People often picture sweeping prairies, rugged hills, and famous monuments when they think of South Dakota but some of the state's greatest treasures are its small towns filled with genuinely friendly faces It's not unusual in these communities for strangers to become pals and neighbors to offer a helping hand without hesitation Whether you’re drawn to historic main streets these towns all share a welcoming spirit that makes you feel right at home Let’s take a closer look at nine of South Dakota’s friendliest small towns you’ll want to visit — and maybe even stay awhile Tucked into the western edge of South Dakota against the backdrop of the Black Hills, Spearfish offers a stunning blend of natural beauty and laid-back outdoor living The town is perhaps best known for Spearfish Canyon where scenic trails wind through towering limestone cliffs and waterfalls cascade into crystal-clear streams — a paradise for hikers and photographers alike Spearfish’s charm radiates from its historic downtown A perfect morning starts at The Original Spearfish Breakfast House History enthusiasts will appreciate the D.C complete with vintage railcars and peaceful walking paths The High Plains Western Heritage Center also offers a deep dive into the lives and traditions of the region’s early settlers Spearfish buzzes with energy during the Festival in the Park and mouthwatering food bring the entire community — and plenty of visitors — together in celebration Whether you're browsing a farmers market or winding your way through a canyon trail leaving you with a sense of belonging that’s hard to forget Vermillion is home to the University of South Dakota youthful energy that blends perfectly with the town’s warm and traces of its pioneer past are still visible in the town’s historic architecture where rare instruments from around the globe are lovingly displayed This local dive serves some of the best pizza and craft beer you'll find anywhere & Rock N' Roll festival fills the town with the scent of barbecue Vermillion’s genuine friendliness shines through in every corner of town Surrounded by the rugged beauty of the Black Hills Custer feels like a step back to a simpler time Founded in 1875 during the Black Hills gold rush it’s one of the oldest settlements in the region and its rich history still echoes through the town today Downtown Custer is a welcoming stretch of Western-style shops and colorful public art that give the town its distinct character Don’t be surprised if you wander into a local shop and find yourself staying for a while This is the kind of place where conversations come easily Just beyond town, Custer State Park offers a breathtaking escape where visitors and locals share winding roads with herds of bison. For a truly scenic experience, drive along Iron Mountain Road or Wildlife Loop Road, where one-lane tunnels, grazing elk, and sweeping vistas of Mount Rushmore await The town celebrates its history each July during Gold Discovery Days Custer’s people make you feel like part of the family Yankton sits proudly along the Missouri River boasting a rich steamboat history and a welcoming the town preserves its past beautifully with landmarks like the Meridian Bridge and museums like the Cramer-Kenyon Heritage Home The historic downtown has numerous shops and boutiques including local favorites like River City Relics with the Lewis and Clark Recreation Area providing beaches Community pride shines brightest during Riverboat Days It's common to be greeted by a wave in Yankton whether at the farmers market or while walking your dog along the river It’s the kind of place where time seems to slow down There are plenty of great diners in Deadwood but one of the best is Jacobs Brewhouse & Grocer Deadwood’s close-knit community shines brightest during events like the Deadwood Jam a tradition that blends history with high-energy competition With its rich history and genuine neighborly spirit Deadwood shows that the frontier’s legacy is alive and thriving wrapped in warmth and good old-fashioned hospitality Brookings is a town that exudes hospitality with its downtown filled with quaint shops the college plays a vital role in shaping the town's culture and local events Families will appreciate the Children’s Museum of South Dakota where interactive exhibits and imaginative displays offer fun and learning for all ages Brookings also offers beautiful outdoor spaces a favorite spot for hiking and birdwatching the Brookings Summer Arts Festival brings the town to life with live music creating an exciting atmosphere that unites the community Brookings blends small-town charm with modern amenities making it an inviting