Power Rankings updated through Sunday, January 12th.
#1 Wagner Red Raiders (18-1)
Rank+: 178
Best Win: #3 SFC (62-29)
Wins: Winner, Menno, SFC, Avon, Bon Homme, Corsica-Stickney, Gregory, Parkston, Ethan, O’Neill (NE), MV/P, Scotland, Irene-Wakonda, Hanson, AC/DC, Viborg-Hurley, T-D/A, Chamberlain
Last Week:
- Tue @ T-D/A (W 71-29)
- Fri vs. Chamberlain (W 77-33)
Weekly Schedule:
- Fri @ Platte-Geddes
The Red Raiders are putting on the finishing touches of a tremendous regular season. They’ll hold the top spot in the Region and are pretty much set to be the #2 overall seed in the state.
Right now, that looks to give them matchups with Bon Homme, MV/P and Garretson in the state tournament.
#2 Hamlin Chargers (18-0)
Rank+: 171
Best Win: #4 Florence/Henry (W 45-31)
Wins: Groton Area, Flandreau, Mankato West (MN), STM, Tiospa Zina, Sioux Valley, Webster Area, West Lyon (IA), De Smet, Redfield, Florence/Henry, Roncalli, Sisseton, Milbank, Castlewood, Vermillion, Deuel, Viborg-Hurley
Last Week:
- Thu @ Deuel (W 60-24)
- Fri vs. #1B Viborg-Hurley (W 63-46)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue @ Britton-Hecla
- Thu vs. C/WL
The Chargers just continue to take down good team, defeating their SIXTH ranked team in either Class A or B on Friday. This is a battled-test team that is going to be super dangerous in the postseason. We also might get a preview of that dominance this Thursday, as the Chargers and Cyclones are currently projected to play in the first round according to the state’s seed points.
#3 SFC Chargers (17-2)
Rank+: 162
Best Win: #4 STM (37-32)
Wins: Western Christian (IA), Lennox, EP-J, Unity Christian (IA), Dell Rapids, Tea Area, Watertown, Garretson, Madison, West Central, Dakota Valley, Parkston, Canton, Sisseton, Tri-Valley, STM, MV/P
Last Week:
- Tue @ Tri-Valley (W 69-41)
- Fri vs #4 STM (W 37-32)
- Sat @ MV/P (W 68-36)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue @ Yankton
The Chargers jumped up a pair of spots after a great win against STM. This is a great win heading into the postseason and SFC is playing with a lot of confidence.
A team with high confidence and good momentum from a string of wins to finish the year is a team that is going to be problematic for the rest of the state.
#4 STM Cavaliers (14-4)
Rank+: 160
Best Win: #6 Red Cloud (56-46)
Wins: Worland (WY), Thunder Basin (WY), Campbell County (WY), Scottsbluff (NE), Hill City, Belle Fourche, Sturgis, Custer, West Central, Flandreau, Lead-Deadwood, Sturgis, RC Christian, Winner, Red Cloud
Last Week:
- Mon vs. #6 Red Cloud (W 56-46)
- Fri vs. #3 SFC (L 37-32)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue @ Douglas
- Fri vs. Hot Springs
The Cavs took on some challenges to finish off the season and although they split, I think it was a good test for STM. Sometimes, those late season losses can make you hungry for vengeance, so I’m excited to see how STM ends the regular season and heads into the playoffs.
#5 Vermillion Tanagers (18-1)
Rank+: 159
Best Win: #1 Wagner (53-52)
Wins: Canton, Worthington (MN), Tri-Valley, West Central, Tea Area, Ponca (NE), Parkston, Madison, Lennox, Wagner, EP-J, Garretson, Dell Rapids, Luverne (MN), Beresford, SFC, Dakota Valley, Irene-Wakonda
Last Week:
- Tue vs. Dakota Valley (W 60-52)
- Fri @ Irene-Wakonda (W 64-23)
Weekly Schedule:
- Fri @ Parker
The Tanagers continue to cruise to victory and look to wrap up a great regular season with a matchup against Parker.
Vermillion will actually play the Pheasants twice in a row, as Parker has secured the #8 seed in the tournament. After that, a battle with Tea Area or EP-J is ahead.
