (Bradley Dean, Nick Wittler): The Tigers were stunned by #8 seed Mount Marty in double overtime, 64-58, in the GPAC postseason semifinals. With a record of 19-8, DWU now has to wait for the NAIA tournament selection show Thursday to see if they get an at-large bid to the national tournament, but the Tigers’ coach said this week he doubted if his team would be picked.

Black Hills State women’s basketball (Racquel Wientjes): The Yellowjacket women closed the regular season with two losses. Racquel had 20 points and 13 rebounds in a 55-51 loss to Colorado Christian, and she had six points in a 69-58 loss to Metro State. That left BHSU with a 12-8 record and the #7 seed in the RMAC playoffs. But despite having to go to Salt Lake City to play #2 Westminster, BHSU won its quarterfinal Tuesday, 71-66. BHSU jumped out early with a 19-7 first quarter and a 40-23 halftime lead and held on throughout the second half as Westminster rallied. Racquel had 22 points in the win. Friday’s semifinal round will have BHSU at Colorado Western. The championship game is Saturday.

Colorado Mines women’s basketball (Liz Holter): The Orediggers beat Adams State, 79-61, in the last regular season game. Liz had 15 points in the win, which left Mines with a 14-3 conference record and the #1 seed in the postseason tournament. In the quarterfinal round Tuesday Mines defeated Regis, 67-56, as Liz had two points and four rebounds. In the semifinal round Mines will be home against Colorado-Mesa, and with a win there they would host Black Hills State or Colorado Western in the championship game Saturday.

Black Hills State track-field (Kelsey Van Den Hemel, Frank Becker): At the RMAC conference indoor meet in Spearfish, Frank ran on the BHSU 4×400 relay team, which placed ninth in 3:28.77. The BHSU women placed third in the team standings, the highest-ever finish for BHSU, and the men’s team placed eighth.

Mount Marty men’s basketball (Lincoln Jordre): The Lancers, after an upset win in the GPAC quarterfinals over #1 seed Morningside, pulled off another one at Dakota Wesleyan, winning in the Corn Palace in double overtime, 64-58. MMC outscored DWU 10-4 in the second extra period. The #8 seed advanced to the championship game Tuesday but lost at Northwestern (Iowa), 73-57, to see their season end with a record of 11-17.

Augustana wrestling (Jebben Keyes): At the Super Region V meet in Aberdeen, Jebben won by fall in 2:55 over a Minot State wrestler in his first match, then lost 9-2 to a St. Cloud State man in the next round. He stayed alive with a bye, then lost a 6-5 decision to a Wisconsin-Parkside wrestler to end his season. Augustana as a team placed fourth. Two Vikings advanced to nationals—Brandon Carroll, senior from Sioux Falls Roosevelt at 133 pounds, and Steven Hajas, sophomore from Delano, Minn., at 285 pounds.

Mary wrestling (Lincoln Turman): At the Super Region V meet in Aberdeen, the Mary team placed eighth. One Marauder advanced to nationals at St. Louis—Max Bruss, red-shirt sophomore from DePere, Wis., at 174 pounds.

South Dakota Mines track-field (Theron Singleton, Erick Colman): At the RMAC conference indoor meet in Spearfish, the Hardrocker men placed ninth and the women’s team seventh.

South Dakota men’s basketball (Max Burchill): The Coyotes, needing two wins at home vs. NDSU to clinch the regular-season Summit League title, won on Saturday, 80-71, but in the process they lost A J. Plitzuweit due to a late season-ending knee injury. In Sunday’s game the Coyotes lost, 89-77, handing the title to SDSU. Max got into action for the sixth time this season and recorded an assist. USD as the #2 seed will open tournament play against #7 Western Illinois Saturday night.

South Dakota women’s basketball (Chloe Lamb): The Coyotes finished the regular season at 16-5 overall, 12-2 in the Summit, with a weekend sweep of NDSU. The only two losses came at the hands of SDSU in Brookings in January. In Saturday’s game Hannah Sjerven sank one of two free throws with two-tenths of a second left to lift USD over NDSU, 82-81. Chloe was 8-of-15 (3-of-7 in threes) and 3-of-4 for 22 points with seven rebounds, two assists and a steal. On Senior Day Sunday USD won much more easily, 81-61. Chloe was 4-of-10 (1-of-5) for nine points with three rebounds, two assists and two steals. USD opens tournament play against Oral Roberts at 2:45 p.m. Saturday.