place to visit and call home Hot Springs is as warm in personality as it is in its historic with sandstone buildings that seem to glow at sunset Residents quickly greet visitors with a smile or strike up a conversation about local lore One of the best places for breakfast is the Southern Hills Diner on Sheps Canyon Road This local diner might look rustic from the outside but it has plenty of warm food and broad smiles on the inside History lovers will enjoy a visit to the Mammoth Site where an ancient sinkhole has preserved Ice Age mammoth fossils in incredible detail invites families to soak and splash in naturally warm spring water The Southern Hills Triathlon brings the community together every year to celebrate fitness and friendly competition Hot Springs leaves you feeling like you belong from the moment you arrive Belle Fourche rests in the northern foothills of the Black Hills welcoming visitors with a firm handshake and a warm Once the world's largest livestock-shipping hub the town proudly embraces its deep Western ranching roots Historic downtown Belle Fourche is a charming mix of locally owned shops The Tri-State Museum & Visitor Center offers a fascinating look into the area’s frontier past the nearby Geographic Center of the Nation Monument makes for a perfect photo opportunity and a reminder of Belle Fourche’s unique place on the map the Black Hills Roundup brings the community together in true Western spirit and sparkling fireworks lighting up the prairie skies Whether cheering on a bronco rider or savoring a slice of homemade pie at a local cafe Belle Fourche feels like the best of small-town America It's famously home to the whimsical Corn Palace but there’s much more to Mitchell’s inviting character History lovers can step back in time at the Dakota Discovery Museum where exhibits highlight the area's pioneer spirit and Native American heritage Lake Mitchell offers peaceful shores for boating or simply unwinding under a big South Dakota sky The town truly shines during the annual Corn Palace Festival when downtown comes alive with colorful rides It’s the kind of place where neighbors linger to chat on street corners Mitchell's kind spirit isn’t just something you hear about — it’s something you feel in every handshake From historic mining towns to riverfront gems South Dakota’s small towns radiate a warmth that goes far beyond greetings These communities are built on strong traditions or a cozy place to share a cup of coffee and a smile you’ll find that South Dakota’s small towns open their arms and hearts to everyone who visits these friendly towns offer a refreshing reminder that genuine hospitality is still alive and well photos and original descriptions © 2025 worldatlas.com Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account We recognise you are attempting to access this website from a country belonging to the European Economic Area (EEA) including the EU which enforces the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and therefore cannot grant you access at this time e-mail us at news@bhpioneer.com or call us at 605-642-2761 This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Salsa is ready for the dirt this season with a new range of bikes While there are some similar names in the mix the lineup has been completely refreshed from the XC-oriented Spearfish to the hard-charging Notch eMTB Salsa will be showing off the new lineup at the Sea Otter Classic this week Spearfish is Salsa’s 29” Endurance XC bike It’s built to thrive in the world’s toughest single- and multi-day races from Marji Gesick to the Arizona Trail Race and capable – a formula that makes all the difference in the 11th hour rugged courses with endurance XC geometry for sharp handling and speed The Spearfish is adaptable to multiple trail types and rider preferences the Blackthorn 125 is a well-balanced machine for riders who want the speed and agility to handle anything the trail may bring; it’s fluid in the tight sections and precise when navigating techy descents It is designed to bring everything riders need for the long ride without weighing them down the Blackthorn 145 is a rugged rig that’s ready for backcountry trails and rowdy lines It’s most at home on the steep and techy terrain – both up and down the mountain and cargo-friendly without being a handful Blackthorn 145 brings the fun to big days on the trail Notch is Salsa’s electric enduro bike It’s a balanced platform that’s inspired by extra laps and the thrill of exploring new trail systems With geometry poised for stability at speed a Bosch Performance Line CX Class 85nm 1mid-drive motor is powerful and compact efficient Split Pivot