In all regards, this season has been a greater success than anyone may have predicted this past summer. And in all the craziness, we now have something that has continued from year-to-year: The Sodak 16. Well, the last few years anyway! Below, we preview each team, comparing similar teams for every game’s opponents, along with predictions on each game.
*Note: All similar teams are based off of Class and Seed Points. Teams in the same class will be noted first.*
#1 St. Thomas More (20-1) vs. #16 Miller (12-9)
The top-rated Cavaliers have proven to be the top team in any class and have gone through an absolutely incredible schedule to get there. In their 20-wins, St. Thomas More has defeated: Cody (WY), Thunder Basin (WY), Scottsbluff (NE), Hill City, Belle Fourche, Washington, Corsica-Stickney, Belle Fourche again, Winner, and SF Christian. Those teams have a combined record of 162-32, and if you take away the Cavaliers victories, an unbelievably record of 162-23. There isn’t much else to say about St. Thomas More, except that the only team to defeat them is no longer in the tournament, so good luck to anyone that has to face the Cavaliers.
Trying to complete that daunting task of defeating St. Thomas More will be the Miller Rustlers. The #2 team from Region 6B, the Rustlers won a narrow 51-50 victory over Chamberlain to reach the Sodak 16. Miller has played well this season, defeating James Valley Christian in their first game, while also winning against #14 Mobridge-Pollock, Redfield, Ipswich, and Highmore-Harrold during the season.
SIMILAR TEAMS:
- St. Thomas More (47.40)- The Rustlers lost 53-20 against Winner (45.55).
- Miller (41.00)- The Cavaliers won 75-35 against RC Christian (41.650).
LOCATION: Wall
PREDICTION: St. Thomas More by 26.
#2 Winner (19-2) vs. #15 Tri-Valley (13-9)
West River has 3 teams entering the Sodak 16 favored to make the state tournament, but nobody dominated the region like the Winner Warriors. The Warriors lost to just two teams this season, #1 St. Thomas More and West Central, while having one of the best offenses in the entire state. The Warriors scored at least 60 points 13-times this season, at least 70 points 5-times this season, and scored 85 against Gregory. Even #14 Mobridge-Pollock couldn’t stop the Warriors offense, as Winner scored 71 against the Lady Tigers in the last game of the season.
Tri-Valley, however, has created some magic this season; shocking the state with a 57-52 victory at West Central. Just for reference, #1 St. Thomas More, #2 Winner, #9 Tea Area, and McCook Central/Montrose had all lost on the road to the Trojans. The Mustangs had even lost in Hartford on February 2nd by 16 points, but made some incredibly adjustments to win their regional game against West Central. It’s tough to see Winner not making the state tournament, but also, it was expected that West Central would make the Sodak 16, so be on the watch for the Mustangs.
SIMILAR TEAMS:
- Winner (45.55)- The Mustangs lost 67-51 and won 57-52 against West Central (46.10).
- Tri-Valley (41.15)- The Warriors won 71-37 against Mobridge-Pollock (41.35).
LOCATION: Wagner
PREDICTION: Winner by 7.
#3 Hamlin (19-2) vs. #14 Mobridge-Pollock (14-7)
The Hamlin Chargers have quietly put together one of the top seasons in the state, and have a 14-game winning streak. During that streak, the Chargers defeated #5 Sioux Falls Christian, #13 Redfield, and Class B #9 Waverly-South Shore and #16De Smet. They have lost to Castlewood and White River this season, but that shouldn’t distract from the fact the Chargers are a favorite for the Championship.
The Lady Tigers have also had an excellent season, and enter the Sodak 16 after cruising to a 30-point victory over Stanley. Mobridge-Pollock also has wins over Class B #14 Timber Lake and #16 Miller, but lost by 36 against Winner to end the season. The Chargers have an excellent defense, holding teams to less than 30 points six times this season, so the Lady Tigers are going to have to play some great offense. Not to mention, Mobridge-Pollock has had a great offense, scoring over 65+ points three times this season, including 76 points against Strasburg/Zeeland (ND).
SIMILAR TEAMS:
- Hamlin (45.15)- The Lady Tigers lost 57-24 against Aberdeen Roncalli (45.00).
- Mobridge-Pollock (41.35)- The Chargers won 65-41 against Redfield (41.75).
LOCATION: Watertown Arena
PREDICTION: Hamlin by 13.
#4 Aberdeen Roncalli (19-2) vs. #13 Redfield (16-6)
It will be a battle of Region 1B in Ipswich, as top-rated Aberdeen Roncalli plays #2 Redfield. The Lady Cavaliers have been a dominant team in the North Central, winning 12 games to start the season and only lost to #3 Hamlin and West Central. Aberdeen Roncalli has played both good offense and great defense, scoring as high as 70 points and HOLDING TEAMS TO 25 POINTS OR LESS 11 TIMES! That also includes Redfield, who the Lady Cavaliers defeated earlier this season by 25 points.
