Memories Worth Reliving - 2007-08 Women's BB Run

 Some memories are worth reliving -- over and over.

After watching what the 2010-11 South Dakota women's basketball team accomplished in 2010-11, I couldn't help but reflect on Coyotes' 2007-08 women's basketball season, which include a memorable postseason run.

Ryun Williams' current Coyote team had a remarkable second half of the season and a 20-11 record, including a historical first, winning the University's first postseason game in DI history. 

In Reflection 

Smiles form when your Alma Mater, whether it is high school or college, taste success. When someplace that remains part of who you are enjoys winning moments, you bask in the glory. I always pay attention to Gettysburg High School (SD). When they do well, I smile a bit and every now and then, give a "heck yes" to the Battlers. When they fail, as has been the case numerous times in the football playoffs, I also feel some of the anguish that envelopes team members and supporters.

I feel the same way for USD. When the football team had its program-defining win over the Minnesota Gophers last fall, I was watching it on the Big Ten Network. I have a DVD of the game, and pop it in occasionally because that moment was real and special. When they won that game, I did a little jig in my townhouse and spoke with a lot of pride to all my friends and associates, who aren't U grads but were impressed with the win.

Earlier this winter, as I sat in my living room, with my dog Sierra, at my feet, watching the Shawshank Redemption and a bowl of popcorn in front of me, I had the USD website opened up to its live stats link as the Coyotes battled California-Bakersfield in the College Basketball Invitational Tournament. It was postseason basketball, no not the NCAA but still something significant for a program in transition. I was smiling early as USD built a small lead but eventually, I felt a little glum as the tide turned and the Coyotes lost. Season over.

It was a little different feeling than I had three years ago, but in some ways similar. The winning feeling was halted at the end with a loss. While the ending wasn't the Cinderella ride we all hoped for, then and now, what these Coyote women achieved will always be a time and experience to cherish.

Optimism High for Coyote Nation

Optimism was high in Coyote Nation for the 2007-08 Coyotes, which was coming off a 22-9 season, including a berth in the national playoffs. Their hopes for a shot at the Elite Eight Division II Championships had ended in the first round of  the NCAA DII regional playoffs in Grand Forks, N.D.

The 2006-07 team found out how cruel sports can be. In the semifinals of the NCC Tournament that season, Jeana Hoffman, one of the all-time greats at USD, was hurt and forced to miss the NCC finale against North Dakota and the first round of the NCAA regional.

The Coyotes, although shorthanded, nearly pulled off a win. Sophomore forward Bridget Yoerger scored a career-high 30 points and also grabbed 10 rebounds while Jenna Hoffman had 14 points and seven rebounds with Shannon Daly chipping in 12 points as the Coyotes stayed close till the end. If not for CSP hitting 14-of-28 from three-point range, including six from a reserve, the Coyotes may have moved on. USD was able to take a 60-59 lead with 6:56 to play but was done in by a bevy of big shots from CSP.

While national polls left the Coyotes out of their polls at the start of the 2007-08 season, the USD band would change things and fairly quickly.

Losing - Unacceptable

Early in that fall, while listening to the radio broadcast for the South Dakota women's basketball game, my restive behavior was evident as soft grumbles fell out of my mouth.

After scoring 91 points twice in wins to open the season, USD suffered through shooting woes in falling to Adams State, 83-79. As I sarcastically commented out loud, my colleague across the room, Jake Strait, told me to relax. It was too early to worry about one game, he said. "Yeah, right," I said to myself.  "Here we go again, losing a game we should win handily. Why? Why?"

Truth be known, I am a bit self-deprecating about my teams. Not a pretty sight I know. Ask anyone about my passion for the Steelers, or Tigers and especially for the Coyotes, and you will find that I don't take losing very well. I can accept it, and you have too, but I don't like it.

I have been a Coyote fan since early in my teens, while watching Coyote basketball on TV as a teenager. I remember Dick Authier and noted his effort. I also recalled earlier days when Rick Nissen led the Miller Rustlers to a state title against Yankton in 1972 and then Nissen became an All-American at USD.

I was hooked. I began following the Coyotes. As my senior year unfolded, I knew I was headed to South Dakota. I weighed football scholarship offers from Huron and Dakota Wesleyan, and even a 1/2 scholarship from Northern State with my desire for USD, Coyote land won me over.

It made sense, a small town kid going to the state university in a small city. It was the right decision even as my best friends ended up at SDSU in Brookings or Northern State in Aberdeen, S.D.

