SIOUX FALLS — Randy Rosenquist Jr. did Thursday what he’s done often this season.
The Dakota Valley senior made plays and he made them look easy in the Panthers’ 80-47 win over Hot Springs in the Class A state boys basketball quarterfinals at the Premier Center.
Rosenquist finished with 11 points, 10 rebounds and 16 assists. At halftime, he had two-thirds of the triple-double complete — the points were the last part to come through, reaching the scoring mark late in the third quarter. The win sent Dakota Valley to the Class A semifinals and was the 51st win in a row for the defending state champion.
“I just got going and it kept going for me out there. I don’t even know what happened,” Rosenquist said. “I went to the huddle in the second quarter and my teammates were like, ‘You’re almost there.’ And I was like, ‘Sweet.’”
Thursday’s blowout of Hot Springs was Rosenquist’s 11th double-double of the season and his third triple-double. Earlier in the week, Rosenquist committed to Dakota Wesleyan to play basketball next season, following his sister, who is already on the Tigers’ women’s basketball team and just had a standout freshman season.
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Rosenquist said his sister was supportive of his recruiting process but said the familiarity involved with the DWU programs and campus was helpful.
“I considered a few other schools but lately, I really leaned toward Dakota Wesleyan and made the call. … It felt like the right spot for me,” he said.
Rosenquist, a 6-foot-1 guard who was a Class A all-state first-team selection in 2022, has a habit of filling up the stat sheet this season. At the Parkston Classic, he had a triple-double against Chamberlain (12 points, 11 rebounds and 16 assists) and he’s scored in double figures 19 times this season.
“Randy is just a special kid. He’s special on the court, special off the court, the way that people follow him,” Dakota Valley coach Jason Kleis said. “He’s unselfish to a fault, sometimes. He’s aggressive, he’s tough, he’s athletic. He’s so well-rounded as a player and he’s become a really good shooter.”
The Panthers' coach didn’t mince words about Rosenquist’s athletic prospects playing NAIA hoops.
“I’m crazy, I think he could play at Duke,” Kleis said. “I think he’s that good. I think Dakota Wesleyan is getting a steal. Coach Wilber thinks the same way. Wherever he goes, they will have a hard time keeping him off the court because he’s a special player.”
At the state tournament, Rosenquist’s father, Randy Sr., is on the hearts and minds of the Dakota Valley team and fanbase after Randy Sr. had a stroke last month. He’s recovering in Sioux City and Randy Jr. said his dad was watching from the hospital on Thursday. “Rosey,” as he was known in his University of South Dakota basketball days, was the North Central Conference’s player of the year in 1994 and was known for being a prolific scorer for the Coyotes and an ardent supporter of his children and their teammates for years since then.
“Randy has been a great supporter of ours,” Kleis said. “He’s been a great supporter of Dakota Valley and we want to win this one for him.”
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The team wore warmups that said “All in for Big Rosie” on the front with the DV logo and an image of a red rose, with a red “Rosenquist 32” on the back. His son wears the same number on the court.
“It means the world that they’ve got me, no matter what and any circumstances.” Randy Rosenquist Jr. said of his teammates’ support. “They’re here with me and I think it helps the whole team play together.”
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