Rod's Thursday Blog

The South Dakota High School Activities Association Board of Directors voted 6-2 in favor of adding an 11AAA class, for the state's largest schools football schools at their regular January meeting yesterday in Pierre. The decision to add another class of football is due to huge enrollement diparities in the current 16 schools in 11AA. Class 11AAA will consist of Sioux Falls schools Washington, Roosevelt and Lincoln. Rapid City Central and Stevens, Aberdeen Central, Watertown, and Brandon Valley. The next 9 largest would make up Class 11AA. That would include Yankton, Pierre, Mitchell, Brookings, Sioux Falls O'Gorman, Huron, Sturgis, Douglas and Spearfish with only 8 of the teams making the playoffs.. O'Gorman says they will petition up to play in 11AAA which would allow, Brandon Valley, the option to go down to 11AA. If the Lynx opt not to, then Watertown could. If the Arrows don't, then Aberdeen Central would have the option. Class 11A and Class 11B would be split between the two and the three 9 man classes are unaffected by any decision to be made. Wednesday's vote isn't final, as yesterday was only the first reading. The second reading and final vote on it is on February 29th. If adopted, the seven-class playoff system would go in effect in the fall of 2013.

The pairings for the Southern Plains Conference Girls Basketball tournament scheduled for next week have been released. In games in Murdo on Thursday and Friday, January 19th and 20th on Thursday at 6:30 pm it will be White River going up against Kadoka Area followed at 8 pm by Stanley County and Jones County. In Colome, the first round matchups have Lyman facing Gregory at 6:30 pm followed by Colome and South Central at 8 pm. The semi finals will be played on Friday with the finals moving to Ft. Pierre and Parkview Gym on Saturday. The 7th place game will play at 1:30 pm. The 5th place game is scheduled for 3 pm. The third place game will be at 4:30 pm and the championship game is scheduled for 6 pm.

The Pierre Area Coaches Association (PACA) has named their latest Riggs High School Athlete of the Week award winners. Senior's Conner Berg of the Governor basketball team and Cheyna Lodge of the Lady Governor Gymnastics team were named. Berg was nominated by Assistant Coach Quintin Cermak who said that Connor scored 10 points on 5-9 shooting from the field during Friday's win at Brandon Valley, but his biggest contribution was his defensive effort against BV's best shooter, holding him to 6 points. Lodge was nominated by her head coach Nicki Abels who said that Cheyna placed 2nd at the Brookings Invitational on floor last weekend, this meet was against all the teams in the state except Rapid. In addition, Cheyna placed 5th on beam and stuck her routine at a Rapid City triangular over the Christmas break,she also placed 5th at the weekend priors invitational at Mitchell with 12 of the top teams in the state, she was also 9th on the floor exercise, she competed all around and was 14th overall.

All girls and boys ages 10 to 14 are invited to participate in the Fort Pierre Knights of Columbus free throw shooting competition, which will be held this Saturday at Parkview Auditorium. Registration begins at 8:30 CST and competition begins at 9:00 CST. Contestants must provide proof of age and written parental consent. All shooters will receive a participation certificate and the winners of each age group will receive a brand new basketball. For entry forms or additional information contact Rob Coverdale at 280-0372 or John Duffy at 280-2559.