ABERDEEN — The Castlewood Warriors delivered a long-awaited state championship for their beloved head boys basketball coach on March 22. 

Paul Raasch, a veteran coach with more than 600 wins, won his first-ever state championship after 39 years as a head coach. Raasch, who had previous stops at Alpena, Webster and Langford, was 0-2 in state championship games prior to a 52-31 win over Viborg-Hurley at Wachs Arena. 

A 1982 Castlewood High School graduate, Raasch avoided another title letdown and the Warrior faithful roared when Raasch hoisted the championship trophy that eluded him in previous years. 

“We’ve been here a couple times and we didn’t get it,” Raasch, 61, said. “That eats at a guy a little bit. We got beat in overtime in 2015 here by Hanson. That game still bothers me. That bunch of kids was the same as this one. They deserved to get it and we didn’t get it. But it’s not about me. It’s about the kids.” 

He joins Kent Mueller, Bill Marquardt and Marv McCune as the only South Dakota coaches to win state championships in football and boys basketball. He’s the fourth South Dakota boys basketball coach to win 600 or more games, joining Custer’s Larry Luitjens, Mitchell’s Gary Munsen and Armour’s Burnell Glanzer in the exclusive 600-win club. 

Castlewood Warriors head coach Paul Raasch hoists the Class B boys basketball championship trophy on March 22 in Aberdeen. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

Those three legendary coaches won multiple state basketball championships. The current Warriors were motivated to secure Raasch’s first boys basketball state championship. 

“It’s unbelievable,” Castlewood junior Brody Bass said. “He deserves it more than any coach in the state. He is such a great guy and teaches us well. It’s awesome.”

Raasch has raved about Castlewood’s unselfishness this season, and how the Warriors made his 39th season an enjoyable year. The players in return also praised their head coach and wanted to deliver him the elusive state championship. 

“He is such a great guy,” Castlewood senior Luke Baumberger said. “One of the greatest guys I have ever met, and it’s just awesome. We were playing for him, too, not just ourselves. We were playing for him.”

Castlewood senior Bryon Laue, a 6-foot-9 all-state center, said Raasch has spoken to the team about winning the long-awaited state title and put confidence in them to do it.  

“He’s wanted to do that for a long time,” Laue said. “He knew we could do it. He lost his dad (Bob) two years ago. It really took a toll on him. So it feels good to do that for him and bring that home for him.”

Bob Raasch, who died in October 2023, was an avid Warrior supporter and was influential in Raasch’s coaching career. Paul Raasch said his dad’s presence was still felt on championship night as the Warriors captured the title. 

“He was sitting right up there,” said Raasch, gesturing to a spot at Wachs Arena. “I pointed at him at the end of the game.”