A look back at some of the sports happenings during the week of March 23-29, 2025:

Last year on March 25, 2024: Long-time Aberdeen Central teacher, coach and athletic director Gene Brownell will be inducted into the South Dakota Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association Hall of Fame later this year. He will be joined by former Brandon Valley AD Randy Marso; former Rapid City Central AD Darren Paulson; former Gettysburg AD Vern Smith (1963-2023); and NSU grad and former Doland and Arlington AD Chris Lund (1961-2017).

10 years ago on March 28, 2015: When the Aberdeen Central girls’ track and field 3,200-meter relay team placed at the South Dakota State Open, coach Jim Appl pointed out the versatility of his athletes who ran that race with Molly Hogg also being a swimmer, Amanda Jacobs (show choir), Hailey Holland (hockey) and Madisyn Waage (basketball). The busy teens are involved in a variety of other activities as well.

20 years ago on March 26, 2005: Mobridge graduate Pat Morrison and Aberdeen Central/NSU graduate Mel Klein will be inducted with eight others next month into the SD Sports Hall of Fame. Morrison’s career as an athlete, referee and broadcaster has spanned seven decades. Klein, a 1961 NBA draft pick, was an All-American at NSU who led the Wolves to four conference titles and three national tourneys.

30 years ago on March 24, 1995: Long-time Yankton football coach Max Hawk was honored with a roast. He is a former NSU football standout.

40 years ago on March 23, 1985: Jacksonville State (AL) defeated SDSU 74-73 for the NCAA DII national championship. The Jackrabbits led 71-64 with 2:13 left and led by five with 1:53 left to play when tourney MVP Mark Tetzlaff fouled out.

Jacksonville used its defense and a handful of steals to overtake the Jacks in the final two minutes. JSU’s Pat Williams got a steal on a full-court press and teammate Melvin Allen netted a short jumper which gave the Gamecocks a 72-71 lead with 44 seconds left.

In the final seconds, Earl Warren of Jacksonville stole the ball for the second time in the final 30 seconds and was fouled. He made his two free throws with two seconds left to give JSU a 74-71 lead. It rendered Mark Schultz’s dunk at the buzzer meaningless.

50 years ago on March 23, 1975: At the March 6-8 State B Boys’ Basketball Tournament in Sioux Falls won by Freeman, Adolph Silverman of Dupree was watching his 50th consecutive Class B state tourney. He witnessed his first tourney in 1926 in Sioux Falls.