#1 Dakota Valley Panthers (16-0)
Rank+: 172
Best Win: #2 SFC (W 73-57)
Wins: Tea Area, Beresford, Minneapolis North (MN), Chamberlain, Sergeant Bluff-Luton (IA), LeMars (IA), West Central, Hartington Cedar Catholic (NE), Tri-Valley, Sioux Valley, SFC, C/WL, EP-J, Western Christian (IA), Vermillion, Dell Rapids
Last Week:
- Tue @ Vermillion (W 59-54)
- Fri @ #5 Dell Rapids (W 79-63)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue @ Sioux City West (IA)
- Fri @ Madison
Can anyone stop the Panthers? Dakota Valley picked up another dominant victory over a great team, this time going on the road to Dell Rapids.
They’ve locked up the top spot in Region 4 and look to finish as the top seed in the state by the end of the week.
Their projected playoff schedule looks tough right now, with a Top 5 matchup in the second round against Tea Area; a team they haven’t seen since December 9th. However, if there is any team in the state that has proven they are up for a challenge, it’s Dakota Valley.
#2 SFC Chargers (14-3)
Rank+: 166
Best Win: #5 Dell Rapids (65-53
Wins: Lennox, West Central, EP-J, OโGorman, Thunder Basin (WY), Unity Christian (IA), Dell Rapids, Watertown, Madison, Hamlin, Canton, Vermillion, White River
Last Week:
- Thu @ Western Christian IA (L 68-43)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue @ #4AA Yankton
- Fri @ #3 Sioux Valley
In the computer’s eyes, the Chargers did not play last week. However this week the Chargers are going to have a pair of great challenges heading into the playoffs.
SFC locked up the #1 spot in Region 3 thanks in part to a pair of losses last week for Dell Rapids, so this week will be about preparing for the playoffs. And who will those teams be that they are preparing for? It looks to be Garretson and MC/M.
#3 Sioux Valley Cossacks (16-1)
Rank+: 165
Best Win: #1B De Smet (67-58)
Wins: C/WL, Beresford, Baltic, De Smet, Garretson, Baltic, Beresford, Hamlin, MC/M, Chester Area, Deubrook Area, Flandreau, STM, Deuel, West Central, Parker
Last Week:
- Tue vs. Deuel (W 57-47)
- Thu vs. West Central (W 68-30)
- Sat vs. Parker (W 84-34)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue @ #4B Castlewood
- Thu @ Garretson
- Fri vs. #2 SFC
The Cossacks put together a great week with 3 dominant victories and Alec Squires broke the all-time dunk record at Sioux Valley.
It’s remarkable that a school has had that many good dunkers, and it’s even crazier that Squires is still a junior.
As far as this week’s games, the Cossacks are still battling with Hamlin for that top spot in Region 2, which will be critical with #10 C/WL looming in the 3-spot. I’m also very excited for the matchup against SFC on Friday, in what should be the Class A Game of the Week.
#4 Tea Area Titans (12-4)
Rank+: 161
Best Win: Madison (65-40)
Wins: Marshall (MN), Vermillion, Madison, Crofton (NE), Canton, Aberdeen, Watertown, Western Christian (IA), West Central, De Smet, Dell Rapids
Last Week:
- Thu vs. #5 Dell Rapids (W 59-58)
- Fri @ #6 Lennox (L 63-57)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue @ #8AA Brandon Valley
- Thu vs. #4AA Yankton
- Fri vs. EP-J
The Titans moved up to #4 with a big win over Dell Rapids on a clutch bucket:
As I said…ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN IN THE DAK XII!
Anything can also in Region 4, which is going to be a crazy battle over the next few weeks. Any win this week would be great for the Titans, with EP-J sitting ahead of them in seed points and the AA schools providing an opportunity for big points.
No team is going to have a tougher schedule in the state from here on out, but the Titans look prepared for the mission.
#5 Dell Rapids Quarriers (14-4)
Rank+: 161
Best Win: #7 Hamlin (W 64-52)
Wins: West Central, Hamlin, Canton, Baltic, Milbank, Parker, EP-J, E-LB, Vermillion, Roncalli, MV/P
Last Week:
- Tue vs. MV/P (W 62-60)
- Thu vs. #4 Tea Area (L 59-58)
- Fri vs. #1 Dakota Valley (L 79-63)
Weekly Schedule:
- Fri @ #6 Lennox
The Quarriers dropped two game this past week, but I’m excited to see how they can bounce back against Lennox. A win on Friday could get them back on track as Dells heads into Region 3 with the #2 seed locked up.
