Thank you for reading another edition of our 2023 power rankings!
Class AA is showing great parity this season, with some huge upset victories this last week!
I’m still working on a chart that helps to show where Rank+ in each class relates to average, above-average, etc. across the state, but if you are new and would like a primer, I put links to articles from us at the bottom that can jump to here. I also rounded the Rank+ to whole numbers. It’s just a little cleaner to read.
Other than that, let’s get started on our first update!
#1 Washington Warriors (8-1)
Rank+: 174
Best Win: #2 O’Gorman (W 42-33)
Wins: Lincoln, Huron, Aberdeen, Pierre, O’Gorman, Jefferson, Roosevelt, Marshall (MN)
Last Week:
- Tue vs. #6 Harrisburg (L 40-39)
- Thu @ Marshall MN (W 63-50)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue @ Lincoln
- Thu vs. #5 Jefferson
Washington still holds the top stop after a tough break against Harrisburg last week. However, their resume this season is incredibly strong, and there looks to be no slowing down.
They also have an exciting rematch this Thursday against Jefferson, a team they beat by 4 on the road.
#2 O’Gorman Knights (7-2)
Rank+: 161
Best Win: #7 Brandon Valley (54-41)
Wins: Brandon Valley, Roosevelt, Watertown, Brookings, Yankton, Lincoln, Roosevelt
Last Week:
- Thu vs. Lincoln (W 53-39)
- Sat @ Roosevelt (W 50-25)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue @ Tea Area
- Fri vs. #3 Pierre
To stay at the top of the rankings, you have to take care of business. The Knights did just that over the last 4 games, dominating in games that they should.
Now, they have their first ranked opponent on Friday since their loss to Washington on Monday.
#3 Pierre Governors (8-2)
Rank+: 158
Best Win: #4 Stevens (58-46)
Wins: Stevens, RC Central, Watertown, Spearfish, Sturgis, Lincoln, Lakota Tech, Douglas
Last Week:
- Tue vs. Douglas (W 61-19)
- Thu vs. #7 Brandon Valley (L 75-69)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue vs. Aberdeen
- Fri @ #2 O’Gorman
The Govs took a tough loss at home this week against Brandon Valley, but like Washington, they have a tremendous chance to show grit and rebound from last week’s game.
Specifically, Pierre will take on #2 O’Gorman on Friday before heading back East to face #6 Harrisburg. That’s a difficult back-to-back road stretch that should show some signs of what the Govs could do at the state tournament.
#4 Stevens Raiders (9-2)
Rank+: 149
Best Win: #9 Spearfish (53-38)
Wins: Douglas, Aberdeen, RC Central, Spearfish, Roosevelt, Campbell County (WY), Sturgis, Watertown, Brookings
Last Week:
- Tue vs. Sturgis (W 69-26)
- Fri vs. Watertown (W 66-42)
- Sat vs. Brookings (W 43-39)
Weekly Schedule:
- Fri @ #8 Mitchell
- Sat @ #10 Huron
Sometimes, the teams on the west side don’t necessarily get the hype that other teams get. The Raiders, however, are starting to catch momentum as we move towards the state tournament.
They got three more wins this past week, and have two great matchups this weekend to show everyone what they can do.
Also, let’s not forget this is a team that has made the state championship the past two seasons. The Raiders are catching fire at just the right time, and it’s going to be exciting to watch down the stretch.
#5 Jefferson Cavaliers (9-2)
Rank+: 146
Best Win: #4 Stevens (52-43)
Wins: Roosevelt, Brandon Valley, Lincoln, West Central, RC Central, Stevens, Yankton, Harrisburg, Huron
Last Week:
- Tue @ Yankton (W 65-45)
- Thu vs. #6 Harrisburg (W 36-34)
- Sat vs. #10 Huron (W 54-31)
Weekly Schedule:
- Thu @ #1 Washington
- Sat vs. Roosevelt
Jefferson rebounded from a close loss to Washington with 3 big wins last week, including a defensive-battle against Harrisburg.
This is another team that has a lot of momentum coming into February and they have a chance to get another marquee win on the road this Thursday.
#6 Harrisburg Tigers (8-2)
Rank+: 131
Best Win: #1 Washington (40-39)
Wins: Yankton, Lincoln, Marshall (MN), Roosevelt, Huron, Douglas, Spearfish, Washington
Last Week:
- Tue @ #1 Washington (W 40-39)
- Thu vs. #5 Jefferson (L 36-34)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue @ #8 Mitchell
- Thu vs. Brookings
A statement win.
That’s what the Tigers got last Tuesday with a huge road dub, thanks in part to a buzzer beater from Makinley Lawrenson:
This is arguably the biggest road win of the season for any team in boys or girls, as no one has been quite as dominant as Washington.
And although they took a close loss against Jefferson soon after, this is a team that proved they are going to be competitive every game.
#7 Brandon Valley Lynx (7-4)
Rank+: 125
Best Win: #3 Pierre (75-69)
Wins: Roosevelt, Watertown, Brookings, Spearfish, Douglas, Marshall (MN), Pierre
Last Week:
- Tue @ Marshall MN (W 60-55)
- Thu @ #3 Pierre (W 75-69)
- Sat vs. Aberdeen (L 51-39)
Weekly Schedule:
- Thu vs. Yankton
- Fri vs. RC Central
- Sat vs. #4 Stevens
The Lynx, similar to Harrisburg, picked up a huge victory on the road this past week. AA is starting to show a lot of parity, which could make for a really exciting run of games down the stretch.
BV will now stay at home for the next 4 games, which feature marquee matchups against Stevens and Washington. This could be a team that makes a lot of noise heading into early February.
#8 Mitchell Kernels (5-3)
Rank+: 118
Best Win: #10 Huron (46-44)
Wins: Huron, Yankton, Brookings, Roosevelt, Lincoln
Last Week:
- Tue @ Roosevelt (W 54-37)
- Fri vs. Lincoln (W 59-37)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue vs. #6 Harrisburg
- Fri vs. #4 Stevens
- Sat vs. RC Central
The Kernels had their best week yet, taking down Roosevelt and Lincoln in dominant fashion.
Mitchell now has a great chance to show they can play with the best, as they will face their 2 toughest opponents of the season with Harrisburg and Stevens coming to the Corn Palace.
#9 Spearfish Spartans (2-6)
Rank+: 116
Best Win: Hill City (48-25)
Wins: Hot Springs, Hill City
Last Week:
- Fri vs. #7A Red Cloud (L 49-47)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue vs #5A STM
- Thu @ RC Central
We talked about it last week.
Spearfish has played with the best teams, no matter what their win-loss record says.
They battled it out again with Red Cloud this past week, and showed that they are very close to breaking through with a big win. What’s great about basketball is that the Spartans will have that opportunity again tonight against STM.
#10 Huron Tigers (5-4)
Rank+: 115
Best Win: #8 Mitchell (49-45)
Wins: Yankton, Brookings, Mitchell, Lincoln, Brookings
Last Week:
- Tue @ Brookings (W 50-40)
- Sat @ #5 Jefferson (L 54-31)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue @ Watertown
- Fri vs. RC Central
- Sat vs. #4 Stevens
Huron has quietly been a solid team this season, taking home victories in 4 of their last 5 games until a road loss to Jefferson.
The Tigers will now have a great chance to show they can bounce back from a tough loss and pick up some wins this week.
Additional Reading
