The hundreds of people whose names are currently on the South Dakota High School Basketball Hall of Fame mailing list have been sent our 2016 Spring Newsletter. It was mailed to them on June 2.

      Among topics explored in the newsletter: *A special tournament, the Lakota Nation Invitational, that has come to stand for much more than just basketball. *Region II champion Ipswich’s surprising run to the Class B state title in 1952. *And a Q&A with Megan Mahoney, who has carried the banner of South Dakota through a decorated career as a prep, collegiate and professional star. In the LNI photo above Chris Comes Flying of Lower Brule drives against Justice Morrison of White River in the 39th annual tournament last December (Photo by Roman Hawran Lacho).

      South Dakota basketball enthusiasts from 33 different states receive the free newsletter. They live from California to Massachusetts and from North Dakota to Texas. Our newsletters also can be downloaded on this website.

      If you are not on our mailing list and would like to be added, email your name and home address to Executive Director Dave Wagner at dlwagner@tnics.com or you can contact him by phone by calling (605) 467-3010.

              The seventh annual induction ceremony and banquet was held by the South Dakota High School Basketball Hall of Fame on April 2. The event was at the Ramkota Hotel in Sioux Falls.

       Welcomed into the Hall of Fame during the banquet were 19 former greats. They expand membership to 117. To read bios of all members of the Hall of Fame click on Inductees on this website.

       The Class of 2016 is, from left, in front, Scott Morgan, Mitchell ’89; Chris Miller, Stickney ’71; Dale Hall, Ravinia ’54; Holly (Sivesind) Borchers, Roosevelt ’93; Lolly Steele, Pine Ridge ’84; and Roger Faber, Canistota ’58.

       In back are, Mason Hecker who was representing his late father Fred Hecker, Washington ’57; Dodie Bemis, who was representing her late father Bob Marske, Andover ’44; Matt Jones, Alpena ’01; Vince Gauer who was representing his late grandfather Bob Marske; Josh Mueller, West Central ’01; Steve Jansa, O’Gorman ’64; Harley Zephier Sr., Dupree ’55; Elton Byre, Reliance ’56; Maury Haugland, Murdo ’54; Amy (Allard) Carmody, Jefferson ’82; and Melissa (Olson) Guebert, Lincoln ’83. Also inducted was Wayne Rasmussen, Howard ’60, who is shown at right. Completing the Class of 2016 were the late Conrad Collin, Huron ’30; and the late Rudy Soderquist, Rapid City ‘37.

       Among the highlights of the South Dakota High School Basketball Hall of Fame’s annual banquet is the recognition of one of the state’s greatest teams of the past as a Team of Excellence. Two such teams were recognized in 2016.

     One was the Salem Cubs of 1926. Salem had an astounding 40-1 record. The Cubs won the single-class state title and then took third place in the prestigious National Interscholastic Tournament that was held at the end of the season in Chicago.

     The team was comprised of, from left, Coach George Edmonds, Gerald Cheadle, Clarence Carey, George Carey, Vernon Cheadle, Jake Schneider, Vernon Sessler, Melvin Olson, Billy Rohlffs and Lemmie Herting.

      Huron 1958 was selected as one of two great teams from the state’s past to be honored as a Team of Excellence by the South Dakota High School Basketball Hall of Fame during the organization’s 2016 banquet.

      The Tigers of Coach Carold Heier finished with an undefeated 22-0 record after winning the Class A state championship.

      Team members who also won the Eastern South Dakota  Conference were, from left, Don Tschetter, Dale Schwartz, Dennis Busch, John Ehret, John Fuglsang, Nick Brod, Don Barry, Rex Swett, Al Mason, Tom Martin, Larry Keelin and Bill Madden. Kneeling is student manager Charles Pease.

Wayne Rasmussen in the NFL

        The South Dakota High School Basketball Hall of Fame will induct 19 new members during its seventh annual banquet at 1 p.m. on April 2 at the Ramkota Hotel in Sioux Falls. That will increase membership in the Hall of Fame to 117 of the most accomplished boys and girls players in the history of the state.

        Included among the former greats in the Class of 2016 is Wayne Rasmussen, an all-state player at Howard High School. Later as a collegian at South Dakota State University he was named the Most Valuable Player in the 1963 NCAA College Division National Basketball Tournament held in Evansville, Ind.

        Rasmussen, now of Brandon, graduated from Howard in 1960. He led South Dakota State to the national championship during his junior season. Also a football standout in high school and college, Rasmussen went on to a 10-year career in the National Football League as a defensive back for the Detroit Lions.

        To be recognized at the banquet as Teams of Excellence will be two of the state’s all-time greatest teams: the 1958 Huron Tigers and the 1926 Salem Cubs. Ticket information for the banquet will be announced soon on this website.

