It’s every player’s dream to compete in a state basketball tournament, and it’s a special experience for officials as well.

Aberdeen’s Jordon Moench is currently working his first State B tourney at Wachs Arena this weekend. He said it is the highlight of the season.

“It’s the pinnacle of your season,” Moench said. “Everyone wants to make a state tournament, and it’s a huge honor just to be selected to do one.”

Moench worked the State B girls tourney in Rapid City last season.

While teams prepare for their games, Moench attempts to do the same, looking at film at his past games, and also at upcoming teams that he might get to officiate.

“I usually try and go back and watch every game after I’m done officiating it, see things you can improve on,” he said. He also watches some of the teams he hasn’t seen yet. “It helps you in the long run if you kind of know what you’re looking at.”

Working a state event in his own backyard made the opening of the tourney even more meaningful for Moench.

“I had butterflies (Thursday) before my first game,” he said. “It’s definitely a different atmosphere here being in your hometown.”

Moench said it doesn’t matter if it’s a game in December or a state tournament, consistency is a big thing when it comes to officiating.

“You’re going to go out there and you’re going to call what you see,” Moench said. “If it’s a foul in the first quarter, it should be a foul in the fourth quarter.”

He said officials have a mechanics meeting before tournaments get underway to make sure everyone is one the same page.

“You want to blend in. You don’t want to be standing out,” Moench said. “It’s just go out there, do your job, do your best, and enjoy it.”

And it’s safe to say that Moench is enjoying working his first State B event in Aberdeen.

“I’m definitely having a good time,” Moench said. “It’s been a great experience.”

Dave Vilhauer

KNIGHTS HIT FOUR HUB CITY FACILITIES

Aberdeen Christian nearly completed the cycle of gyms in Aberdeen this season.

The Knights are currently playing in their fourth gym in town during this week’s State B tournament.

Christian has played in its normal home gym, the Aberdeen Civic Arena, in addition to having a few games at its own school gym, and another contest at Roncalli Gym. It has played everywhere except for Golden Eagles Arena.

Junior Raymond Rodriguez-Martinez said one gym stands out from the group.

“The Barnett Center. It’s just way too much fun to be here. It’s one of the better ones with the court being all full and whatnot, and just having that extra space and even the college line,” he said. “And then just the crowd and the environment, it’s the best one.”

Regardless of where the Knights play, Rodriguez-Martinez always brings maximum effort and energy and prides himself on the team nickname of the ‘sparkplug.’

“It’s an honor to be honest. I just love bringing the energy and I just love being crazy out there,” he said. “That’s how I am in practice. I’m like screaming and yelling all the time, even if I do something wrong. It’s just fun being the spark plug, being the one to bring out the energy.”

While Christian played just once at Roncalli Gym this season it was a memorable atmosphere during an overtime contest.

“I think it was pretty hostile over there, but when it came to the second half, our side started getting more loud,” said Rodriguez-Martinez. “It would just go back and forth and that’s the best thing about it.”

Regardless of where the Knights play, they always have a loyal and loud fan base.

“It’s awesome man, it’s awesome just seeing the people there and having our teachers and our students and whatnot, driving to places that we wouldn’t expect them to drive to,” Rodriguez-Martinez said “When we went to Faith, seeing them coming all the way over there … just seeing how pumped up and energized they are.”

While the Knights have lost their first two state tourney games, the Christian crowd continues to cheer on the squad.

“Even if we’re losing and just seeing like today, you know, we were down,” said Rodriguez-Martinez talking about the consolation round. “They were excited and just ready to keep cheering us on. So, it’s awesome. I love the community support and it’s just awesome to see.”

Blake Clay

WALL MAKING STRIDES ON BASKETBALL COURT

Wall has long been known as a football school, but the Eagles are now gaining recognition for their basketball teams.

The school has implemented the assistance of longtime coach Kent Mueller and his former standout son Josh Mueller. The two men make the state-wide trek to Wall each year and the results are paying off.

“They both coach us in summer ball,” said Wall junior Dawson Handcock. “A lot of stuff we learn in summer ball, that’s stuff we do in the regular season and postseason. A lot of it is from those guys and can’t thank them enough for coming down every summer since I was in seventh grade.”

While Handcock is also a member of the Wall football team, he said people knew a basketball surge was on its way.

“I think we all kind of knew this time was going to come here soon,” Handcock said. “We’ve all been playing basketball since second-third grade, and we knew it was just a matter of time. And this year we spent a lot of time in the gym together.”

Handcock had the opportunity to experience the atmosphere of a state football championship at the DakotaDome in Vermillion a few years ago. He said there is a big difference between a state gridiron game and a state basketball tournament.

“Everyone is here. … Like every kid who didn’t make the state tournament usually comes here,” Handcock said. “State football is a lot different. It’s just usually towns for (each team playing), and here it’s the whole state pretty much just comes and supports everyone and watches.”

Handcock compared the adrenaline rush and atmosphere of the two events.

“Adrenaline I would say it’s about equal,” he said, “but the atmosphere I would say its way better here than it is at state football. It’s a special place here.”

Dave Vilhauer

TRYING TO EMULATE DAD

Freeman’s Luke Peters is playing in his first State B tournament at Wachs Arena, but his dad already has a strong connection with the facility.

His dad, Chris, was part of an Armour squad that won the 1997 State B championship against, of all teams, Freeman.

Peters said his dad doesn’t talk much about the past and himself.

“He doesn’t really like to talk about himself as much, tries to keep it more me,” said the junior. “Just with him being Spirit of Su, I hold high expectations for myself, and try to compete with my dad and try to be better than he was, because I come from a competitive family. That’s a goal of mine to be just to be like my dad, win Spirit of Su, and just be the player that he was.”

Peters is enjoying his turn to make memories at the state tourney, and also relishing the fact that he got a chance to face his dad’s old team earlier this season.

“It’s awesome, especially our program hasn’t been the best, so to come and do that and kind of be in the same situation as my dad,” Peters said. “And I also got to go and play in Armour this year, which that might be even more exciting for me, I’m not gonna lie.”

Armour won that state championship over Freeman on a clutch last-second three-pointer by Austin Ledeboer. As the story was retold in the hallway on Friday afternoon, a Freeman coach walked by and jabbed Peters about Ledeboer’s foot touching the 3-point line.

“I don’t know how I’m even living in Freeman right now,” Peters said with a smile. “Not even just basketball, football as well.”

He has a fitting comeback for those Freeman folks giving him a hard time about that game.

“Who has the bragging rights?” Peters said. “I think Armour beat them twice that season anyways.”

Dave Vilhauer