Rod's Monday Take N Things

Congratulations to coach Ryan Noyes and the Governor Wrestlers. 12 out of a possible 13 heading to the state tournament this week in Rapid City. Tanner Monfore had has a memorable year both on the mat and off. He is a Region champion and the only one the Govs had on Saturday. 5 second place, 5 third place and 1 4th place finish. That 4th place finish by Sean Snyder and according to the coaches, all Sean does is go about his business on the mat. Work hard in practice and good things have happened. Good luck Sean in the state tournament. And to all of the guys of course.

I thought Saturday night was the night the Govs were going to get that win. Very not good in the first half but kept plugging away and put themselves in a position at the end. Trailed by 18 early in the third. Was down only 3 in the final minute. IT WAS physical, fairly well officiated but could have been better (but what game isn't) but was called both ways I thought for the most part from beginning to end which is all you ask of as coach and player. Again, I cannot overstate the character of this team. It is the kind of character you can only hope the kids will show. No complaining buy the guys. They played hard. They knew at the end they made a couple of miscues and Brandon Valley made a play or two down the stretch that won the Lynx the game. And all of this after they got to spend some unxpected time at a truck stop outside of Plankinton because the team bus broke down on the way to Brandon. There was no game day routine on Saturday after that happened. This boys team still plays their heart out everytime they step on the court. They play Huron on Thursday in one last home game and I can only hope that the fans of Pierre high school basketball show up and show their appreciation of the fight in this team even though they have not won many games. They have represented the city of Pierre the way that we, as adult citizens can only hope our youth will represent us. And who knows, maybe Thursday night will be the night when it all comes together. After all, they had Huron in Huron early last month only to lose in overtime.

The Lady Govs end their regular season tomorrow night. Fans might take note that there is a Class B district girls basketball tournament in the Huron Arena before the Lady Govs game at 7:30 p.m. So the JV and "C" games are going to be played at the Huron High School gym. And the girls will be the visiting team in post season play for the first time since 2006. As the 4th seed, the girls will be on the road for both of their district games. If they would play in the region game, meaning they got 2nd or 3rd in their district, they might be at home for that region game, depending on seeding points. But you have to get through the district tournament first. And before that you play Huron tomorrow night. I just think it would be a whole lot of fun if both of our 4th seeded teams, girls and boys, would find a way to win their district. We'd be the talk of the state in AA basketball the way you want to be talked about in the state.

And the Pierre School Board meets tonight and it is expected that a new head varsity cross country coach will be named. Bruce Venner resigned, retired, what ever you want to call it, from the coaching position at the end of last season. I have an idea who will be named but nothing is official until the school board officially says so.