#1 De Smet Bulldogs (13-3)
Rank+: 184
Best Win: #2 Lower Brule (W 61-53)
Wins: Deubrook Area, St. Mary, Arlington, C/WL, Howard, I/LP, Pipestone Area (MN), Estelline-Hendricks, Lower Brule, Castlewood, Canistota, Colman-Egan, E-LB
Last Week:
- Thu @ E-LB (W 80-62)
- Sat vs. Tea Area (L 67-60)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue @ Flandreau
- Thu @ Wolsey-Wessington
- Sat vs. Deuel
De Smet battled it out with a Top 10 team in Class A and took a tough loss to Tea Area at the Sanford Pentagon. However, that’s a great game for experience and look to build off that game as they make their way towards Aberdeen.
Before the playoffs, they have a great game this Thursday against Wolsey-Wessington, which will be a great opportunity for the Bulldogs to bounce back.
#2 Lower Brule Sioux (14-3)
Rank+: 171
Best Win: #4 Castlewood (64-61)
Wins: Marty, McLaughlin, Pine Ridge, Lakota Tech, Howard, Parkston, Castlewood, C-EB, Flandreau Indian, Takini, Marty, Crazy Horse, Crow Creek, Wessington Springs
Last Week:
- Tue vs. Crow Creek (W 78-42)
- Thu @ Wessington Springs (W 70-62)
Weekly Schedule:
- Sat @ Corn Palace vs. #5 White River
Lower Brule got two more wins this past week, but I think everyone is excited for their next matchup:
White River.
The Sioux and the Tigers can both run the floor and shoot very well, so expect this game to be an exciting battle of offense!
#3 Aberdeen Christian Knights (14-1)
Rank+: 166
Best Win: #2 Lower Brule (W 62-48)
Wins: JVC, Britton-Hecla, Mobridge-Pollock, Lower Brule, Oakes (ND), Potter County, L/FA, Faulkton Area, Waubay-Summit, White River, Warner, H/SA, North Central, Northwestern
Last Week:
- Tue vs. North Central (W 73-30)
- Thu @ Northwestern (W 63-49)
- Sat vs. #3A Dell Rapids (L 59-51)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue @ Ipswich
- Thu vs. Roncalli
- Sat @ Corn Palace vs. #7A Hamlin
The Knights got two more wins before taking on their toughest challenge of the season in Dell Rapids. Although they didn’t win, they have another fun matchup with Hamlin who is #7 in Class A.
That would be a huge statement win for the Knights that would prepare them for a return to the state tournament.
#4 Castlewood Warriors (12-4)
Rank+: 161
Best Win: #8A Clark/Willow Lake (54-51)
Wins: E-LB, Flandreau, Arlington, Madison, Sisseton, Deuel, C/WL, GPL, O-R/R, Colman-Egan, I/LP, Waubay-Summit
Last Week:
- Tue vs. Waubay/Summit (W 70-43)
- Thu @ #7A Hamlin (L 65-43)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue @ Florence/Henry
- Thu @ Deubrook Area
As we talked about last week, the Warriors are in a tough position. They currently are the #4 seed in Region 2, which is certainly not ideal for any team. That makes every game from here on out a must win, and a victory over Sioux Valley in two weeks would huge.
#5 White River Tigers (12-3)
Rank+: 152
Best Win: Lakota Tech (52-42)
Wins: Jones County, Marty, Todd County, Lakota Tech, Bridgewater-Emery, Campbell County (WY), Kadok Area, Bennett County, Colome, Philip, Wall
Last Week:
- Thu @ Wall (W 74-44)
- Sat vs. #2A SFC (L 66-55)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue vs. Little Wound
- Thu @ Stanley County
- Sat @ Corn Palace vs. #2 Lower Brule
The Tigers moved back up into the Top 5 after a dominant victory over Wall and battled it out with one of the best team’s in Class A.
Though it’s a busy week for White River, Saturday’s matchup looks to be one of the best in the state. Both teams can move the ball very quickly, and it’s a rematch from one of the best state tournament games in recent memory. If that doesn’t get you hyped for the Culver’s Classic, nothing will.
