Photo by Precision Sports Entertainment
They say the hardest thing to do in basketball is beat the same team three times in a single season.
Or, is it four times?
Facing a team that had beaten them three times before, the Sioux Falls
Lincoln High School boys basketball team found victory when it counted the most, defeating Sioux Falls Washington High School 47-45 on March 21 to claim the South Dakota AA state championship.
Washington had beaten Lincoln three times in the regular season by a combined total of 10 points.
The state title, coupled with an outstanding 21-5 record, earned Lincoln a national ranking for the first time in school history. Ten schools for boys varsity basketball and ten schools for girls varsity basketball are honored among over 20,000 basketball teams nationwide.
A large crowd of school officials, parents and student-athletes were on hand at the school recently for an awards program to honor the team as one of the best in the country, courtesy of the MaxPreps Basketball Tour of Champions presented by the Army National Guard. The honor included the presentation of an impressive copper-stained "Minuteman" called the Army National Guard national ranking trophy.
"It is still sinking in," head coach Jeff Halseth said of the award. "I give all the credit to our administration, the student-athletes and to our great group of parents. It was a special season."
Halseth laughed when asked about beating a team four times in one season.
"In basketball, the thing is really beating a team three times," he said. "We had a feeling the fourth time would be different."
When asked if he looked at the award like "getting a hole in one," Halseth said, "My wife had a hole in one last year and she keeps reminding me of it. I suppose this award is a little bit like that. You feel fortunate and you probably don't plan on it happening again. It is kind of a once in a lifetime deal."
Coach Halseth just completed his sixth season at the helm of the Patriots basketball program.
"We had a great bunch of guys who really committed to making the season special," he said.
MaxPreps, a California-based company that ranks more than 20,000 high school varsity basketball teams nationwide, recognized Sioux Falls (SD) Lincoln at No. 95 nationally for the 2014-2015 season. As the premier on-line high school sports stats and news source, MaxPreps has a data base
representing some five million student-athletes and over 50,000 coaches and uses a sophisticated computer program to determine team rankings. Some 589 elite squads from around the nation have been honored since 2005 and MaxPreps now recognizes teams in football, volleyball, soccer and basketball. Only teams that win a state championship can qualify for the MaxPreps Tour of Champions.
Lincoln High School Athletic Director Jim Dorman said, "We are delighted to be able to accept this award. It is a great accomplishment for our school and this dedicated group of student-athletes and coaches."
A large Army National Guard championship rafter banner was displayed at the awards ceremony, courtesy of the Army National Guard, along with the striking trophy. A podium and the "MaxPreps Tour of Champions" banner made a dramatic backdrop as each player received a t-shirt from the Army National Guard (who also mingled with students, VIP guests and the media).
Media representatives were on hand to interview players and coaches following the trophy presentation.
Sergeant First Class Matt Hanson from the South Dakota Army National Guard presented the trophy to an ecstatic team, along with Coach Halseth.
"The Army National Guard is delighted to be able to present this award to Lincoln High School for their incredible season," Sgt. Hanson said. "We take pride in doing so because it symbolizes a great deal of hard work and dedication. We extend our congratulations to Coach Halseth and his team on this great accomplishment."
Sgt. Hanson greeted students, parents and fans before and after the trophy presentation and received a rousing ovation from the crowd at the special awards program.
Sgt. Hanson added, "We were very pleased to be here to present this prestigious award. The Army National Guard salutes Lincoln High School on being named one of the nation's best teams this season."
Head coach Halseth said he may need more time to absorb what the award means to his team and the school.
"It is just unbelievable," Coach Halseth said. "We are truly honored and thrilled."
Lincoln High School was one of just 10 basketball teams being honored this year on the 10th annual MaxPreps Basketball Tour of Champions, presented by the Army National Guard.
Senior forward Addison Park, who will play next season at Minnesota State University in Moorhead (MN), led the Patriots in scoring with 18 points per game and averaged eight rebounds.
"This is a great honor," Park said. "I still can't believe it."
Kaleb Johnson and Tate Lindsay, a pair of senior guards, will continue to be teammates at Dakota Wesleyan in Mitchell (SD). Johnson averaged 13.5 points and connected on 40 percent of all three-point field goal attempts. Lindsay contributed seven points per game and led the team in assists with 86.
"We really stuck together as a team this year and it paid off," Johnson said. "This is a pretty cool honor." Lindsay agreed.
"Our team chemistry was a big key this year," Lindsay said. "We never gave up and never stopped believing in each other."
The presentation concluded with team pictures and interviews. Congratulations to Sioux Falls Lincoln High School!
