#1 De Smet Bulldogs (17-3)
Rank+: 178
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, E-LB, Flandreau, Wolsey-Wessington, Deuel, O-R/R
Last Week:
- Fri vs. O-R/R (W 86-25)
Weekly Schedule:
- NO GAMES
The Bulldogs finished up the regular season this past week, and locked up the #1 spot heading into the postseason. They will now take on the winner of Arlington and O-R/R in the first round, with Wolsey-Wessington or I/LP on the horizon.
#2 Lower Brule Sioux (17-3)
Rank+: 170
Best Win: #4 Castlewood (64-61)
Wins: Marty, McLaughlin, Pine Ridge, Lakota Tech, Howard, Parkston, Castlewood, C-EB, Flandreau Indian, Takini, Marty, Crazy Horse, Crow Creek, Wessington Springs, White River, Little Wound, Wolsey-Wessington
Last Week:
- Mon vs. Little Wound (W 87-47)
- Sat vs. W-W (W 59-52)
Weekly Schedule:
- NO GAMES
Lower Brule picked up two more wins to finish off their great season, and earned the top spot in 6B.
As far as their postseason schedule, it looks to be Potter County or SBA, and then Lyman or H/SA in the second round.
#3 Aberdeen Christian Knights (17-2)
Rank+: 163
Best Win: #5 White River (87-68)
Wins: JVC, Britton-Hecla, Mobridge-Pollock, Lower Brule, Oakes (ND), Potter County, L/FA, Faulkton Area, Waubay-Summit, White River, Warner, H/SA, North Central, Northwestern, Ipswich, Roncalli, Langford Area
Last Week:
- Tue vs. Langford Area (W 72-32)
Weekly Schedule:
- Fri @ Groton Area
The Knights bounced back from a loss to Hamlin and defending their home court with a dominant victory over Langford Area. They finish the regular season undefeated against Class B teams, with one more matchup against Groton Area (Class A).
The game will matter, though, as there is a possibility a win and a Faith loss to Wall could move the Knights to the #3 overall seed in the state’s power points.
#4 Castlewood Warriors (15-5)
Rank+: 160
Best Win: #10A Clark/Willow Lake (54-51)
Wins: E-LB, Flandreau, Arlington, Madison, Sisseton, Deuel, C/WL, GPL, O-R/R, Colman-Egan, I/LP, Waubay-Summit, Florence/Henry, Deubrook Area, Estelline/Hendricks
Last Week:
- Tue @ #2A Sioux Valley (L 73-48)
- Fri vs. Estelline/Hendricks (W 74-33)
Weekly Schedule:
- NO GAMES
The Warriors took on one of the best teams in Class A before finishing the season against Estelline/Hendricks. The game against Sioux Valley was a good experience as they head into the postseason. Castlewood currently holds the #2 spot in Region 2, which means a first round game against Flandeau Indian before a possible Top 10 matchup with JVC.
#5 White River Tigers (15-4)
Rank+: 153
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, Wall, Little Wound, Stanley County, New Underwood
Last Week:
- Fri vs. New Underwood (W 79-46)
Weekly Schedule:
- Fri vs. Lakota Tech
White River has secured the top spot in Region 7, so they will now look to prepare for the postseason. That started with a dominant victory against New Underwood last week before a game against Lakota Tech that will be a tune up before the playoffs.
#6 Viborg-Hurley Cougars (16-2)
Rank+: 149
Best Win: #8 Howard (59-39)
Wins: Freeman, Irene-Wakonda, Gregory, Hanson, Alcester-Hudson, Gayville-Volin, Avon, Baltic, Canistota, FA/M, McLaughlin, Parker, Philip, Menno, Howard
Last Week:
- Tue vs Menno (W 61-28)
- Thu vs. #8 Howard (W 59-39)
Weekly Schedule:
- Mon @ #9 St. Mary
- Fri vs. Madison
Viborg-Hurley had the biggest win of their season this past week with a dominant win over Howard. There is no slow down either after securing the top spot in Region 4 as they take on #9 St. Mary. That should be a good game for the Cougars to get ready for the postseason.
#7 JVC Vikings (16-4)
Rank+: 142
Best Win: Wolsey-Wessington (74-59)
Wins: SBA, Burke, O-R/R, SC/W, Highmore-Harrold (x2), Wolsey-Wessington, Ipswich, Miller, I/LP, Hitchcock-Tulare, Faulkton Area, Estelline/Hendricks
Last Week:
- Tue vs. SC/W (W 61-45)
- Fri @ Wessington Springs (L 62-51)
Weekly Schedule:
- NO GAMES
The Vikings finished up their season with a loss to Wessington Springs. But like I’ve said before, those late season losses can make a team hungry for postseason success. JVC will have a tough route in the playoffs that includes a possible road trip to Castlewood, so I’ll be excited to see how the Vikings come out and play in the postseason.
#8 Howard Tigers (14-5)
Rank+: 140
Best Win: #9 St. Mary (60-57)
Wins: Freeman, Colman-Egan, SC/W, Menno, Hanson, Garretson, Chester Area, Ethan, St. Mary, Waubay-Summit, Mitchell Christian, Arlington
Last Week:
- Mon @ Mitchell Christian (W 58-27)
- Tue vs. Canistota (L 61-56)
- Thu @ #6 Viborg-Hurley (L 59-39)
- Fri vs. Arlington (W 62-19)
Weekly Schedule:
- Mon vs. Bridgewater-Emery
The Tigers took on a difficult week of games before the start of the postseason, and even though they went 2-2, Howard can host in Region 3. A win over Bridgewater-Emery tonight would be huge and give them a slight edge over St. Mary; who would most likely need to win out to get the host spot.
#9 St. Mary Cardinals (14-3)
Rank+: 138
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, Arlington
Last Week:
- Fri vs. Baltic (W 70-62)
Weekly Schedule:
- Mon vs. #6 Viborg-Hurley
- Thu @ Centerville
- Fri @ Bridgewater-Emery
There is no slow down for the Cardinals, who take on three solid opponents this week. They are in a great position to host in Region 3, but most likely need to win out this week. If they can do so, St. Mary would have a ton of momentum heading into the postseason.
#10 Ethan Rustlers (17-3)
Rank+: 137
Best Win: #7 JVC (W 63-58)
Wins: Hanson, FA/M, MC/M, Scotland, Wessington Springs, Canistota, Wagner, Menno, Corsica-Stickney, Mitchell Christian, SC/W, K/WL, JVC, Avon
Last Week:
- Mon vs. AC/DC (W 65-24)
- Tue vs. Freeman (W 69-51)
- Fri vs. T-D/A (W 54-41)
Weekly Schedule:
- NO GAMES
The Rustlers finished up a terrific regular season with three more wins this past week. Ethan has been proven winners this season, and hold the top spot in Region 3. That’s an impressive feat, and this team will be as tough as any come the postseason.
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