The feeling of making it to a state tournament is special for any team, school, or community, but it has that extra edge and emotion when it’s the first time ever. For the Aberdeen Christian boys basketball team this March, it was a bag full of emotions – and for good reason.
On Tuesday March 10, 2020, in a crowded gym at Aberdeen Roncalli high school, the Knights defeated Warner 64-38 to advance to the ‘B’ boys state basketball tournament, their first trip in program history.
Basketball is a team sport no doubt, but having a player like Andrew Rohrbach, who was a senior guard and team captain for Aberdeen Christian this season, certainly helps. Rohrbach is a two-time all-state player in South Dakota, who has also earned all-conference honors.
Little did Rohrbach know at the time, but the SoDak 16 victory over Warner would be the final game of his high school career.
“That was definitely the most fun game of my high school career, no doubt and for it to be Warner, who's kind of our rival that was just extra cool too,” explained Andrew Rohrbach. “It was a really fun atmosphere. I think they actually had to turn people away in that game. Then obviously going to state, because right after we won we're not thinking about the whole coronavirus thing. It's just unfortunate how it all played out.”
Three days after Aberdeen Christian punched their ticket to the ‘big dance,’ the South Dakota High School Activities Association made the decision to postpone all six of their state high school basketball tournaments. Fast-forward a month later and they were canceled, along with all remaining sports and activities for the spring and winter seasons.
“We still had a lot of fun, regardless if we got to play in the state tournament. We had a few classic games down in Mitchell at the Corn Palace, that Sweet 16 game obviously was a lot of fun,” stated Rohrbach. “There were a lot of takeaways that we could take from the season. Obviously, we wish we could have played in the state tournament, but it was still a lot of fun and we had a good season.”
All forty-eight teams who qualified for a state tournament will receive a special commemorative plaque from the High School Activities Association. For those who never got to play a state tournament game, the plaques will say ‘state quarterfinalist.’
Along with being an exceptional basketball player for the Knights, Rohrbach competes in track and field and is a golfer in school as well.
“I would say I didn't think I would miss track and golf as much as I did if that makes sense,” explained Rohrbach, since basketball is his primary sport. “I still like golf and track so to have those canceled too was a bummer.”
Next season, Andrew Rohrbach will continue his basketball career at the college level for Northern State University.
“It was just kind of a no-brainer for me. Obviously growing up [in Aberdeen] and watching Northern, they’re a really good DII program,” said Rohrbach. “They’ve led in attendance for some time, so that’s really cool, and to just stay local and be around the people that I know is obviously really cool too.”
Rohrbach plans to major in business finance with hopes of one day being a financial advisor.
As for the young and up-and-coming basketball players in the state, Andrew Rohrbach has a piece of advice for you!
“I was always kind of small, so that can always be a factor with going to college to play basketball because they’ll say “oh, you’re too short,” exclaimed Rohrbach. “Just keep working on your craft. Be great! Be the best at something that someone else isn’t. If you’re small, be the best facilitator on the court. Just always work on your game.”