The Pheasants are better than the earlier season loss to the Lady Cavaliers shows. Redfield currently has a 7-game win streak, and defeated Faulkton Area by 4 points. However, besides Faulkton Area, the Pheasants have only defeated three more teams with winning records: Groton Area, Wolsey-Wessington, and Hitchcock-Tulare. If the Pheasants want to reach the state tournament, they are going to have to play great defense and win a low-scoring battle.
SIMILAR TEAMS:
- Aberdeen Roncalli (45.00)- The Pheasants lost 46-21 against Aberdeen Roncalli.
- Redfield (41.75)- The Lady Cavaliers won 46-21 against Redfield.
LOCATION: Ipswich
PREDICTION: Aberdeen Roncalli by 16.
#5 SF Christian (18-3) vs. #12 Flandreau (14-6)
The amount of teams that can win Class A is high, and the Sioux Falls Christian Chargers are no strangers to championship conversation. SF Christian has defeated some great teams this season, including a 3-point victory over West Central. It is worth noting that the Chargers lost to Hamlin by 3 and St. Thomas More by 21, but in the playoffs, anybody can win.
The #3 team in Region 2B, the Fliers defeated a good Florence/Henry team to get their spot in the Sodak 16. Flandreau has played 3 Sodak 16 teams: a 46-45 loss against #3 Hamlin, a 50-49 victory against #10 McCook Central/Montrose, and a 58-43 victory against Class B #16 De Smet. The Fliers have a good chance to win this game.
SIMILAR TEAMS:
- SF Christian (44.85)- The Fliers lost 46-45 against Hamlin (45.15).
- Flandreau (42.67)- The Chargers won 56-42 against Mt.Vernon/Plankinton (42.70).
LOCATION: Harrisburg
PREDICTION: SF Christian by 2.
#6 Belle Fourche (17-4) vs. #11 Parkston (15-6)
One of the top teams in the West River area, the Belle Fourche Broncs currently have 6-game winning streak. The Broncs have played excellent basketball all season, highlighted by a two-point victory against #7 Hill City and a 13-point victory against Class B #8 New Underwood. The Broncs did struggle against St. Thomas More, losing by 26 and 48 to the Cavaliers in their two matchups, but Belle Fourche has otherwise proving to be one of the top teams in Class A.
The #2 team from Region 5B, The Trojans reached the Sodak 16 after a tough victory against a good Mt.Vernon/Plankinton team. Parkston has played well at the right time, defeating Scotland, AC/DC, and Mt.Vernon/Plankinton in the final two weeks of the regular season. There is no better time to play good basketball than right now, and the Trojans will surely battle well against the Broncs.
SIMILAR TEAMS:
- Belle Fourche (44.10)- The Trojans have not played a similar team to Belle Fourche.
- Parkston (43.10)- The Broncs won 52-50 against Hill City (43.73).
LOCATION: Kadoka
PREDICTION: Parkston by 3.
#7 Hill City (16-4) vs. #10 McCook Central/Montrose (16-5)
In a year unlike any other, the #3 team in Region 8A will play in the Sodak 16. This has never happened before, but one of the top teams in the Black Hills will not waste the opportunity. The Rangers narrowly lost to Belle Fourche in the opening game of the season, but since have played well, losing only to St. Thomas More and Winner in Class A. Hill City also has a win against Newell, and defeated an excellent Lakota Tech team, so the Rangers should be prepared for McCook Central/Montrose.
The Fighting Cougars have had a great season, and are winners in 10 of their last 11 games. The #1 team in Region 5A, the Cougars have four losses by a combined 19 points, proving they can play against any opponent. McCook Central/Montrose also has one of the best offenses in the state, once scoring 70+ in three straight games, and has scored 70+ two other times this season. In fact, the Fighting Cougars have scored less than 50 points just four times this season, so expect McCook Central/Montrose to score in this game.
SIMILAR TEAMS:
- Hill City (43.74)- The Fighting Cougars won 60-45 against Parkston (43.10).
- McCook Central/Montrose (43.20)- The Rangers won 53-46 against Lakota Tech (42.25).
LOCATION: Kadoka
PREDICTION: Hill City by 5.
#8 Dakota Valley (15-5) vs. #9 Tea Area (16-6)
Familiar foes, both the Panthers and the Lady Titans reign from Region 4A. The teams have played only once this season, when the Lady Titans won 59-51 against the Panthers on December 11th. A lot of basketball has been played since then, and this game should be closer than the first. In their region games, Dakota Valley narrowly defeated Lennox (51-50), while Tea Area cruised to a 58-35 victory against Elk Point-Jefferson. Both teams should be ready, and the matchup in Harrisburg might be the closest of any Sodak 16 game.
SIMILAR TEAMS:
- Dakota Valley (43.42)- The Lady Titans won 59-51 against Dakota Valley.
- Tea Area (43.40)- The Panthers lost 59-51 against Tea Area.
LOCATION: Harrisburg
PREDICTION: Tea Area by 1.
