By Rich Winter

605 Sports

In the fall 2020, Todd County freshman Ray Crow found himself in a predicament. 

A multi-sport student athlete, Crow was attending Todd County High School in 2020. Because of the COVID-19 Pandemic Todd County only offered on-line classes and no sports. With no athletics in the immediate future Crow transferred. 

“Initially I went to Crow Creek,” Crow said. “Things were kinda the same there so I went to live with my grandmother in Pierre.”

One of the first people he met and got to know was fellow freshman Crew Heier. Two competitive spirits, the pair connected almost immediately. 

“When I first got there he was one of the only people I could talk to,” Crow said. “Crew didn’t remind me of other people. He’s a winner and I like to think of myself as a winner.”

Having no previous experience in Pierre, Crow was promptly assigned to the Freshman B team. 

He didn’t stay there long. 

“No one knew him at all,” Lonnie Heier, father of Crew Heier said. “It wasn’t long before everyone realized this young man could play and after scoring 30 plus points in several games Crow joined his friend Crew as a starter on the Freshman A team.”

Their chemistry on and off the court was immediate and the two spent many an evening hanging out or shooting hoops in the Heier’s back yard. Pierre lost just four games that season and Crew Heier said Crow helped make him a better player. 

“Ray has a real passion for the game,” Crew Heier said. “With him being a point guard and being so smooth I just felt like we played off each other.”

Crow transferred back to Todd County for his sophomore season but the friends remain connected. They both play AAU basketball for Sacred Hoops Basketball and talk on the phone frequently. 

Heier left Pierre after his sophomore year as the family moved to Hartford. 

A week ago Heier and his family gathered around the television to watch Crow playing for Todd County in the All-Nations A Division Championship. Crow, the starting quarterback for Todd County, had a rushing touchdown and helped the Falcons defeat Red Cloud, 72-26.

Crow’s family will return the favor Friday, tuning in to watch Heier, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound tight end as West Central meets up with Dell Rapids for the 11A state championship.