At the conclusion of the 281 Conference girls’ and boys’ basketball tournaments, one male and one female athlete are selected to receive the Rich Strasburg Scholarship, as Most Valuable Players in their respective tournaments.

On the left is Wessington Springs senior post player Avery Orth, the 2023 girls’ award winner and on the right is Jeff Boschee, a senior guard from Sanborn Central/Woonsocket, the boys’ winner. In the center is Bill Barrie, the former athletic director from Hitchcock-Tulare, who oversaw the 281 Conference tournament for several years. Barrie was inducted into the 281 Conference Hall of Fame.