A look back at some of the sports happenings during the week of March 12-18:

Last year on March 14, 2022: Northern State named only its fifth athletic director since 1956. Nate Davis is the current senior associate director of athletics for Pittsburgh State in Kansas. Before Davis, Josh Moon (2012-2021); Bob Olson (1999-2012); Jim Kretchman (1981-1999); and Clark Swisher (1956-1980) held the AD job for the Wolves.

10 years ago on March 14-16, 2013: South Central began play in the State B Boys’ Basketball Tournament in Aberdeen. The last time the communities involved in the school district played in the state tournament were Burke in 1957 (fourth, led by all-stater John Lillibridge); Fairfax in 1958 (fourth, led by all-stater Gerald Applebee); and Bonesteel in 1959 (fifth, led by all-stater Billy Leslie). Also in the 2013 State B, White River senior Wyatt Krogman played in his fifth State B boys’ basketball tournament championship game and is believed to be the only player in state history to do so.

20 years ago on March 17, 2003: In the NAIA DII women’s basketball semifinals in Sioux City (IA), Dakota Wesleyan defeated the University of Sioux Falls 71-56. Randi Morgan led DWU with a triple double of 18 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists. The next night, Hastings (IA) defeated DWU 59-53 for the national title.

30 years ago on March 17, 1993: Both NSU basketball teams finished second in the nation within a couple of hours of each other in the NAIA Tournaments. The NSU men lost 63-56 to Williamette (OR) in Nampa (ID) while the NSU women lost 71-68 to Northern Montana in Monmouth (OR), which is 340 miles away from Nampa.

40 years ago on March 17, 1983: Robb White made a six-footer with two seconds left to lift Aberdeen Central to a 54-52 win over Lennox in the opening round of the State A boys’ basketball tourney in Rapid City. Two nights later, Sioux Falls Washington beat Pierre 59-56 for the title while Aberdeen Central fell 40-38 to Mitchell for third place.

50 years ago on March 17, 1973: Huron won the 1973 boys’ basketball State A championship 50-48 over Yankton. The tourney featured the tallest line- up in high school state history, including 7-foot
Brian Shanks of Huron, 6-11 Chad Nelson of Yankton, 6-10 Bob Ashley of Pierre, and the Sioux Falls Washington duo of 6-7 Dallas Ustrud and 6-6 Brad Crary. There also were a lot of shorter standouts like 6-4 Larry Nickelson (set a tourney record of 41 rebounds in a game) of Belle Fourche and Aberdeen Roncalli guard Al Lingor (set a tourney record of 102 points in the three games).