A look back at some of the sports happenings during the week of March 22-28, 2026:

Last year on March 22, 2025: Castlewood rolled to a 51-32 victory over Viborg-Hurley to win the State B boys’ basketball title. The Warriors (24-2) were led by Bryon Laue (13 points and 12 rebounds) while Nicholas Hanson (14 points and eight rebounds) led VH. The VH Cougars are coached by 1983 Castlewood graduate Shane Warwick and Castlewood is coached by 1982 Castlewood graduate Paul Raasch. Warwick and Raasch were standout teammates in high school. Raasch became the fourth coach known in state history to win state football and basketball titles (Bill Marquardt, Kent Mueller and Marv McCune). Raasch led Langford Area to a state football title in 2015 and to State B basketball runner-up finishes in 2008 and 2015. Raasch is now 621-261 in 39 years as a boys’ basketball coach at Castlewood, Webster Area, Langford Area and Alpena.

10 years ago on March 26, 2016: The Augustana men’s basketball team defeated Lincoln Memorial University (Harrogate, Tenn.) 90-81 to win its first ever NCAA Division II National Championship in Texas. The Vikings finished 34-2, with one of its losses to Northern State, 90-81, in Aberdeen on Feb. 5.

20 years ago on March 25, 2006: David Zellman (26 points) and Jonte Flowers (15) led Winona State to the NCAA DII national title over defending champion Virginia Union 73-61. Winona (32-4) was coached by Mike Leaf and his Warriors nipped Northern State 70-68 for the NSIC title in Sioux Falls a month earlier. NSU senior Spencer Pankonin tied the game at 68 with his three-pointer with two seconds left, but NSU fouled Winona, and Conner Flack made the two game-winning free throws.

30 years ago on March 23, 1996: Seniors Todd Schlekeway of Mobridge and Josh Thorpe of Hecla were members of the Argus Leader First Five boys’ basketball team.

40 years ago on March 22, 1986: Jeff Brooks, Dean Jacobsen, Wes Morgan and Steve Andersen led Mitchell to its third State AA basketball championship in a row. Coach Gary Munsen and his Kernels have gone 66-3 in the last three seasons.

50 years ago on March 27, 1976: Tim Steinwandt scored 29 points to pace Aberdeen to a 98-36 win over Sioux Falls Archer in Section 4 of the Hi-Y Division at the 46th annual Tri-State Basketball Tournament in Sioux Falls.