Dakota News Now (Sioux Falls, SD) – The three South Dakota girls’ high school state basketball playoffs get underway this Thursday.
Following her breaking of “Pistol” Pete Maravich’s 54-year-old all-time NCAA career points record, University of Iowa standout Caitlin Clark’s nationally broadcast games continue to break TV ratings for women in the sport.
The Hawkeyes, led by Clark, made it to the Final Four after he broke through the previous year. During their matchup with LSU, the game attracted the most number of viewers in NCAA women’s basketball history: 10 million. As the Hawkeyes sell out and set attendance records at both their own arena and the locations of their opponents, she is a traveling rock star.
And it’s all taking place right here in Iowa, not at some traditional powerhouse far away like South Carolina or UConn. Given this, what effect is Clark having on girls’ basketball in South Dakota?
The Tea Area girls already had a winning program and devoted fan following before Clark grew into a global phenomenon. But the Titans will tell you, there’s been a noticeable uptick in interest in their program, and the sport, since the Coming of Clark.
”I think she’s made a big difference,” Tea Area senior Mara Grant said. “I just think she’s a good athlete and it’s really cool to see a female name become such a big person in our country. A lot of people look up to her now.”
Titans coach Adam Schorzmann teaches freshman classes and hears regularly from the boys in his classes about what they saw Clark do in her most recent games. This was never the case B.C. (before Clark).
”It’s getting the average person wanting to play basketball,” Schorzmann said, relating Clark’s cosmic, deep-range shooting abilities to the NBA’s Stephen Curry, who Schorzmann recalls sparking a similar craze for the game a decade ago.
“The women’s basketball game in general — people are noticing. Kids are watching the (ESPN) Sportscenter Top 10, whether it’s through highlights or social media, and (women’s hoops) is getting exposure. That’s good.”
On Sunday, Clark became college basketball’s all-time scoring leader — men’s or women’s. Harrisburg coach Nick Mayer says his team was talking about the historic feat, and Clark’s latest, dazzling 35-point performance at their practice on Monday.
Mayer was watching at home with his four young kids — two daughters, two sons.
“We were glued to the TV just watching her play,” Mayer said. “It was incredible to watch her play with her team. That gym was electric, and you just saw how much people loved watching her play.”
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