Aberdeen Central athletic director Dawn Seiler is working her final State B Boys’ Basketball Tournament this weekend. Seiler announced she will be stepping down as AD at the end of the school year.

Seiler has been a part of state tournaments her entire life, first as a player for McLaughlin, then as a coach for McIntosh and Aberdeen Central, also as a volunteer and now as the tourney director.

“I think it’s always more stressful to coach, because your kids are counting on you, your community is counting on you,” Seiler said. “That Class B experience is a little bit different than any other experience, because the whole town’s involved. And a lot of times the school is the only source of entertainment. You don’t have all the other things like you have in Aberdeen.”

Seiler said the most challenging aspect of running the tournament is making sure all of the workers are in place and ready to go.

“We have a great group of workers who have worked this tournament a lot of years, and they expect to work,” she said.

Putting on a state tournament is something the community rallies around and takes pride in, according to Seiler.

“Aberdeen does a great job of hosting this tournament and we could not do that without all the volutneers and the workers,” Seiler said. “The Aberdeen School District is very good about recognizing that this is important for our community. They really encourage everybody to get out and work and be a part of it.”

While this may be Seiler’s last year as the head of the event, don’t expect her to get too far removed from the state tournament in the future.

“It’s too much fun. It’s a great atmosphere. You take a look at what the games were (Thursday). We knew it was a great field of teams, but the games we had were phenomenal and it was such a fun environment,” Seiler said. “You always want to be a part of that, and when you’re here live, you are a part of it. You can watch it online and things like that, but it’s just not the same. And you can’t convey that atmosphere other than to be here.”

Before the weekend is over, Seiler has one goal in mind at the tournament.

“I keep joking that I’m trying to figure out where the weakest security is so I can sneak in and don’t have to buy a ticket,” she said.

Dave Vilhauer

PLAYING BEFORE LUNCH

With the South Dakota High School Activities Association’s decision to move each of the sessions of the state tournament up an hour, it means a different morning routine for the players competing in the 11 a.m. contests.

“We usually play later,” said Aberdeen Christian junior Dylan Hofer. “You just have to go to bed early. We all went to bed at a reasonable time (Thursday).”

Hofer said a key is to get prepared to play earlier, both mentally and physically.

“You have to make sure that you’re energized and not still sleeping when you’re going in,” Hofer said, “and you just have to make sure that you get a good warmup and you stretch good.”

Then there is the issue of finding the best time to eat. With an 11 a.m. tip-off it likely means a lighter breakfast and lunch after the game. With a 12:45 p.m. start, it leaves more time for a bit of a bigger breakfast.

The Knights have played in both afternoon spots so far in the tournament.

“When you have a game this early, you kind of have to eat light,” Hofer said after the team’s 11 a.m. game on Friday.

In reality, the atmosphere of the tournament overshadows the time a game officially starts.

“When you’re in there, you can’t tell what time it is,” Hofer said, “because there’s no windows and it felt like an evening game (Thursday afternoon).”

Dave Vilhauer

PROVIDING A VITAL SERVICE

When the State B Boys’ Basketball Tournament rolls into Aberdeen, TV cameras follow. The cameras provide fans who can’t make it to the game a chance to see the action and root for their teams.

This year the cameras are once again being controlled by high school students from Bison.

Junior Kamden Holmes is one of the students keeping track of the action.

The students are able to get the opportunity by entering a contest where they must write an essay about why they would be grateful for the opportunity to come to the State B Tournament.

Holmes talked about his desire to be a part of the tournament.

“I just wanted to have the experience and watch the game,” Holmes said. “I knew this way I could come and be really close to it. And the chance to record it is something new.”

This isn’t the first time Holmes got the opportunity, though, as he was here working the cameras last year, too.

“Last year I was a little nervous,” Holmes said. “But this year I was really excited for it.”

As fun as the experience is, Holmes did point out what he considers the one and only major challenge he faces.

“I honestly love it,” Holmes said, “the only hard thing is standing all day.”

Cordell Vitense

DISAPPOINTING TOURNEY FOR VIBORG-HURLEY SENIOR

Expectations were high for top-seeded Viborg-Hurley heading to the state tournament, but that mood quickly changed when senior Nolan Kolthoff suffered a serious injury in an opening round setback.

Kolthoff was involved in a collision while pursing a loose ball Thursday afternoon.

“We were both going for a 50-50 ball,” Kolthoff said. “Next thing I know I’m on the ground with a broken ankle. I don’t remember anything.”

Kolthoff suffered a concussion and a broken fibula which will require surgery in the near future.

He was forced to watch his team from the bench during Friday’s game.

“Pretty difficult. You start in the second grade and you’ve been playing basketball your whole life,” Kolthoff said. “That’s all you really want to do is go play in the state tournament. You get it taken away first game, not the best thing you want to happen.”

It’s not the first time that Kolthoff has had to visit an emergency room because of a sporting event.

“During football I got hit in the chest and my heart went off beat, and I blacked out on the field,” Kolthoff said.

Kolthoff is trying to be the best teammate that he can, cheering on his buddies and providing encouragement. He will be on the bench again this afternoon when the Cougars play in their final game of the tourney.

“I want my team to win,” Kolthoff said, “so I’m going to do anything I can to help them win (Saturday).”

Dave Vilhauer

NOT A TYPICAL FRESHMAN

Not many freshmen play pivotal roles on sports teams, regardless of how small the school is.

Then there is Easton Moore, a key starter for the Sully Buttes team playing in this year’s State B tournament.

“I just don’t feel like I’m intimidated,” Moore said. “I’m 6-3, I’m not the smallest human being. I’m ready for these big moments.”

Having a teammate like all-stater Wesley Wittler to go up against on a daily basis helps him prepare for those big moments.

“I face Wesley Wittler every day,” Moore said. “He kind of gets us ready for these big games.”

While Moore admitted to being a bit nervous during the opening round of the tourney, he is enjoying the opportunity to play under the bright lights and on the big stage.

“It’s one of the coolest environments I’ve ever played in,” Moore said. “All the fans, we got everyone here, about half of Onida is here, it’s pretty cool. I haven’t seen anything like it.”

And with only being a freshman, Moore might just be getting started competing at state tournaments.

“Hopefully this pays off,” he said. “I hope I see another state tournament appearance here soon.”

Dave Vilhauer