Power Rankings updated through Sunday, January 12th.
#1 O’Gorman Knights (12-4)
Rank+: 167
Best Win: #6 Brandon Valley (54-41)
Wins: Brandon Valley, Roosevelt, Watertown, Brookings, Yankton, Lincoln (x2), Roosevelt, Tea Area, Stevens, RC Central, Aberdeen
Last Week:
- Tue @ Lincoln (W 71-35)
- Fri vs. #3 Washington (L 41-36)
Weekly Schedule:
- Mon @ Aberdeen (W 70-38)
- Tue vs. #7 Harrisburg
- Thu @ #4 Jefferson
The Knights remain at #1 despite a loss to Washington. I wrote about a similar situation in a tweet here, but basically, O’Gorman’s past performances ended up providing more value than the loss brought them down.
Looking ahead to this week, the Knights have some big games against Harrisburg and Jefferson. It’s especially important for power points as Harrisburg and Jefferson would be maximum point victories that could be crucial come the state tournament.
#2 Pierre Governors (14-2)
Rank+: 158
Best Win: #1 O’Gorman (57-46)
Wins: Stevens, RC Central, Watertown, Spearfish, Sturgis, Lincoln, Lakota Tech, Douglas, Aberdeen, O’Gorman, Harrisburg, Yankton, Huron
Last Week:
- Tue @ Huron (W 49-33)
- Fri vs. Bismarck ND (L 54-36)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue @ Brookings
- Fri vs. Mitchell
The Lady Govs took home 1 victory this past week as far as the computer is concerned, so it was a pretty quiet week. It’s also important to note that Pierre has not lost in-state since January 19th, and they are going to have a ton of momentum coming into a battle with Jefferson on the 21st.
#3 Washington Warriors (12-3)
Rank+: 157
Best Win: #1 O’Gorman (42-33, 41-36)
Wins: Lincoln (x2), Huron, Aberdeen, Pierre, O’Gorman (x2), Jefferson, Roosevelt, Marshall (MN), Brookings, Watertown
Last Week:
- Tue @ #6 Brandon Valley (L 58-50)
- Fri @ #1 O’Gorman (W 41-36)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue vs. Mitchell
- Sat vs. Roosevelt
Washington bounced back from their third straight ranked loss and took home a win last Friday against O’Gorman. Though there wasn’t a ton of scoring, the defense was very strong from the Warriors, especially early in the game.
That’s a huge turn around for one of the best teams in the state, and could be exactly what the Warriors need to get back on track.
The rest of the schedule is also very favorable to Washington and we could see this team transform back into the dangerous squad we saw earlier in the year.
#4 Jefferson Cavaliers (14-2)
Rank+: 151
Best Win: #e Washington (52-47)
Wins: Roosevelt, Brandon Valley, Lincoln, West Central, RC Central, Stevens, Yankton, Harrisburg, Huron, Mitchell, Watertown, Brookings
Last Week:
- Tue @ #8 Watertown (W 49-40)
- Fri vs. Brookings (W 63-36)
Weekly Schedule:
- Thu vs. #1 O’Gorman
- Sat @ Lincoln
The Cavs have not lost since January 12th and have won some very difficult games down the stretch. In fact, twice have they beaten a top ten by just a few points (Harrisburg 36-34, Washington 52-47).
This team is showing the signs of a group who is playoff ready and has the ability to win in the crunch time. A win against O’Gorman on Thursday would solidify that theory and is looking to be a must-watch before the playoffs.
#5 Stevens Raiders (12-5)
Rank+: 129
Best Win: #9 Spearfish (53-38)
Wins: Douglas, Aberdeen, RC Central, Spearfish, Roosevelt, Campbell County (WY), Sturgis, Watertown, Brookings, Mitchell, Huron, Yankton
Last Week:
- Fri vs. Yankton (W 50-49)
- Sat vs. #6 Harrisburg (L 55-40)
Weekly Schedule:
- Thu vs. RC Central
The Raiders are looking to get back on track after a tough loss this weekend to Harrisburg.
Stevens is currently in 7th for the power points, with two very winnable games against Central and Lincoln on the schedule. What will also be of most importance, however, is the games sandwiched in between…A road trip to #2 Washington.
