Sports

Hill City makes history once again at state tournament

Published by admin on Wed, 03/26/2025 - 9:14am
Having already had an unforgettable and historic season and making its first appearance in the state tournament, the Hill City Rangers boys basketball team did it again last weekend inside the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls.
In a nail-biter of a game, the boys notched a fourth quarter, double-digit comeback against the Clark-Willow Lake Cyclones, earning their first ever win at a state tournament. That same game pushed them to their 20th win of the season, yet another Hill City basketball record. 

Ranger boys make history with first ever trip to state

Published by admin on Wed, 03/19/2025 - 1:50pm
The Hill City boys basketball team has made history. 
The Rangers qualified for its first ever state tournament in the school’s history with a win over Cheyenne Eagle Butte in the SoDak 16 March 11.
Playing on neutral ground in Sturgis, the Rangers took on the Braves with everything on the line. The stands were packed as both teams gathered to cheer on their team. Hill City had a huge showing for the event. 

Rangers punch ticket to SoDak 16 with win over STM

Published by admin on Wed, 03/12/2025 - 1:38pm
It was a packed house at the Hill City Gins Gym for the highly anticipated showdown between the regional number two seed Hill City Rangers and the number three seed, St. Thomas More Cavaliers last Friday night. 
The game was a re-match between the two teams after Hill City beat STM for the first time in 25 years Feb 22. The outcome of the game determined which team would secure a seat in the SoDak 16 and which team would have a season-ender.

Custer falls to Rapid City Christian in regional play

Published by admin on Wed, 03/12/2025 - 12:49pm

If you ask Custer High School head boys basketball coach Paul Kelley where things got away from his Wildcats last Friday night in the second round of regional play, he points to the third quarter.
The Wildcats were hanging tough down 11, but late in the quarter the Wildcats fouled Rapid City Christian’s Benson Kieffer on a three-pointer, sending him to the line for three free throws, all of which he made.

Weiss wins third consecutive state championship

Published by admin on Wed, 03/05/2025 - 3:22pm

The Custer High School boys wrestling team competed at the Class B State Wrestling Tournament in Rapid City this past weekend, coming away with 16th place as a team. Individually, two wrestlers also placed—with Leighton Sander earning sixth place and Tray Weiss earning his third consecutive state championship title. In team points, it garnered 40 points; Canton ran up a total of 189 points to take the team championship.
Head coach Jared Webster said that the tournament had its “ups and downs” but he was proud of the work the team did.

Ranger stun Wildcats at buzzer in opening round play

Published by admin on Wed, 03/05/2025 - 3:21pm

For roughly 27 of the 32 minutes of the game between the Custer Wildcats and the Hill City Rangers Feb. 25 at the Armory, the Wildcats had the lead.
As the clock struck 0.0 at the end of the fourth quarter and the ball fell through the hoop, however, the Wildcats were down by one.
So it went for the Wildcats, as their season was brought to a close in the first round of Region 8A play in a gut-wrenching 49-48 loss that literally wasn’t decided until the final buzzer.

Wildcat girls wrestling team places eighth at state

Published by admin on Wed, 03/05/2025 - 3:19pm

The Custer High School girls wrestling team earned eighth place in last weekend’s high school girls state wrestling tournament in Rapid City, with several wrestlers also earning their own spots on the podium. Placers included Addie Sander, fourth; Tiara Faehnrich, fifth; Avari Dorrance, fifth; and Jessica Hite, third.
“You know, the girls division is a true state tournament. We wrestled the A’s and the B’s all together and it’s really fun to be in that environment and see the athleticism come out of the girls. It’s just really pleasing to watch,” said coach Clayton Sander.

Ranger wrestling wraps up season

Published by admin on Wed, 03/05/2025 - 10:10am
Hill City junior Daisy Munoz competed at the South Dakota High School Class B Girls State Championships, which took place at The Monument in Rapid City Feb. 27 through March 1. 
Munoz competed in the 145-pound weight class but did not place or score team points. 

Rangers steal victory from ’Cats at the buzzer

Published by admin on Wed, 03/05/2025 - 10:07am
It may not have been a Cinderella story, but it was certainly a fairytale ending. 
The Hill City Rangers girls basketball team battled the Custer Wildcats in their first Class A, Region 8 playoff game held Tuesday night in Custer. 
The Wildcats had defeated the Rangers just four days earlier at the Rangers own Gins gym and both teams had a lot on the line going into Tuesday night’s matchup. The outcome would advance the winning team to the second round of playoffs and end the season for the other.  

Eight Wildcat wrestlers qualify for Class B state meet

Published by admin on Wed, 02/26/2025 - 4:08pm

The Custer High School boys wrestling team competed in the region 4B wrestling tournament in Rapid City over the past weekend, bringing home second place as a team and several individual placing spots, including a championship title for senior Tray Weiss. In total, eight members of the team qualified for state with two team members as alternates.
“It was a good weekend. We got to keep going and build off of that and keep that momentum going into this week,” said head coach Jared Webster.