#1 Dakota Valley Panthers (19-0)
Rank+: 174
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, Sioux City West (IA), Canton, Madison
Last Week:
- Tue @ Sioux City West IA (W 79-69)
- Thu @ Canton (W 85-49)
- Fri @ Madison (W 86-66)
Weekly Schedule:
- Fri vs. Lennox
There isn’t much to say anymore that hasn’t already been said about the Panthers. These guys are just good.
#2 Sioux Valley Cossacks (18-2)
Rank+: 166
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, Castlewood, Garretson
Last Week:
- Tue @ #4B Castlewood (W 73-48)
- Thu @ Garretson (W 77-18)
- Fri vs. #3 SFC (L 71-63)
Weekly Schedule:
- NO GAMES
Another week where a team losses and makes the jump. Well, the computer has Sioux Valley with a projected win of 0.13 over SFC, so as 50/50 as it gets. The loss was close enough, the other wins big enough, and their previous results good enough to move them to #2.
SV had an incredible regular season and this is a dangerous team heading into the postseason.
They have the height to compete with any team in state and their perimeter shooting makes them a complete team offensively. In fact, the Cossacks average the second most points in the class at 74 ppg behind Dakota Valley.
Sioux Valley also locked up the top spot in Region 2, although their opponent is still undecided.
#3 SFC Chargers (15-4)
Rank+: 165
Best Win: #3 Sioux Valley (71-63)
Wins: Lennox, West Central, EP-J, O’Gorman, Thunder Basin (WY), Unity Christian (IA), Dell Rapids, Watertown, Madison, Hamlin, Canton, Vermillion, White River
Last Week:
- Tue @ #4AA Yankton (L 65-48)
- Fri @ #3 Sioux Valley (W 71-63)
Weekly Schedule:
- Fri @ Tri-Valley
The Chargers picked up a big win this past week against Sioux Valley to finish up a brutally tough end to the season.
That was the first time the Cossacks had lost at home in years shows how prepared the Chargers are for the postseason:
In fact, SFC competed with the best teams in the all three classes during the past month, including Jefferson (AA), Yankton (AA), the aforementioned Cossacks (A) and White River (B).
Now, they have one final game with Tri-Valley before taking on Garretson in the first round of the playoffs.
#4 Lennox Orioles (16-2)
Rank+: 162
Best Win: #5 Tea Area (63-57)
Wins: Milbank, Canton, Madison, Waconia (MN), MV/P, Vermillion, Chamberlain, Platte-Geddes, West Central, Brookings, Parkston, EP-J, Tri-Valley, Tea Area
Last Week:
- Tue @ Beresford (W 71-52)
- Fri vs. #6 Dell Rapids (W 59-40)
Weekly Schedule:
- Mon vs. Deuel
- Fri @ #1 Dakota Valley
The Orioles are catching fire at just the right time and capitalized with a win over Dells:
Lennox has a tough test ahead of them in the incredible difficult region that is 4A. But the Orioles currently hold one of the host spots, and have proven that they can play with anyone in the state.
#5 Tea Area Titans (13-6)
Rank+: 160
Best Win: #6 Dell Rapids (59-58)
Wins: Marshall (MN), Vermillion, Madison, Crofton (NE), Canton, Aberdeen, Watertown, Western Christian (IA), West Central, De Smet, Dell Rapids, EP-J
Last Week:
- Tue @ #8AA BV (L 49-46)
- Thu vs. #4AA Yankton (L 77-68)
- Fri vs. EP-J (W 63-53)
Weekly Schedule:
- Thu @ Tri-Valley
The Titans took on some of the best teams in the state this last week, and as spoken about earlier, it should prepare them for the postseason.
Right now, Tea Area would host Vermillion before going on the road to Lennox. And while that’s a crazy tough two regions games, the Titans have shown they are prepared to battle it out with anyone.
#6 Dell Rapids Quarriers (14-5)
Rank+: 159
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:
- Fri @ #4 Lennox (L 59-40)
Weekly Schedule:
- Mon @ Garretson
The Quarriers played in just one game this past week, taking a loss to Lennox. Now, they’ll look to move past it with a matchup against Garretson.
#7 Hamlin Chargers (16-3)
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 vs. #10 C/WL (W 56-42)
- Sat vs. Flandreau (W 71-42)
Weekly Schedule:
- NO GAMES
It was another great week for the Chargers to finish up the regular season. They picked up a Top 10 and secured the #2 spot in Region 2.
Hamlin hasn’t lost at home this year, and they are poised for a deep playoff run if they can continue the momentum.
#8 St. Thomas More Cavaliers (18-2)
Rank+: 151
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 vs. Hot Springs (W 55-41)
- Sat @ Hill City (W 66-31
Weekly Schedule:
- NO GAMES
One of the benefits of playing in 8A is the fact the top team gets a bye in the first round. The Cavs are the top team right now, holding a slim margin over RC Christian.
From my quick math, it looks like the Cavs will hold the top spot no matter what happens with the Comets. Either way, STM is most dangerous team in the west river area, and they could make a deep run in the postseason.
#9 RC Christian Comets (17-1)
Rank+: 142
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. Spearfish (W 65-40)
- Thu vs. Hill City (W 77-51)
Weekly Schedule:
- Mon @ Lead-Deadwood
- Fri vs. Hot Springs
The Comets are entering the twilight zone. They finish their season against Lead-Deadwood and Hot Springs, and if the seeds hold out, they would play both those teams in the postseason.
Weird.
#10 C/WL Cyclones (13-5)
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 vs. #7 Hamlin (L 56-42)
Weekly Schedule:
- Mon vs. Tiospa Zina
- Fri @ Arlington
The Cyclones lost in a Top 10 matchup this past week, but still look to finish the season strong with two more games this week.
And as fate would have it, C/WL and Hamlin are set to meet against in second round.
