A look back at some of the sports happenings during the week of Dec. 5-11:

Last year on Dec. 7, 2020: After starting 3-0 and getting wins over No. 15 Iowa State and No. 18 Gonzaga, the South Dakota State women’s basketball team is ranked No. 22 in that nation. Team leaders include Paiton Burckhard (Aberdeen) and Myah Selland (Letcher).

10 years ago on Dec. 10, 2011: Desha Hoellein scored with one second left to lift Eureka-Bowdle past McIntosh 51-49. She finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds while teammate Amy Moser added 16 points. J.C. Katus made six three-pointers for McIntosh to finish with 20 points.

20 years ago on Dec. 8, 2001: Two South Dakotans helped lead the University of North Dakota to its first national football championship. UND defeated Grand Valley State 17-14 for the NCAA DII title. UND went 14-1, led by All-Americans and team captains Dan Graf (Aberdeen) and Kelby Klosterman (Spearfish) among others.

30 years ago on Dec. 7, 1991: Jill Haven, Nicole Akin and Roberta Sparling led Northwestern past Willow Lake 36-27 for the State B girls’ basketball championship in Huron. The Wildcats were missing Chris Swanhorst, who had an appendicitis attack and surgery just before the game. Haven replaced Swanhorst in the championship game, and had 12 points and eight rebounds for the Wildcats.

40 years ago on Dec. 9, 1981: Huron College looked well on its way to its 35th men’s basketball home win in a row with a 19-point lead over visiting Northern State with seven minutes left. However, the Wolves rallied led by Gene Lorenz off the bench. With 11 seconds left, Dennis Hudson of Huron made a free throw, which turned out to be the game-winner in the 65-64 wild affair.

50 years ago on Dec. 4, 1971: A Redfield graduate scored the game-winning touchdown in the Boot Hill Bowl in Dodge City, KS. Dakota State quarterback Daryl Fletcher hit Darwin Robinson on an 80-yard TD pass play with 5:07 to play to give the Trojans a 23-20 win over Northwest State of Alva, OK. It completed a 20-3 comeback for Dakota State (9-2).