#1 Roosevelt (3-0)
Roosevelt came into the season with strong expectations, and have matched those expectations. The Rough Riders started off with a tough bout at new rival Jefferson, winning by 5, before defeating #2 O’Gorman by 1 point in the Sanford Pentagon. They also threw in a victory against Brandon Valley by 15 for good measure!
The Rough Riders were a team that I’m sure many had question marks about. They lost their point guard and returned 1 starter from a state championship team, and no matter who else is returning, it can lead to some doubts. But Roosevelt has ignored the critics this season. Their defensive tenacity, especially in the final minutes against Jefferson and O’Gorman, is what has truly stood out. Micah Johnson has helped to lead that strong defense, including the task of guarding Matthew Eng at the end of the OG game. Marcus Phillips has also played a strong role on the offensive end for Roosevelt, while Thoralingo Gilo is a strong competitor that will help the Rough Riders greatly.
Overall, while this may seem like a completely new team for Roosevelt, the Rough Riders are just as good as ever, and deserving of the #1 spot.
Next Game: Dec. 31 @ #4 Harrisburg
#2 O’Gorman (3-1)
Matthew Eng and David Alphers combine to make one of the most threatening duos in the state. Eng, an absolute sharp shooter is a threat from anywhere on the court, while Alphers is a roadblock for any guard trying to get to the hoop.
The Knights are simply a three-pointer away from holding the #1 spot in the state, as Eng missed a last-second three-pointer that would have given OG the victory over Roosevelt. The Knights also hold victories against Brandon Valley (11), Jefferson (18) and SFC (6). I watched both the BV and SFC game, and was quite impressed with the Knights ability to play defense. The SFC game was a battle from the start, and while the Knights aren’t going to score 70+ a game, the defense is going to hold up for any bad shooting night.
Next Game: Dec. 30 @ Tea Area
#3 Aberdeen (4-1)
Sam Rolhfs is probably one of the most underrated point guards in the state of South Dakota. Maybe it’s because of location, or maybe it is because he didn’t put up unbelievable stats last season, averaging just around 11 ppg. Either way, Rolhfs is now leading one of the top teams in the state, and the Golden Eagles haven’t even come close to their ceiling yet.
Aberdeen quietly took care of business at the beginning of the season, cruising through a 4-game west river expedition, including wins over Stevens and Spearfish. I suspect that the Golden Eagles won’t be #3 in the next rankings, due to a 31-point road loss to Yankton, but that is what I mean when I say they haven’t reached their ceiling.
Yankton is a high-risk, high-reward team. If they are hitting threes, I don’t think there are very many teams that can go shot-for-shot with the Bucks. Aberdeen caught Yankton on one of these nights, and it showed that while the Bucks are good, Aberdeen still has a lot to prove.
If anything, the Golden Eagles have won 2 games against teams that I think could end the season in the state tournament and have a bad loss against a team that could beat anyone if they are playing well, so we have seen both sides. Aberdeen does have big two games coming up over break against Watertown and Washington, and I believe that we can truly see how good this team is. If anything, Aberdeen is a team that will be a little shaky but will find their stride and show us how good they truly are.
Next Game: Dec. 30 vs Watertown
#4 Harrisburg (2-1)
I would assume that only people in the Harrisburg community thought this team would be where they are. I certainly was surprised by how well the Tigers have done this season, as well as the rest of the media. I did have a notice from Coach Langerock about how well this team was going to compete, so I knew this was a team to keep notice of. And I think of all the teams in the state, no one has put people on notice as much as the Tigers.
Andrew Walter is a two-year starter that has provided some key minutes and leadership for Harrisburg, while Gavin Aasheim is a solid senior leader as well. What has all impressed me how well Ethan Determan and Jacoby Mehrman have been playing. Determan has been a bucket this season, adding a solid offensive piece that works well in Harrisburg’s offense. And not to forget mention, Jacoby Mehrman has been one of the top underclassmen in the state. Mehrman is going to be leading the Tigers for a long time, and I think this is just the beginning of the Tigers run, even though they have already taken down 2 ranked teams this season!
Next Game: Dec. 31 vs #1 Roosevelt
#5 Pierre (4-0)
I’m pretty sure that Pierre only plays on 9 foot rims. Otherwise, there is no way to explain the dunks that the Governors have had.
ABSOLUTELY ELECTRIC DUNK BY @EdmanJackson ⚡️
(not a tech btw 😅)
#DigitalZDunks | @GovernorBBB
Originally tweeted by Digital Z South Dakota (@DigitalZSD) on December 11, 2021.