South Dakota women’s basketball (Chloe Lamb): In this strange year when all college athletes have been granted by the NCAA an extra year of eligibility, Chloe and teammate Liv Korngable announced this week they intend to return to USD for the 2021-22 basketball season.

Morningside bowling (Alex Badger): At Coe College’s tournament in Cedar Rapids, Alex placed 23rd with games of 173-207-235=615 averaging 205. The team placed 12th of 16. This weekend the Morningside bowlers roll in the NAIA regional.

Tennessee women’s bowling (Caleb Currier): The Lady Vols finished the regular season with a 78-73 win over Missouri and an 88-54 win over Auburn. The regular-season record was 15-6 overall, 9-4 in the SEC. As the #3 seed in the SEC tournament at Greenville, S.C., Tennessee will begin play Friday night against the winner of the 6-11 matchup played yesterday. The #3 seed is the Lady Vols’ highest since 2015.

South Dakota State baseball (Landon Badger, Garrett Stout, Brady Hawkins): The Jackrabbits swept all four games in Greeley against Northern Colorado and now stand at 5-2 as they prepare for a spring-break road trip. SDSU will play three games Friday through Sunday at Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, then two more at Kansas State Tuesday and Wednesday. In the opener at Northern Colorado the Jacks outhit UNC 11-3. Landon had a hot day, going 3-for-5 at the plate with a two-run triple, and two one-run doubles, scoring three times and driving in four as SDSU won 12-0. The second game, a 6-2 Rabbit win, saw SDSU break a tie with four ninth-inning runs. Landon went 3-for-5, including a double, had a stolen base and scored three times. The third game of the series, a 6-3 SDSU victory, saw Landon go 1-for-5 with a triple and scored once. Garrett saw his college baseball debut and was 1-for-3 as he played second base. His one hit was an RBI triple, and he scored once. The weekend finale, a 112-9 win, saw Landon go 1-for-5, driving in a run with a double and scoring once. Garrett was 1-for-4 and scored once.

South Dakota women’s soccer (Joana Zanin, Janaina Zanin, Emily Mikkelsen): The Coyotes lost twice at Denver, 2-1 in overtime and 1-0. Now 1-3, USD is home Friday and Sunday vs. Omaha.

Northern baseball (Spencer Sarringar): The Wolves’ openers are now at least in sight. NSU starts at Wayne State March 20-21.

South Dakota State track-field (Addison Eisenbeisz): At the Summit League indoor championships meet Addy tied for fourth in the high jump at 5’4 1’4″ and placed ninth in the triple jump at 3’10 1/4″. The SDSU men placed second and the women third as NDSU won both divisions.

Augustana women’s basketball (Aislinn Duffy, Katie Bourk): In the quarterfinals of the NSIC tournament Augie was on the brink of defeat but went on a late 18-4 run to beat MSU-Moorhead, 77-63. But in the semifinals the reverse happened as Augie, leading by 10 with 5:26 left, saw St. Cloud State go on a late 15-2 run to beat the Vikings, 72-68. Aislinn had a career-high 22 points. Now 12-5, Augustana has to wait for the NCAA Division II selection show this coming Sunday to see if they get an at-large bid into the regional tournament.

Iowa Western baseball (Peyton Zabel): In the Reivers’ season opener at Crowder College in Missouri, Peyton was starting pitcher and went four shutout innings, allowing only one hit, striking out six, walking one, and he was the winning pitcher as Iowa Western won by 6-1 in eight innings. He threw 75 pitches, 43 of them strikes. In the rest of the weekend series Iowa Western lost 13-3 in five innings, won 8-6 in seven and lost 7-4 in nine. This weekend the Reivers will be home in Council Bluffs against Dakota County Technical College from Rosemount, Minn. Peyton was named Athlete of the Week in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference.

North Dakota State football (Grey Zabel): In a shocking result NDSU’s 39-game winning streak ended with a bang at Southern Illinois in a 38-14 loss. It was the first Bison defeat since November 4, 2017, against SDSU. Starting quarterback Kare Lyles had been injured in the previous week’s game. Now 2-1, NDSU plays at Missouri State Saturday.