#6 Lennox Orioles (14-2)
Rank+: 159
Best Win: Madison (66-32)
Wins: Milbank, Canton, Madison, Waconia (MN), MV/P, Vermillion, Chamberlain, Platte-Geddes, West Central, Brookings, Parkston, EP-J, Tri-Valley, Tea Area
Last Week:
- Mon @ Tri-Valley (W 75-48)
- Fri vs. #4 Tea Area (W 63-57)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue @ Beresford
- Fri vs. #5 Dell Rapids
- Sat vs. Deuel
The Orioles picked up a huge win against Tea Area that gives them a great chance to host in Region 4. The Dak XII is relentless though and they’ll have against Top 5 matchup against Dell Rapids.
However, if the Orioles can keep the momentum going through this week against some tough teams, they are going to be one of the most dangerous teams in the state.
#7 Hamlin Chargers (14-3)
Rank+: 154
Best Win: #1B De Smet (57-55)
Wins: Groton Area, Howard, Tiospa Zina, Webster Area, De Smet, Redfield, MV/P, Milbank, Castlewood, Florence/Henry, Deuel, Aberdeen Christian
Last Week:
- Thu @ Deuel (W 64-50)
- Sat vs. #3B A. Christian (W 48-43)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue @ Britton-Hecla
- Thu vs. #10 C/WL
- Sat vs. Flandreau
Hamlin went out and picked up two crucial wins to close the distance on the top spot in Region 2. If they can win out, they’ll have a great chance to take the top spot and set up a rematch with Deuel. However if they lose to the Cyclones, Hamlin will have to avenge their loss in the playoffs. Basically, the Chargers are going to have to beat C/WL sometime the next few weeks.
Either way, sounds like fun.
#8 St. Thomas More Cavaliers (16-2)
Rank+: 149
Best Win: RC Christian (61-38)
Wins: Worland (WY), Thunder Basin (WY), Campbell County (WY), Scottsbluff (NE), Aberdeen, Belle Fourche, Douglas (x2), Sturgis, Custer, Lead-Deadwood, Spearfish, RC Christian, Red Cloud, MV/P
Last Week:
- Tue @ Red Cloud (W 75-46)
- Sat vs. MV/P (W 68-57)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue vs. Hot Springs
- Sat @ Hill City
STM jumps up to #8 after another great week. They are still fighting for the top spot in Region 8, with a crucial game against Hot Springs ahead. The Bison, after all, sit just behind the Cavs in the Region, and a victory would give STM the maximum seed points.
#9 RC Christian Comets (15-1)
Rank+: 138
Best Win: #2B Lower Brule (73-66)
Wins: Douglas, Crow Creek, Red Cloud (x2), Lower Brule, White River, Trinity (ND), Shiloh Christian (ND), Sturgis, Alliance (NE), Newcastle (WY), Lakota Tech, Custer, Chadron (NE), Belle Fourche, Red Cloud
Last Week:
- Tue vs. Belle Fourche (W 87-53)
- Fri vs. Red Cloud (W 88-83)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue vs. Spearfish
- Thu vs. Hill City
The Comets have to continue to take care of business and control what they can control from here on out.
Looking ahead, their biggest game on the schedule could be Hot Springs, who they might have to play twice in three game depending on the outcome of the February 24th contest.
#10 C/WL Cyclones (13-4)
Rank+: 136
Best Win: Groton Area (51-43)
Wins: Milbank, Florence/Henry, Wessington Springs, Groton Area, Webster Area, Deuel, Roncalli, Canistota, GPL, Redfield, Sisseton, Britton-Hecla, Flandreau
Last Week:
- Thu @ Britton-Hecla (W 65-36)
- Sat @ Flandreau (W 40-29)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue vs. Tiospa Zina
- Thu vs. #7 Hamlin
- Fri @ Arlington
The Cyclones look to spoil the party for Sioux Valley and Hamlin in Region 2. Before that though, they’ll have to take on the Chargers in a big matchup that could help decide which of the two C/WL will take on to head to the SoDak 16.
