Rod's Monday Take N Things

The All ESD Conference boys basketball team has been named by vote of the coaches of the ESD teams. Going winless in 14 ESD games and winning only 2 games for the year usually does not land anyone on an all conference team. But Pierre does have 3 players on the Honorable Mention team. Juniors Travis Adney and Scott Cichos along with freshman Zach Hanson are the 3 Governors named. No one from Pierre made the All ESD first team.

The bar has been set for Steph Paluch and Katie Lingle and the rest of the SDSU women's basketball team. 4 straight post season tournament appearances and two straight NCAA tournament visits. Now, unless you are really good and only lose twoor three games in the season, making the NCAA when you are in the Summit League probably means you have to win the conference tournament. SDSU has the last two years and should the next few years showdowns with Oral Roberts be fun to watch or what? Had the Jacks made some of their bunnies in the first half that they had last night, it would have been real intersting down the stretch, but watching the game last night and taking a look at the athleticisim that Oklahoma had the Jacks should feel very good about the effort they put out on national TV despite the loss. But I think you really saw the difference between Big Time Divison 1 players that go to the OU's and the UConn's and Tennessee's compared to Summit League and Missouri Valley Conference and the like. It is not quite as glaring on the men's side but let's face it, the way Northern Iowa is playing right now in the men's tournament, no Summit League team would stay with them.

Yesterday I called to arms the ESD to take the baton back from the GDC, more specific from the Sioux Falls schools, to take back Class AA boys basketball supremecy. The girls situation isn't getting as bad in the big school ranks but don't think that it can't. And while ESD basketball looks to be fairly balanced next year, S.F. Washington, Roosevelt, Lincoln and O'Gorman will once again battle it out. All have some talented players returning. The Rapid City schools I see as having down years and Sturgis and Spearfish for what ever reason just can not compete. Huron and Aberdeen Central, while losing alot of seniors, have some good underclassmen returning. Mitchell should be salty with Kerri Young and Kristin Sabers back as only sophomores. For Pierre, some girl will need to emerge from the off season as the leader, want to be the leader and take the lead and with senior and junior numbers not going to be there again, it may have to be a underclassman. Amber Olson would appear to be the heir apparent as she will be a returning senior starter. Amber is a very nice girl, maybe to nice. Amber, get a little gnarly on the court, take the lead and others will be there for you. Then be the nice person you are off the court and the Lady Govs could go a long way.

13-14 Teener baseball tryouts begin tonight 5 to 7 at the PILC indoor facility in their gym. Next weekend hopefully they will be able to have some outdoor stuff to do, after pancakes and sausage for $3 at the Legion Cabin from 7 a.m. to 11 am. And the Pierre Athletic Booster Club will have their "Spring Fling" next Tuesday, the 30th at the Kings Inn Convention Center. Details on all 3 of the above are My Daily News and on the air on several of the Dakota Radio Group Stations.

And, Sam Ostarello's first collegiate basketball season ended yesterday when Indiana State beat Purdue 59-57. Sam played 10 minutes scored 6 points. Sam Willard leads Pacific into tonight quarterfinals of the CIT tournament at Northern Colorado. Sam has had back to back career nights for Pacific coming off a 23 point 17 rebound performance last week at Loyola Marymount.