Missouri Valley Football Conference standings: UND 2-0, USD 1-0, Missouri State 1-0, NDSU 1-1, Southern Illinois 1-1, Northern Iowa 1-1, SDSU 1-1, Illinois State 0-1, Western Illinois 0-1, Youngstown State 0-2. This week’s schedule: Thursday, USD at UND (5 p.m. Midco Sports Network); Saturday, Western Illinois at SDSU (2 p.m. Midco Sports Network 2), Southern Illinois at Youngstown State, NDSU at Missouri State, Illinois State at Northern Iowa.

MIDCO SPORTS NETWORK LIVE GAMES THIS WEEK

Thursday, 5 p.m.: Football, USD at UND.
Friday, 7:30 p.m.: Men’s hockey, Omaha at UND.
Saturday, 11:45 a.m. and 2:45 p.m.: Summit League women’s quarterfinals (SDSU-Omaha, then USD-Oral Roberts).
Saturday, 2 p.m.: Football: Western Illinois at SDSU (MSN2).
Saturday, 5:45 and 8:45 p.m.: Summit League men’s quarterfinals (SDSU-Omaha, then USD-Western Illinois).
Sunday, 11:45 a.m. and 2:45 p.m.: Summit League women’s quarterfinals (NDSU-Denver, then Kansas City-Western Illinois).
Sunday, 5:45 and 8:45 p.m.: Summit League men’s quarterfinals (NDSU-Kansas City, then Oral Roberts-UND).
Monday, 11:45 a.m. and 2:45 p.m.: Summit League women’s semifinals.
Monday, 5:45 and 8:45 p.m.: Summit League men’s semifinals.
(Women’s championship game, Tuesday 1 p.m. on ESPNU; men’s championship game, Tuesday 8 p.m. on ESPN2).

COVID-19 UPDATE

— South Dakota’s COVID-19 scoreboard:
Through last Wednesday: 1,864 deaths.
Thursday: 8 deaths; 1,872.
Friday: 7 deaths; 1,879.
Saturday: 7 deaths; 1.886.
Sunday: 2 deaths; 1.888.
Monday: 0 deaths; 1,888.
Tuesday: 0 deaths; 1,888.
Wednesday: 5 deaths; 1,893.— In supposedly COVID-free, wide-open, restrictions-free South Dakota, five more citizens’ deaths from the virus were reported yesterday. Of the 181 new cases reported yesterday, 41 were in children 19 and younger, The number of active cases yesterday was 1,993, up 18 from the previous day. Ninety-seven were hospitalized, 16 of them in ICUs and eight in ventilators.
— For the first time in 100 years the state Future Farmers of America (FFA) convention will not be in Brookings. This spring’s event has been moved to Rapid City because of restrictions on social gatherings and outside visitors still in place on the SDSU campus.
— At the NSIC men’s basketball tournament in Sioux Falls, the team from Wayne State College (top seed in the NSIC South) had to forfeit its semifinal game and see its season end prematurely due to COVID in their program. On the other side of the state the School of Mines men’s team has had to forfeit its participation in their RMAC conference tournament due to COVID. Hold your breath for the six high school state tournaments that may or may not be just ahead.
— Chanhassen Dinner Theatre in suburban Minneapolis announced it will stage “Music Man” July 2-Dec. 31 as it slowly returns to normal shows.
— The state of Texas will soon end its mask mandate and allow businesses to open at full capacity, just in time for thousands of college students to flock to the Gulf Coast beaches for spring break. Republican governor Greg Abbott’s state has one of the lowest rates of vaccinations per capita. He has, however, successfully put his response to the ice storm/blizzard/power outage crisis on the back burner and got his people talking about this instead.
— Not 100% of Texans support such wide-openness. The city of Fort Worth, for example, says it is telling exhibitors at an upcoming livestock show that masks will still be required until the city itself removes the signage mandating them. Meanwhile, President Biden, in reacting to Texas and Mississippi loosening restrictions and ending mandates, said, “The last thing we need is Neanderthal thinking.”
— South Dakota’s prisons plan to resume scheduling public visits, including COVID screening, this month.
— Major League Baseball has delayed the start of the season in Triple-A baseball by at least a month.
— Lead-Deadwood High School had to forfeit its boys basketball regional tournament game this week due to COVID-19.
— The Sioux Falls city council is considering extending the city mask mandate that is due to expire March 13. However, the current mandate bears no penalty for those who don’t follow it anyway.
— Entertainment venues in New York City, including Broadway theaters when they open, can reopen at 33% capacity, some of them starting in April.
— Assuming the Olympics still happen in Japan this summer, Americans and other foreigners planning to take trips there to watch the games can forget about it. A report came out yesterday that fans from foreign countries will not be allowed at the Olympics.
— The NIT (men’s basketball National Invitation Tournament), instead of playing games at campus sites and finishing at Madison Square Garden, will instead play all of its games at Denton and Frisco, Texas. Also the field will be 16 teams instead of the usual 32, and there will be no automatic qualifiers as in the past but instead all at-large bids.
— All-State Chorus has been canceled for good this school year. Already rescheduled from its usual late October date to late April due to the threat of COVID-19, the 1,000-student choral event will now not take place at all. All-State Orchestra, which is always held simultaneously, will go on as scheduled with COVID-19 protocols in place and limited audience in Sioux Falls.

