Thank you for reading another edition of our 2023 power rankings!
We saw some interesting movement throughout Class B, and there are a lot of teams showing signs that they can make the state tournament.
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 Viborg-Hurley Cougars (11-1)
Rank+: 178
Best Win: #4 W-W (72-52)
Wins: Freeman, Irene-Wakonda, EP-J, Wall, Hanson, Dakota Valley, Alcester-Hudson, Gayville-Volin, Wolsey-Wessington, Avon, Baltic
Last Week:
- Tue vs. Avon (W 58-29)
- Fri vs. Baltic (W 58-23)
Weekly Schedule:
- Thu vs. #3 Centerville
- Sat @ Augie vs TBD
The top team in Class B continued to play like the top team should, holding down their home court with dominant victories last week.
This week, however, they will be put to the test with an exciting matchup against Centerville on Thursday.
#2 Ethan Rustlers (7-2)
Rank+: 153
Best Win: MV/P (61-54)
Wins: FA/M, Scotland, Wessington Springs, MV/P, Bridgewater-Emery, Menno Corsica-Stickney
Last Week:
- Tue vs. Menno (W 72-17)
- Fri vs. Corsica-Stickney (W 49-43)
Weekly Schedule:
- Mon vs. Canistota
- Thu vs. Mitchell Christian
- Fri vs. #5 Howard
- Sat @ Augie vs. TBD
Another team that took care of business last week, the Rustlers now look ahead to a busy schedule. It’s a great test for Ethan, however, as back-to-back-to-back games is exactly what you are going to see at the state tournament.
#3 Centerville Tornadoes (9-2)
Rank+: 152
Best Win: #10A Hanson (51-42)
Wins: Hanson, Canistota, FA/M, Gayville-Volin, Burke, Scotland, Irene-Wakonda, Freeman, Avon
Last Week:
- Tue @ Freeman (W 55-43)
- Sat @ Avon (W 61-43)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue @ T-D/A
- Thu @ #1 Viborg-Hurley
It certainly was an impressive week for the top 3 teams in the state, as they took home a victory in every game.
Now, something has to give, as the Tornadoes battle it out against #1 Viborg-Hurley on Thursday.
#4 Wolsey-Wessington Warbirds (9-2)
Rank+: 149
Best Win: Miller (52-49)
Wins: Wessington Springs, Faulkton Area, Kadoka Area, Miller, JVC, Estelline/Hendricks, SBA, SC/W, Wessington Springs
Last Week:
- Tue vs. SC/W (W 58-43)
- Thu vs. Wess. Springs (W 56-38)
- Sat vs. Lakota Tech (L 62-53)
Games Played at: JVC, Huron, I-W
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue @ SBA
- Thu @ Highmore-Harrold
The Warbirds took a tough loss to Lakota Tech on Saturday, but the Tatanka are a lot better than some might give them credit for.
Like we’ve talked about in other articles, losses are a great opportunity for top teams to battle through adversity and continue to grow as team. The Warbirds have a chance to do that over the next couple of weeks with very winnable games and a few tests towards the end of next week.
#5 Howard Tigers (11-2)
Rank+: 147
Best Win: #10A Hanson (W 58-55)
Wins: Arlington, Freeman, Colman-Egan, Lyman, SC/W, Menno, Canistota, MV/P, Hanson, Chester Area
Last Week:
- Tue vs. #10A Hanson (W 58-55)
- Fri @ Chester Area (W 67-46)
Weekly Schedule:
- Mon vs. MC/M (W 51-42)
- Fri @ #2 Ethan
The Tigers just keep winning, taking home a victory over MC/M last night. It’s their fifth dub in a row, which includes a great victory over #10A Hanson last week.
Now, Howard has a little bit of rest before they face off against #2 Ethan on the road in what should be one of the best matchups this week.
#6 Castlewood Warriors (7-4)
Rank+: 146
Best Win: Flandreau (38-31)
Wins: Deubrook Area, Flandreau, Deuel, C/WL, GPL, O-R/R, Pipestone (MN)
Last Week:
- Tue @ St. Mary (L 52-50)
- Fri @ O-R/R (W 67-23)
- Sat vs. Pipestone Area MN (W 51-49)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue vs. Colman-Egan
- Fri vs. I/LP
Castlewood bounced back from a loss on Tuesday with two solid wins later that weekend. They are still looking for their first ranked win, but the opportunity is approaching with a February 2nd trip to Hayti.
#7 Arlington Cardinals (9-3)
Rank+: 145
Best Win: #3 Centerville (59-55)
Wins: O-R/R, Castlewood, De Smet, Madison, I/LP, Deuel, Centerville, Colman-Egan, C-G-B (MN)
Last Week:
- Tue @ Colman-Egan (W 56-44)
- Sat vs. C-G-B MN (W 63-44)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue @ #4A Florence/Henry
- Fri @ Estelline/Hendricks
- Sat @ Augie vs. Tri-Valley
The Cardinals are on a roll over the last week, picking up a win against #3 Centerville before knocking down a pair of dubs later in the week.
Now, they have their toughest test of the season, as they travel to Florence to take on the #4 Falcons.
#8 Jones County Coyotes (8-1)
Rank+: 144
Best Win: Kadoka Area (63-38)
Wins: K/WL, Highmore-Harrold, Stanley County, Burke, Colman-Egan, Bison, Colome, Kadoka Area
Last Week:
- Tue vs Colome (W 51-17)
- Fri @ Kadoka Area (W 63-38)
Weekly Schedule:
- Fri @ Gregory
- Sat vs. Bennett County
Another team that’s been finding their way into the win column after a recent loss, the Coyotes’ defense has been dominant over the last week, giving up just 23.7 ppg during their 3-game stretch.
They’ll have two more great chances this week to prove that defense is here to stay before an exciting game against Sully Buttes.
#9 Wall Eagles (10-5)
Rank+: 140
Best Win: #8 Jones County (48-45)
Wins: Edgemont, Todd County, Little Wound, Newell, Jones County, Bennett County, Chamberlain, Lead-Deadwood, Philip, New Underwood
Last Week:
- Thu @ Philip (W 68-30)
- Sat vs. New Underwood (70-41)
Weekly Schedule:
- Sat vs. Lyman
Welcome to the rankings Eagles!
Wall had a couple former opponents continue to play well, and an excellent week for the Eagles bumped them into the #9 spot.
The schedule is starting to slow down a bit for Wall, as they’ve played the most games in the state, and hold just 5 more games over the next 4 weeks.
This week’s matchup is against Lyman, who matches up well in ppg and ppa with the Eagles, so it looks to be a fun one to watch.
#10 AC/DC Thunder (8-1)
Rank+: 138
Best Win: Scotland (46-41)
Wins: Scotland, Gayville-Volin, T-D/A, Mitchell Christian, Menno, Corsica-Stickney, Avon, Irene-Wakonda
Last Week:
- Tue vs. Corsica-Stickney (W 67-47)
- Fri @ Avon (W 47-39)
- Sat @ Irene-Wakonda (W 48-40)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue @ Wessington Springs
- Thu vs. Bon Homme
The Thunder just continue to win after their opening night loss to Platte-Geddes, picking up 3 more victories this past week.
This is another team that is looking for a ranked win to add to the resume, and they will have that opportunity, though difficult, against #1A Wagner in early February.
Additional Reading
