The Bucks and Kernels renew their rivalry Friday in Yankton. We will look at 10 different categories to determine who has the best overall program. This is based on 1970-present since it wouldn’t be fair to Mitchell as Yankton diminated the 20s and 30s. Just so everyone is aware, Digital Z is based in Yankton.
(1) Coach:
Mitchell: Munsen 1973-2012
The White Lake native definitely left his mark on Mitchell basketball. “They call it the Mitchell Invite. They don’t call it the Class AA tournament,” said The Godfather of AA basketball. 9 state championships (1984 1985 1986 1990 1991 1994 1996 1997 2005) and 5 runner-ups, 672-254 record.
Yankton: Haynes 2012-present
The Winner high and DWU graduate is definitely making his mark on Yankton basketball, and we shall see how it goes after the Matthew Mors era is done. 1 state championship (2018), 116-86 record.
(2) Venue:
Michell: Corn Palace
The World’s Only was originally built in 1892, with the current building being done just in time to host the state basketball tourney in 1921. To this day it is still regarded as one of the finest arenas for high school basketball. Some locals refer to it as the world’s largest bird feeder.
Yankton: Summit Center
The Bucks are 23-3 in their last 26 home games. That is winning at an 88% clip.
(3) Tradition:
Mitchell:
Mitchell has 9 state titles since the 70s, so this one is a no-brainer, but Mitchell has been in a down turn the last decade, but have definitely turned the corner this year and the future looks very good.
Yankton:
Yankton won state titles in 1974 and 1978, took some time off and 40 years later won it again in 2018. Every team has it’s bad beats, but Yankton had the extreme job in 2019, when the state changes rules because of 1 game you know it was the ultimate hose job.
(4) Best Game Ever:
Mitchell: Lots of choices for Kernels.
Asked a lot of Mitchell folk, and everyone had a different game.
Yankton: 1st round game of the 2018 title run is one to remember.
Down 16 in the 3rd quarter the Bucks rally to get to within 1. Then, with 21 seconds left, SF Lincoln throws an inbound pass into the gut of Jack Wolfgram who passes to a streaking Mors who finishes the layup over 6’5 Diang Gatluak. He hits the and-one to put Yankton up 2 and the win.
(5) Best Concessions Food:
Mitchell: Corn Palace Popcorn Balls.
They are good.
Yankton: The best popcorn in the state.
AD Mors took away the large boxes because too many out of town non-maskers would eat that box for the entire JV, Soph and Varsity game. That’s how good it is.
(6) Mascot:
A Buck would defeat a Kernel in a fight. That is a fact.
(7) Best High School Player:
Mitchell: Mike Miller
After a stellar high school career, Miller was the 2001 NBA rookie of the year, 2006 NBA 6th man of the year, and had maybe the ultimate compliment to a player: LeBron James wanted him in Miami to come play with him. 2x NBA champ (2012 2013) who had a great professional career.
Yankton: Matthew Mors
Wisconsin commit is the real deal. Doesn’t have the final resume of Miller but Mors gets the nod here. Yankton won the 2018 state title with Mors and 4 noon-ballers (just kidding, Wolfgram, Krejci twins and Ryken, but not really). Mors and Yankton were done-in by “The Call” in 2019 and were the #1 seed at the 2020 tournament before the pandemic hit. Not saying they would have won either or both, but were robbed of the opportunity to win championships.
(8) Best Center:
Mitchell: Bart Fredrick
The 6’10 center was as dominant of a big man of any in South Dakota history. His senior season, Mitchell went 23-0. Bart would go on to a great career at Drake University.
Yankton: Chad Nelson
The 6’11 Nelson graduated from Yankton in 1974. HE was the most dominant big man in South Dakota history. Leading Yankton to the title in 1974 as he had one of the most dominating championship games ever: 24 points and 20 rebounds in a 70-51 victory over RC Central. Nelson would go on and play one year at Minnesota before transferring to Drake University. Nelson was drafted twice by the NBA, but he never played in the league. He did play 4 seasons in Israel.
(9) Best Forward:
Mitchell: Scott Morgan
The 6’7 1998 Mitchell grad finished 3rd, 2nd and 4th at state tourneys. Morgan would ignore other colleges to stay home and play for DWU where he scored 57 one night in the Palace against Mount Marty. Morgan was a two-time NAIA Division II Player of the Year, and as a Junior he led the NAIA with 30.6 points per game.
Yankton: Colton Iverson
The 2008 Yankton grad had some tough luck in the state tourneys much like Morgan. Most notably a “fantom” 4-point play to tie the game late in 1st round against Mitchell his senior year. Colton went on to play 3 years at Minnesota and finished his college career at Colorado State. Iverson was drafted by the Pacers in the 2nd round of the 2013 draft ,and later that night traded to the Celtics. He never played in the league but has been on a European vacation (world tour) that is still going on today, as Colton is currently playing in New Zealand. Other stops? Starting in 2013: Turkey, Spain in 2014, Turkey again in 2015, Israeli in 2016, Spain again in 2017, Canary Islands in 2018, and Russia in 2019.
(10) Best Guard:
Mitchell: Ryan Miller
“I had Ryan Miller, three football players and a cross country runner, and we won the state title,” said Coach Munsen of the 1994 state champs. Ryan went on to Northern State, and in one of the best college performances in a high pressure game, scored 45 points against SDSU in Frost Arena his senior year to send NSU to the Elite 8. Little brother Mike was in the front row cheering on older brothers, Jared, and Ryan.
Yankton: Randy Gross
The sweet shooting lefty graduated in 1978 from Yankton high, leading the Bucks to the state championship. The all-state multi sport athlete, Gross didn’t play with the 3-point line like the kids today, so his high school and college point total is a little misleading as legend says he could shoot jumpers from half-court. Randy spent his college years at Mount Marty playing for coach Doug Martin. After graduating from MMU, Randy spent a couple of seasons in Leeds, England before returning home to teach and coach at YHS.
So, as you can see It’s a tie, no one wins. On to Friday night’s game.
The Bucks are 13-3 after their 88-58 win over Watertown last Friday night. Matthew Mors only has 5 guaranteed games left, but if the Bucks make the state tourney, that number goes to 8. Mors is averaging 25 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists. 6’4 junior Jaden Kral is also scoring 10 points and 5 rebounds a game, while senior DWU commit Aidan Feser (7 ppg and 5 rpg), senior MMU football commit Trevor Fitzgerald (6 ppg), and sophomore Rugby Ryken (8 ppg and 4 apg) finish the starting five.
The Kernels come to Yankton with a 13-4 record. They are coming off a loss to O’Gorman Tuesday night 60-42. Mitchell is 3-3 in the month of February after starting the season 10-1 and finish with 13-3 Yankton, 13-0 SF Washington and 9-7 Aberdeen. Last Saturday night Mitchell dominated #2 Harrisburg 64-46 as junior Caden Hinker scored 34 points while surpassing 1,000 career points. Coach Todd Neuendorf has turned the Kernels into a threat to win the AA title. After a couple of rough seasons the Kernels went 7-14 last year and the table was set for a run at the title with their double-double machines, Hinker and 6’10 Alm, the Sioux Falls University commit. Seniors Lucas Moller and Ben Helleloid, and sophomore Dylan Soulek round out the starting five.
This being a doubleheader, players, coaches and managers only get 2 vouchers a piece. So this should be a hard ticket to get, but if you need reach out to your AD and beg to get in the building, should be a great, intense high school basketball game.
This article was written by various members of the Digital Z Staff. To contact the Staff, please email digitalzsports@gmail.com