suspension and on-bike storage features it’s versatile enough to roam far on rowdy terrain or battle between the tape in an eMTB enduro event Take on vast singletrack adventures with Notch salsacycles.com Zach Overholt is the Editor in Chief of Bikerumor He has been writing about what’s new in the bicycle world for 12+ years Zach spent many years in the back of a bicycle shop building and repairing nearly every type of bike while figuring out how to (occasionally) ride them Zach is now slowly introducing a new generation to cycling and still trying to figure out how to fit the most rides into a busy schedule as a new dad Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed $3.5K complete Deore build bikes is what the world needs more of Let’s get some reviews and weights on the Spearfish I yearn for a modern version of my old 23 lb Looks like they just quietly raised prices on all new models $500 but don’t want to deal with solvents Simpyfast claims their Lube Cube is the easiest way Peak Performance expands on their MTB specific clothing with new pants Apparently that’s an option when you’re designing products for the GOAT We spotted Cofidis racing an all-new prototype wireless 13-speed Campagnolo Super Record 13 WRL SC road groupset Canyon Bicycles is now selling select models directly through Amazon.com Want wireless shifting but don’t want to have to buy a whole new drivetrain Be protected from the sun with the new UV Hooded Trail Shirt… OrNot The new Van Nicholas Astraeus is a beautiful titanium road bike that’s limited to just 50 frames - With just two rodeos left to determine who will make the national rodeo finals it was a good time for the Yellow Jackets to have a rodeo on their home turf Black Hills State is hosting another edition of the Will Lantis Yellow Jacket Stampede this weekend at Seven Down Arenas the Yellow Jacket's Jayda Reinert bested 91 other competitors to win barrel racing with a time of 13.89 seconds Capri Cammack had a good performance for BHSU as well Raylee Fagerhaug was the best BHSU cowgirl in goat tying she finished in a tie for fourth with a time of 7.5 seconds Terran Talsma got second in steer wrestling The goal of nearly every high school student-athlete is to reach the next level as a fraction of athletes reach the likes of the NCAA Spearfish High School witnessed eight seniors move up to another echelon of athletics at its National Letter of Intent Signing Day on Wednesday at the CTE Commons Eight senior student-athletes made their intercollegiate commitments official at Spearfish's National Letter of Intent Signing Day at the CTE Commons on the campus of Spearfish High School Pictured from left to right are Alison Kennedy (South Dakota Mines women's golf) Jozie Dana (Black Hills State women's basketball) Evan Wilson (North Dakota State College of Science football) Charlie Rasmussen (Midland University men's golf) and Aiden Meverden (Doane University baseball) Not pictured is Dylon Doren (North Dakota State College of Science football) who helped lead the Spartan girls basketball team to a sixth place finish at the SDHSAA Class AA State Tournament in March Dana committed to play hoops for the Black Hills State University women's basketball team Alison Kennedy also decided to stick close to home and inked her commitment to join the South Dakota Mines women's golf program The Spearfish football program enjoyed a big day as four athletes made the jump to intercollegiate competition three will head to North Dakota to continue their playing careers Evan Wilson and Dylon Doren joined the North Dakota State College of Science's football program while Aiden Kracht signed with Dickinson State University Layton Loup committed to Dakota State University in Madison Two Spartans will head down to Nebraska to further their playing days and education Aiden Meverden linked arms with the Doane University baseball program in Crete and Charlie Rasmussen will take his talents to Fremont where he will join the Midland University men's golf team inks her commitment to the Black Hills State women's basketball program in the Spartans' National Letter of Intent Signing Day Jozie Dana and the Spearfish basketball scene are almost synonymous Dana played a huge part in the Spartans' last two trips to the state tournament She's also a Best of the West second teamer Black Hills All-Conference selection and member of the Class AA All-Tournament team she looked up to and developed a strong bond with BHSU head women's basketball coach Rachel Erickson Erickson just wrapped up her first season heading up the Yellow Jacket program guiding BHSU to an 18-11 overall record and a 13-7 mark within