#1 De Smet Bulldogs (12-2)
Rank+: 188
Best Win: #2 Lower Brule (W 61-53)
Wins: Deubrook Area, St. Mary, Arlington, C/WL, Howard, I/LP, Pipestone Area (MN), Estelline-Hendricks, Lower Brule, Castlewood, Canistota, Colman-Egan
Last Week:
- Mon @ #4 Castlewood (W 56-36)
- Thu vs. #9 Canistota (W 51-39)
- Fri vs. Colman-Egan (W 88-21)
Weekly Schedule:
- Thu @ E-LB
- Sat @ Sanford Pentagon vs. Tea Area
There isn’t much else to say about the Bulldogs that hasn’t been said already. They are consistent, disciplined, and have taken down 3 Top 10 teams in the last 4 games.
This time is firing on all cylinders, and an exciting matchup is on the docket this weekend in Sioux Falls.
#2 Lower Brule Sioux (12-3)
Rank+: 172
Best Win: #4 Castlewood (64-61)
Wins: Marty, McLaughlin, Pine Ridge, Lakota Tech, Howard, Parkston, Castlewood, C-EB, Flandreau Indian, Takini, Marty, Crazy Horse
Last Week:
- Thu vs. Takini (W 113-43)
- Fri vs. Marty (W 78-58)
- Sat vs. Crazy Horse (W 70-49)
Note: All games played in Huron.
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue vs. Crow Creek
- Thu @ Wessington Springs
- Sat @ Corn Palace vs. #6 White River
Lower Brule’s pace of play makes this team really fun to watch. They have hit the century mark three times this season, which is absolutely crazy!
Their guards are excellent in 1v1 situations, so if this team gets down the court fast in transition, it’s going to be tough for any defense to stop.
Lower Brule is also averaging 77 ppg, which is the best in the state and leads Class B by 5 points. Do you know who that #2 scoring team is?
White River.
That should make for one of the highest scoring games of the year this Saturday.
#3 Aberdeen Christian Knights (12-0)
Rank+: 167
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, Warner, H/SA
Last Week:
- Mon @ Warner (W 64-41)
- Tue vs. H/SA (W 70-45)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue vs. North Central
- Thu @ Northwestern
- Sat vs. #3A Dell Rapids
Aberdeen Christian just keep knocking down wins, getting two more this past week. I’m excited for their matchup with Dell Rapids, who should be a great test for the undefeated Knights.
#4 Castlewood Warriors (11-3)
Rank+: 160
Best Win: #8A Clark/Willow Lake (54-51)
Wins: E-LB, Flandreau, Arlington, Madison, Sisseton, Deuel, C/WL, GPL, O-R/R, Colman-Egan, I/LP
Last Week:
- Mon vs. #1 De Smet (L 56-46)
- Tue vs. Colman-Egan (W 81-29)
- Fri vs. I/LP (W 68-36)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue vs. Waubay/Summit
- Thu @ #7A Hamlin
The Warriors battled well with De Smet, but the Bulldogs took the bout between these two heavyweights. We could see Part 2 of this matchup soon, however, as Castlewood is currently projected to take on the Bulldogs in the second round of the tournament, according to the state’s power point system.
No matter who the two play, Region 2 will be arguably the most difficult to reach the Sodak 16 out of, but with Waubay/Summit, Hamlin, and Sioux Valley on the schedule, Castlewood looks to be well-tested heading into the playoffs.
#5 JVC Vikings (10-2)
Rank+: 150
Best Win: Wolsey-Wessington (74-59)
Wins: SBA, Burke, O-R/R, SC/W, Highmore-Harrold (x2), Wolsey-Wessington, Ipswich, Miller, I/LP
Last Week:
- Tue vs. H-H (W 62-42)
- Thu @ Miller (W 84-51)
- Sat @ I/LP (W 71-44)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue vs. Hitchcock-Tulare
- Fri vs. Faulkton Area
- Sat @ Estelline/Hendricks
The Vikings just keep winning, picking up three more victories last week. They are set up for another momentum building week over the next 7 days, before a huge matchup against Ethan next Monday.
#6 White River Tigers (11-2)
Rank+: 148
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:
- Fri vs. St. Francis Indian (W 78-59)
Weekly Schedule:
- Thu @ Wall
- Sat @ Sanford Pentagon vs. #2A SFC
It was quiet week for the Tigers, who played just one game against St. Francis Indian. No matter, the games they play this week are very important. A win against Wall would be huge towards clinching the top spot in 7B, and SFC is an exciting matchup in another big venue.
#7 St. Mary Cardinals (9-2)
Rank+: 140.8
Best Win: #4 Castlewood (73-70)
Wins: Colman-Egan, Waverly-SS, Estelline-Hendricks, E-LB, O-R/R, Castlewood, Chester Area, Deubrook Area, Alcester-Hudson
Last Week:
- Tue @ Deubrook Area (W 71-57)
- Thu vs. Alcester-Hudson (W 75-38)
Weekly Schedule:
- Mon @ Garretson
- Thu vs. I/LP
- Sat vs. Mitchell Christian
The Cardinals just keep winning, and have shown that they are turning into one of the hottest teams in the state during their current four-game win streak that includes a victory against #5 Castlewood
Now, St. Mary will look to keep improving and knock down a couple more wins before a big matchup with Howard on the 9th.
#8 Viborg-Hurley Cougars (9-2)
Rank+: 140.7
Best Win: Hanson (43-33)
Wins: Freeman, Irene-Wakonda, Gregory, Hanson, Alcester-Hudson, Gayville-Volin, Avon, Baltic
Last Week:
- Thu vs. Centerville (W 69-43)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue vs. #9 Canistota
- Fri vs. FA/M
- Sat @ Sanford Pentagon vs. McLaughlin
We were robbed of a great matchup between St.Mary and Viborg-Hurley this weekend, but there are still plenty of great games on the schedule for the Cougars.
These include a Top 10 matchup with Canistota tomorrow night. This could be one of the best matchups we’ll see this week, so keep an eye out.
#9 Canistota Hawks (6-5)
Rank+: 140.5
Best Win: Bridgewater-Emery (58-30)
Wins: Centerville, Bridgewater-Emery, Freeman, Canton, FA/M, Chester Area
Last Week:
- Tue @ Chester Area (W 60-45)
- Thu @ #1 De Smet (L 51-39)
Weekly Schedule:
- Mon @ Hanson
- Tue @ #8 Viborg-Hurley
- Sat @ Sanford Pentagon vs. Worthington (MN)
I’m sure the Hawks are looking forward to Tuesday’s matchup, but first they have a great battle tonight with the Hanson Beavers.
This week is going to be a great test for the Hawks, who have to hit the road against three good opponents.
#10 Howard Tigers (8-3)
Rank+: 140.4
Best Win: Ethan (65-55)
Wins: Freeman, Colman-Egan, SC/W, Menno, Hanson, Garretson, Chester Area, Ethan
Last Week:
- Thu @ Chester Area (W 66-40)
- Fri @ Ethan (W 65-55)
Weekly Schedule:
- Mon vs. O-R/R
- Tue @ Irene-Wakonda
- Thu @ #7 St. Mary
- Sat @ Corn Palace vs. Waubay-Summit
Another team that has a big week ahead, the Tigers got a win against Ethan to end last week that’s going to have huge implications down the road. If they keep on winning, Howard has a great chance to host in the state’s deepest region.