PARKER’S PERSONAL NOTES

• In some 33 states bills to restrict voting access have been introduced in the form of 165 separate legislative bills by you-know-which political party. But glory hallelujah! Unbelievably, in a Senate committee hearing in Pierre Monday, by a vote of 9-0 a bill which would BAN the secretary of state from mailing applications for absentee ballots to registered voters was killed.
• If the House of Representatives had had its way, mommies and daddies wouldn’t have had to fear that those half-dozen “dangerous” transgender athletes might take over girls’ sports and dominate them unfairly. Fortunately a Senate committee killed that bill yesterday. We’ll see how the legislators in next year’s session can attack the transgender young people. Some of them will think up a way. But for now there is a new threat that should make those same athletic parents look over their shoulders. The Legislature is clearing the way for the thousands of home-schooled students to participate openly in SDHSAA activities, so the playing time and roster spots of these parents’ darlings may soon be taken away by athletes who will play on their teams but who don’t even attend their schools. Legislators who favor all these privileges for the home-schooled kids call it “parents’ choice.” Well, then, isn’t it also the choice of parents who choose to school their kids at home where there are no such activities? That’s their choice, but choices have consequences.
• Wrestling is considered “an individual sport,” but now that team duals have returned to the state tournament weekend, wrestling has certainly become a team sport as well. Never was that more evident in the few seconds it took for Pierre’s Hayden Shaffer to get the advantage on his Stevens opponent and turn the green crowd into a frenzy. KGFX sportscaster Brian Oakland, who has been calling sports on the radio for 18 years, said it was the most exciting moment he has ever broadcast live in all that time. I didn’t see it live but watched the replay several times. When Hayden has grandchildren, I hope they are okay with Grandpa forcing them to watch that piece of video over and over and over. I’m sure that moment will still be one of the most memorable points in his life.
• It was sad to read yesterday morning that John Hipple had passed away Tuesday night. Back in the spring of 1978 when I decided that 17 years of teaching were enough, I answered a “help wanted” ad from the Capital Journal for a news editor. I well remember that, when I went down to Pierre for an interview, it was John and his dad, the late legendary Bob Hipple, who took me out the back door, up the alley and into the D&E Cafe for an interview over coffee in one of the booths. A few years later, after I had made the mistake of going into the weekly newspaper business and leaving the CJ, John took me back for another tenure there, this time over at the Reminder building on East Sioux Avenue. Later in the late 1980s, with the next generation of Hipple men in charge of the newspaper, they took me back yet again, this time for 15 years—and, yes, in another building. So, you see, I owe much of my adult life—and the fact that I survived it—to the extended Hipple family. Isn’t it interesting that John and twin brother George, who were together in high school, in college and in business, passed away within weeks of each other. My sympathy to all the Hipple family back in Pierre and beyond.
• Have I lately written a rant on how much I hate the way the high school basketball tournaments are now conducted in this state? Probably not since last year at this time. No more do we have thrilling, exhilarating, memorable district tournaments with semifinal and championship nights at the same site and the gym full of people. No more do we have regional tournament championships with so much at stake—a trip to a state tournament on the line. Now we have this ridiculous SoDak 16 nonsense where all a team has to do, at least in Class AA, to make it to a state tournament is to win ONE GAME against the weakest possible opponent! Yesterday morning I went on a long rant in this space, but then I decided it is pointless to go on with it, so I erased the whole thing. Probably just as well! One point with which you cannot argue—if it’s the “best teams” you want in the state tournament, then let them prove they are the best teams by having to win some games to get there! I guess there are more critical problems in this state than basketball tournament plans and alignments, so I will let it rest.
• Get ready to drink. In the next two weeks take a drink every time a radio or television sportscaster uses the worn-out phrase “ticket punched” when a team wins a tournament or qualifies for one. Does anyone punch tickets any more? What should they say instead? I’m not sure. That’s not my problem.