the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Dana knew where she wanted to go and needed to be I have pictures of me when I was at the (BHSU) camp," Dana said I'm really excited to continue to grow that There were other institutions vying for Dana's services including Mount Marty in Yankton and Bethany Lutheran College Dana had words of advice to share with her younger teammates and up-and-coming Spearfish girls basketball players and the work that you put in is going to pay off," said Dana "You have to take time outside of practices I think that's going to take you a long way." puts pen to paper to join the South Dakota Mines women's golf program during the National Letter of Intent Signing Day on Wednesday Kennedy expressed excitement about landing with the Hardrockers as she wanted to continue playing golf and major in environmental engineering "Rapid City is close enough that I can still come home on a weekend if I want to do laundry," Kennedy said "I keep joking with my parents that I'm going coming home to see the cats She was in contact with BHSU's coaching staff but SDM stuck out due to its status as an engineering school With the Spartans already in the middle of their season Kennedy has helped bring along the program's younger members as she started her time in a Spearfish polo since eighth grade "We have a lot of new seventh graders who are out for golf this season," Kennedy said "We're trying to mentor them and keep them going with it It's nice to know that they want to be out there The team is going to be in a good place once I'm gone." Knowing that golf has its own set of challenges Kennedy provided some insights on how to play at the next level and you have to not let it get in your head I had an awful end to a tournament (on Tuesday) but you just have to put a smile on your face and know there's always the next tournament writes his signature to make his commitment to the Dickinson State University football program official in Spearfish High School's National Letter of Intent Signing Day The Spearfish High School football program has made strides over the past few years Starting with improvements under current athletic director Dalton Wademan and a winning record under the watch of current head coach Tom Tieszen last fall several players who built that success will now go to play college football makes his commitment to the Dakota State University football program official during the Spearfish High School National Letter of Intent Signing Day "I've dreamt of this since I was a little kid," Loup said "I started playing football in first grade but I'm just excited to have another four years." Layton went to a place that complemented his educational pursuit and passion for football "I'm just excited to get back on the field," Kracht said North Dakota State College of Science landed two Spartans jots down his name on the dotted line to make his commitment to the North Dakota State College of Science's football program official during Spearfish's National Letter of Intent Signing Day "I move (to Spearfish) in first grade," Wilson said It's so nice to have somebody who can push me make sure we're getting better this summer." Wilson admitted that he didn't have the best grades as a freshman and sophomore Wilson believes that by taking the JUCO route it would be a nice springboard into bigger and better options "My best opportunity was (at NDSCS)," Wilson said Also contending for his services was Northwestern College (Orange City Kracht was courted by Dakota State and Concordia University (Seward Kracht also liked the intimate campus and coaching staff Kracht is also looking at the North Dakota-based school as a path toward law school Wilson visited with Dakota State and the University of Minnesota Wilson was drawn to the Wildcats by way of coaching staff and upgraded facilities all four share the bond of playing in the Spearfish maroon and white "I could go on and on about high school football," Wilson said "From ending a long losing streak in my freshman year to being a top three team in the state and beating the team that won the championship There's no feeling that could match that." Loup credited his coaches and his teammates for making the ride a special one "Wademan stepped in and turned the program around and we went from a losing mentality to 'hey A lot of (our success) has to do with my teammates and I'm very proud that I've been able to be a part of his program for the past four years." "I've been on Leadership Council for the past five years and I'm just very blessed to have had the opportunity to play with these guys "The younger guys also know how to be a leader and how