Marianne R. Nicoli, 64, of Chicopee, MA, passed away on Friday, December 21, 2018 at Ava’s House Hospice in Sioux Falls. In honoring Marianne’s wishes, there will be no service held. Marianne is survived by her children, Kara (Chirs) Merkwan of Dell Rapids and Kevin (Christa) Nicoli of New York. Funeral arrangements were under the care of Kahler Funeral Home. www.kahlerfh.com.
Low Prices at the Gas Pump During Holiday Season
Residents of Dell Rapids have been treated to gas prices under $2.00 a gallon just in time for Christmas holiday travel. The price for a gallon of unleaded with ethanol has dipped below $2.00 in the past week. Prices haven’t been under the $2.00 since early December of 2016.
In the Sioux Falls area, gas prices were at a 3-year low of about $1.36 in early 2016. Prices had steadily climbed since that time, and they reached a 3-year high of near $2.85, which happened in early October this year. Prices have been dropping since that high point. Just one month ago, the average in our area was $2.34.
According to GasBuddy.com, the Sioux Falls area is currently lower than the state and national average. The average in the Sioux Falls market as of December 24th is $2.05. The average price for a gallon of regular gas in South Dakota is $2.31. The national average is also at $2.31.
Five in a Row for Cardinal Boys
Four days after a near upset in Chester, the Dell Rapids St Mary Cardinal boys had no trouble winning their fifth in a row to start the season on Friday, December 21st. The Cardinals controlled the entire game over the Estelline/Hendricks Redhawks at Dell Rapids St Mary High School. St Mary defeated the Redhawks 69-33.
The Cardinals took a big lead in the first quarter of 21-10. The defense for St Mary held the Redhawks to just four points, and St Mary grew the lead to 48-14 by halftime. The halftime lead of over thirty points meant a running clock for the second half. The Cardinals outscored Estelline/Hendricks 21-19 in the second half.
Three players scored in double figures for St Mary. Connor Libis finished with 28 points. Weston Geraets had 12 points, and Sam Palmer finished with 10 points. Estelline/Hendricks was led by Marcis Hausman with 10 points.
St Mary (5-0) will play the Castlewood Warriors at the Entringer Classic in Brookings on Saturday, December 29th. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:00 p.m., and the game can be seen on Big Sioux Media.
John Scheafer
John C. Scheafer, 81, of Sioux Falls, formerly of the Chester/Colton area, began eternal rest Tuesday, December 18, 2018 at Avera Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls. Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 11:00 AM Saturday, December 22, 2018 at Huntimer-St. Joseph The Workman Catholic Church, rural Colton. Burial will be in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery. Visitation with the family present will be from 5:00 to 7:00 PM followed by a Christian Wake Service and praying of the Rosary Friday, December 21, 2018 at the church.
John was born in Montrose, SD on December 8, 1937 to John and Maxine (Singer) Scheafer. John attended and played basketball at Franklin High School, graduating in 1956. He joined the US Navy, traveling as far as Japan, and was honorably discharged in 1958. Afterward he obtained a BS in political science from USD and was a member of the fraternity Lambda Chi Alpha. He attended a year of law school at the University of Wyoming in 1965.
John and Mary Alyce McAreavey were joined in marriage in 1962, and while living and working in several places, raised five children. In 1976, they moved to the family farm near Colton, SD. Mary passed in 1983. John continued to farm and drive truck until 1991, when he bought the Chester Pool Hall and then sold it in 1996, returning to driving truck.
In 2000, John married Bernardine Schwans and they remained living in Sioux Falls after both were retired by 2011. They are members of the St. Mary’s Parish. John had developed his artistic skill of wood burning and kept busy with family events.
John is survived by his wife, Bernie; five children and their families, Curt (Shannen) in Sioux Falls and children, Quaid, Noah and Taite, Joli (Todd) Lofstedt in Louisville, CO and children, Addison, Ben and Sawyer, Angela (Kris) Aldrich of Dakota Dunes and children, Kelsey, Morgan (Cody) Potts, Carter and Jaycee, Ted of Sioux Falls and children TJ and Jake and John of Sioux Falls; siblings, Bill (Barb), Ken, Corinne (Roger) Bartlett, Irene Carmody and Tony (Gaye). He is also survived by step children, Troy (Laurie) Schwans and daughter, Rachel, Jay (Tesa) Schwans and children, Brittany Schwans, Mikayla (Mark) Johnson and Alex McDermott and Roxanne Schwans and children Jacob and Joshua Eichacker. He also has two step great-grandchildren.
John was preceded in death by his wife, Mary; parents and siblings, Mary, Daniel, Jerome,Vern, Barb, Elaine and two infants.
He will be greatly missed for his sense of humor, love of sports and faith in the Lord.
