Thank you for reading another edition of our 2023 power rankings!
It was a really good week for the top teams in Class A, and the last week in January will feature some great matchups.
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 Wagner Red Raiders (10-1)
Rank+: 185
Best Win: #6 SFC (62-29)
Wins: Winner, Menno, SFC, Avon, Bon Homme, Corsica-Stickney, Gregory, Parkston, Ethan, O’Neill (NE)
Last Week:
- Mon @ #2B Ethan (W 59-36)
- Tue @ O’Neill NE (W 75-27)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue @ MV/P
- Thu @ Scotland
- Sat @ Augustana University (TBD)
The Red Raiders bounced back from a loss against Vermillion, and took care of business against Ethan, one of the top teams in Class B. That’s a huge victory for this team and shows that there is no slowing down for the Red Raiders.
We don’t know who is on the schedule this Saturday, but the confirmed schedule looks very favorable for Wagner to win out heading into the playoffs.
#2 Hamlin Chargers (11-0)
Rank+: 167
Best Win: #4 Florence/Henry (W 45-31)
Wins: Groton Area, Flandreau, Mankato West (MN), STM, Tiospa Zina, Sioux Valley, Webster Area, West Lyon (IA), De Smet, Redfield, Florence/Henry
Last Week:
- Tue vs. De Smet (W 64-35)
- Thu vs. Redfield (W 56-14)
- Sat vs. #4 F/H (W 45-31)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue @ Roncalli
- Thu @ #8 Sisseton
It’s been a great week for Hamlin High School, as both the boys and girls teams took home ranked victories this past week.
The Chargers now look to add another one to the resume this Thursday on the road at Sisseton.
#3 Vermillion Tanagers (12-0)
Rank+: 163.6
Best Win: #1 Wagner (53-52)
Wins: Canton, Worthington (MN), Tri-Valley, West Central, Tea Area, Ponca (NE), Parkston, Madison, Lennox, Wagner, EP-J, Garretson
Last Week:
- Tue @ EP-J (W 47-46)
- Fri @ Garretson (W 51-25)
Weekly Schedule:
- Thu vs. Dell Rapids
- Sat vs. Luverne MN @ Augie
The Tanagers woke everyone up to the talent this team has when they took down Wagner two weeks ago. They kept the momentum going with wins over EP-J and Garretson last week and look to continue to knock down wins on their way to a battle with SFC on February 2nd.
#4 Florence/Henry Falcons (9-1)
Rank+: 161.0
Best Win: Parkston (W 63-42)
Wins: Deuel, C/WL, Milbank, Wilmot, De Smet, Waubay-Summit, Warner, Parkston, Webster Area
Last Week:
- Tue @ Webster Area (W 58-16)
- Sat @ #2 Hamlin (L 45-31)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue vs. #7B Arlington
- Thu @ GPL
- Sat vs. RC Christian @ Augie
The Falcons took their first loss of the season against Hamlin this last week.
But any team that wants to win at the highest level in the state tournament, has to learn from those tough losses and show they can bounce back from adversity.
Florence/Henry has a great opportunity to do that tonight against a really good Arlington team.
#5 STM Cavaliers (10-2)
Rank+: 157.9
Best Win: #9A Belle Fourche (W 51-37)
Wins: Worland (WY), Thunder Basin (WY), Campbell County (WY), Scottsbluff (NE), Hill City, Belle Fourche, Sturgis, Custer, West Central, Flandreau, Lead-Deadwood
Last Week:
- Tue vs. Lead-Deadwood (W 49-2)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue @ #9AA Spearfish
- Thu vs. Sturgis
Sometimes, you have to do a double-take when you see a final score:
It’s absolutely incredible to see a team nearly shut out in a basketball game. In fact, in my entire life, I’ve only seen the possibility of it twice.
It was a right time, right place opportunity and while it’s an extreme, it shows how incredible the Cavaliers defense is really good. They held Worland (WY) to just 20 points on opening night, and 9-3 Custer to 26 points just a few weeks ago.
They will face off against a team in Spearfish tonight that averages 49 ppg, so let’s see if STM can keep up the great play.
#6 SFC Chargers (10-1)
Rank+: 157
Best Win: Lennox (50-29)
Wins: Western Christian (IA), Lennox, EP-J, Unity Christian (IA), Dell Rapids, Tea Area, Watertown, Garretson, Madison
Last Week:
- Tue vs. Garretson (W 57-50)
- Fri vs. Madison (W 55-29)
Weekly Schedule:
- Mon vs. West Central (W 67-55)
- Thu @ Dakota Valley
The Chargers have shown great improvement over the last couple of weeks, winning 8-in-a-row since their 62-29 loss to Wagner on December 29th.
SFC is starting to show the signs of a completely different team than that December loss, and I’m excited to see how they matchup to #3 Vermillion on February 2nd.
#7 Red Cloud Crusaders (11-0)
Rank+: 154
Best Win: #9AA Spearfish (49-47)
Wins: Hill City, McLaughlin, Dupree, RC Christian, Lakota Tech, Todd County, St. Francis Indian, Lakota Tech, Custer, Little Wound, Spearfish
Last Week:
- Mon vs. Little Wound (W 74-30)
- Fri @ #9AA Spearfish (W 49-47)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue vs. Douglas
- Fri vs. Lead-Deadwood
The Crusaders just keep knocking down wins in the west river area and show no signs of slowing down after a tough road victory against Spearfish.
The win over the Spartans finally gives them a ranked victory this season, and they have a chance to go get another when they host Belle Fourche next week.
#8 Sisseton Redmen (10-0)
Rank+: 153
Best Win: #6B Castlewood (57-40)
Wins: GPL, Groton Area, Milbank, Mobridge-Pollock, Redfield, Chamberlain, Castlewood, Roncalli, Webster Area
Last Week:
- Thu @ Webster Area (W 59-25)
Weekly Schedule:
- Mon @ Richland ND (W 62-33)
- Tue vs. Deuel
- Thu @ #2 Hamlin
Another team that is quietly putting together a great season, Sisseton is just 1 of 4 teams still undefeated in Class A.
But in a class this stacked, it can be hard to get attention no matter who you are. The Redmen, however, have a chance to put the state on notice with a big road matchup against Hamlin.
#9 Belle Fourche Broncs (8-2)
Rank+: 147
Best Win: #9AA Spearfish (59-55)
Wins: Spearfish, Wall, Sturgis, Douglas, Sundance (WY), Lead-Deadwood, Hot Springs, Hill City
Last Week:
- Tue vs. Hill City (W 49-26)
- Sat @ Bowman County ND (L 62-52)
Weekly Schedule:
- NO GAMES
Thankfully, out-of-state game don’t matter much to the computer. So in the eyes of the rankings, the Broncs played just one game last week, and held their home court in dominant fashion.
They have a week of rest on the schedule as of now, but are looking ahead to a big matchup against Red Cloud next Tuesday.
#10 Hanson Beaverettes (9-3)
Rank+: 141
Best Win: #2B Ethan (75-65)
Wins: Ethan, Menno, Avon, Irene-Wakonda, Viborg-Hurley, Parkston, MC/M, Parker, Castlewood, Canistota
Last Week:
- Tue @ #5B Howard (L 58-55)
- Fri vs. Canistota (W 67-32)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue @ SC/W
- Fri @ Bridgewater-Emery
The final team in the Top 10, the Beaverettes held strong despite a loss to Howard on Tuesday night.
However, they bounced back and took care of business against Canistota, and look forward to some great matchups with SC/W and #1 Wagner over the next 7 days.
Additional Reading