to take on certain challenges and adversity." Kracht spoke about the unshakeable brotherhood within the Spearfish program "It really comes down to 11 guys doing it for their brother next to them," said Kracht "The biggest thing I've noticed is the group of guys really wanted (to win) and we were doing it for the guy next to them It wasn't only for themselves and not only for the coaches but all of us sharing the same goal and working together to accomplish that goal." puts his name on the dotted line to play for the Doane University baseball program at the high school's National Letter of Intent Signing Day Meverden came into the recruiting process a bit late there was a silver lining to it all — he will be the first in his family to play sports at the next level but I'm really excited," Meverden said of his side of the ceremony "I'm the first in my family to play college sports He sent out emails to many different schools with Doane and Augustana getting back to him Along with getting along with Doane head baseball coach Josh Oltmans Meverden liked that he was a short distance away from Lincoln as he's a huge fan of the University of Nebraska "(Oltmans) got back to me the fastest and the best," said Meverden and we both share the same views on everything." but due to his late entry into the process Meverden's best advice for developing into a college baseball player Senior golfer Charlie Rasmussen inks his commitment to the Midland University men's golf team during Spearfish's National Letter of Intent Signing Day at the CTE Commons of Spearfish High School chip and putt for the Midland University men's golf program At the SDHSAA Class AA Boys Individual Championship last fall Rasmussen tied for 31st overall and was one of the top Spartan golfers Rasmussen felt that he was heading to the right place "It was nice to finally get a college I picked out," Rasmussen said When Midland interim golf coach Ethan Blair reached out to Rasmussen the senior knew that it was too good to pass up and he wants to get down to business right away." Contending for Charlie's services was Andrew College Even though he was admitted and received his scholarship the coach left to coach golf at Jackson State University in Mississippi "It just wouldn't have been the same," Rasmussen said His advice for younger golfers is to keep grinding "You have to play all of the time," said Rasmussen "The only way to get better is if you practice Contact Sports Editor Tyler Anderson at tanderson@rapidcityjournal.com Email notifications are only sent once a day Top-seeded Lincoln went on a 23-1 run that spanned over a full quarter of action against No and advance to the South Dakota boys state basketball tournament semifinals Spearfish had a strong crowd on hand in The Monument but the lengthy second-half run left the Spartans fans searching for answers They scored only six points in that quarter and went nearly 10 and a half minutes without a field goal Spearfish shot just 24% from the field in the second half converting only five of their 21 field goal attempts the Patriots brought an increased defensive intensity in the second half They did a far better job keeping the Spartans in front of them and stopping them from getting into the paint “We just came out with more intensity because we really needed that extra push,” Lincoln junior forward Sam DeGroot said the Patriots played much better after an uncharacteristic slow first quarter DeGroot said the team may have had some jitters early but after scoring a total of only nine points in the first scoring 13 or more in each of the last three quarters scoring a game-high 15 points on 7-for-13 shooting Lincoln showed their depth though with four players scoring five or more points Junior guard Sam Ericsson scored 13 while sophomore point guard Brody Schafer had a complete game scoring 11 points and adding five rebounds and eight assists “It's really nice because it shows that guys are ready for the moment,” Lincoln boys basketball coach Luke Hannemann said “This is a lot bigger moment than when you're at your home gym or even at a road gym and so making sure we have guys that are balanced scorers right now is huge for us.” Patriots senior Isaiah Teer provided a lift for Lincoln in the first half coming off the bench to score seven points on 3-for-3 shooting “I'm so proud of that kid,” Hannemann said He's one of the first guys in the gym every single time Lincoln will face Mitchell on Friday at 6 p.m MT with a trip to the state title game on the line eighth-seeded Spearfish gave the top-seeded Sioux Falls Lincoln boys basketball team all it could handle The Patriots then brought the full freight