Hall of Fame class includes two from Mitchell

Wayne Stone remembers his days in a Kernel uniform vividly, but is surprised others do.

The 1941 Mitchell High School graduate will be inducted into the South Dakota High School Basketball Hall of Fame during a banquet, along with 15 others, March 23 in Madison.

“It’s a great honor, especially when your name is associated with great, great ballplayers from all over South Dakota,” Stone said.

He will be inducted alongside Mitchell native and Miami Heat veteran Mike Miller. Other honorees from the Mitchell area include the 1964 Howard Tigers boys’ basketball team, which is this year’s Team of Excellence, and Carol (Freeman) Galbraith, who played for Canova in the 1970s.

“Not a lot of people are around today that even saw basketball in the 1940s, and to think that they would go back and recognize people from those days is great,” Stone said. “There were some great basketball players in the ’40s, and I hope they continue to research some of the other players from that time.”

Stone, who started at guard his junior and senior seasons, played under Mitchell’s legendary coach Joe Quintal and helped lead the Kernels in his junior season to a Class A state championship in 1940 — a time when South Dakota basketball was split into a two-class system. Mitchell defeated Aberdeen 29-24 in the title game.

“Winning the state tournament was definitely the fondest memory I have at Mitchell High School,” said Stone, later adding that he cherished beating Sioux Falls Washington 35-11 in his senior year as well. “Compared to the rest of us, Sioux Falls Washington was a really big school, so it was quite an honor beating them that season. To this day, I think that’s one of the worst beatings Sioux Falls Washington has ever had.”

During Stone’s final season with the Kernels in 1941, Mitchell won the Eastern South Dakota Conference but was knocked out of the state tournament in the first round by Sioux Falls Washington.

Stone went on to play basketball at Dakota Wesleyan University and in the Fourth Armored Division while serving the United States during World War II.

Reigning NBA champion Miller will take his place in the Hall of Fame in March along with Stone.

Miller helped the Kernels to two Class AA state titles in 1996 and 1997. Miller holds numerous Mitchell High School basketball records, including most points in a career at 1,743.

After high school, Miller led the University of Florida to the NCAA Final Four and was the fifth overall pick by the Orlando Magic in the 2000 NBA draft. Miller helped lead the Miami Heat to an NBA championship by hitting seven 3-pointers in Game 5 of last year’s NBA Finals. Miller is in his 12th season.

The Team of Excellence that will be recognized at the banquet is the Howard boys’ basketball team of 1964. The Tigers were an undefeated 28-0 that season and defeated Scotland 60-51 in the Class B championship game.

2013 South Dakota High School Basketball Hall of Fame Inductees

Mike Miller (Mitchell 1996)

Scott Bosanko (Aberdeen Central 1977)

Amy Mickelson Brecht (Brookings 1986)

Chris Divich (Doland 1952)

Carol (Freeman) Galbraith (Canova 1979)

Clyde Hagen (Webster 1966)

Garney Henley (Hayti 1955)

Kent Hyde (Onida 1954)

Gerald Lund (Belle Fourche 1957)

Chad Nelson (Yankton 1974)

Renee Ruesink (Castlewood 1984)

Jim Schlekeway (Britton 1964)

Wayne Stone (Mitchell 1941)

Wendy Swanhorst (Cresbard 1978)

Marty Waukazoo (Rapid City 1967)

Chuck Welke Jr. (Warner 1994)

Team of Excellence:

1964 Howard Tigers

Tags: sports, updates, mitchell, howard, basketball, canova