Jackson Edman (6’6″) is a dunk machine, but has also been able to play on both sides of the court. Lincoln Kienholz is also a bucket, hitting some nice step back mid-range shots, while not being afraid to shoot the long ball. They have some great guards that also provide a solid mix with the two high-flyers, which gives Brianna Kusler a lot of options on offense.
Now, the Governors haven’t faced any currently ranked teams, though they did make light work of Stevens, winning by 30. Spearfish gave them a tough run until the final minutes, but again, Pierre pulled away late to win by 17. They are going to have a tough challenge against Lincoln on Jan. 6th, and I believe the Patriots are going to try to limit Pierre’s fast-break ability and force the Governors to run more of a set offense. We really haven’t got to see much of that this season from Pierre, who likes to run a spread out type of offense. Either way, the Governors have been one of the most exciting teams in the state.
Next Game: Jan. 6 vs (RV) Lincoln
RV Mitchell (3-0)
Caden Hinker, one of the top 2 players in the class of 2022, has lead the Kernels this season to wins against Huron (14), Watertown (14), and Brookings (23). Mitchell has a high-powered offense, similar to Yankton expect that the Kernels work more through the post then the Bucks.
Hinker has turned into a threat at multiple-levels this season, being able to play down in the post, and more then willing to step out for a 3.
Another slam❗️
@dylansoulek starts the 3rd quarter with a big play 😤
#DigitalZDunks | @MitchellKernels
Originally tweeted by Digital Z South Dakota (@DigitalZSD) on December 12, 2021.
Dylan Soulek is another player, seen above, with high-flying ability. And while those two make a good 1-2 punch, I think they are going to need to pick up a couple more victories to get into that top 5. I know it doesn’t seem fair when you compare their resume to other teams in the top 5, but only 5 teams can be ranked and that’s how it goes sometimes. If Mitchell wins their next 3 games against Thunder Basin (WY), Campbell County (WY) and most importantly, Harrisburg on the 4th, I have no doubt they will be ranked.
Next Game: Dec. 28 vs Thunder Basin (WY)
RV Lincoln (1-2)
Lincoln, in my humble opinion, is a few years away from being the top team in the state. It’s not an insult to their ability now, but the Patriots will benefit from this season and the next, gaining experience for their players at the varsity level.
7-foot center J.T. Rock is one of the most exciting players in South Dakota, and has impressed with a fade away that reminds me of a Dirk Nowitzki-type-shot. It will help him go up against some other posts like Caden Hinker (6’8) of Mitchell and David Alphers (6’6) of O’Gorman. Elliot Whitney has also showed ability to hit a three-pointer from anywhere on the court. Whitney isn’t afraid to shoot aggressively, so he will transition well with Rock’s post ability, and not to forget, a great option in Forward Caleb Hiatt.
The Patriots are going to upset some teams this season, and I am sure that they will end their season with a solid run at the state tournament.
Next Game: Dec. 30 @ Marshall (MN)
OTHER NOTABLES:
Yankton (2-1), Stevens (3-2), Jefferson (2-2)
I want to discuss 3 final teams before we end this review, and those teams are the Bucks, Raiders, and Cavaliers.
Yankton- I spoke about this earlier, but the Bucks are a team that can really hit shots from behind the arc. Rugby Ryken has lead the Bucks this season at the point guard, while Jaden Kral and Michael Mors have been guarding the forwards for the other teams, while also providing offense, as Kral had 21 points against Aberdeen. Drew Ryken and Dylan Prouty have also proven to be solid 3 point shooters. The Bucks are going to win some big games when they are making baskets, and will lose some big games when they don’t. So be on notice for the Bucks in any game.
Stevens- I felt it was fair to give notice to one of the west river teams, and while I could have mentioned Spearfish, I do want to note of Stevens. They lost back-to-back games against Pierre and Aberdeen, who have proven to be good teams in their own right. The Raiders are starting to get it figured out with 3 wins againsts Central, Douglas and Sturgis, and if they win against Spearfish on the 4th, they are going to come into a bout against #1 Roosevelt with a lot of confidence.
Jefferson- The Cavaliers basketball team was a basket away from defeating #1 Roosevelt and have two solid wins against Brandon Valley and Lincoln. They have a bad loss to O’Gorman, but the Cavaliers could easily be ranked. No team will ever feel like the Cavaliers are an easy matchup, and Jefferson is going to be a tough matchup for any competition this season.