of their No 1 operation in the second half and buried the Spartans' upset hopes in a 55-33 victory in the Class AA boys basketball state quarterfinals on Thursday afternoon at the Summit Arena The win gives Lincoln 11 wins in a row and puts the Patriots at 21-1 ahead of their Class AA state semifinal tilt against No the Patriots brought balanced offense to the table 13 points from Sam Ericsson on the strength of three 3-pointers and Brody Schafer tallied 11 points for Lincoln “It shows that guys are ready for the moment,” Lincoln coach Luke Hannemann said of the team’s balance “This is a lot bigger moment than when you’re at your own gym so making sure we have guys that are balanced scorers for us is just huge.” Spearfish wasn’t fazed by the Lincoln defense in the first half scoring 12 of its 20 points in the paint and shooting 45% from the field getting eight points from forward Cooper Gibbs inside The Spartans led by as many as five points midway through the first half Lincoln held a 10-0 edge in bench points in the first half driven nearly exclusively by Isaiah Teer’s seven points who averages 2.3 points per game for the season was one of the leading players for Lincoln in a 15-4 run to end the second quarter over a 4 1/2-minute span Dylon Doren scored to get Spearfish within two points Spearfish went cold — going without a field goal for 10 minutes and 10 seconds — and Lincoln turned it on with 19 points in a row Schafer and Ericsson each had 3-pointers for the Patriots in that run which spanned the quarter break and eventually put Lincoln up by 21 points and as many as 25 points before the final horn “Guys just locked in a little harder on defense,” Hannemann said of his team “They saw the pressure that Spearfish was coming with and they decided that they needed to bring the level of play up … We were doing a good job of keeping them in front of them.” which didn’t have a win against the state tournament field entering Thursday was led by Gibbs’ eight points and eight rebounds Doren had seven points and 10 rebounds for the Spartans who finished with 16 turnovers and will square off against Huron in the consolation round at 1 p.m South Dakota has been braving the weather during its annual Chinook Days festival a celebration of the world record temperature change set on January 22 the temperature in town spiked from -4°F to a balmy 45°F The phenomenon was caused by a powerful Chinook wind and quickly became a cornerstone for the town’s identity the local home-brew club has worked together with local breweries and Visit Spearfish to host the week-long Chinook Days festival This is the 6th year for Chinook Day and will run from January 18th to the 25th The festival features a variety of winter activities from snowshoeing and skiing to craft beer tastings and live music “It kind of showcases the heart of the community,” said Patrick Williams We’re throwing events regardless of the weather It’s a great community support piece and a piece of identity in the history of Spearfish.” dry winds that blow down the slopes of mountains While these are typically seen on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains they can be seen anywhere there is a large gradient in elevations It’s important to note that pressure decreases with height Pressure and temperature are also directly correlated the air pressure increases and are therefore the winds are compressed and warmed combined with a specific atmospheric setup created the perfect conditions for this extreme weather event but they were primed to cause a drastic change in temperature much like the one that was giving the Black Hills sub-zero temperatures last weekend taking already warm air and warming it further Many towns and villages across the Black Hills saw severe temperature changes Rapid City say a temperature change of 32° over the course of 4 minutes around 10:29am And while the initial temperature change in Spearfish was the most drastic the cold air of the arctic outbreak continued to try and push its way back into the area causing multiple temperature swings throughout the day who in is 1943 paper titled “The Remarkable Temperature Fluctuations in the Black Hills Region “if we consider the Black Hills region to be shallow to the south and deeper to the north lower elevations on the island become exposed to the warm air above the sloping surface of the sea of cold air but waves on the surface of this cold fluid continue to cause extremely sharp variations on the shore line.” Eyewitness accounts from the event paint a surreal picture of a surreal experience Frost was seen to instantly develop and thaw on people’s windshields and plate