#6 Red Cloud Crusaders (15-2)
Rank+: 156
Best Win: #9AA Spearfish (49-47)
Wins: Hill City, McLaughlin, Dupree, RC Christian, Lakota Tech, Todd County, St. Francis Indian, Lakota Tech, Custer, Little Wound, Spearfish, Douglas, Lead-Deadwood, Belle Fourche, Pine Ridge
Last Week:
- Mon @ #3 STM (L 56-46)
- Fri @ RC Christian (L 52-46)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue vs. Sturgis
- Thu vs. Hot Springs
- Fri vs. Bennett County
The Crusaders, similar to STM, took on some tough matchups to end the year. Although the games didn’t go their way, I am again excited to see how they react to these losses.
The top spot in Region 7 still isn’t secured, so three wins this week would be crucial for Red Cloud. And if they can take care of business this week, the Crusaders will be right back on track for the postseason.
#7 Florence/Henry Falcons (15-1)
Rank+: 150
Best Win: #5B Arlington (61-54)
Wins: Deuel, C/WL, Milbank, Wilmot, De Smet, Waubay-Summit, Warner, Parkston, Webster Area, Arlington, GPL, Castlewood, Belle Fourche
Last Week:
- Tue vs. #5B Castlewood (W 43-32)
- Sat vs. Belle Fourche (W 51-47)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue vs. Roncalli
- Thu @ #8 Sisseton
- Fri @ W-SS
The Falcons look to end the season with only 19 games played, but it’s not too much of a concern with #2 spot in Region 2 guranteed.
And with that spot locked up, the Falcons will now look to build some momentum heading into their postseason run. That includes a trip to Sisseton on Thursday in the Class A Game of the Week.
#8 Sisseton Redmen (15-2)
Rank+: 148
Best Win: #5B Castlewood (57-40)
Wins: GPL, Groton Area, Milbank (x2), Mobridge-Pollock, Redfield, Chamberlain, Castlewood, Roncalli, Webster Area, Richland (ND), Deuel, Tiospa Zina
Last Week:
- Tue @ Milbank (W 61-25)
- Thu @ Tiospa Zina (W 67-31)
Weekly Schedule:
- Mon vs. McLaughlin
- Thu vs. #7 Florence/Henry
As mentioned before, Sisseton also has the top seed in Region 1 locked. That sets up a fun matchup with Florence/Henry, in a game that should be give both teams some extra prep before the playoffs.
#9 Flandreau Fliers (14-4)
Rank+: 142
Best Win:
Wins: Dell Rapids, Beresford, Garretson (x2), Madison, Deuel, MC/M, Parker (x2), Sioux Valley (x2), De Smet, Belle Fourche, C/WL
Last Week:
- Tue vs. De Smet (W 64-39)
- Fri vs. Belle Fourche (W 58-39)
- Sat vs. C/WL (W 59-34)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue @ Baltic
- Fri @ Chester Area
Welcome to the rankings Fliers!
Flandreau has quietly put together a great end to the regular season, currently working their way to the playoffs with a 10 game winning streak.
They are looking to be a tough test for Florence/Henry in the second round of Region 2 and it’s going to be an exciting watch to see who heads to the Sodak 16.
#10 Lakota Tech Tatanka (12-4)
Rank+: 140
Best Win: #7B Wolsey-Wessington (62-53)
Wins: Marty, Wall, White River, Mobridge-Pollock, Chadron (NE), West Central, Wolsey-Wessington, Hot Springs, Little Wound, Pine Ridge, Hill City
Last Week:
- Tue vs. Little Wound (W 74-35)
- Thu @ Pine Ridge (W 58-24)
- Sat @ Hill City (W 31-29)
Weekly Schedule:
- Tue vs. Crow Creek
- Thu @ White River
The Tatanka are making a late push for the top spot in Region 7, though it looks like they are going to take the #2 seed.
It’s also worth noting that Lakota Tech is on a 7-game win streak, and could very well make that 9 games heading into the playoffs. That’s a lot of momentum for a great team as we enter the postseason.
