Thank you for reading another edition of our 2023 power rankings!
It was a super exciting week with 4 of the top 5 teams playing in the Hanson Classic and some interesting movement near the end of the Top 10. I was very impressed with the teams I saw in person, and it looks to be another great week that we preview below.
I’m still working on a chart that helps to show where Rank+ in each class relates to average, above-average, etc. across the state, but if you are new and would like a primer, I put links to articles from us at the bottom that can jump to here. I also rounded the Rank+ to whole numbers. It’s just a little cleaner to read.
Thanks, and happy reading!
#1 De Smet Bulldogs (9-2)
Rank+: 187
Best Win: #2B Lower Brule (W 61-53)
Wins: Deubrook Area, St. Mary, Arlington, C/WL, Howard, I/LP, Pipestone Area (MN), Estelline-Hendricks, Lower Brule
Last Week:
- Tue @ #6A Hamlin (L 57-55)
- Fri @ Estelline/Hendricks (W 73-29)
- Sat vs. #2 Lower Brule (W 61-43)
Weekly Schedule:
- Mon @ #4 Castlewood
- Thu vs. #8 Canistota
- Fri vs. Colman-Egan
Last week, I talked in the intro about patience. This week, the Bulldogs lived it.
Lower Brule certainly put them to the test, but the Bulldogs were exceptionally disciplined in their game plan. Even though they were trailing at halftime, they came out strong in the second half, never wavered and got more touches in the paint that resulted in some open shots.
Alson, their hustle was spectacular the whole game:
Long story short, I was very impressed with the way the Bulldogs played this weekend. They showed they can battle through adversity, especially after a tough loss like they had on the road earlier in the week.
The schedule’s not getting any easier, however, with matchups against Castlewood and Colman-Egan this week, so let’s see if they can keep up the momentum.
#2 Lower Brule Sioux (9-3)
Rank+: 175.2
Best Win: #4 Castlewood (64-61)
Wins: Marty, McLaughlin, Pine Ridge, Lakota Tech, Howard, Parkston, Castlewood, C-EB, Flandreau Indian
Last Week:
- Tue @ C-EB (W 114-46)
- Fri vs. Flandreau Indian (W 112-42)
- Sat vs. #1 De Smet (L 61-53)
Weekly Schedule:
- Thu vs Takini (Huron Area)
- Fri vs TBD (Huron Area)
- Sat vs TBD (Huron Area)
Lower Brule was an absolute blast to watch this weekend. At first glance, they were badly undersized against De Smet, although most teams are.
But Lower Brule utilized their speed to their advantage, driving hard to the hoop, but more importantly, using it to play great defense. They were tipping passes left and right, and I don’t think De Smet got off very many comfortable shots in the first half.
Though the Bulldogs were able to get the ball more into 6-10 center Damon Wilkinson and eventually completed the comeback, Lower Brule showed that their guard play is as good as anyone’s in the state.
#3 Aberdeen Christian Knights (10-0)
Rank+: 168
Best Win: #2 Lower Brule (W 62-48)
Wins: JVC, Britton-Hecla, Mobridge-Pollock, Lower Brule, Oakes (ND), Potter County, L/FA, Faulkton Area, Waubay-Summit, White River
Last Week:
- Tue @ Faulkton Area (W 77-38)
- Thu @ Waubay-Summit (W 53-30)
- Sat vs. #5 White River (W 87-68)
Weekly Schedule:
- Mon @ Warner
- Tue vs. H/SA
Unbelievable.
That’s the only word I can use to describe Aberdeen Christian’s offense this weekend. During the game, I kept thinking that this had to have been the best offensive performance I’ve ever seen, as the Knights were simply scoring on dang near every play
AC ended up shooting 71.4% from the field and 70% from the arc. Let me say that again:
71.4% FROM THE FIELD AND 70% FROM THE ARC.
That doesn’t just rarely happen. That literally never happens. They were pulling out moves that most people don’t even attempt. I mean, seriously, how many high school players know how to hit a goofy-foot hook shot:
This was just one example of offensive awareness that most teams in the state don’t have. If they can keep up their great play, this is a team that can beat anyone in the state.
#4 Castlewood Warriors (9-2)
Rank+: 159
Best Win: #8A Clark/Willow Lake (54-51)
Wins: E-LB, Flandreau, Arlington, Madison, Sisseton, Deuel, C/WL, GPL, O-R/R
Last Week:
- Tue @ St. Mary (L 73-70)
- Fri @ O-R/R (W 77-25)
Weekly Schedule:
- Mon vs. #1 De Smet
- Tue vs. Colman-Egan
- Fri vs I/LP
The only team in the top 5 who didn’t get a chance to play in the Hanson Classic, Castlewood will get their opportunity to showcase their elite play with a game tonight against #1 De Smet.