BIRTHDAYS/ANNIVERSARIES

Thursday, March 4:
Tamra Downs, Jon Gober, Ken Starks, Claribel (Seaman) Stahl, Holly (Curtis) Thompson, Nancy (Lamb) Weischedel, Sarah (Shepherd) Schulte, Sheena Erickson, Kadin Johnson, Lauren Jarvis, Drew Nafus, Becca Jordre, Chris Schumacher.

Friday, March 5:
Brenna Martin, Mary Deichert, Katelyn Decker, Jill Aadland, Brandon Ogan, Drew Osnes, Kera (Olson) Berg, Parker Anderson, Brecken Ottenbacher, Cindi Pochop, Genie (Wood) Lauing, Austin Myers, Jessica Smith, Judy Holzwarth, Carter Gilmore, John Sutton, Pat Swartz.

Saturday, March 6:
Matt Hanson, Debra Nold, Ryan Krueger, Laura Waack, Octavius Kerver, Sara (Goeden) Richardson, Jessica (Callahan) Carr, Cameron Ahlers, Kay McLain.
— 23rd anniversary, Carl/Chris (Riggs) Hawkinson.
— 45th anniversary, David/LaDonna Zellmer.

Sunday, March 7:
Kevin Grunewaldt, Emily Ketteler, Matt Graves, Jeremy Dodson, Anne Gormley, Dana Hess, Kim Easland, Greg Goodman, Estella Jungman, Anna Weingart, Charlene (Squires) Keller, Shiela Mangan, Gray Schuetzle, Nikki (Grandpre) Wilson, Jenny Sampson, Sally Christenson.
— 6th anniversary, Jeremy/Kelly Kelley.
— We fondly remember Robert Disburg, who passed away 18 years ago today.

Monday, March 8:
Jessica (Paxton) Deal, Katie (Thompson) Rochelle, Brad Johnston, Stephen Nelson, Dewayne Robbins, Pat Witte, Cade Currier, Eric Feiler, John Hamilton, Kerry Freidel, Cassie (Kinsman) Deffenbaugh.
— 18th anniversary, Sam/Nicole Molseed.

Tuesday, March 9:
Jon Schaack, Larry Kuszmaul, Theresa Beastrom, Kasi Nystrom, Allison Meintsma, Alex McLain, Ted Parsons, Terry Hipple, Caleb Olson, Raeann Schlenker, Gretta Durick.

Wednesday, March 10:
Adeline Schutz, Anna Bondy, Tanner Prince, Carol Gengler, Jerid Jaeger, Marty Javurek, Rysn Bisbee, Lincoln Bisbee, Thielynn Wire, Brian Drapeaux, Barak Tibbs, Travis Ruby, Jesse Beesley.
— 3rd anniversary, Sheridan/Camille Cronin.

Thursday, March 11:
Devan Kleven, Lee Ferguson, Garrett Boe, Maya Herrscher, Cheryl Stoeser, Parker Ripperger, Samantha Dewell, Travis Heien, Rebekah (Lawver) Boyer, Starla (Ludwig) Luoma, LiAnn (Nuttall) Currier, Doug Osnes, Tad Perry, Layla Stoeser, Marlin Smith, Stacie (Zastrow) Dumford, MIcah Rounds, Sam Maurice, Andy Ogan, Zach Edman, Kelley (Bechtold) Larson.
— 6th anniversary, Tom/Megan Lehmkuhl.
— 23rd anniversary, Bob/Lynette McCarty.
— We fondly remember Shane Cronin, who passed away 7 years ago today.

