For the last few years, SDPB has partnered with the South Dakota High School Activities Association to become the premiere outlet - especially on TV - for SDHSAA events. SDPB has shined brightly in the background in their role of putting our youth to star on statewide stages.
Years ago, public TV stations had won the broadcast rights for SDHSAA events - mainly basketball and football. Massive TV timeouts for commercial breaks became the norm. When you are a newspaper reporter on deadline covering a state championship event and it is getting late, media timeouts are not your friend.
Plus, only football and basketball were getting the spotlight.
Now, thanks to SDPB, all the activities are getting their time to shine. From one-act plays to all-state band and chorus to cheer and dance to wrestling and everything in between.
If the SDHSAA has a state event for an extra-curricular activity, you can bet SDPB will be there to cover it. From the balance beam in gymnastics to serious prose in oral interpretation to Lincoln Douglas in debate.
Pictures, results, TV time - SDPB takes its job seriously in covering the extra-curricular activities of our young people in South Dakota.
My friend, director of content Larry Rohrer, and his SDPB teammates do a great job of telling South Dakota's story in all phases of the game, life and our past.
Plus, they are willing to share their riches. The last two weeks, SDPB has allowed the American News website to host its online players so people can/could watch all six state basketball tournaments for boys and girls. You can watch the last day of those live webcasts today on AberdeenNews.com.
This weekend, Larry is in Aberdeen helping cover the State B Boys' Basketball Tournament.
The SDPB on-air talent this weekend is two long-time friends of the American News and two veteran South Dakota sports journalists. Helping call the State B games for SDPB are Craig Mattick of Sioux Falls of the popular radio show Sports Talk with Craig & Chris (Tubbs) and Mike Henriksen of the equally popular radio shows Sportsmax and Calling All Sports with Mark (Ovenden of KDLT-TV) and Mike.
There are many other SDPB people in Aberdeen helping with the games and broadcasts as well.
If you see Larry, Craig, Mike or one of their SDPB teammates around Wachs Arena today for the final day of the State B, tell them thank you. They work hard for our children and for us.
John Papendick is the managing news-sports editor for the American News: jpapendick@aberdeennews.com.
Twitter: @jpapendick