#1 Dakota Valley Panthers (12-0)
Rank+: 183
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
Last Week:
- Thu vs. #2 SFC (W 73-57)
- Sat @ Madison vs. C/WL (W 71-50)
Weekly Schedule:
- Thu @ EP-J
- Sat @ Sanford Pentagon vs Western Christian (IA)
We have a new #1!
Dakota Valley earned the spot with a huge win over SFC. Certainly, the Chargers were a difficult opponent, but the Panthers went to a different level in the second half of the game.
We talked about a few of the starters last week, but the Panthers showed they are really deep on Thursday with multiple shooters coming off the bench. This includes Luke Bruns, who scored 8 points on 3-3 shooting.
Dakota Valley now looks to continue their run of excellence with two big matchups this week.
#2 SFC Chargers (11-1)
Rank+: 177
Best Win: #3 Dell Rapids (65-53
Wins: Lennox, West Central, EP-J, O’Gorman, Thunder Basin (WY), Unity Christian (IA), Dell Rapids, Watertown, Madison, Hamlin
Last Week:
- Thu @ #1 Dakota Valley (L 73-57)
- Sat @ Madison vs #7 Hamlin (W 48-46)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue @ Canton
- Thu @ Vermillion
- Fri vs. #1AA Jefferson
- Sat @ Sanford Pentagon vs. #6B White River
Speaking of players with the last name Bruns, Ethan Bruns was very impressive in the Chargers game against Dakota Valley on Thursday night. During the second quarter, he literally could not be stopped:
Though the Chargers lost, they showed a lot of good things in the game verus Dak Valley, especially during the first half. Then they bounced back with a big win over Hamlin, who was one of the hottest teams in the state, thanks to a buzzer-beater layup from Britton Mulder.
That is a gritty win that could kick off a big week for the Chargers, who face Jefferson and White River on back-to-back nights.
#3 Dell Rapids Quarriers (10-2)
Rank+: 175
Best Win: #6 Hamlin (W 64-52)
Wins: West Central, Hamlin, Canton, Baltic, Milbank, Parker, EP-J, E-LB, Vermillion, Roncalli
Last Week:
- Tue vs. E-LB (W 81-36)
- Thu @ Vermillion (W 69-48)
- Sat @ Madison vs. Roncalli (W 65-31)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue @ Flandreau
- Thu @ Tri-Valley
- Sat @ #3B Aberdeen Christian
It was another great week for the Quarriers as they cruised to three wins on the week. Now, they hit the road for a trio of games that includes a marquee matchup against Aberdeen Christian.
#4 Sioux Valley Cossacks (11-1)
Rank+: 167
Best Win: #1B De Smet (67-58)
Wins: C/WL, Beresford, Baltic, De Smet, Garretson, Baltic, Beresford, Hamlin, MC/M, Chester Area, Deubrook Area
Last Week:
- NO GAMES
Weekly Schedule:
- Thu @ Flandreau
- Sat @ Sanford Pentagon vs #7B St. Thomas More
The Cossacks had the week off due to some weather, but look poised for an exciting matchup against St. Thomas More this weekend.
#5 Tea Area Titans (7-3)
Rank+: 165
Best Win: Madison (65-40)
Wins: Marshall (MN), Vermillion, Madison, Crofton (NE), Canton, Aberdeen, Watertown
Last Week:
- Tue @ #2 SFC (L 56-51)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue vs. Western Christian (IA)
- Thu @ West Central
- Sat @ Sanford Pentagon vs #1B De Smet
Tea played only one game last week, losing in a tough battle to SFC. This week’s a new week, however, and the Titans have some big matchups ahead, including 14-1 Western Christian and the #1B De Smet Bulldogs.
#6 Lennox Orioles (11-1)
Rank+: 160
Best Win: Madison (66-32)
Wins: Milbank, Canton, Madison, Waconia (MN), MV/P, Vermillion, Chamberlain, Platte-Geddes, West Central, Brookings, Parkston
Last Week:
- Mon vs. West Central (W 69-42)
- Tue @ Brookings (W 73-69)
- Thu @ Parkston (W 76-41)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue vs. EP-J
- Sat @ Sanford Pentagon vs. Moorhead (MN)
The Orioles have quietly put together a good season, taking home another three wins last week. They also have a great matchup this Tuesday against the Huskies of Elk Point-Jefferson.
#7 Hamlin Chargers (9-3)
Rank+: 159
Best Win: #1B De Smet (57-55)
Wins: Groton Area, Howard, Tiospa Zina, Webster Area, De Smet, Redfield, MV/P
Last Week:
- Tue @ Roncalli (W 72-38)
- Thu vs. Sisseton (W 67-22)
- Sat @ Madison vs. #2 SFC (L 48-46)
Weekly Schedule:
- Mon @ Milbank
- Thu vs. #4B Castlewood
- Fri vs. Florence/Henry
The Chargers are getting hot at just the right time, as they won six straight games before battling SFC to a buzzer-beater finish.
I’m excited to see if they can keep the momentum going this week, with three solid teams on the schedule.
#8 St. Thomas More Cavaliers (13-1)
Rank+: 154
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
Last Week:
- Tue @ Spearfish (W 55-42)
- Fri vs. RC Christian (W 61-38)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue @ Sturgis
- Sat @ Sanford Pentagon vs. #4 Sioux Valley
Cavs, welcome back to the rankings!
STM jumped up to #7 with a dominant victory against RC Christian in front of a packed house. It was a very fun game to watch, and the Cavs broadcaster may be the most entertaining radio guy in the game. He had me laughing the whole night, and I love broadcasters who add life to good games, especially at the high school level.
Looking ahead to this week, STM has another great matchup across the state this weekend with Sioux Valley.
#9 Groton Area Tigers (7-2)
Rank+: 150
Best Win: Milbank (64-36)
Wins: Warner, SFL, Sisseton, Tiospa Zina, Milbank, Northwestern, Webster Area
Last Week:
- Mon vs. Northwestern (W 77-52)
- Thu @ Webster Area (W 62-21)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue @ Langford Area
- Thu vs. Deuel
- Sat @ EP-J
It was a quiet week for Groton Area, but the Northwestern win proved to be a solid win for the Tigers.
Their Saturday matchup looks to be a fun one, as EP-J is battling for a Dak XII championship.
#10 C/WL Cyclones (10-4)
Rank+: 147
Best Win: #9 Groton Area (51-43)
Wins: Milbank, Florence/Henry, Wessington Springs, Groton Area, Webster Area, Deuel, Roncalli, Canistota, GPL, Redfield
Last Week:
- Mon @ GPL (W 55-25)
- Fri vs. Redfield (W 64-32)
- Sat @ Madison vs. #1 Dakota Valley (L 71-50)
Weekly Schedule:
- Fri vs. Sisseton
I was looking ahead at the postseason, and the Cyclones find themselves in the toughest position of maybe any team in Class A. Their region is stacked, with top 20 teams, Sioux Valley, Hamlin and Deuel battling away with the Cyclones for just two spots in the SoDak 16.
The Cyclones, however, have some winnable games ahead and a big matchup against Hamlin that could decide if C/WL is hosting during the playoffs.