glass windows cracked under the stress Chief Airway Communicator for the then Black Hills Airport in Spearfish stated on January 22nd “The windshield of the car frosted so suddenly and so heavily that I was well toward the ditch before I could get stopped When I got out to clean the windshield of the car Jones of the Rapid City office for the Weather Bureau “At one time it was reported that the temperature at Lead was 52° while at the same time it was -16° at Deadwood.” These temperature changes are just one of many examples that highlight the unique weather that can be found only in the Black Hills the record-breaking temperature change is a source of pride and a testament to the region's hardy spirit The Chinook Days festival is a way to celebrate this unique history and bring the community together Here are just a few of the scheduled events "There are a lot of assumptions about how it’s smoke trails so that’s something I found interesting to learn about," said Cadet 2nd Lt This project builds on previous collaboration between NASA and the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) where over 4,000 cadets and senior members across the U.S gathered atmospheric data during the 2023 and 2024 solar eclipses The Lookout Mountain Composite Squadron has operated in the Black Hills since 1987 Civil Air Patrol is the official civilian auxiliary of the U.S Air Force and focuses on three primary missions: aerospace education The cadet program is open to youth aged 12 through 18 and character through an aviation-focused curriculum that includes learning about flight principles they participate in military drills and ceremonies They have numerous opportunities for hands-on experiences including orientation flights ride-along in military aircraft Advanced cadets can compete for scholarships for flight training and academics "I’m going to a flight academy this summer through Civil Air Patrol,” Rohde continued Spearfishing could be expanded to include game fish that are incompatible with other species spearfishing is only allowed for nongame fish species the Idaho Legislature approved an administrative rule proposed by the Fish and Game Commission allowing spearfishing as a legal method of take in waters prescribed by the Commission and it was initiated in May 2024 by anglers who requested modifying a prohibition on spearfishing of gamefish in waters where Fish and Game is actively trying to reduce certain species to reach management objectives.  Fish and Game fisheries managers are proposing spearfishing seasons for specific species in specific waters and where spearfishing would align with current management objectives outlined in the state fish management plan People can review proposals and comment by Monday After reviewing feedback and considering agency goals season recommendations will be presented to the Commission for their consideration at the May 21-22 meeting in Idaho Falls spearfishing seasons would take effect on July 1.  Buy Licenses Hunt Planner Hunter Ed Fishing Planner IFWF Hunt Report Report Wildlife Crime Volunteer! Report Roadkill - It's been twelve years since Spearfish has made it to the state tournament The Spartans won a SoDak 16 overtime thriller Saturday afternoon 54-48 to advance to the AA state tournament for the first time since 2013 Spearfish will face AA's top seed Sioux Falls Lincoln in the state quarterfinals on March 20th at 12 p.m (14) RC Stevens: 59 (3) Harrisburg: 70 FINAL(13) RC Central: 49 (4) Mitchell: 61 FINAL(12) Sturgis: 58 (5) Huron: 68 FINAL (5) Mahpiya Luta: 55 (1) Winner: 72 FINAL(3) St Francis Indian: 58 (2) Pine Ridge: 57 FINAL RAPID CITY — In a close battle between Rapid City Stevens and Spearfish girls basketball both sides were looking for someone to step up with a spot in the semifinals at stake senior standout Taaliyah Porter answered the call Leading the way with a double-double of 24 points and 11 rebounds Porter powered the fourth-seeded Raiders past fifth-seeded Spearfish 54-41 in the Class AA state girls basketball quarterfinals at the Summit Arena on Thursday Following the first half in a game similar to the team’s victory over the Spartans 55-52 back on Dec Stevens coach Adam Dannenbring looked to his team to start playing aggressively near the basket “(Spearfish) was doing a great job running us off the 3-point line because we shot the heck out of it at our last game,” Dannenbring said “We really focused on catching the basketball A competitive opening half of play saw four ties and six lead changes with neither team pulling away by more than four points the lead Spearfish had heading into the locker room at halftime Jozie Dana and Kate Scharf