                                   HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2016

• Holly (Sivesind) Borchers, Sioux Falls (Sioux Falls Roosevelt High School 1993).
• Elton Byre, Sioux Falls (Reliance High School 1956).
• Amy (Allard) Carmody, Grosse Pointe Park, Mich. (Jefferson High School 1982).
• Conrad “Cornie” Collin* (Huron High School 1930).
• Roger Faber, Bloomington, Minn. (Canistota High School 1958).
• Melissa (Olson) Guebert, Apple Valley, Minn. (Sioux Falls Lincoln High School 1983).
• Dale Hall, Wagner (Ravinia High School 1954).
• Maury Haugland, Lead (Murdo High School 1954).
• Fred Hecker* (Sioux Falls Washington High School 1957).
• Steve Jansa, Sioux Falls (Sioux Falls O’Gorman High School 1964).
• Matt Jones, Brookings (Alpena High School 2001).
• Bob Marske* (Andover High School 1944).
• Chris Miller, Louisville, Ky. (Stickney High School 1971).
• Scott Morgan, Mitchell (Mitchell High School 1989).
• Josh Mueller, Arvada, Colo. (West Central High School 2001).
• Wayne Rasmussen, Brandon (Howard High School 1960).
• Rudy Soderquist* (Rapid City High School 1937).
• Lolly Steele, Pine Ridge (Pine Ridge High School 1984).
• Harley Zephier Sr., Aberdeen (Dupree High School 1955).
  * To be inducted posthumously

         All editions of SoDak Sports are now available for public viewing. They can be seen in the South Dakota High School Basketball Hall of Fame meeting room 2110 at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls.

        Hall of Fame officers above prepared the collection for display at a recent work session. From left are secretary Wayne Thue, vice president LaMoine Torgerson, president Bob Swanhorst and executive director Dave Wagner.

        SoDak Sports was a weekly newspaper that chronicled all sports statewide. It was published during 1952-54 and was the creation of Al Neuharth, the Alpena High School graduate who later became founder of USA TODAY.

        The Hall of Fame is located on the ground floor of the Pentagon. The meeting room is on the second floor, along with additional memorabilia in the corridors. Normal hours at the Pentagon are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday through Friday. To arrange a tour of the Hall of Fame or a time to inspect the SoDak Sports collection call (605) 467-3010.

      December marks the 30^th anniversary of the crowning of one of our all-time greatest state champions. That team, the 1985 Brookings Bobcats, is featured in the 2015 Fall Newsletter published by the South Dakota High School Basketball Hall of Fame.

      Coach Jim Holwerda (right) and his Bobcats brought national attention to the state. USA TODAY  ranked Brookings as the No. 3 girls team in the country. Three of the team’s stars – Amy Mickelson, Renae Sallquist and Paula Kenefick – went on to major collegiate programs.

      Read about the undefeated Bobcats in our newsletter that was sent Nov. 23 to the nearly 1,000 people on our mailing list. The newsletter is free and is published in the spring and fall.

      There are many other items of interest in the newsletter. Such as a story about 1953’s five state champions. A look at the special bond that existed between a town and a college 30 miles away. Remembering a small school that cherished basketball before its doors closed forever. And a profile of a retired U.S. Air Force Major General who used his South Dakota upbringing as an essential resource in a journey through big-time collegiate basketball and a distinguished military career. We hope you find many things to enjoy in the newsletter.

        Phase I of an ambitious project by the South Dakota High School Basketball Hall of Fame has been completed. The 40 x 70-inch panel shown above honors state championship teams during the one class era from 1912 through 1935. The panel is on permanent display in a second floor corridor of the Sanford Pentagon.

        Phase II is underway and will focus on the Class B champions from 1936 through 1960. When that panel is completed and exhibited, Phase III will target the Class A champions from that same period.

        There will be seven panels in all. When the entire project is completed all boys and girls championship teams prior to the start of the three class system in 1985 will be included. Also featured will be the Catholic state tournament champions from 1937 through 1964. Plans are being made to also recognize all three class champions.

        The panels will contain 8 x 10-inch pictures of each championship team, rosters, the final score of the championship game, and a list of the other schools that also participated in the tournament.  

        San Antonio won the 2015 Las Vegas Summer League by defeating the Phoenix Suns 93-90 in the championship game on July 20. The Spurs were coached by Becky Hammon, who is a charter member of the South Dakota High School Basketball Hall of Fame.

        Hammon was a Rapid City Stevens star who played collegiately at Colorado State University. She was a standout in the WNBA with the New York Liberty and the San Antonio Stars. Hammon, 38, became the first woman to be a full-time assistant coach in the NBA when Spurs coach Gregg Popovich added her to his staff prior to the 2014-15 season.

        The Summer League is an important proving ground for young NBA players and prospects. Jonathon Simmons, a 6-foot-6 guard hoping to make the San Antonio regular-season roster for the upcoming season, led the Spurs with 23 points against Phoenix.

         Simmons was named Most Valuable Player of the title game and later used Twitter to praise Hammon’s coaching ability. “She did a great job with us,” wrote the former University of Houston player. “She was solid the whole way.”

      Parker High School’s basketball program was a model of consistency under the direction of Gayle Hoover (right) for more than three decades. The Pheasants won 577 games and averaged 17 victories per season. Hoover was a rarity in that he spent his entire South Dakota coaching career at the same school. He guided the Pheasants for 34 years.

      The 2015 Spring Newsletter of the South Dakota High School Basketball Hall of Fame examines Hoover’s career and legacy through the eyes of five of his former players.

       Friends of the Hall of Fame receive the newsletter at their home. It was mailed June 3. The newsletter is free and published twice yearly. If you do not receive a copy and want to be added to our mailing list, email your name and home address (not your email address) to dlwagner@tnics.com. Or phone executive director Dave Wagner at (605) 467-3010.

      The newsletter also features several other noteworthy stories. Among them are a look at Yankton’s dominance of the one-class era; a 1925 team that did not win a title but may have been the state’s best; Wakonda’s 101-game winning streak; and a man who learned about basketball in South Dakota and then became one of California’s greatest coaches.

      We think the newsletter delves into topics that are of interest to all who love the game. We hope that you agree.