During earlier times, as basketball was gaining a foothold in South Dakota, conformity in gymnasiums was basically nonexistent. Dimensions of playing surfaces often differed from school to school. So did seating capacities. Many facilities lacked even the most basic features such as scoreboards and adequate locker rooms and showers.

     In the 2021 Spring Newsletter of the South Dakota High School Basketball Hall of Fame, readers learn about what was surely one of the most unique and highly unusual gyms not only in the state but in the entire country.

     Another story looks at a one-of-a-kind team from the past that put South Dakota basketball on the international stage. Also in the newsletter is a profile of a record-breaking scorer who dazzled locally and then on the national level.

     The 14th edition of our free newsletter was published by the Hall of Fame and sent on May 3 to the nearly 1,300 people who are on our mailing list. We believe the newsletter will be of interest to everyone who loves basketball.

     When it won its first state basketball championship trophy Mitchell High School was coached by A.A. “Joe” Quintal. The year was 1931 and South Dakota was in its 20^th season of conducting state tournaments.

     That was the first of 16 state titles that have been earned by the Kernels, including nine under Coach Gary Munsen between 1984 and 2005. No school in South Dakota has won more championships than Mitchell. Among boys Sioux Falls Washington and Huron are next in line behind the Kernels. The Warriors and Tigers have each claimed 11 titles.

     Yankton is the leader in championships among girls programs. Coach Bob Winter guided the Gazelles to their first title during the inaugural girls season that was held in 1975. Yankton has won nine championships, followed among girls by Sioux Falls Roosevelt which has seven and Sioux Falls Washington and St. Thomas More with six each.

     A new addition on the South Dakota High School Basketball Hall of Fame website lists each boys and girls state championship team from the very first boys state tournament in 1912. Readers can also review the total number of state titles won by each school. Also included is a list of the teams throughout history that had 30-win seasons, led by Cresbard of 1957 at 38-1. Look on the right-hand side of this website and scroll down to ‘S.D. State Champions.’

     A little more than 100 years ago the 1918 influenza pandemic took a tragic toll. Often referred to as the Spanish flu, its deadly impact was felt across the globe. In the United States alone an estimated 675,000 lives were lost.

     The South Dakota High School Basketball Hall of Fame has published its 2020 Fall Newsletter. Featured is a comprehensive look at how our state coped during the 1918 pandemic and of South Dakota’s effort to maintain some degree of normalcy by forging ahead with prep basketball and the single-class state tournament.

     Also in the newsletter is a profile of a proud program that battled its way to the threshold of South Dakota basketball glory only to endure far more than a fair share of heartbreaks. Another story in the newsletter remembers an eminent personality whose venerable handprint was visible on our state tournaments for many years.

     The 13th edition of the biannual newsletter was mailed free on Nov. 11 to the more than 1,200 people on our mailing list. They reside in 41 states. All past editions can be accessed in the Newsletter Archives section of this website.

     Don Jacobsen graduated from Lake Norden High School in 1957 after scoring 2,825 points for the Bluejays. That total reigned as the South Dakota boys career record for 50 years.

     Until Dec. 20, 2007. That night White River star Louie Krogman moved past Jacobsen in a Lakota Nation Invitational game at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center in Rapid City.

     Krogman (pictured at left in a University of South Dakota photo during his college career) concluded his White River prep career in 2008 with 3,521 points. He leads the list of 44 documented boys who have surpassed the 2,000-point plateau in state history. Jill Young (pictured at right) of Mitchell Christian graduated in 2007 with 3,317 points and leads the 31 girls in the state who have reached 2,000. Young later played at South Dakota State University. Click on ‘Records’ at the top of this website to see both complete lists.

     The first player to reach 2,000 points in South Dakota was Stanton Uhlir in 1951. He notched 2,023 for Kadoka. Nine more boys players surpassed the milestone before the decade of the 1950s came to an end: Jacobsen, Milt Sorenson, Bob Swanhorst, LaMoine Torgerson, Jerry Wingen, Dale Hall, Terry Slattery, Cliff Albee and Phil Miedema. Among girls in the state Robin Anderson of Clear Lake was the first to surpass 2,000. She totaled 2,332 points before graduating in 1980.

     From the time it was first chartered in 1917 until it was disbanded in 2000, the South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference for 83 years was an NAIA fixture and an important part of the sports landscape in our state.

     The recent 2020 basketball season was especially successful for some former SDIC members as four NCAA Division II regular-season titles were earned. Champions were the Black Hills State University men, the Northern State University men and the University of Sioux Falls men and women. The combined rosters of those teams included 11 players who prepped in South Dakota.

     Black Hills State, which compiled an overall record of 20-9, shared the Rocky Mountain Conference championship with Dixie State (Utah). Both were 17-5 in the league. Northern State won the North Division of the Northern Sun Conference. The Wolves fashioned records of 18-4 in the league and 26-6 overall. USF took both titles in the South Division of the Northern Sun. The Cougar men were 17-5 and 22-8 while the women had records of 17-5 and 26-6.

