Staff Previews are put together by various members of the Digital Z South Dakota Staff and do not represent any one member of the site. TK’s Take, however, is written by TK, so you can roast him all you want! lol
VERMILLION VS VIBORG-HURLEY
An undefeated cross-class-clash takes place this week (Dec. 30) at the Mitchell’s own Corn Palace. The game will feature, Vermillion, a dark horse in region 4 of Class A vs Viborg-Hurley, a favorite in Region 5 of Class B. Both teams have not been tested yet as evident by their average victories of 41 points with Vermillion allowing 23 points a game, and VH allowing 29 per game.
MEET THE TEAMS
Coach Schoenefeld’s VH squad is led by 6’5 seniors Gradee Sherman (23 ppg) and Eli Boomgarden (9 ppg). 6’2 senior Grant Mikkelsen, 6’2 senior Carter Gust, and 6’1 junior Hayden Gilbert (11 ppg) also all play a significant role with the Cougars. But after a few dominate victories, VH’s schedule gets a lot tougher in the next couple of weeks with games against Vermilion, DeSmet, Canistota and Howard. An undefeated season seems highly unlikely.
The coaching staff at Vermillion, the Drake boys (straight out of Winner), and #1 assistant Jon Reuvers, have an experienced starting 5 at Vermillion: Dobney, Gilbertson, Jensen, Saunders and Gestring, with Dobney leading the Tanagers at 23 ppg. We suspect Gestring will be averaging in the 20s soon as he battled illness to start the season and is just coming back. Otherwise, this bunch has played well for a couple of years and is looking for their first state tourney experience. With the SoDak 16 playoff format, they hopefully don’t have to play Dakota Valley to get to the tourney, so we believe they have an excellent chance this year. If Vermillion can survive this game, we see a likely 10-0 start for the Tanagers.
The athleticism of this game will rival most games in SD this season, regardless of class. A plethora of college athletes will be in action on the Corn Palace floor.
TK’s TAKE
I agree with what the staff said on this one. I said it at the beginning of the year and I will say it again:
Vermillion is underated.
Dark horse is about right and I think the staff hit it on the nose. (Btw, I am not talking in third person, I did not actually write the staff review, but I appreciate my team taking the time to write it up!) Anyway, if Vermillion gets out of this game without any scratches, I could see them opening up a few eyes in the state. It’s tough to get the recogintiion they deserve when they are so close to #1 Dakota Valley, but the Tanagers will get their notice soon enough.
As for Viborg-Hurley, my goodness, what a tough schedule coming up. De Smet has showed they are elite, and the Cougars will be put to the test in these next two games. I have no hate for the Cougars, I think they are a great team and they seriously have a chance to take home that Class B Title. As for the Corn Palace?
MY PREDICTION: VERMILLION
But seriously, this might be the most interesting game of the early season, give it a watch if you can!