When I arrived in Vermillion, in my parent's car weighed down by my junk, I knew this was my new home. Brookman Hall was perfect for an impressionable 18-year old. I didn't have a vehicle, not even a stereo, but I had found my place. I made friends fast at Brookman and Julian Hall and later Olson Hall before ending my time at Plum Villa. As I crossed the graduation stage, I felt as if I were flying. I felt proud, a big smile on my face, and in that short 10 seconds it took to cross, the memories of my college days flashed in my mind. As I neared President Chuck Lein those memories were replaced with one thought, don't trip. I didn't.

From that experience, which was regenerated with my Master's degree in 1996, you feel really proud. It is what you feel when you are part of something.

I will always bleed Coyote red. I have a Coyote addiction to be sure.

Imagine with me for a moment, reflecting on when your sports teams have tasted the grandeur of victory (maybe not you Cubs fans).

I was in a packed lounge when the Coyotes dominated Nebraska-Omaha on regional ABC TV and won a league football title in 1978. I was there when the men's basketball team played in two straight Elite Eight Championships in the early 1990s behind the coaching of Dave Boots. I was there for the National Indoor Nationals in the Dome which attracted some of the world's best athletes for track and field competition. I was there when the 2005 football team, resurrected by Ed Meierkort, won an NCC title in 2005 at the DakotaDome. And, I was there when the Coyote women made their championship run three years ago.

The Season

As the season unfolded,  It was the beginning of a basketball pilgrimage for a team that set its destination for Kearney, Neb., home of the Women's Elite Eight DII Championships. While they had to circumvent some bumps in the road, the Coyote wagon train made it and with style and class.

The night after an early season loss to Adams State, USD rolled to a 82-66 win over Colorado College with All-American-to-be Jeana Hoffman leading the way with 21 points. It was a milestone win as the Coyotes recorded its 500th win in the program's history, dating back to the 1971-1972 year.

Next on the trail was a stop in Maryville, Mo., where USD picked up a 79-56 win over unbeaten Northwest Missouri State as Yoerger had her seventh career double double and Hoffman again cracked 20 points.  From there, they kept the wagon rolling. Yoerger had 20 points and 10 rebounds as USD destroyed 22nd-ranked Nebraska-Kearney, 84-51, at the DakotaDome. USD rolled to its fourth straight win in a 76-47 pasting of College of St. Mary's.

The team faced a big obstacle out west but handled California-Dominquez, 59-50, rallying from an 11-point second half deficit. The next night, Jeana Hoffman's 26 points led USD to a 82-66 win over Dixie State as USD improved to 8-1. The Coyotes, unranked at the season's start, finally broke into the top 25 (22nd) in the polls released on December 11th.

As the weather turned colder, the Coyotes were warming up the DakotaDome. A couple of wins later, the Coyotes moved to 11-1 with a 89-53 win over Northern State in Aberdeen. The Coyotes made 14 three-point field goals in 27 attempts in the win.

At Wayne, Neb., the Coyotes faced long odds of winning, trailing 65-63 in the final seconds before a steal and a three-pointer by Jeana Hoffman rescued 19th-ranked USD, which had its first 10-game winning streak since the 2003-04 season.

All this pre-conference winning was nice but in 2006-07, USD also won early then hit the skids by losing two straight home games to start the NCC season. What a difference a year makes.

Led by Jeana Hoffman's 25 points and six three-pointers, the Coyotes defeated Augustana, 85-80, in overtime, in their NCC opener at the Sioux Falls Arena on Jan. 12. On that night, Hoffman surpassed 1,000 points in scoring for her career.

With the win, USD moved up to 10th in the country. But ahead on their trail was a daunting task, the #1 ranked North Dakota Fighting Sioux. The challenge was even greater, USD was playing a team on the road that had beaten them eight straight times. 

I, unfortunately, couldn't make the trip. With the Derek Miles and Friends pole vault competition going on in the DakotaDome, I stayed home to help with that big-time event. Yet, as the Coyote women's game started, I opened up my laptop and pulled up the web broadcast offered by UND. Between running down to the Dome floor where hundreds of people were gathered for the pole vault competition, I was continually pulled back to my office to follow the women's basketball team encounter with UND.

It was a memorable afternoon. The opportunity to watch Olympic pole vaulters do their thing in the DakotaDome was rare and probably a once in a lifetime thing. In the vaulting competition, five U.S. Olympians, including some of the best in the U.S. Guys like Brad Walker, Tye Harvey, Jeff Hartwig and Toby Stevenson, along with USD's Derek Miles, were delighting the fans with high wire acts of athleticism.

As the Coyote women stayed with North Dakota, my attention was split. Not only was it breathtaking to watch some of the world's best pole vaulters compete, but the anxiety of the UND-USD game was creating some antsy moments.