#5 White River Tigers (10-2)
Rank+: 149
Best Win: Lakota Tech (52-42)
Wins: Jones County, Marty, Todd County, Lakota Tech, Bridgewater-Emery, Campbell County (WY), Kadok Area, Bennett County, Colome, Philip
Last Week:
- Sat vs. #3 A. Christian (L 87-68)
Weekly Schedule:
- Fri vs. St. Francis Indian
It would be easy to look at the game this Saturday and say the final score tells the entire story. However, there was much more to the game.
First, Aberdeen Christian shot ridiculously well from the field. In fact, there is probably a very small list of games, if any, where a team missed less shots and scored that many points.
Joe Sayler also was very impressive, hitting some tough shots and helped to keep the Tigers in the game for a long time. He has an uncanny ability to get himself in a great position for a clear shot at the hoop while knocking down shots when needed:
Finally, I thought White River showed some speed and poise offensively. They do a good job of driving to the hoop and beating opponents off the dribble. They don’t tend to take selfish shots and try to find the best shot each possession. All in all, this was a tough weekend for White River, but this team is still going to be competing with the best.
#6 JVC Vikings (7-2)
Rank+: 144
Best Win: Wolsey-Wessington (74-59)
Wins: SBA, Burke, O-R/R, SC/W, Highmore-Harrold, Wolsey-Wessington, Ipswich
Last Week:
- Tue vs. Highmore-Harrold (W 68-61)
- Thu vs. Wolsey-Wess. (W 74-59)
- Sat vs. Ipswich (W 57-52)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue vs. Highmore-Harrold
- Thu @ Miller
- Sat @ I/LP
We talked about last week how the Vikings were unlikely favorites for a top 10 spot, but hey, they just keep playing competitive basketball!
JVC got 3 more wins this week, which secured the the #6 spot. They now have a ton of winnable games on the schedule with a big game looming against Ethan on February 6th.
#7 Howard Tigers (6-3)
Rank+: 139.7
Best Win: Hanson (58-47)
Wins: Freeman, Colman-Egan, SC/W, Menno, Hanson, Garretson
Last Week:
- Tue vs. Hanson (W 58-47)
- Sat vs Garretson (W 63-18)
Weekly Schedule:
- Thu @ Chester Area
- Fri @ Ethan
Unranked to #7? You don’t see that too often. However, it can happen when a team knocks down a couple wins and their former opponents continue to play well.
That’s exactly what happened this week, as the Tigers got a pair of wins, and Hamlin had a monster week in Class A. That perfect storm sets up a great matchup between Ethan and the Tigers this week; one that could be huge for both the rankings and seeding in Region 3B.
#8 Canistota Hawks (5-4)
Rank+: 139.5
Best Win: Bridgewater-Emery (58-30)
Wins: Centerville, Bridgewater-Emery, Freeman, Canton, FA/M
Last Week:
- Tue vs. FA/M (W 45-32)
- Sat vs. C/WL (L 47-41)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue @ Chester Area
- Thu @ #1 De Smet
Canistota also jumped up a pair of spots despite a loss to Clark/Willow Lake. And even though it was a loss, the game actually helped Canistota.
Teams that can consistently play at a high level hold strong in the rankings, and battling it out with a ranked Class A team will almost certainly help anyone in Class B.
This is another team with a marquee matchup this week against De Smet, so I’m excited to watch them play a top team in B!
#9 Viborg-Hurley Cougars (8-2)
Rank+: 139.4
Best Win: Hanson (43-33)
Wins: Freeman, Irene-Wakonda, Gregory, Hanson, Alcester-Hudson, Gayville-Volin, Avon, Baltic
Last Week:
- Mon @ Bridgewater-Emery (L 60-57)
- Tue vs. Avon (W 59-28)
- Fri vs. Baltic (W 56-28)
Weekly Schedule:
- Thu vs. Centerville
- Sat @ #10 St. Mary
The current favorites in Region 4B, V-H took a tough road loss to B-E before knocking down two wins later in the week. They will look to keep the momentum going this week in a big Saturday matchup against St. Mary.
#10 St. Mary Cardinals (7-2)
Rank+: 139.2
Best Win: #4 Castlewood (73-70)
Wins: Colman-Egan, Waverly-SS, Estelline-Hendricks, E-LB, O-R/R, Castlewood, Chester Area
Last Week:
- Tue vs. #4 Castlewood (W 73-70)
- Thu @ Chester Area (W 62-53)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue @ Deubrook Area
- Thu @ Alcester-Hudson
- Sat vs. #9 Viborg-Hurley
There was just 3 ranked matchups this week, and St. Mary found themselves on the winning end of one of them. It was thrilling double overtime game against Castlewood and it was the Cardinals discipline that got them the victory.
They then turned around and won another close win against Chester Area. Teams that can come out of these battles with close victories are dangerous teams when the postseason hits.
I’m not quite ready to give St. Mary the nickname “Cardiac Cardinals”, but they are starting to earn the nickname.
Additional Reading