     Throughout the history of basketball in our state – since the sport was first introduced in South Dakota at a summer conference at Big Stone Lake in 1896 – Native American players and teams have excelled with style and with flair.

     The talent of standout players such as Louis Tyon (right) earned the respect of fans across the state. Tyon led the Pine Ridge Thorpes to the Class B state championship in 1962 and then to a runner-up finish in 1963. He was chosen first team all-state both seasons.

     The South Dakota High School Basketball Hall of Fame has published its 2020 Spring Newsletter. Among featured stories are several which recognize the many important contributions to South Dakota basketball made through the years by Native Americans.

     Our 12^th biannual newsletter was mailed free on April 23 to the over 1,200 current subscribers who follow the Hall of Fame from 40 states. We publish both spring and fall editions. To read past issues go to Newsletter Archives on the right-hand side of this website.

     On the night of Nov. 7, 1980, the two teams that would go on to win South Dakota girls basketball titles later that season met in a highly anticipated regular-season game. Sioux Falls Washington won 88-78, and in so doing the Warriors snapped Jefferson’s record 67-game winning streak. A month later Washington earned the Class A championship and Jefferson reigned in Class B.

     Washington was coached by the late Joe Lockwood and finished with a 23-0 record after defeating Canton 52-45 in the championship game of the state tournament. The Warriors were paced by first team all-state players Ann Pancoast and JoElle Byre and by third team selection Lisa Sorenson. Because of their exceptional accomplishments the Warriors are being honored by the South Dakota High School Basketball Hall of Fame as a Team of Excellence for 2021.

     The Warriors will be recognized at the 11^th annual banquet on Aug. 28 at the Ramkota Hotel in Sioux Falls.

     Washington’s varsity was, standing, from left, Chris Ensberg, Coach Lockwood, Kari Soyland, Pancoast, Sorenson, Byre, Lori Tweedt, Patti Clausen, Karla Modica, Toni Engelson, Assistant Coach Curt Ericson and Lori Burkman. Not pictured are Ann Waag and manager Lisa Hippen. Junior varsity, kneeling, from left, Carol Swenson, Michelle Miller, Cathy Cunningham, Shelly Fauth, Vicky Elliott, Michelle Grotjohn, Ronita Neels and Susan Orr. (Submitted Photo)

     A compilation of vast basketball information, the Converse Basketball Yearbook was published from 1922 through 1983. Each edition provided unmatched analysis of the previous season. No segment of the sport was left out as the yearbook covered basketball on the high school, college, professional and international levels.

     Team pictures of state prep championship teams from across the country were a staple. So were college conference breakdowns and a list of the nation’s top collegiate scorers, combining all NCAA divisions with the NAIA.

     In the 1967 edition, for example, future NBA star Earl Monroe of Winston-Salem (N.C.) State University was listed as the top college scorer at 41.5 points per game. Other leaders included Lew Alcindor of UCLA at 29.0 and Elvin Hayes of the University of Houston at 28.4. Also in the rankings were Jack Theeler of Sisseton and the NCAA Division II University of South Dakota at 26.4 and Jim Schlekeway of Britton and NAIA Northern State University at 26.0.

     The Converse Basketball Yearbook collection of the late Argus Leader sports editor and columnist John Egan has been gifted to the South Dakota High School Basketball Hall of Fame. Included are the 24 editions of the yearbook ranging from 1955 through 1978. The Egan collection has been inventoried and is available for inspection along with other historical publications in the Hall of Fame room 2110 located on the second floor of the Sanford Pentagon.

        Two highly regarded coaches who helped their teams reach the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament in 2019 are among 13 former standouts selected in the South Dakota High School Basketball Hall of Fame’s next induction class.

        Joe Krabbenhoft starred at Sioux Falls Roosevelt. He then was a standout at the University of Wisconsin (shown at left during his Badgers career in a photo courtesy of UW). Krabbenhoft is now an assistant coach at Wisconsin of the Big Ten Conference. The Badgers had a 21-10 record in 2020.

        Austin Hansen (right) led Brandon Valley to the 1998 Class AA state championship and then went on to star at South Dakota State University. Now a Utah State University assistant coach, Hansen and the Aggies recorded a 26-8 record in 2020. Utah State is a member of the Mountain West Conference.

        Sioux Falls Washington’s unbeaten girls team of 1980 was selected to be honored as a Team of Excellence. The late Joe Lockwood coached the Warriors, who were 23-0 and led by Hall of Fame members Ann Pancoast and JoElle Byre, to the Class A state championship.

