Recent Posts

• Top Ten Teams Of All Time

  I typically blog about topics you fans have requested.  This column is different.  Today I bring you the Top Ten teams in South Dakota boys basketball history … even though nobody asked for it.  I am sure this will stir some debate.  I can hear it now: all of these Class A and B teams on the list … where are the AA teams?   Ladies and Gentlemen start your engines … and begin adding ...   

• Not Just Another Top Ten List

  I continue to receive requests for another Top 10 list but several of you have been asking for very specific items on that list which will, in turn, lead to me providing the “obvious” answer.  Yes, White River is the best basketball team in Class B … duh!  Yes, Padraic Duffy has already forgotten mo...   

• All Right I Was Wrong!

  Every year some dick texts me and proceeds to tell me how stupid I was to have a certain team in my preseason top 10.   Well, it’s happened again this year … several times.   It seems the ranchers up in the northwest corner of the state don’t like my slighting of Harding County and especially Faith and the good people from Potter County are a bit irate wit...   

• Class A District Champs

  In the spirit of “it’s never too early to pick the district champs” and in an attempt to recoup some of my losses from the Super Bowl … damn safety at the end of the game, I give you the betting man’s version of the Class A District Predictions. The Jackalope 2012-2013 Class A district predictions: District 1 At the en...   

• Class A Pondering

  Back at the end of last season I posted the following “Thoughts to ponder”.   Now, in mid-season, I bring you the update. Thoughts to ponder during the long off-season: Is the St Thomas More cupboard finally bare? This is what I posted last March: Seniors dominated the playing time for the Cavaliers during their latest championship ...   

• Class B Top 10

  The dart throwing usually employed to assist me in my top 10 rankings has failed me recently, so I am trying a new tactic.  It’s a little known method called “dice throwing” and it has served me quite well on several recent trips to Las Vegas … AKA the craps table.   Please bear with me as I fine tune this dice throwing.   For whatever it’...   

• The Answers

  Which Class A team boasts the dubious distinction of being located in the town with the infamous Olivia’s Adult Super Store? Answer: Tea … great place, as told to me by a friend of mine.   Which school was the first to win three boys basketball titles? Answer: Elkton … bet you though it was Sioux Falls Washington.  

• The Top Ten

  Here it is, this season’s cherry bustin’ top ten list: 10. Who will White River beat for the Class B title on Saturday night, March 16th in Aberdeen? Answer: Canistota … Coach Jolley has a formidable senior class loaded with boys who are used to winning.   They have won three straight football championships and the ...   

• Jack's Trivial Pursuit

  For those of you readers and fans who were wondering where I have been holed up this basketball season, I was a few miles north of Brookings in Codington County.   That’s as much intel as you are going to get.   The SD Sports Buzz management threatened me with either a firing or suspension of my pay if I didn’t start writing.   So, here it is: Jack’s Trivial Pursuit. Wh...   

• 2012-2013 Class A Preview

  Thoughts to ponder during the long off-season: Is the St Thomas More cupboard finally bare? Seniors dominated the playing time for the Cavaliers during their latest championship run and sans the Jeremy Henderson redshirt appeal, the 2012-13 Blue Cavalier team will be very green indeed.  Which brings me to my next pondering moment. Is there any other stat...   

• Class B Analysis For 2012-2013

  Back again by popular demand is my annual forecast for the next season.  This is my Class B District champs version … guaranteed to make you the hit of the office when you spout all of these trivial factoids about teams most don’t even care about and some have never even heard of.  If your office is the cab of your tractor or pickup, never fear because you can get on any ...   

• Jackalope Reveals His Name - Or Does He?

  It seems like every day I get an email or a tweet or an instant message asking “who are you”.  I don’t quite understand why anyone would care … as my wife constantly reminds me.  “You are no rock star, you know”.  Well, I tend to agree with her, there is no specialness going on here.  Basketball season has closed … the regul...   

• 2006 All Over Again In Class A Tournament

  I have numerous emails and texts from fans all across the state anxious to see my Class A tournament picks.  Here they are … read ‘em and weep unless you are a fan of the Big Blue Evil Empire aka St Thomas More. St Thomas More vs. Tri Valley STM is rolling along at a high rate of speed for a Cavalier but I see no slowing down in this 1 vs. 8 game...   

• Class B Picks

  I received tons of feedback from all the winners out there in Dakota Land after you placed your bets on my Class B Region picks.  So, here they are the Class B state tournament picks … guaranteed to make everyone a happy winner. The trendy pick is to go conservative and pick White River all the way ... I have never been one to follow the trendy types so who do you think I am ...   

• Class B Region Champs

  The Jackalope Class B Region champs, hot off the press, read it and start making your bets. Region 1 Rosholt vs. Langford The two best teams are playing for the region championship … no upsets here.  The Raiders are favorites to win the region.  They have a strong senior guard, Koby Jackson, for leadership and a tr...   

