Rapid City Thrillers

Not So Long Ago,
In a Town Not So Far Away,
The Small Community of Rapid City
was Gifted with Professional Basketball...

Come blizzards or icy roads the fans came from near (North Rapid City) and far (Spearfish and Wall) to witness what was known at the time as "the biggest thrill in town!". It took place at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center or better known to fans at the time as the "House of Noise". Up to 8,000 of the greatest fans in the CBA could be packed into this facility and often times were. Standing room only tonight as the home team was facing their biggest rivals, the Sioux Falls Skyforce.

Anticipation grew as Bob Burnell started his pre-game broadcast on KOTA radio. Warm-ups, then came time for the starting line-ups. First the visiting Skyforce, "BOOOO!!!. After Sioux Falls is introduced the lights go out in the arena and the crowd starts to erupt. It's then that Europe's "Final Countdown" begins it's loud synthesizer tune echoing throughout the arena. Scott Tubbs then gets on the loud speaker and screams, "Everybody Up!!!, It's time to meet your RAPID CITY THRIIIIIIILLLLLERS!!!" (announced, in only a way he could).

The team is greated with loud and thunderous applause. Out from the flashing lights comes the team mascot, the "Thrilla Gorilla" and finally emerges the players. "At one guard out of the University of Indiana, Keith Smart!" "In the other guard position, Creig 'Noodles' Neal!!!" "At one forward spot, Larry Robinson!" "The other forward spot, " Jarvis Basnight!" "And playing center, Stanley Brundy!"

The game is set to begin. No one is allowed to sit until the Thrillers score their first point. Sioux Falls wins the tip and Dusty Hoffman starts to play the tune for "D FENCE!" on the organ. The Thrillers block the shot and now there's a fast break. SLAM!! Larry Robinson scores two for the home team!!

The first quarter ends with the Thillers up by seven. Second quarter comes and Stanley Brundy collects his sixth rebound of the game already. It's halftime now as the Thrillers Dance Team takes the floor. After that it's the feature act, the "Budweiser Daredevils".

The second half begins as the Skyforce make a comeback to within 3 points. In the fourth quarter the Skyforce take the lead for the first time in the game. 101 to 99. Over on the hometeams side, Eric Musselman, head coach, gets nervous and starts kicking the scores table (as he did at least once every game). Moments later the ref makes the signal for a technical foul. Eric got a T and he's not happy about it. Sioux Falls up by 5 with only a minute to go.

With only 12 seconds left in the game the Thrillers are down by 2 points and they have posession of the ball. 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, the ball is thrown into Jarvis Basnight who can't establish a position around Sioux Falls' Brett Sabbo. 7, 6, the ball is thrown around a couple times, the Skyforce defense is tough, 3, 2. Suddenly Keith Smart finds Larry Robinson at the corner of the arc, Larry throws up a prayer, 1, BZZZZZZZZZZZ!! SCORE!!!!! Larry wins it for the hometeam by only one point with his three pointer!!!! Sioux Falls goes home defeated, while Rapid City keeps their state trophy west river where it belongs!

The preceding was just one of the many great memories I had of being a fan of the Rapid City Thrillers. I always looked forward to going to the Thrillers games. When school was tough I was always happy to know that the Thrillers were playing at home during the weekend. I've never felt as close to my Dad as I was when we were at the Thrillers games. It was unlike anything I have ever or probably will ever experience. Pride in having professional ball in Rapid, Joy in coming to the games with my Dad, and of course, Thrill as the competition was great and Rapid City usually always had a team to be reckoned with.

I can only hope and pray that one day Rapid City will get a pro team back so that I can experience the joy all over again, perhaps even with my own son.