        Here is a look at those selected. They will be inducted at the 11th annual banquet on March 27, 2021:

Janel Birrenkott, Frederick, Md. (Lemmon 1982): After excelling at Lemmon, where she averaged 25 points per game as a senior, Birrenkott scored 1,352 career points at Northern State University. She led the Northern Sun Conference in scoring with 20 points per game in 1986. Birrenkott represented the United States in the Deaf Olympics.

Jerry Even, Sioux Falls (Dell Rapids St. Mary’s 1964): Even averaged 21 points per game during the 13 career games he played in State Catholic Tournaments. He was a four-year starter for St. Mary’s, netting 26 points and grabbing 14 rebounds per game in his senior season. Even surpassed 2,000 points during his career, totaling 2,032.

Jayne (Even) Gust, Fargo, N.D. (O’Gorman 1996): A four-year varsity performer, Gust led O’Gorman to the Class AA state title in 1995 when she averaged 21 points per game. She scored 1,228 career points for the Knights. Gust was an NCAA Division II All-American at North Dakota State University. She joins her father, Jerry Even, in the Class of 2020.

Austin Hansen, River Heights, Utah (Brandon Valley 1998): While winning its first Class AA state title in 1998, Brandon Valley got 18 points and six assists per game from Hansen. He was co-Mr. Basketball that season and went on to earn all-North Central Conference honors three times while scoring 1,815 career points at South Dakota State.

Joe Krabbenhoft, Waunakee, Wis. (Roosevelt 2005): All-state three years, Krabbenhoft had 911 points and 544 rebounds at Roosevelt. He had a decorated career at Wisconsin. Krabbenhoft played in 136 games and totaled 827 points, 756 rebounds and 273 assists. He played several years professionally, including with the Sioux Falls Skyforce.

Sarah Mannes Homstad, Yankton (Yankton 1988): Mannes Homstad sparked Yankton to a pair of Class AA state titles and a combined 45-1 record in 1986 and 1987. She totaled 913 career points and set a Gazelles career record by shooting 55 percent from the field. Mannes Homstad played in four NCAA Tournaments while at Vanderbilt University.

Arlo Mogck, Worthington, Minn. (Parkston 1955): Parkston was a very small school by Class A standards and Mogck led the Trojans to a runner-up finish in the 1954 state tournament. He had 1,259 career points. Mogck excelled at Southern State College where he was chosen to the all-South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference team four years.

Sam Perrin (Huron 1927): The late Perrin captained Huron to the one-class state title in 1927. Huron then took fourth place in the 43-team National Interscholastic Tournament in Chicago. Perrin was a Midwest Conference scoring champion when he averaged 18 points per game as a senior at Carleton (Minn.) College in 1931.

Bob Pidde, Freeman (Freeman 1975): Freeman finished 27-0 in 1975 behind the leadership of Pidde. He averaged 17 points and 16 rebounds per game as the Flyers won the Class B state title. Pidde scored 23 points in the finals as Freeman topped previously unbeaten Dell Rapids St. Mary’s 61-55. He then played at South Dakota State.

Dave Thomas, Sioux Falls (Onida 1969): Thomas averaged 22 points per game as Class B state champion Onida had a 28-0 record in 1969. While at South Dakota State he scored 1,355 career points, was named to the all-NCC team twice and was league MVP in 1973. Thomas helped the Jackrabbits to two NCC championships.

Loren Thornton (Harrisburg 1936): The late Thornton led Harrisburg to its first-ever state tournament in 1936. The eventual champion, Oglala, edged the Tigers 36-33 in the semifinals. Thornton was chosen as the tourney’s MVP. Known as “Dutch,” he played collegiately at South Dakota State, helping the Jackrabbits to the NCC title in 1940.

Stanton Uhlir (Kadoka 1951): The late Uhlir put on an unprecedented scoring display in the State Class B Tournament in 1951. He notched 50 points in a consolation game and totaled 92 for the tourney. Uhlir had 2,023 career points for Kadoka. Also a talented lineman, he helped South Dakota State win NCC football titles in 1953 and 1954.

Dennis Womeldorf, Rapid City (Wessington Springs 1966): Known for his defensive tenacity, Womeldorf was also an outstanding scorer. His career total at Wessington Springs was 1,521 points. Womeldorf helped South Dakota State to three NCC championships. He scored 1,006 points during his career for the Jackrabbits and was league MVP in 1970.

     South Dakota once had an athlete so uniquely gifted that after leading his high school to a state basketball championship he became a two-sport standout in college and then a star on the national sports stage.

     Read about him and the recognition his accomplishments brought to his home state in the 2019 Fall Newsletter published by the South Dakota High School Basketball Hall of Fame and sent on Nov. 12 to those on our mailing list.

     Also in the 11th edition of our newsletter is a look at a proud South Dakota conference which for many decades embraced the ideals of competition and fellowship while it was providing opportunity for thousands of athletes.

     Another interesting story examines a team that traveled to Chicago to promote South Dakota basketball when the game was young. Our newsletter is produced twice yearly, in the spring and the fall. It is distributed free.