BASEBALL UPDATE

Pierre Trappers: Joining the roster of the 2021 Trappers this week:
— Ryun Cross, left-handed pitcher from Spokane, Wash.; Spokane Falls Community College.

Minnesota Twins this past week:
W Boston 9-6
W Tampa Bay 6-5
L Atlanta 6-0
L Boston 14-6

Minnesota Twins schedule:
Thursday, Tampa Bay, 12:05 p.m., FSN.
Friday, at Atlanta, 12:05 p.m.
Saturday, at Boston, 12:05 p.m.
Sunday, Tampa Bay, 12:05 p.m., FSN.
Tuesday, Baltimore, 12:05 p.m., FSN.
Wednesday, at Tampa Bay, 12:05 p.m., FSN.
Thursday, Boston, 12:05 p.m., FSN.

GOLF UPDATE

PGA Champions Tour (Tom Byrum): At the Cologuard Classic in Tucson, Ariz., Tom tied for 58th place with a scorecard of 76-75-73=224, 5 over par. The Champions Tour moves on to the Hoag Classic at Newport Beach, Calif., this weekend.

BASKETBALL UPDATE

Minnesota Timberwolves: Changing coaches hasn’t helped much. Minnesota lost to Washington, 128-112, and lost to Phoenix, 118-99. After a 103-82 loss to Charlotte last night, the Wolves are off during the all-star break until March 11 at New Orleans.

ZESTO SHERBET SCHEDULE

Thursday: blue mood.
Friday-Sunday: strawberry cheesecake.
Monday-Tuesday: pineapple.
Wednesday-Thursday: coffee.

NEWS OF PEOPLE AND EVENTS

Karae (Cook) Lay, daughter of Bob Cook and the late Joy (Lahman) Cook, passed away recently in Alaska. Services were held in Wasilla Feb. 20. Interment at the Blunt cemetery next to her mother will take place this summer. Karae attended many schools in Alaska and South Dakota, graduating from Sully Buttes High School in 1983. She later graduated from Alaska Computer Institute. She married Drew Lay in 2009, and they built several businesses together. She is survived by her husband; her sons, Adam and Elijah; her stepdaughter, Tanya; two granddaughters; her father, Bob Cook; her sisters, Robae and Charmaree, and her brothers, Bryan, Casey and Joel.

Chad Uhrig, who has been part of the Pierre Governors wrestling program as a coach since 2010, was inducted last weekend into the South Dakota Wrestling Coaches Association’s Hall of Fame. Chad qualified for the state wrestling tournament five times and won four state individual championships for Sully Buttes High School at the 103, 119, 119 and 126 weight classes. He had a high school career record of 149-7 with 100 pins. Chad has been a youth wrestling volunteer and a certified wrestling official for the SDHSAA.

Riggs High senior Cam Ahartz, who was an All-State goalkeeper for the Pierre Governors soccer team, has signed a letter of intent to attend Dakota Wesleyan University and play soccer with the Tigers. Dakota Wesleyan will be gaining another outstanding Pierre athlete, too, as Tyson Johnson of the wrestling team has declared his intention to attend DWU and wrestle there.

Doris LaBrie, 80, Doland, died Feb. 25 in Aberdeen after battling cancer. Mass of Christian Burial took place Monday at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Turton. Doris and her husband, Bud, raised five daughters and two sons on their farm. They retired from farming in 1994 and moved into Doland. Doris drove a school bus for 22 years and did various other jobs for the Doland school. Survivors include six children, Jodi Gabriel of Whitewood, Julie Hoellien of Mansfield, Rick LaBrie and his wife Deb of Pierre, Kristi Stein of Volga, Kathy Taylor of Kimball, and Terri Coble of Sturgis; her daughter-inlaw, Mollie LaBrie of Turton; 17 grandchildren, including Jordan LaBrie and Amber Shaw of Pierre; 16 great-grandchildren; two sisters, and two brothers. Among those who preceded her in death were her husband, her son Mike, two brothers and a sister.

Jordan Morley of the choir was named Fine Arts Performer of the Week at Riggs High School this week.

Don Zeller was named the Capital Journal’s Citizen of the Year, especially for his work and dedication to the Pierre Senior Center.

According to a photo posted by Zesto in Pierre, the very first customer of the year when that business opened Monday was Charlie Sizer.

