Three local seniors were named to the Greater Dakota Conference girls basketball all-conference first team. Jacqee Jasinski of Rapid City Central, Justine Blade of Rapid City Stevens and Carsey Barden of Sturgis made the squad.
Sioux Falls Roosevelt’s Shaunteva Ashley, Lincoln’s Elise Maresh and Washington’s Rachel Walters rounded out the first team.
Central’s Lacey Lehmann was the lone West River representative on the second team.
Senior Kaitlyn Wright of Stevens and juniors Chelsey Biegler and McKenzie Johnson of Central were named to the honorable mention squad.
Sioux Falls Roosevelt finished on top of the GDC field with a 9-1 record in a ten-game conference season that was shortened because of weather cancellations. Sioux Falls Lincoln finished second with a 7-3 record. Central and Stevens tied with Sioux Falls Washington for third with 6-4 records.
Kraig Blomme of Rapid City Central was named GDC Coach of the Year.
Black Hawk bowler excels at tourney
University of Nebraska senior Cassandra Leuthold of Black Hawk was named the most valuable player, as the NU bowling team finished second at the Columbia 300 Music City Classic last weekend. The Huskers fell to Vanderbilt in the finals, 4-3.
In a field of more than 100 bowlers, Leuthold, a senior, was named MVP as she won her fourth individual title of the 2009-10 season. Leuthold finished this season with a NCAA-high average of 209.4 pins.
Nebraska, the defending national champions, will await a bid to the 2010 NCAA Championships, which will be in North Brunswick, N.J. from April 8-10.
Weber wins national officials award
The NFHS Officials Association has chosen Dale Weber of Salem to receive its National Distinguished Active Official Award for 2009-10. This award is representative of officials of all sports throughout the country. Bob Lowery, assistant executive director for the South Dakota High School Activities Association, credits Weber for bringing this honor to South Dakota through his hard work and dedication as an official in both football and basketball and his mentoring of young officials.
Weber has been a football and basketball official in South Dakota for more than 40 years. Weber retired from basketball officiating in 1995. He officiated 34 state tournaments (19 boys and 15 girls), including 14 boys championship games and seven girls championship games.
He continues to officiate football, and 2010 will be his 44th year.
Weber serves as a mentor for young officials and observes and evaluates officials for the SDHSAA. He will receive a plaque from the NFHS at the Class A boys state basketball tournament in Sioux Falls.
