Jill's Journal: It's a smorgasbord week

Every once in a while, I find myself with so many things to share with readers, and this is one of those weeks. I lovingly refer to it as “smorgasbord” column.

 

It takes a village

They say it takes a village to raise a child. 

The same could be said for covering the state high school basketball tournament on the other side of the state, too.

Thanks to my sideline sidekick, Wilma Kirkeby, the Journal was covered from Brandon Valley’s first tip-off of the state tournament. Wilma made the wise decision to head to Rapid City Tuesday night. I should have. But I didn’t. And like many of you, I watched our girls and boys play from the comforts of my living room in Brandon.

 

A superstitious superintendent?

I learned at the state tournament that our superintendent, Dr. Jarod Larson, is of the superstitious kind.

I spied the optimistic, but superstitious Dr. Larson seated in a corner chair at the Rapid City Plaza Civic Center, where he cheered the boys’ and girls’ teams through the semifinals and finals.

As I waited for the Lynx girls to take the floor, I took refuge in the corner seat and not long after, Dr. Larson was hoping I wouldn’t be sitting there long.

“Are you superstitious?” I quizzed, and his answer was a quick “yes.”

It was likely he knew that I’d soon find my spot on the sidelines of the court, and there surely was no way I was going to stand in the way of BV’s run to the top and a superintendent’s superstition.

 

Congratulations, Coach Deckert

Congratulations are warranted for BV boys’ basketball coach Brent Deckert. The 19-year head coach of the Lynx boys was named one of the Region Coaches of the Year by the South Dakota Basketball Coaches Association. The award is determined by his SDBCA peers in the who recognize excellence in coaching and passion for coaching.

Deckert will be recognized Sunday during half-time of the All-Star Boys Game at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls.

I’ll check in with Coach Deckert this week for his reaction to the honor.

 

Speaking of congratulations …

Congratulations, to those being inducted into Brandon Valley High’s Hall of Fame this Saturday evening. Inside this issue of the Journal, you will find two pages dedicated to the four inductees: Austin Sumner, Coty Fitts-McGuire, Brad Thorson and the 1988 BVHS state championship football team. 

Tickets are available at the high school, and the banquet will be held at the Brandon Golf Course. Social time starts at 6 p.m., followed by the banquet and program.