Lozano is remembered

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helly Lozano is in that elite class of athletes who can call themselves multiple Hall of Famers. And the place where Lozano grew up in Brandon, S.D., hasn’t forgotten.

Lozano, who is now the girls basketball coach at Granite Hills, went back to Brandon in South Dakota and visited her high school, Brandon Valley, where she was recognized over the Christmas break during halftime of a boys basketball game. Lozano is a member of the Brandon Valley High School Hall of Fame and then after an outstanding career at Augustana College, a Division II school in Brandon, she was inducted into Augustana’s Hall of Fame as well.

Brandon Valley High is set to open its new gym in the spring and all the names of many of the school’s all-time great athletes will be displayed in the gym, including Lozano. So during this time, whenever an honored athlete like Lozano returns, that athlete is honored by the school. “They don’t forget about you which is kind of cool,” Lozano said.

Lozano was actually a five-year starting point guard for Brandon Valley in girls basketball, since she started as an eighth grader when eighth graders were allowed to play. She helped lead Brandon Valley to the state tournament three times. The highest finish during Lozano’s tenure at one of the smallest schools competing in the state’s largest division was fifth.

Lozano was a four-time first-team all conference choice at Brandon Valley, was a third team all-state selection as a freshman, a second team all-state choice as a sophomore and a first team all-state selection as a junior and senior. She was also an honorable mention All-American as a senior. Lozano graduated from Brandon Valley in 1980.

She still holds three records at the school, including the career scoring mark although Lozano said that mark will likely be broken by a player this season who’s heading to the Univerity of South Dakota, a Division I school. The other two records that Lozano still holds is going 11-for-11 from the foul line in one game and the single game assist record of 13.

At Augustana, Lozano was a four-year starting point guard who scored more than 1,000 points in her career. It should be noted that when Lozano was setting her scoring marks in high school and college, there was no three-point shot and women were using a men’s regulation-sized basketball, not the smaller basketball that’s used now.

Lozano was also chosen as the Female Athlete of the Year at Augustana, the school’s top award given to a senior. She was inducted into Augustana’s Hall of Fame in her first year of eligibility. “I was more surprised on the college one,” said Lozano about being inducted in her first eligible year.

“I’m just honored,” said Lozano about being in two Halls of Fame. “To me it’s about all my old teammates I played with.”

Lozano was also fortunate to play for her father, who was her coach in high school. “You don’t get there without your teammates and your coaches,” said Lozano about the honors she’s received.

S

helly Lozano is in that elite class of athletes who can call themselves multiple Hall of Famers. And the place where Lozano grew up in Brandon, S.D., hasn’t forgotten.

Lozano, who is now the girls basketball coach at Granite Hills, went back to Brandon in South Dakota and visited her high school, Brandon Valley, where she was recognized over the Christmas break during halftime of a boys basketball game. Lozano is a member of the Brandon Valley High School Hall of Fame and then after an outstanding career at Augustana College, a Division II school in Brandon, she was inducted into Augustana’s Hall of Fame as well.

Brandon Valley High is set to open its new gym in the spring and all the names of many of the school’s all-time great athletes will be displayed in the gym, including Lozano. So during this time, whenever an honored athlete like Lozano returns, that athlete is honored by the school.

“They don’t forget about you which is kind of cool,” Lozano said.

Lozano was actually a five-year starting point guard for Brandon Valley in girls basketball, since she started as an eighth grader when eighth graders were allowed to play. She helped lead Brandon Valley to the state tournament three times. The highest finish during Lozano’s tenure at one of the smallest schools competing in the state’s largest division was fifth.

Lozano was a four-time first-team all conference choice at Brandon Valley, was a third team all-state selection as a freshman, a second team all-state choice as a sophomore and a first team all-state selection as a junior and senior. She was also an honorable mention All-American as a senior. Lozano graduated from Brandon Valley in 1980.

She still holds three records at the school, including the career scoring mark although Lozano said that mark will likely be broken by a player this season who’s heading to the Univerity of South Dakota, a Division I school. The other two records that Lozano still holds is going 11-for-11 from the foul line in one game and the single game assist record of 13.

At Augustana, Lozano was a four-year starting point guard who scored more than 1,000 points in her career. It should be noted that when Lozano was setting her scoring marks in high school and college, there was no three-point shot and women were using a men’s regulation-sized basketball, not the smaller basketball that’s used now.

Lozano was also chosen as the Female Athlete of the Year at Augustana, the school’s top award given to a senior. She was inducted into Augustana’s Hall of Fame in her first year of eligibility. “I was more surprised on the college one,” said Lozano about being inducted in her first eligible year.

“I’m just honored,” said Lozano about being in two Halls of Fame. “To me it’s about all my old teammates I played with.”

Lozano was also fortunate to play for her father, who was her coach in high school. “You don’t get there without your teammates and your coaches,” said Lozano about the honors she’s received.