STATE TOURNAMENT NOTEBOOK: Robey to be recognized for service

Derek Robey, a Mitchell native, is being recognized by the South Dakota High School Coaches Association this weekend for dedicating 25 years to helping student-athletes.

Robey, who played for the Mitchell Kernels under then-coach Gary Munsen, began his coaching career as head coach of the Aberdeen Roncalli girls’ basketball team in 1987.

Four years later, he became the head coach of the Aberdeen Central girls’ team. He coached the Golden Eagle boys’ basketball team from 1998 to 2005 — for two of those years, he was head of the girls’ and boys’ programs.

In the past eight years, Robey has been at the helm of the Sioux Falls O’Gorman boys’ basketball team where he has helped the Knights to five Class AA titles.

He was named the South Dakota High School Activities Association Boys’ Basketball Coach of the Year twice. Robey’s combined coaching record is 380-201.

Mike Hoglund, of Dell Rapids, Kurt Drube, of Aberdeen, and Tom Cameron, of White River, are also receiving the 25-Year Coaching Award.

Area officials who are working across the state at this year’s state basketball tournaments are Andy Deinert, of Mitchell; Jim Johnston, of Mitchell; Jeremy Grady, of Salem; Lee Johnson, of Wessington Springs; Cory Aadland, of Mitchell; Josh Kemp, of Stickney; Jordon Odens, of Dimock; and Daniel Sudbeck, of Dimock.

Seven favorites fall

There were a large amount of upsets during the first day of the state boys’ basketball tournaments.

Seven out of 12 first-round games were won by the lower seed. In the Class A tournament in Rapid City, three of the higher seeds were defeated.

Arguably the biggest upset Thursday was in the Class A tournament when eighth-seeded Platte-Geddes knocked off top-seeded Clark/Willow Lake 66-51.

Two seventh-seeded teams prevailed with each taking down a second seed. In Class B, Viborg-Hurley defeated James Valley Christian 55-47 in overtime. And in Class A, Mobridge-Pollock beat Aberdeen Roncalli 67-52.

One sixth seed made it through to today’s semifinal round as Sioux Falls Lincoln upset third-seeded Brookings 53-48 in the Class AA tournament in Sioux Falls.

In each tournament, the fifth seed overtook the fourth-seeded team with one of those being South Central. The Cougars, who are playing in the state tournament for the first time since the late 1950s, defeated Potter County, which was undefeated before Thursday’s loss.

Other fifth seeds that advanced to today’s semifinal round were Class AA’s Brandon Valley and Tea Area in the Class A tournament.

White River has appeared in Class B title game for last five years

The White River boys’ basketball team has been in the Class B championship game for five consecutive years.

The Tigers have won three of those five championship appearances. But, they have yet to win consecutive state titles.

White River is 23-1 after a 51-33 first-round win over Langford Area Thursday. The Tigers’ only loss came to DeLaSalle High School, of Minnesota, during the Mike Miller Classic in December at the Corn Palace in Mitchell.

Coming into the state tournament, the Tigers averaged 89.3 points per game — 13 points higher than the rest of the field.

This is White River’s eighth straight year in the state tournament.

Tags: sports, basketball, updates