Michael Roubideaux, 68, died Feb. 19. A member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Michael graduated from high school in 1970 at Stanley County where he was senior class vice president and Boys State delegate. In the U.S. Air Force he was a communications center specialist in England during the Vietnam War years and achieved the rank of sergeant. He graduated from Black Hills State University in 1983. He worked at many jobs in greyhound racing in many states. He is survived by his mother, Cecelia Roubideaux; his sister, Yvette Roubideaux of Rockville, Md.; and his brother, Marcus Roubideaux of Rapid City. Among those who preceded him in death was his father, Ramon Roubideaux.

Former Pierre resident Kelsey Collier-Wise, who became Vermillion’s mayor last year when Mayor Jack Powell died while in office, has declared her candidacy for her own first full term as mayor in the June election. Before being chosen by the city council as mayor last year, Kelsey had served on the city council for two terms.

Former attorney general Marty Jackley declared this week he will be a candidate for that office again in 2022. Jackley is also a former unsuccessful candidate for governor. Attorney general candidates are chosen at party state conventions to become the candidates on the general election ballot. The present attorney general, Jason Ravnsborg, is about to undergo impeachment proceedings in the Legislature although those proceedings were stalled this week. If he is still in office next year, Ravnsborg is eligible to also be a candidate for re-nomination and then re-election.

Tom Feldman, 68, Blunt, died in a car accident Feb. 24. His funeral service took place Monday in Blunt. A native of Rickardsville, Iowa, Tom married Kathy Kerper in 1976. She passed away in 1994. Tom married Trudie King of Blunt in 2007. He spent most of his life as a pipeline worker, then a farmer. Survivors include his wife, Trudie; his daughter, Angie Schmitt and her husband Jeremy; his stepson, Shiloe King; two grandchildren; his brother-in-law, Matt King of Pierre; his sister-in-law, Nancy (King) Knutson of Wasilla, Alaska, and his parents-in-law, Lowell and Thelma King of Pierre.

Jen (Thorson) Nedrebo, Title I teacher at Buchanan Elementary School, has been named Teacher of the Year in the Pierre school district. A 1996 graduate of Riggs High School, Jen has been teaching for 20 years, 16 of them in Pierre. Jen now becomes a candidate for regional Teacher of the Year. The other teachers honored as nominees for the district award were Rodd Bauck, Kathy Askew, Leanne Schlekeway and Nichole Bowman.

Irwin (Butch) Quail, 75, who taught and coached in Pierre, Lake Andes and Spearfish, died Feb. 23 in Worland, Wyo. He was a graduate of Arlington High School and Dakota State University. Mr. Quail moved to Worland in 1984. He is survived by a daughter, two grandchildren, a brother and a sister.

Jerry Wheeler, 78, died Feb. 28 at Monument Health Hospice House in Rapid City after a 22-year battle with Parkinson’s Disease. Mass of Christian Burial is being celebrated this (Thursday) afternoon at 1 p.m. at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Rapid City. Interment will take place at 2 p.m. Friday at St. Patrick Cemetery in Jerry’s hometown of Montrose. In 1967 he joined the South Dakota Automobile Dealers Association, and three years later he became its executive director. In 1990 he became executive director of the South Dakota Retailers Association. Jerry married Kelly Donahue in 1986, and they lived and worked in Pierre for 18 years before retiring to the Black Hills. During his years of service to his home state, Jerry served as chair of South Dakota Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), president of the Black Hills Playhouse board of directors and a member of the Fort Pierre City Council. He received the 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award from the South Dakota Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He is survived by his wife, Kelly; his two sons from his first marriage, Greg Wheeler of Sioux Falls and Steve Wheeler of Lawrenceville, Ga.; three grandchildren and a step-grandchild.

A ticket that won $10,000 in Tuesday’s MegaMillions drawing was sold at The Corner in Onida.

Former Pierre resident Jim Bevers, 73, Miller, died March 1 at Sanford Worthington Medical Center in Worthington, Minn., after battling cancer for some time. Visitation will begin at 2 p.m. Sunday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Miller with a prayer service at 3. The funeral will be at that church at 2 p.m. Monday.

John Hipple, whose twin brother George passed away just a few weeks ago, died of natural causes Tuesday night, according to a Facebook post from one of his sons, Scott.

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