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The 1977-78 Stanley County boys basketball team made
history as the first team ever from Fort Pierre to play in a state
basketball tournament.
They also earned their way into the hearts of South Dakota
basketball fans in front of capacity crowds and statewide television
audiences by upsetting four top-ranked teams and ending their year
with a 20-6 record.
Theirs was a real-life Cinderella story. The Buffalos’ run to a third-place finish in the 1978 State B Tournament began with an 81-77 victory over Gettysburg in the district championship. In the region tournament, they avenged a regular season loss to Jones County and pounded John Thune’s Coyotes, 63-37. In the region title tilt, few gave the Buffalos a chance against #3-ranked Chamberlain. A blizzard stranded travelers across the state but, like a scene from Hoosiers, the Buffalo faithful huddled around radios to hear their team knock off the Cubs, 68-62. As Stanley County prepared for the state tournament, fans statewide consulted highway maps to locate this unheard-of school. The opening round game pitted the Buffalos against defending champion and #2-ranked Webster. Stanley County shocked the state in front of 10,000 fans and many more television viewers by upsetting the Bearcats 65-63. “Buffalomania” swept the state as fans got behind the run-and-gun upstarts from unknown Fort Pierre. In their semifinal matchup, Stanley County faced #1-ranked and undefeated Armour, considered by some to be the best team in state history. The Buffalos kept spectators on the edge of their seats for three quarters before eventually falling to Burnell Glanzer’s eventual 1978 state champion Packers. Although they would not play for a state title, the Buffalos had won the hearts of South Dakota. Although few gave them a chance (again) against a talented Custer team, Stanley County was not to be denied a final victory at the Arena. The Buffalos treated fans to one more thrilling upset, knocking off the Wildcats 43-41 and etching themselves permanently into state basketball lore. Their run through the tournaments, avenging regular season losses and upsetting top-ranked teams, made the Stanley County Buffalos the Hoosiers of their time. They earned the respect of the South Dakota basketball world and blazed a new trail for Stanley County basketball. Coaches: Ron Lawrence, Leon Breske Team Members: Ray Boardman, Eddie Christianson, Sean Deal, Sanford Deal, Dan Duffy, Mark Hackett, Ron Jeffries, Andy Murphy, Tom Oleson, Randy Peterson, Mark Reinhard, Ben Smith. Manager: Rob Louder. |