After this weekend, I believe that the Sweet 16 really worked out during both the State A and State B volleyball tournaments held in Rapid City.
Both Class B and A had the top teams battling for the championship throughout the two-day tournaments - and the best teams in the state came out on top.
If you went through the polls during the season, the top three teams in Class A were Sioux Falls Christian, Dakota Valley and Madison. And that is exactly how they finished in the State A Tournament.
In the Class B polls, throughout most the season it was Northwestern, Warner and Chester, 1-2-3. That is also how they finished in the State B Tournament. The championship match on Saturday pitted the best two teams in the state for many years. Before the Sweet 16 format, one of these teams would get bumped out because they were in the same region.
The Sweet 16 is looking like it is working really well thus far, getting the top eight teams to the State Tournament and the top teams placing high.
ABOUT LARRY LEEDS
Larry Leeds was born and raised in South Dakota, graduating from Colman High School in 1974. He continued his education at USD/Springfield and Dakota State University and received a bachelor's degree in physical education and history in 1979. He later obtained a journalism degree from South Dakota State University.
Before coming to Madison, Leeds worked at weekly papers in Flandreau, St. James, Minn., Redfield and Hayti (Hamlin County Publishing with Castlewood and Estelline).
He has a passion for all sports, especially high school sports and amateur baseball, because these teams are filled with players who want to be playing the game.
His favorite teams are the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Chicago Bears, Minnesota Twins and Timberwolves, and New York Yankees.
Leeds is also a NASCAR fan whose favorite drivers are Dave Blaney and his son Ryan.
