(PRESS RELEASE) – Two former Hanson High School graduates are among the 12 greats to be inducted into the South Dakota High School Basketball Hall of Fame during a banquet to be held on Aug. 23.

Hanson High School graduates Jenny Bridge and Craig Cheeseman will be inducted into the South Dakota High School Basketball Hall of Fame during the 15th annual banquet at the Ramkota Hotel in Sioux Falls.

The 2025 hall of fame class includes two Miss Basketball recipients: Bridge in 2003 and Sisseton’s Courtney (Grimsrud) Miller in 2004. The class also includes two Mr. Basketball recipients: Pine Ridge’s George Bettelyoun (1988) and Winner’s Sam Goodhope (1986).

The 1999 Sioux Falls Roosevelt girls basketball team will be recognized as a Team of Excellence at this year’s banquet. The Fred Tibbetts-coached Rough Riders won the 1999 Class AA state championship, which won their third consecutive title during a five-year title run. The Rough Riders were led by first-team all-staters Mandy Kappel and Krista Orsack.

Banquet ticket information will be available soon on the Hall of Fame website at www.sdbbhof.com.

The Class of 2025:

Courtney (Grimsrud) Miller, Sisseton (2004): Miller was a mainstay during Sisseton’s dominant Class A girls basketball run, which included state championships in 2000, ‘01 and ‘04. Sisseton also placed second in 2003. A 6-foot-2 center, Miller finished her high school career with 1,809 points, 1,081 rebounds and 558 blocked shots. She was named the 2004 South Dakota Miss Basketball. Miller played four seasons at South Dakota, where she was named the Division I Independent player of the year in 2007 and recorded 118 career blocks (fourth in program history).

Jenny Bridge, Hanson (2003): A prolific scorer, Bridge was named the 2003 South Dakota Miss Basketball. She finished her high school career with 1,834 points and shot 49% from the 3-point range. Bridge helped Hanson win five straight conference championships and finished with an 80-7 record her four years of high school, where she played for her father Jim Bridge. She played college basketball at Dakota Wesleyan University and the College of Saint Mary (Nebraska).

Roxie (Harter) Smith, Colome (1994): Smith powered Colome to its first and only Class B girls basketball title in 1993, finishing with a perfect 25-0 record. A 6-foot do-it-all player, Smith averaged 28 points and nine rebounds per game her senior season. She finished her high school career with 2,131 points.

NaTascha (Dawson) Krempges, Howard (1996): Krempges was a dominant post player for the Tigers. A 6-foot-1 center, Krempges averaged 19 points, 13 rebounds and four steals per game during her senior season in 1995. She was a member of Howard’s Class A state championship team in 1993 and on the state runner-up team in ‘95. Krempges finished her career with more than 1,500 points and 1,000 rebounds.

Craig Cheeseman, Hanson (1987): Cheeseman powered Hanson to its first Class A state championship in 1986, and was part of a 46-game winning streak. A 6-foot-2 guard, Cheeseman finished his Hanson career with 1,558 points (second in program history) and a school record 383 assists. Cheeseman played basketball, football, baseball and track and field at Dakota Wesleyan University, where he was a 15-time letter winner.

Bill Christensen, Canton (1971): Christensen was a key contributor for Canton, where he led the team in scoring his final three seasons. A 6-foot guard, Christensen averaged 25.3 points per game his senior season. Christensen played for legendary coach Bob Wachs at Northern State, where he finished with 1,865 career points. He was named to the All-SDIC and All-District 12 teams and was mentioned in the Little All-American team.

George Bettelyoun, Pine Ridge (1988): Bettelyoun was a member of Pine Ridge’s 1987 Class A state championship team, which finished with a 26-0 record. A 6-foot-2 guard, Bettelyoun was named the 1988 South Dakota Mr. Basketball. He tallied 26 points, seven rebounds, 4.5 steals and four assists per game during his senior campaign. Bettelyoun played college basketball at Mount Marty, where he holds the career record for steals (233). He scored 1,028 career points.

Sam Goodhope, Winner (1986): A 6-foot-3 point guard, Goodhope was a dynamic playmaker for the Warriors. He averaged 22 points, eight rebounds and seven assists per game during the 1985-86 season. He was the 1986 South Dakota Mr. Basketball. Goodhope played college basketball at the University of South Dakota.

Colby Fitzgerald, Dell Rapids St. Mary (2004): Fitzgerald was instrumental in Dell Rapids St. Mary’s run in the early 2000s. A 6-foot-3 point guard, Fitzgerald and the Cardinals won the 2004 Class B state championship, finishing with a 25-0 record. He averaged 23 points, 5.1 assists and four rebounds per game his senior season. Fitzgerald finished his high school career with 2,294 points, 433 assists, 376 rebounds and 314 steals. He played college basketball at the University of South Dakota and Dakota Wesleyan University.

Nick Brod, Huron (1959): Brod was a junior on Huron’s 1958 Class A state championship team, which finished with a 22-0 record. The Tigers finished in third place in 1959. A 6-foot-4 forward, Brod was an all-state selection in 1958 and ‘59. He played at South Dakota State, where he was a member of the 1963 national championship team.

Lon Nelson, Clark (1971): A 6-foot-7 center, Nelson developed into a dominant post player for the Comets. He led Clark to three straight Class B state tournaments, and scored more than 1,400 career points. He averaged 22 points per game during his senior season in 1970-71. Nelson played college basketball at the University of South Dakota-Springfield, where was a three-time All-SDIC performer and scored 2,071 career points.

Jim Johnson, Sioux Falls Washington (1955): A multi-sport athlete, Johnson excelled for the Warriors on the basketball court. He was a member of the inaugural Class A all-state boys basketball team in 1955, and was a member of Washington’s state championship team that season. Johnson averaged 17.8 points per game during the 1954-55 season, which was the best in the Eastern South Dakota Conference.