#6 JVC Vikings (13-2)
Rank+: 148
Best Win: Wolsey-Wessington (74-59)
Wins: SBA, Burke, O-R/R, SC/W, Highmore-Harrold (x2), Wolsey-Wessington, Ipswich, Miller, I/LP, Hitchcock-Tulare, Faulkton Area, Estelline/Hendricks
Last Week:
- Tue vs. Hitchcock-Tulare (W 68-34)
- Fri vs. Faulkton Area (W 63-38)
- Sat @ Estelline/Hendricks (W 88-85)
Weekly Schedule:
- Mon vs. Ethan
- Tue vs. Mitchell Christian
- Thu vs. Arlington
The Vikings picked up 3 more wins last week, including a triple-overtime victory at Estelline/Hendricks. That makes 11 straight wins for JVC, and they are starting to put the state on notice.
If they can keep the winning streak going, they can take that #2 spot in Region 2. Hosting in the state’s toughest region will be vital to getting into the Sodak 16, and JVC still has that opportunity.
#7 Viborg-Hurley Cougars (12-2)
Rank+: 145
Best Win: Hanson (43-33)
Wins: Freeman, Irene-Wakonda, Gregory, Hanson, Alcester-Hudson, Gayville-Volin, Avon, Baltic, Canistota, FA/M, McLaughlin
Last Week:
- Tue vs. #9 Canistota (W 47-45)
- Fri vs. FA/M (W 59-42)
- Sat vs. McLaughlin (W 61-41)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue @ Parker
- Sat @ Corn Palace vs. Philip
The Cougars got the biggest win in Class B last Tuesday over Canistota. Last week pretty much sealed V-H as the top seed in Region 4, so they next couple weeks will be about continuing to gain momentum heading into the postseason.
It won’t be an easy road, however, as Philip, #8 Howard and #9 St. Mary remain on the schedule.
#8 Howard Tigers (10-3)
Rank+: 141.4
Best Win: Ethan (65-55)
Wins: Freeman, Colman-Egan, SC/W, Menno, Hanson, Garretson, Chester Area, Ethan
Last Week:
- Mon vs. O-R/R (W 82-24)
- Tue @ Irene-Wakonda (W 50-38)
Weekly Schedule:
- Thu @ #7 St. Mary
- Sat @ Corn Palace vs. Waubay-Summit
It was a dominant week for the Tigers, who cruised to victory over O-R/R and then took home a good win against I-W.
They have a big week upcoming, including a game against St. Mary that has major playoff implications. The Cardinals currently hold the #2 spot, while Howard is just behind them at #3. Ethan is also in the mix at #1, and honestly there is no guarantee that any of them will host…February could get crazy!
#9 St. Mary Cardinals (12-2)
Rank+: 141.2
Best Win: #4 Castlewood (73-70)
Wins: Colman-Egan, Waverly-SS, Estelline-Hendricks, E-LB, O-R/R, Castlewood, Chester Area, Deubrook Area, Alcester-Hudson
Last Week:
- Mon @ Garretson (W 69-32)
- Thu vs. I/LP (W 82-58)
- Sat vs. Mitchell Christian (W 81-56)
Weekly Schedule:
- Mon @ Arlington
- Thu vs. #8 Howard
I’m excited to see if the Cardinals can continue the momentum they are carrying into this week. Their 7-game win streak has put them in a great spot to host, as we discussed earlier, and this game against Howard should be electric.
#10 Canistota Hawks (6-8)
Rank+: 137
Best Win: Bridgewater-Emery (58-30)
Wins: Centerville, Bridgewater-Emery, Freeman, Canton, FA/M, Chester Area
Last Week:
- Mon @ Hanson (L 57-44)
- Tue @ #8 Viborg-Hurley (L 47-45)
- Sat vs. Worthington MN (L 75-46)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue vs. Menno
- Thu vs. Gayville-Volin
- Sat @ Corn Palace vs. Parkston
The Hawks have a great opportunity to bounce back this week. We’ve talked about it earlier, but teams that can rebound from a tough week develop the grit to make a long run in the playoffs.
And though the Hawks play in one of the toughest Regions in the state, don’t sleep on what Canistota can do.
