State high school football playoffs continue tonight with the quarterfinal round. Teams across the state are hosting or traveling to tonight’s game in hopes of continuing on to the semifinals. As SDPB’s Cassie Bartlett reports, one team is making some accommodations to play.
Dakota Valley is traveling more than 450 miles to take on Spearfish in one of tonight’s 11-A quarterfinal games. Dakota Valley Activities Director Bill Clements says the team played St. Thomas More of Rapid City two years ago in the quarterfinals, but the game against Spearfish is the farthest post-season game the Panthers have played. Clements says although the new system of reseeding teams after the first round ensures the best two teams are in the championship game, it causes some geographical concerns. He says Dakota Valley has had to work around its budget for the long trip.
“We try to leave some setting there just in case in our travel budget. The state does reimburse us for some of the rooms and meals and stuff, and what I mean by state is the activities association, so that helps offset some of the costs. But the school does have to pick up the tab on some extra meals and everything, but we feel that’s well worth it and all part of being involved in interscholastic activities,” Clements says.
Clements says the staff has been trying to keep the team together as much as possible and eat healthily so they’re ready for tonight’s game. The Panthers and Spearfish Spartans play at 6 p.m. Mountain Time. For South Dakota Public Broadcasting, I’m Cassie Bartlett.