• Stone Cold Lock Bets On Post Season Class A Basketball

  Have you ever dreamed what it would be like to become a millionaire?  Every year I make that dream come true for the few smart folks out there who trust in the sage predictions of Jackalope.  The first year I had one true believer and she parlayed my basketball predictions into instant riches enabling her to move from the ranch into downtown Buffalo.  I ...   

• Who Are The Top Young Players In Class A?

  With all the nonsensical talk about the alleged differences between Class AA, A, and B, I thought about the entire freshman (and younger) players I have seen or heard about this year who are making an impact on Class A basketball.  I know this can’t be true … even though I witnessed most of it with my own two eyes (laser corrected I might add).  I came up with a list of 10 players who hav...   

• Class B Players Flying Under The Radar

  We all have a tendency to hype the players who are scoring and rebounding and leading their teams today … and there is nothing wrong with that.  However, I’m going to let you in on some well kept secrets about the future stars and solid team players to-be in the Class B ranks … secret that is, to all but their local fans. This is my list of those future team framework players who ...   

• The Case For White River -- The Best Team In The State

  I did some research and discovered a stunning conclusion to the annual question: Who is the best basketball team in South Dakota? This year it is unequivocally Eldon Marshall’s White River Tigers. Who do you think are the top teams in the state?  St Thomas More, Dell Rapids, Sioux Falls O’Gorman, Sioux Falls Lincoln, Mitchell, Pierre, Brookings?  Check out t...   

• Class B Mid-Season Report

  Here it is, the long awaited and much buzzed about Class B mid-season report. District 1 Pre-season pick was Rosholt Mid-season pick is Rosholt Rosholt has the best player in the district, Koby Jackson and a pair of really good juniors: Chase ...   

• Family Feud

  I asked Richard Dawson to assist me in revealing some interesting factoids about South Dakota boys basketball.  Yes, that Richard Dawson, the Hogan’s Hero and Family Feud superstar.  The Family Feud survey takers and answer collectors have been all over the state for the past month asking a series of questions for which inquiring minds want answers.  Unle...   

• Jeopardy!

  The first family of Irish basketball players. What are Kieran and Seamus O’Malley?  This Centerville pair replaces Liam and Caitlin Duffy as the leading Irish family in South Dakota basketball. 2. The last undefeated Class A team. What are the Deuel Cardinals?

• Do You Want To Know Who The Top Players Are In Class A

  I know opinions are like a-holes ... everybody has one.  However, in my world my opinion counts more than anyone else's.  So, here is Jack's opinion on the best players from each Class A region and then a list of honorable mention kids.  Some of the regions are loaded, others not so much.  For example: Region 1 is a bit weak and the caliber of the teams reflects that to some...   

• Class A Update

  My Class A pre-season predictions back in the spring of 2011 are highlighted in bold italics My updates after the first month of the season follow the pre-season predictions. District 1

• Jack Is Back

  Here are my random thoughts knocking around inside my head as we kick off another boys basketball season. 1. Watertown will not be as bad as some have predicted. Any time you have good guards you will be competitive in South Dakota high school basketball. Tanner and Blake Heiser give the Arrows solid guard play. Jared Johnson will need to contribute points and rebounds to give the Arrows a fightin...   

• Class B 2011-2012 Preview

  District 1 Rosholt is the pick here.  Koby Jackson a 6’2 senior guard is the heir apparent to current team mate Clay Anderson as the best player in the district.  When you add in a pair of good juniors: Adam Krueger and Chase Shypkowski and 6’5 Jordan Rolstad, Rosholt should win this district.  Summit with juniors Tanner Bartunek and Trecy Zirbel and Wilm...   

• What Does Brock Lesnar Have In Common With These Guys?

  This is a Top 10 list of South Dakota sports figures all of whom have made a big societal impact both in-state and on the national level.  These men demonstrate the positive effect extra curricular activities and especially sports have in molding and shaping our youth into positive contributors to our society.  ...   

• Leveling The Playing Field With The Multiplier

  In room 213 at the South Dakota High School Activities Association (SDHSAA) Headquarters in Pierre, a group of Athletic Directors from across the state have been secretly meeting every Monday since the 3rd of January.  This story reads like something from a Tom Clancy novel or at the very least like South Dakota’s version of the Manhattan Projec...   

• March Magic

  It’s March and that must mean it’s time for that annual prelude to spring: Bracketology or something basketball related or Spring Break and wet shirts and beer bongs or the annual whining about which teams are not playing in the state tournaments.   March in South Dakota is all about spring blizzards and road trips across...   

