Both the boys and the girls basketball teams for Dakota Valley travelled during winter break for the Parkston Classic on Dec. 29. Teams from throughout South Dakota played at the Parkston Armory to close out 2023.

There is little doubt in anyone’s mind as to how strong the Panther boys basketball team is after a dominating win versus Sergeant Bluff-Luton on Saturday, Jan. 6. Dakota Valley bested the Warriors by a score of 69-41 on SBL’s homecourt.

December 22 brought a long road trip that was on the books for the Panther boys basketball team in Pine Ridge, SD to kick off winter break. Lakota Tech scored a 3 to start things, but Dakota Valley answered quickly with scores of their own. The Panthers were running and gunning to push up the floor early. Charlie Margeas had a nice steal that he took down the court and fed to Tish Wingert for the hoop.

The Dakota Valley Esports teams continued to see success in their 3rd week of competition from Dec. 18 to Dec. 21. They close out the 2023 year with some Panthers ranking at the top for the state. They are definitely a program to watch as play continues in 2024.

The momentum stayed high for the Panther girls basketball team as they garnered another victory on Tuesday, Dec. 19. This was a road win in Nebraska. Dakota Valley took on Hartington Cedar Catholic (HCC) to be victorious by a score of 61-54.

The Dakota Valley girls basketball roster went to Beresford on Tuesday, Dec. 12 for their first away contest and came home with a victory.

Eston Monical, of Dakota Dunes, competed in the men’s novice division at the Iowa State Judo Championship in Ames, IA, on Dec. 9, 2023. Monical is a 10th grader at Dakota Valley and won the Nebraska State Games Judo Championship this past July. He is currently studying Judo at Siouxland American Judo and Jujitsu with sensei, Johnny Trudeau also of Dakota Dunes. Monical, along with his younger brother, Hayes, plan to complete in the National State Games in San Diego, CA in the spring of 2024.

The Panther boys basketball team had their 1st away game in Beresford on Tuesday, Dec. 12.

It was an exciting week of play for Dakota Valley Esports as many matches were won from Dec. 11 through Dec.

On Tuesday, Dec. 12 the Panther wrestlers competed at Vermillion to take on the Tanagers and the Canton C-Hawks.