What a shame that the entire state will not see one of the best Class B volleyball teams battling for a Class B title this season.

In the District 7B championship game Thursday, the Chester Lady Flyers battled the Oldham-Ramona-Rutland Lady Raiders for a chance to move on in postseason play.

Chester entered the championship match with a 22-6 record while O-R-R entered the match with a 24-2 record. The only team that had a better record than the Lady Raiders was Northwestern; the Wildcats lost one match for the entire season.

Chester won the District 7B title 3-2 over the Lady Raiders, ending the season for O-R-R.

As I look through other team records for Class B, the Lady Raiders have a better record than several teams that will qualify for the State Tournament.

This is the first year that Class A is having the Sweet 16 format. The 16 teams that make it to their region championship match will be re-seeded, and whoever wins that match will qualify for the State Tournament. The state is hoping the top eight teams will advance to the State Tournament.

It would have been nice to see the Sweet 16 format be part of Class B this season. However, this is not the first time this has happened in Class B.

Just ask Northwestern and Warner. Two of the best teams in the state are in the same district.

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.