• Jackalope Pulls Away the Kimono and Exposes the Class B District Champs

  I usually charge big bucks for lock tight betting intelligence but I’m giving away the Class B district champs for free just to introduce all of you to The Jackalope Get Rich Betting on South Dakota High School Basketball web site.  Yes, it’s true, I’m about to divulge all the district champions.  Get your paper and pencil ready and start copying down this high...   

• Class A District Champions

  Back on March 26th 2010 I published my view of how I thought the Class A districts would play out.  After observing a few transfers and injuries and players who just didn’t perform up to expectations and those who emerged as contributors, I am ready to tweak these picks.  ...   

• I Had A Dream

  Martin Luther King had an infamous dream.  Jackalope, not to be outdone, also had a dream … famous or not so famous is to be determined.  Here we are at the Rapid City Civic Center on Saturday night March 19th and the final seconds are tickin...   

• Rapid Fire Q and A

  1.       Which team is the hottest in the state? St Thomas More, how can you argue with 8 wins in a row?  STM just beat Custer and Viborg Hurley on back to back nights and ...   

• Trending Up and Down Analysis

  Hitchcock – Tulare is trending up.  13-0 with no loss in sight and ranked number 1 in the Class B poll … you can’t get more up than the Patriots.  They have a game with James Valley Christian on February 12th and I predict the JVC record will show three losses after that game.  Joey Mitchell is having a fant...   

• Top 10 Q and A

  The Top 10 Questions As Compiled From The Corner Bar, The Barber Shop And The Corner Café 1. Can any South Dakota team beat Sioux Falls O’Gorman? 2.

• Class B Lacks Flashy Marquee Teams

  Last year was a banner year for a crap load of high quality Class B teams but not so much this year.   Last year alone in Region 1 there were three quality teams --- Hitchcock Tulare, Rosholt, and Langford ---  all of them better than the top team in that region, Hitchcock Tulare, is this year.   White River carried on the tradition from the King Louie years and demonstrated once again tha...   

• Class B Top 10

     Class B Top 10 This is one person’s opinion on the small class schools. Hitchcock Tulare --- Joey Mitchell is a returning 1st team all-state player and his play this year puts him in that same rarified category.   Austin Bushong and Scott Steinheuser saw big time minutes last year and Cordell Muilenberg and Pyne Lenocker are contributing. Canisto...   

• Games Of The Week At Hanson Classic

  I'm hoping my wife let's me out to play this weekend because there are some really classic games this weekend at The Corn Palace.   She still owes me for the time I let her take me to "She's Out Of My League" starring Alice Eve.   I wouldn't bet the ranch on my picks but if you're willing to take some risk, you can make enough to cover a couple popcorn balls and a pop between games.

• The Jackalope Theorum

  By now I'm sure that most of you have heard about the Jackalope Theorem.   The South Dakota Board of Regents recently approved and sanctioned the Jackalope Theorem official textbook as the definitive and authoritative guide on how to win a boys basketball championship.   Here's the Executive Summary: Start with a proven experienced ...   

• Class B Lacks Flashy Marquee Teams

  Last year was a banner year for a crap load of high quality Class B teams but not so much this year.   Last year alone in Region 1 there were three quality teams --- Hitchcock Tulare, Rosholt, and Langford ---  all of them better than the top team in that region, Hitchcock Tulare, is this year.   White River carried on the tradition from the King Louie years and demonstrated once again tha...   

• Game(s) Of The Week

  In AA the Game of the Week has to be Sioux Falls Washington traveling across city to O'Gorman.   This game will pit two top 5 Class AA teams.   Neither Washington nor O'Gorman has lost to a South Dakota team so the loser in this game will break that hymen.   Many are touting OG as "unbeatable" ... guess that team from Nevada, Findlay Prep, wrecked that notion.   But, then again, perhaps...   

• St Thomas More, Would You Bet The Farm On The Cavaliers?

  How about the same question we asked back in the 2005-2006 season ... St Thomas More or The Field?   If you were betting the farm, where would your money be, STM or The Field?   The Tommie More Cavaliers are back on top of the Class A rankings and have the team to beat this year in Class A.   However, before the Cavalier ...   

• Will The Real Number 1 Class A Team Please Stand Up?

  All right, I'm going to say it two games into the season. The Madison Bulldogs have to be imposters.  How can the defending Class A champs with three extremely talented seniors, Mitchell White, Michael Sullivan and Mitch Benson suddenly look so beatable this year after winning the last two Class A championships? Tri Valley stretched them to the limit in their opening game before ...   

• Sioux Falls Schools To Dominate The Basketball Season?

  Should we prepare for a repeat of the latest football championships, especially in 11AA and 11A, now that the basketball season is hitting us with full force? Specifically, what I am referring to is: Will Sioux Falls schools dominate the hardcourts this season like they did this fall on the gridiron? You don't need the latest census report to tell us all that 2 out of 3 counties a...