each put up seven points in the half while holding Stevens to 32% shooting Porter began to seize control of the game for the Raiders draining a 3-pointer from the top of the key and starting a 10-2 scoring run that put Stevens (17-5) in front Porter picked up eight of her 15 second-half points in the quarter proving her ability to lead the charge at critical moments “She’s so crafty,” Dannenbring said about Porter “She’s tough when she gets a step by and gets you on her hip they’re just excited that we won and get to play tomorrow night.” The lead grew to eight points following MacKenzie Schreiber’s triple inside the final minute of the period Kali Reiners and Mya Kochuten hit 3-pointers to pull Spearfish (17-5) back within two points early in the fourth quarter but late foul trouble combined with a 1-of-7 shooting performance allowed Stevens to pull away Schreiber finished with nine points off the bench on 3-of-4 shooting Halle Peterson ended the game with eight points and Finley Love picked up seven points Dana powered Spearfish’s scoring efforts with 12 points and seven rebounds Kochuten finished with eight points and two steals and Kate Scharf was 3-of-5 from the field en route to seven points The Spartans will take on Sioux Falls Jefferson in the consolation round at 1 p.m Rapid City Stevens will square off against top-seeded Sioux Falls O’Gorman in the Class AA girls semifinals at 7 p.m The Knights held off the Raiders 64-58 in overtime in last year’s state quarterfinals - The Rapid City Stevens girls basketball team has never played in the Summit Arena since it opened in 2021 as the Raiders compete in the State 'AA' girls basketball tournament for the 12th year in a row Rapid City Stevens clinched a spot in the state tournament last week with a convincing win over Huron in the SoDak 16 The Raiders are 16-5 on the season after winning five out of their last six games Senior Taaliyah Porter leads Stevens in scoring and rebounding with 21.7 points and nearly seven rebounds per contest Finley Love is averaging 7 points per game followed by Hayden Thorton with 5.8 points The Raiders will face the Spearfish Spartans in the first round at the state tournament on Thursday at 1:45 p.m the Raiders rallied in the fourth quarter to beat the Spartans Head coach Adam Dannenbring expects another tough match-up with Spearfish "I have the utmost respect for the Spearfish basketball program," said Stevens basketball coach Adam Dannenbring They have three girls that really scare me the way that they can shoot it and attack the basket they do a great job of just getting after it defensively and making it tough So we know that we have our hands full for sure." "We know what we're coming into," said Stevens senior Brittany Jones We know we're going to have people that are rooting for us and we're going to have people against We just got to be mentally and physically strong coming in." Spearfish is one of the hottest teams in Class 'AA' girls basketball Spearfish has three players averaging in double figures Mya Kochuten leads the way with 15 points per game followed by Jozie Dana with 13 and Kate Scharf with 11 Spartans head coach Dakota Johnson is pleased with the way her team is playing heading into the state tournament "I'm very happy with where they're at," said Spearfish basketball coach Dakota Johnson So just their perseverance throughout tough games and battles and that sort of thing It's really fun to be a part of and just kind sit back and watch sometimes." State 'AA' Girls Basketball Tournament in Rapid City #9 SF Jefferson vs #1 O'Gorman 12 p.m #5 Spearfish vs #4 RC Stevens 1:45 p.m #7 Pierre vs #2 Brandon Valley 6 p.m #6 Mitchell vs #3 SF Washington 7:45 p.m State 'A' Girls Basketball Tournament in Spearfish #8 Mount Vernon - Plankinton vs #1 SF Christian 12 p.m #5 Mobridge-Pollock vs #4 Hamlin 1:45 p.m #7 Sioux Valley vs #2 Dakota Valley 6 p.m #6 Wagner vs #3 Mahpiya Luta 7:45 p.m State 'B' Girls Basketball Tournament in Huron #8 Deubrook Area vs #1 Centerville 11 a.m #5 Bennett County vs #4 Parkston 12:45 p.m Mary's vs #2 Harding County 5 p.m #6 Sanborn Central - Woonsocket vs #3 Lyman 6:45 p.m The shortbill spearfish is not an easy fish to land all of whom are among the best at what they do In this video and Lee went out to look for Pacific blue marlin with Captain Cyrus aboard the Kraken and something pretty incredible happened: Lee wound up shooting a world-record shortbill spearfish A species of marlin that lives in the Indian and Pacific oceans and they’re lighting fast and very strong and this one will be a fish they’ll remember forever Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page.