If there was ever any doubt in anyone's head what is the toughest Class A conference in the state, that question should have been answered over the weekend.
The Dakota XII Conference had five teams in the State A Boys Basketball Tournament and the teams placed one through five. The only Dakota XII Conference team that suffered a loss in the first round was the Dakota Valley Panthers during the opening game at the hands of another Dakota XII Conference team, the Madison Bulldogs.
The Dakota XII Conference also had Tea Area, Sioux Falls Christian and Tri-Valley in the 2017 tournament.
Nine of the 12 All-Tournament selections were from the Dakota XII Conference.
Playing in the Dakota XII Conference will get teams ready for a long postseason run.
ABOUT LARRY LEEDS
Larry Leeds was born and raised in South Dakota, graduating from Colman High School in 1974. He continued his education at USD/Springfield and Dakota State University and received a bachelor's degree in physical education and history in 1979. He later obtained a journalism degree from South Dakota State University.
Before coming to Madison, Leeds worked at weekly papers in Flandreau, St. James, Minn., Redfield and Hayti (Hamlin County Publishing with Castlewood and Estelline).
He has a passion for all sports, especially high school sports and amateur baseball, because these teams are filled with players who want to be playing the game.
His favorite teams are the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Chicago Bears, Minnesota Twins and Timberwolves, and New York Yankees.
Leeds is also a NASCAR fan whose favorite drivers are Dave Blaney and his son Ryan.