If the Raiders can win out, they not only will secure a crucial home game for the Sodak 16, but will have the confidence to play with the best in the state.
#6 Brandon Valley Lynx (13-4)
Rank+: 127
Best Win: #3 Pierre (75-69)
Wins: Roosevelt, Watertown, Brookings, Spearfish, Douglas, Marshall (MN), Pierre, Yankton, Washington, Lincoln, Tea Area
Last Week:
- Tue vs. #3 Washington (W 58-50)
- Sat @ Lincoln (W 59-50)
Weekly Schedule:
- Mon vs. Tea Area (W 73-65)
- Thu @ #7 Harrisburg
A team that got off to a tough start, BV has now won 12 of their last 13.
In fact, the argument can be made that this is the most dangerous team in the state right now. Time will tell if that statement holds true, especially with a big game this Thursday. But no matter the outcome, I wouldn’t count the Lynx out of any playoff game.
#7 Harrisburg Tigers (14-3)
Rank+: 126
Best Win: #3 Washington (40-39)
Wins: Yankton, Lincoln, Marshall (MN), Roosevelt, Huron, Douglas, Spearfish, Washington, Mitchell, Brookings, Aberdeen
Last Week:
- Mon vs. Tea Area (W 59-57)
- Fri @ RC Central (W 38-26)
- Sat @ #5 Stevens (W 55-40)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue vs. #1 O’Gorman
- Thu vs. #6 Brandon Valley’
Harrisburg finished up a big week with wins over Tea, Central, and Stevens.
Those three wins have shown the Tigers have resiliency coming off a tough home loss to Pierre.
This week will truly be the test, however, as they take on the toughest end-of-season schedule of any team in the state; as three Top 10 teams in OG, BV and Watertown loom ahead.
#8 Watertown Arrows (9-8)
Rank+: 112
Best Win: Mitchell (48-44)
Wins: Brookings, Aberdeen, Yankton, Tea Area, RC Central, Huron, Douglas, Mitchell, Roosevelt
Last Week:
- Tue vs. #4 Jefferson (L 49-40)
- Thu @ Mitchell (W 48-44)
- Fri @ Roosevelt (W 67-50)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue vs. Aberdeen
- Thu vs. Huron
The Arrows snapped a 3-game losing streak with a win over Mitchell, and I’m interested to see how the rest of the season plays out.
Watertown’s been kind of streaky this season, so if they can catch fire here to finish off the year, this could be a team that comes into the playoffs with a lot of momentum.
This week is going to be incredibly important for their season, as Watertown currently looks to host Huron in the Sodak 16 as the #8 seed, and Aberdeen sits in the #10 spot. A sweep this week would almost certainly give them a host spot, while a loss and some bad luck would have the Arrows heading west for a long trip to Stevens.
#9 Spearfish Spartans (7-8)
Rank+: 109
Best Win: Hill City (48-25)
Wins: Hot Springs, Hill City, STM, RC Central, Lead-Deadwood, Sturgis, Custer
Last Week:
- Tue @ Sturgis (W 52-25)
- Thu vs. Custer (W 46-29)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue @ RC Christian
- Thu vs. Douglas
Tonight’s battle against RC Christian looks to be the most difficult remaining on Spearfish’s schedule. And even with a few more wins they are favored to get, tt doesn’t look like the Spartans are going to get a host spot.
However, that doesn’t mean this isn’t a team to keep an eye on, as I’ve said all season that the Spartans are a squad that is going to give opposing team’s headaches.
Now, we wait and find out which team that will be.
#10 Aberdeen Golden Eagles (6-7)
Rank+: 108
Best Win:
Wins: Worthington (MN), Tea Area, Brandon Valley, Yankton, Mitchell, Huron
Last Week:
- Tue vs. Mitchell (W 55-48)
- Thu vs. Huron (W 53-28)
Weekly Schedule:
- Mon vs. #1 O’Gorman
- Tue @ #8 Watertown
- Fri vs. Brookings
This is another team with a big week ahead. As discussed, the Golden Eagles are fighting for that final host spot in the Sodak 16 and have given themselves a chance to get it. This is going to be a crazy battle to the end, so keep an eye out for any game that features Watertown, Huron, Mitchell or the Golden Eagles
