By Rodney Haas 

605 Sports 

MITCHELL — First the Boston Celtics did it, now the Mitchell Kernels will get their chance to raise a championship banner to the Corn Palace rafters. 

Mitchell will have a special pregame ceremony to honor last year’s Class AA state championship team prior to the Kernels tip off with Orono, Minnesota, at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 28 at the Hoop City Classic.   

“It’s something that we should be proud of. It's something that we should showcase,” Hoop City Classic coordinator Ernie Kuyper said. “We’re just honored to have it a part of the Hoop City Classic.”

Kuyper, who just got done promoting the Jack Jones Classic, an NCAA basketball event that featured three games and was highlighted by UNLV vs. Pacific Saturday in Henderson, Nevada said MHS activities director Cory Aadland first approached him about doing a banner raising ceremony at the Hoop City Classic. It will be the home opener for the Kernels after opening the season on the road against Watertown and Rapid City Stevens and Rapid City Central. 

“It’s extremely difficult to win a state title. You can see it took several years and it’s something that the city and the school, we’re all proud of,” Kuyper said. “It’s just about putting another banner up for all the national teams and letting them know you’re coming into the Corn Palace, good luck. Think of the 1990s when we played there. It’s just a home-court advantage. It's a tradition and it’s special to be a part of it.”

In March, Mitchell captured its 17th state championship with a 46-45 win over Brandon Valley for the Kernels’ first state title in 19 years. Since that last state championship in 2005, a lot has changed for a program that prides itself on winning, including a period of dark times when the Kernels only managed single-digit win seasons. However, in recent years the program has bounced back with three consecutive trips to the Class AA tournament and back-to-back championship appearances, capped off with last March’s state championship. 

“Nineteen years doesn't seem like a long wait for a state championship,” said Kuyper, a Mitchell native. “But for Mitchell. It seems like a long time, but we’ve been spoiled, but the community works their tails off and the kids work their butts off. They know the expectations when you’re a Kernel. It’s to hang the banner.”

Kuyper added with MHS coach Ryker Kreutzfeldt, championship banner raising ceremonies could become a new tradition at the Hoop City Classic. 

“Coach is a champion. He’s amazing at what he’s doing and he has the formula down,” he said. “Everyone should be getting behind him. It seems like they are from my standpoint and it’s fun to be a part of a championship program again. He’s got it going. 

“It’s going to be a packed house and another banner. Hopefully they can keep making room because it’s full.”