As the competition concluded (USD's own Derek Miles and top ranked Brad Walker tied for title), the basketball game, too, was concluding and with some hard-nosed and "ice in the veins" play, the Coyotes emerged victories. 

The win was achieved, in part, by the efforts of the firey Mitchell, S.D., twin sister combination. Twenty points from Jeana Hoffman and 16 points from her sister Jenna, who also had five assists and five rebounds, helped South Dakota defeat #1 North Dakota, 70-67. The Coyotes won its 14th consecutive game and moved to 16-1 which tied the 2002-03 team for the best start in school history. The Coyotes won for the first time in Grand Forks since 2002-03.

After the huge win at North Dakota, USD moved up to #6 in the national rankings and promptly rolled past Nebraska-Omaha, 78-57, and Minnesota-Duluth, 72-39, at the DakotaDome. In the the final of a three-game home stand, USD struggled but rallied to defeat #16 Minnesota State, 73-68. Down 64-60 with 5:35 to play, the Coyotes closed on a 13-4 run to win its 19th game in 20 starts, the best 20-game span in school history. Shannon Daly sparked USD to the win with 16 points including a key basket with 1:15 left in the game.

At Nebraska-Omaha, Jeana Hoffman scored 21 points and the fourth-ranked Coyotes made 13 three-point baskets to take a 78-68 win. The Coyotes improved to 20-1, winning their 18th straight game, which tied the 18-game consecutive wins streak of the 1983-84 team. In a 74-51 win over Minnesota State on Feb. 14, USD made 15 three-point baskets, including 9-of-15 in the second half as USD broke the school record for consecutive wins. In a 67-62 win over St. Cloud State, South Dakota took advantage of a little charity to win. They made a season-high 24 free throws in the win.

With an angry North Dakota coming to town, the Coyotes were tested but fought off the third-ranked Sioux, 76-65, at the friendly confines of the DakotaDome. After UND had tied the game at 54 in the second half, fourth-ranked USD finished on a 22-11 run to sweep the season series for the first time since the 2002-03 season. Five players, led by 15 points from Jeana Hoffman, scored in double figures.

USD won its 22nd straight game and clinched a tie for the NCC crown with a 74-54 win over Minnesota Duluth on the road on Feb. 23. With 16 points, Yoerger became the third member of the Coyotes (Ashley Robinette, Jeana Hoffman ) to crack 1,000 career points.

In their next outing, the third-ranked women's team won the NCC outright by beating rival Augustana, 82-42, at the DakotaDome, improving to 25-1 with its 23rd straight victory. Jeana Hoffman had 12 points, breaking the USD's individual three-point field goal record (89, Shelby Peterson, 1994) with four (92 overall) against the Vikings. South Dakota won its first outright NCC title since the 1984-85 team and the first overall title since 2002-03.

USD ended the regular season with a 74-59 win over St. Cloud State as the Coyotes finished 26-1 and became just the sixth and final team in the NCC history to finish with a 12-0 record. During halftime of the men's game against St. Cloud State, Colin Kapitan, representing the NCC, presented head coach Chad Lavin with the league championship trophy. USD also honored the four seniors Shannon Daly, Ashley Robinette, Jeana Hoffman and Jenna Hoffman.

The Coyotes earned the #1 seed in the NCC Tournament and the opportunity to host the event. After a first round bye, USD upended Minnesota State, 85-74, in the semifinals. It was the third time that they had defeated the Mavericks that season. Jeana Hoffman had her 12th 20 point game of the season, scoring 22 points to lead USD, which improved to 27-1, tying the school record for wins (27-5, 2002-03). 

The win set up a North Dakota-South Dakota NCC Tournament final for the second year in a row. In 2006-07 at Grand Forks, the Coyotes hung tough for a while but the Sioux dominated in the final five minutes to take a 72-49 victory. Things were a bit different in 2007-08. For the third time, the third-ranked Coyotes defeated North Dakota, taking a 72-69 win for its first NCC Tournament title in school history.

It was also the first time that the Coyotes had defeated the Sioux three times in a season. Jeana Hoffman had six three-point field goals and 20 points to lead the way. She was named the tournament MVP. Yoerger added 15 points and 12 rebounds while Robinette had 14 points, making 4-of-7 three-point field goals.

For the tournament, Robinette made 7-of-11 from three-point range. Hoffman, Yoerger and Robinette all were named to the all-tournament team. The victory broke an 18-game NCC tournament winning streak by UND, and provided the Coyotes with its 28th win, establishing a school record.