McCook Central/Montrose Edge Quarriers
Photo courtesy of Tammy Chamley – Dells City Journal
In a close battle in Salem, the McCook Central/Montrose Fighting Cougars edged the Dell Rapids Quarriers 56-53 on Thursday, December 28th.
The two teams remained really close throughout the entire first quarter, and they ended in a 13-13 tie after the first quarter. The Fighting Cougars went on a 14-4 run in the first three minutes of the second quarter for a 27-17 lead. Dell Rapids responded by outscoring McCook Central/Montrose 16-4 over the remainder of the quarter for a 33-31 halftime lead.
Both teams battled back and forth in the third quarter scoring 12 points each. Dell Rapids maintained a two point lead at 45-43 heading into the final quarter. The Fighting Cougars outscored the Quarriers 9-5 for a 52-50 lead with 4:24 to go in the game. Dell Rapids took a 53-52 lead with 2:20 to play, but the Fighting Cougars responded with a three-point basket moments later to regain the lead at 55-53 with just under 2:00 to play. Dell Rapids was unable to get another basket the remainder of the game as McCook Central/Montrose held on for the win.
Emma Paul finished with 20 points and five rebounds for the Quarriers. Jayda Knuppe added 16 points, and Ravyn Hoffman scored 11 points. Jacy Pulse led the Fighting Cougars with 20 points.
Dell Rapids (3-2) will play in Flandreau against the Fliers on Friday, December 28th. The game can be seen on Big Sioux Media.
Redhawks Pull Away from Cardinals in Second Half
A second half surge by the Estelline/Hendricks Redhawks gave them a 54-37 win over the Dell Rapids St Mary Cardinals on Thursday, December 20th at Dell Rapids St Mary High School.
The Cardinals were able to get shots up in the first quarter, but not many fell for them. St Mary was only able to score five points in the opening quarter, but the defense held Estelline/Hendricks to just 11 points. The shots starting falling for St Mary in the second quarter, and they were able to chip into the lead by halftime. The Redhawks led 24-19 after the first two quarters.
Estelline/Hendricks clamped down on defense and their offense scored nearly 20 points in the third quarter. The Redhawks outscored St Mary 18-7 to take a 42-26 lead into the final quarter. The fourth quarter was pretty even between the two teams at 12-11, but the lead the Redhawks built in the third quarter proved to be enough for the win.
Elle Heinitz had 16 points and two rebounds in the game. Ella Griffin finished with 14 points and five rebounds. Maddie Schwebach tallied five points and pulled down 13 rebounds. Estelline/Hendricks was led by Kaylee Johnson with 15 points and five rebounds.
The Cardinals (3-3) will play in Garretson on Friday, December 28th.
Solid Second Half Leads to Quarrier Win
Photo courtesy of Rhodna Rentz
A solid second half performance gave the Dell Rapids Quarrier boys basketball team their first win of the 2018-2019 season. Dell Rapids defeated the Baltic Bulldogs 61-40 on Tuesday, December 18th at Dell Rapids High School.
Baltic had early momentum as they opened the game on a 5-2 run. Dell Rapids responded with a 10-0 run for a 12-5 lead. The Bulldogs, however, closed out the first quarter on an 8-1 run as the two teams ended the first quarter in a 13-13 tie. The Quarrier defense shut down Baltic in the second quarter, and Dell Rapids outscored the Bulldogs 15-5 for a 28-18 halftime lead.
The offense kept rolling for Dell Rapids as they started the third quarter on a quick 5-0 run. The Quarriers kept the lead at around 15 points most of the third quarter and led 42-28 heading into the the four quarter. Dell Rapids then outscored Baltic 19-12 in the final quarter in the win.
Connor Rentz led all scorers in the game with 20 points. Logan Ellingson added 13 points, and Drew Van Regenmorter had 10 points. Van Regenmorter also had 15 rebounds and seven assists in the game. Zach Polzin led Baltic with 11 points.
Dell Rapids (1-2) will be off until Saturday, December 29th. They will play Sioux Valley at the Entringer Classic in Brookings. That game can be seen on Big Sioux Media.
Quarrier Girls Bounce Back Against Baltic
Photo courtesy of Rhonda Rentz
After a loss on Saturday to De Smet, the Dell Rapids Quarrier girls basketball team bounced back with a big win over the Baltic Bulldogs on Tuesday, December 18th. The Quarriers defeated the Bulldogs 62-13 at Dell Rapids High School.
Dell Rapids got out to a big lead in the first quarter and were in complete control the entire game. The Quarriers led 19-2 after the first quarter and pushed their lead to 32-8 at halftime. Baltic was only able to score five more points as Dell Rapids added 30 more on their way to the win.
