#1 Wagner Red Raiders (16-1)
Rank+: 183
Best Win: #7 SFC (62-29)
Wins: Winner, Menno, SFC, Avon, Bon Homme, Corsica-Stickney, Gregory, Parkston, Ethan, O’Neill (NE), MV/P, Scotland, Irene-Wakonda, Hanson, AC/DC, Viborg-Hurley
Last Week:
- Mon @ Irene-Wakonda (W 71-28)
- Tue vs. #9 Hanson (W 62-46)
- Thu vs. AC/DC (W 67-49)
- Sat vs. #1B Viborg-Hurley (W 63-41)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue @ T-D/A
- Fri vs. Chamberlain
Wagner was very impressive this past week, taking down two Top 10 opponents including a dominant victory over V-H.
I was very impressed with the Red Raiders this past weekend, specifically with their depth. It seemed like Wagner never got tired during the game, and had multiple girls hit big shots late in the game.
These also showed poised in the second half when the Cougars continued to match their shots, but Wagner did not back down, and seemed to never stop scoring late in the game.
Wagner is trending at just the right time, and this is going to be a dangerous team come postseason play.
#2 Hamlin Chargers (16-0)
Rank+: 174
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, Roncalli, Sisseton, Milbank, Castlewood, Vermillion
Last Week:
- Mon @ Milbank (W 69-35)
- Thu vs. #6B Castlewood (W 57-23)
- Sat vs. #3 Vermillion (W 51-34)
Weekly Schedule:
- Thu @ Deuel
- Fri @ Corn Palace vs. #1 Viborg-Hurley
The Chargers just keep on winning, including a huge victory over Vermillion in Class A’s biggest game of the week.
In fact, Hamlin dominated in all their wins this past week, and show no signs of slowing down. Their game this weekend should be an exciting one, and will be a great test before the playoffs.
#3 STM Cavaliers (13-3)
Rank+: 161
Best Win: #9 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, Sturgis, RC Christian, Winner
Last Week:
- Tue vs. RC Christian (W 58-28)
- Fri vs. Winner (W 48-26)
Weekly Schedule:
- Mon vs. #5 Red Cloud
- Fri @ Corn Palace #6 SFC
The Cavaliers jumped up in the rankings after cruising to two wins this week, and have solidified themselves as one of the top teams, if not the top team, in the West River area.
This week will be a great challenge, as Red Cloud looks to contend for that title and a game against SFC is going to be an excellent battle at the Corn Palace.
#4 Vermillion Tanagers (16-1)
Rank+: 160
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, Dell Rapids, Luverne (MN), Beresford, SFC
Last Week:
- Tue @ Beresford (W 50-26)
- Thu vs. #6 SFC (W 62-55)
- Sat vs. #2 Hamlin (L 51-34)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue vs. Dakota Valley
- Fri @ Irene-Wakonda
The Tanagers took their first loss of the season to Hamlin this past weekend, but don’t look past Vermillion as one of the top teams in the state. They also beat SFC for their second ranked win, and look poised to make a deep run in the postseason.
#5 Red Cloud Crusaders (15-0)
Rank+: 159
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, Douglas, Lead-Deadwood, Belle Fourche, Pine Ridge
Last Week:
- Tue vs. #9 Belle Fourche (W 61-46)
- Fri @ Pine Ridge (W 89-23)
Weekly Schedule:
- Mon @ #3 STM
- Fri @ RC Christian
And then there were two.
Red Cloud and Hamlin are left on the girls side as the only undefeated teams remaining. The Crusaders, as mentioned earlier, are now looking for a huge win over STM on the road; a game which undoubtedly will make the state take notice if Red Cloud takes home the victory.
#6 SFC Chargers (14-2)
Rank+: 158
Best Win: Lennox (50-29)
Wins: Western Christian (IA), Lennox, EP-J, Unity Christian (IA), Dell Rapids, Tea Area, Watertown, Garretson, Madison, West Central, Dakota Valley, Parkston, Canton, Sisseton
Last Week:
- Mon @ Parkston (W 62-36)
- Tue @ Canton (W 65-37)
- Thu @ #3 Vermillion (L 62-55)
- Sat vs. #8 Sisseton (W 63-54)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue @ Tri-Valley
- Fri @ Corn Palace vs #3 STM
- Sat @ MV/P
The Chargers went through their toughest part of the schedule this past week, and came out with 3 wins. That includes a ranked victory over Sisseton, and they showed that they can compete with any team in the state.
They’ll continue a tough stretch of games with a tremendous matchup against STM that should be a great test just before the playoffs.
#7 Florence/Henry Falcons (13-1)
Rank+: 154
Best Win: #5B Arlington (61-54)
Wins: Deuel, C/WL, Milbank, Wilmot, De Smet, Waubay-Summit, Warner, Parkston, Webster Area, Arlington, GPL
Last Week:
- Mon vs. Groton Area (W 47-21)
- Fri @ Tri-State ND (W 54-24)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue vs. #6B Castlewood
- Sat vs. Belle Fourche
The Falcons just keep quietly taking home wins, though they’ll have a chance to make some noise with two stellar matchups this week.
#8 Sisseton Redmen (13-2)
Rank+: 147
Best Win: #6B Castlewood (57-40)
Wins: GPL, Groton Area, Milbank, Mobridge-Pollock, Redfield, Chamberlain, Castlewood, Roncalli, Webster Area, Richland (ND), Deuel
Last Week:
- Tue vs. Britton-Hecla (W 56-19)
- Thu vs. C/WL (W 63-38)
- Sat vs. #7 SFC (L 63-54)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue @ Milbank
- Thu @ Tiospa Zina
Sisseton had just their second loss of the season this weekend against SFC, but competed well the entire game. They are still holding strong with the top spot in Region 1, and a win over Milbank would all but lock in their seeding heading into regionals.
#9 Hanson Beaverettes (12-4)
Rank+: 142
Best Win: #6B Castlewood (48-42)
Wins: Ethan, Menno, Avon, Irene-Wakonda, Parkston, MC/M, Parker, Castlewood, Canistota, SC/W, Bridgewater-Emery, MV/P
Last Week:
- Tue @ #1 Wagner (L 62-46)
- Thu vs. MV/P (W 53-47)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue @ Freeman
- Fri vs. K/WL
Hanson renters the rankings at #9 after a week just outside the top 10, and look to hold their spot with the opportunity for two more wins this week. Taking home those victories would be crucial for the Beaverettes, as they currently hold the #3 spot in Region 5.
#10 Lakota Tech Tatanka (9-4)
Rank+: 142
Best Win: #4B Wolsey-Wessington (62-53)
Wins: Marty, Wall, White River, Mobridge-Pollock, Chadron (NE), West Central, Wolsey-Wessington, Hot Springs
Last Week:
- Tue @ St. Francis Indian (W 77-31)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue vs. Little Wound
- Thu @ Pine Ridge
- Sat @ Hill City
It was a quiet week for Lakota Tech, but they look to finish off the season strong with 5 games in 8 days. That’s a tough stretch heading into the playoffs, but the Tatanka are still fighting with winner for a host spot in Region 7.