Selected to host the regional, USD won a defensive battle to open the NCAA Division I playoffs at the DakotaDome. The Coyotes emerged with a 66-55 win over Colorado State-Pueblo as Yoerger had 20 points and freshman Amber Hegge had 16 points. The Coyotes, who struggled through a difficult shooting night, took a 35-23 lead at halftime. Then, back-to-back three pointers from Ashley Robinette with 6:34 to play provided the U with a 59-42 advantage. The win was USD's first in an opening round NCAA Tournament game since the 2002-03 season.

In their Domed facility on the prairie, South Dakota took another step forward with a 59-48 decision over Nebraska-Kearney in a physical semifinal battle. With their second victory for Nebraska-Kearney that season, the Coyotes advanced to the regional final and advanced to the "Sweet 16" for the third time in history. While the Lopers made several runs, USD maintained a safe distance throughout the game. The Coyotes took a 33-25 halftime lead before jumping the margin to 40-27 early in the second half. They led, 47-35, at the 6:07 mark and 53-40 with about four minutes to play.

In history, as adventurers set out to conquer lands, they faced challenges and opportunities, often at the same moment. While sports are not Lewis and Clark life and death explorations, for South Dakota to continue toward its own promised land, they had to exact the courage and commitment to take the next step. To win the regional championship for the first time in school history, USD would need to defeat Minnesota State - Lori Fish's talented squad that the Coyotes had already defeated three times during the season.

On paper, it seemed that USD should run away with the championship. They were unbeaten at home and had won 28 straight games. But earlier that season at the Dome, the Mavericks had tested USD to its limits. The same was expected in the regional final.

In those challenging moments, leadership is required. On that championship night, a small, 5'5 senior stepped up and wouldn't let the Coyotes season end. All those days of practice time in the DakotaDome two  years earlier paid off for Shannon Daly and USD. Daly, who had transferred to USD two years earlier from Southwest Minnesota State, led the Coyotes to a win with 21 points, most of them coming on drives to the basket. "Sunshine" shined as South Dakota took a historical step and advanced to its first-ever Elite Eight Championship.

Daly was named the Regional Most Outstanding Player as she delivered time and again for USD which outscored MSU, 10-3, in the first 6:34 of the second half for a 38-30 lead. MSU cut the lead to 38-34 but that was as close as the Mavs would get to the Coyotes. Jenna Hoffman's three-point field goal with six minutes to play gave USD a 46-37 lead and her sister knocked down a three point shot with 4:53 to play for a 52-38 advantage. When Yoerger also hit from long distance and Jenna Hoffman hit a pair of free throws with 2:53 left for a 59-40 lead, the Coyotes were in cruise control, finishing with a 61-49 decision. Daly and Jeana Hoffman were both named to the all-tourney team.

As the final seconds wound down, smiles rolled across the players' faces and the supporters sensed a bit of history taking place.

As Coach Lavin took out his starters, he had a big hug for each of them. I didn't get to see the nets being cut down, I was working with media, handling a postseason press conference with Jake Strait, and making sure to get a story and box score up on the website as soon as possible. As I worked with the media, I couldn't help myself, I couldn't wipe that big smile off my face. It was to stay there for awhile (hasn't left yet).

At the national tournament, USD was pitted against 24th-ranked Washburn in the opening round. In one of the best games of the tournament, Jeana Hoffman scored 27 points as the Coyotes took home an 85-80 double overtime win. USD, which defeated its sixth straight ranked opponent, had to withstand a remarkable performance from Corky Stiger of Washburn, who connected on eight three-point field goals and scored 31 points.

South Dakota trailed 16-10 early but had a 16-7 run to grab 33-26 halftime lead. Washburn, who won the 2005 national title, had a 15-2 run out of the break for a 41-35 advantage with 15:23 to play. The Coyotes answered with a 10-1 run for a 45-42 lead at the 11:30 mark. A layup by Yoerger, who scored 19 points, helped USD to a 56-51 lead.

Stiger made a pair of three point shots in the final two minutes, the last coming with 15 seconds left, to send the game into overtime tied at 63-63. USD took a 73-70 lead late in overtime before Washburn's Jessica Mainz hit a three to knot the score with 15 seconds left. In the second overtime, Jenna Hoffman sank two free throws with 3.3 seconds left to ice the game for the Coyotes, which outscored Washburn, 12-7, in the second overtime and advanced to their first-ever "Final Four."