Seven different Quarrier players scored in the game, four of them in double figures. Emma Paul finished the game with 13 points. Ravyn Hoffman had 11 points, and Aspen Hansen and Jenae Schoeberl both had 10 points each. Jayda Knuppe and Zoey Hilmoe both had eight points each. Josie Oyen led Baltic with six points in the game.
The Quarriers (3-1) will travel to Salem to take on the McCook Central/Montrose Fighting Cougars on Thursday, December 20th.
Cardinal Boys Avoid Upset, Stun Flyers
Missed free throws and last second heroics were all part of an exciting win for the Dell Rapids St. Mary Cardinals over the Chester Area Flyers on Monday, December 17th. The Cardinals rallied from an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter for a 61-59 overtime win at Chester Area High School.
The Cardinals held the early lead in the game after the first quarter. St. Mary led by three points at 20-17. Chester Area then held St. Mary to just six points in the second quarter and took a 37-26 lead into halftime. Both teams scored 15 points in the third quarter, and the Flyers still held their 11-point lead at 52-41 heading into the final quarter.
St. Mary’s defense did hold the Flyers to just three points in the final quarter, but missed free throws by Chester Area left the door open for the Cardinals late in the game. Chester led 52-45 with two minutes to go in the game. Connor Libis knocked down a baseline jumper with 1:45 to cut the lead to five points. With 1:25 to go, Bayden Schneider made one of two free throws to make it a 53-47 game. Libis made a long three-point shot moments later to cut the lad to 53-50. After a steal, Ethan Geraets made two free throws with under a minute to go to pull the Cardinals within a point, 53-52.
The Flyers were called for an offensive foul while in-bounding the basketball, but the Cardinals couldn’t capitalize. A missed shot was rebounded by Chester. E. Geraets was called for a reach-in foul on the inbound, but also took an elbow to the jaw which resulted in a flagrant foul by Chester. Schneider made both free throws awarded to him because of a bonus, and Libis went one of two on the flagrant foul free throws. Chester led 55-52 with :31 to go. A missed shot by St. Mary went out of bounds to Chester with :17.5 to go. The Cardinals fouled six seconds later sending Brock Wages to the free throw line. Wages missed both free throws, which kept the lead at three points. Connar Kangas was given the ball at the top of the key with :03 to go, took two dribbles to the right wing, and launched a three-point shot at the buzzer that went in tying the game at 55-55.
St. Mary took the early lead at 57-55 in overtime. Chester tied the game 57-57 with two free throws. Libis hit another baseline jumper to give the Cardinals the lead again at 59-57. Chester went one of two from the free-throw line with just under 3:00 to go to make it a one-point game. Weston Geraets gave St. Mary a two-point lead after a one-for-two trip to the free-throw line. Neither team scored again until :55 to go when Chester again made one of two free throws to make it a 60-59 game. With :09 to go, Stratton Eppard was sent to the free-throw line on a close block/charge call that went against the Cardinals. Eppard missed both free throws, and W. Geraets grabbed the rebound and was fouled. W. Geraets made one of two free throws, and the Cardinals held on for a 61-59 win after a missed last-second three point shot by the Flyers.
Chester finished the game with zero field goals in the fourth quarter and overtime. The Flyers finished the game shooting 18-32 from the free-throw line, while the Cardinals were 11-18.
Libis had 21 points in the game to lead all scorers. Kangas finished with 12 points, and W. Geraets added 11 points. W. Geraets also led the team in rebounds with six in the game. Sam Palmer had a team-high four assists. The Flyers were led in scoring by Chris Mohr with 18 points.
St. Mary (4-0) will look to remain unbeaten when they host Estelline/Hendricks on Friday, December 21st. The game can be seen on Big Sioux Media.
Chester Snaps Cardinal Girls Win Streak
The Dell Rapids St Mary Cardinal girls basketball team had their three-game winning streak snapped at the hands of the Chester Area Flyers on Monday, December 17th. The Flyers defeated the Cardinals 61-53 at Chester Area High School.
The Flyers started quickly by building a nine-point lead of 18-9 at the end of the first quarter. They again held the Cardinals to just nine points in the second quarter, and the Chester Area lead grew to 16 points by halftime at 34-18. The Flyers pushed the lead to 20 points by the end of the third quarter to 49-29. St Mary tried to make a furious come back in the fourth quarter by scoring 24 points, but Chester was able answer every time St Mary got close.
The Cardinals shot 27% (16-60) from the field in the game, and 23% (5-22) from the free-throw line. The Flyers were 38% (24-64) from the field and 69% (9-13) from the free-throw line.
Ella Heinitz finished with a team-high 17 points, and Maddie Schwebach added 14 points. Schwebach led the team with 10 rebounds. Jadon Wages had 20 points to lead the Flyers.
St Mary (3-2) will host Estelline/Hendricks on Thursday, December 20th. The game can be seen on Big Sioux Media.