In the national semifinals, the Coyotes met top-ranked team Delta State which was unbeaten in 33 games. Interestingly the president of Delta State was John Hilpert, who worked for several years at USD and had been my boss. But like all the other ranked teams that met the Coyotes in 2007-08, Delta State would be sent packing. Though I felt bad for John and Pat Hilpert, I would have felt far worse if the Coyotes had fallen.

Led by Jeana Hoffman's 19 points and Amber Hegge's 15, the Coyotes defeated Delta State, 68-58. With the win, the U advanced to the national finals for the first time in history. Interestingly it was 50 years ago that the men's team won its only national collegiate title.

In the win over Delta State, a pair of baskets by Hegge late in the game provided the Coyotes with a 61-58 lead and they hung on for the win. USD, which hit 7-of-8 free throws in the final two minutes to help put the game on ice, limited Delta State to 20 points in the second half.

A berth in the national championship had seemed unlikely a couple of months ago, but this group of Coyotes had done it. After losing to Adams State early, who would have thought that this team would win 31 straight games? Not me - ask Jake.

What the effort typified was that this group of Coyotes were resilient and wore passion and heart on their sleeve. No mountain was too high or obstacle too large for the 2007-08 Coyotes.

On national TV (ESPN 2) and in its first Division II Championship game, South Dakota built a 49-40 lead with 5:52 to play and was on the verge of its ultimate goal. But then Northern Kentucky, unranked coming into the tournament, closed on a 23-9 run to capture a 63-58 decision over the Coyotes. A 31-game winning streak, which began on Nov. 23, 2007, ended in the Kearney, Neb., arena.

A major difference in the game occurred at the foul line where the Norse made 23-of-33 while USD was 13-of-19, a difference of 14 attempted free throws and 10 points. USD, the nation's top three-point shooting team, made just 7-of-30 for 23.3 percent and was just 19-of-59 for 32 percent overall from the field.

Despite one of their worst shooting nights of the season, USD led, 26-23, at halftime and opened the second half on a 12-3 run to lead, 38-26, with 14:30 to play. A 7-0 run by the Norse cut the lead to 38-33. A free throw by Hegge gave USD a 50-45 lead with 4:16 left. Then, Cassie Brannan of Northern Kentucky took over the game. She scored nine straight points to help the Norse to a 54-52 lead with 2:08 to play. Hegge's free throw cut the lead to one (54-53)  but that was as close as South Dakota would get. After tourney MVP Angela Healy scored inside, the Coyotes' offense failed them. All season they had made big shots but this time the well was dry.

Jeana Hoffman scored 19 points, while Yoerger secured nine rebounds but it wasn't enough.

As I reflect on that moment, I find the hardest part of that loss was the sullen, exasperated and sad looks on the faces of the Coyote student-athletes. It was heart-breaking. Too come this far only to fall short because a few shots bounded away didn't seem fair.

Yet, in sport, winning and losing are part of the agreement in competition. Only one team ends the season with a win. The other team is left wondering why and what if? The joy of victory is matched with the other side suffering sadness of defeat.

Yet, sport does us all good - it builds character and gives a team identity with each other, with supporters and with the game itself.

Hoffman, who ended the season with 615 points, which was USD's third best points total for a season all-time, and Yoerger were named to the all tournament team. Hoffman, who was named a State Farm All-American, made a school record 127 three-pointers.

While the game was the final for four seniors, it was also for Coach Lavin, who ended with 273 wins at USD and 448 in his career. In his greatest coaching season, Lavin was named the National Coach of the Year - fitting for one of the classy people I have worked with anywhere.

From time to time, I still think of the players on that team -  Bridget Yoerger, Ashley Robinette, Shannon Daly and the Hoffman twins, Jeana and Jenna, Maggie Youngberg, Kara Iverson, Natalie Carda, Amber Hegge, Kelli Fargen, Anne Doshier, Kendra Schomer (redshirted), Jasmine Mosley, Annie Roche (redshirted), Amy Robinette and Michelle Dierks, all were unique and warm individuals. Same holds true for the coaching staff -- Chad Lavin, Becky Flynn-Jensen and graduate assistant Jaime Berry.

More than their play on the floor was their actions and friendship off the floor.

When Coach Lavin asked me to his office after the season and said the team wanted me to have one of their championship rings - I was floored. It meant and stills means a great deal to me. Every now and then, I pull out that ring to look at it. Every time, it draws a smile and for a moment, I find myself venturing back to those days. It is a reflection that brings sunshine regardless of whether there are ominous clouds in the sky. I am reminded of a team that carried with it humor, dedication, passion and a big heart.

Often in reflection, you find something. For me, that something is winning doesn't always show up on the scoreboard but is reflected in effort, courage and heart. That is why the 2007-08 team always makes me smile.