2023 Class AA Boys Basketball Tournament Capsules 

Sioux Falls Jefferson 

Record: 19-2

Coach: Tim Reck

Key players: Taylen Ashley (17 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 59 assists), Kaden Year (16.5 ppg, 5.4 rpg), Griffin Wilde (11.8 ppg, 4.1 rpg), Beau Giblin (5.2 ppg).

Notes: The No. 1 Cavaliers will play No. 8 Harrisburg at noon in the quarterfinals. … Jefferson defeated Harrisburg earlier this season, 72-61. … The Cavaliers have a handful of feature college athletes: Taylen Ashley (University of Sioux Falls basketball), Griffin Wilde (South Dakota State University football), Beau Giblin (South Dakota State University football) and Ethan Koltz (Southwest Minnesota State University basketball). … In its second season of existence, Jefferson is making back-to-back Class AA state tournament appearances. … Jefferson’s two losses were against Washington (39-38) and Pierre (84-73). 

Harrisburg 

Record: 14-7

Coach: Scott Langerock 

Key players: Ethan Determan (18 ppg, 4 rpg), Jacoby Mehrman (15 ppg, 4.4 rpg), Braeden VanBoeckern (11.4 ppg), Max Knutson (6 ppg, 6.9 rpg), Cam Phipps (5.3 ppg).

Notes: The No. 9 Tigers will play No. 1 Sioux Falls Jefferson at noon in the first round. … The Tigers lost to the Cavaliers this season, 72-61. … Harrisburg is making its third consecutive Class AA state tournament appearance. … Harrisburg dropped a 57-44 decision against Brandon Valley on Feb. 18, but edged the Lynx (54-52) in the SoDak 16 to qualify for state.

Yankton 

Record: 16-5

Coach: Chris Haynes

Key players: Drew Ryken (17 ppg, 3.7 rpg), Rugby Ryken (12 ppg, 7.6 apg, 5 rpg), Mac Ryken (10.5 ppg), Michael Mors (7.9 ppg), Cody Oswald (6.3 ppg), Landon Potts (5.4 ppg)

Notes: The No. 4 Bucks will play No. 5 Sioux Falls Washington at 1:45 p.m. in the quarterfinal round. … Yankton lost to Washington, 46-41, on Feb. 21. … Yankton is making its sixth consecutive Class AA state tournament appearance. … Brothers Mac Ryken (Mount Marty University basketball) and Drew Ryken (Mount Marty University baseball) and cousin Rugby Ryken (Mount Marty University football/basketball) will play college athletics next season. 

Sioux Falls Washington 

Record: 15-6

Coach: Jeff Tobin 

Key players: Mandalla Mohamed (11.6 ppg, 4.7 rpg), AJ Akot (11 ppg, 8 rpg), Cole Peterson (8.8 ppg), Zharic Sheppard (8 ppg), Gage Gasca (7.4 ppg, 5 rpg).

Notes: No. 5 Washington will play No. 4 Yankton at 1:45 p.m. in the first round. … Washington defeated Yankton, 46-41, on Feb. 21. … The Warriors are making their fourth straight Class AA state tournament appearance. … Cole Peterson will play college basketball at Division III Hamline University in Minnesota. 

Sioux Falls Lincoln 

Record: 18-3

Coach: Jeff Halseth 

Key players: J.T. Rock (18 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 81 blocked shots), Elliot Whitney (14.3 ppg, 60 3-pointers), Tate Schafer (14.1 ppg, 65 3-pointers), Jack Hilgenberg (8.4 ppg).

Notes: No. 2 Lincoln will play No. 7 Roosevelt at 6 p.m. in the quarterfinals. … Lincoln split its season series with Roosevelt. The Patriots defeated the Rough Riders, 76-59, on Jan. 14. Roosevelt won the second meeting, 70-56. The Patriots also lost twice to Sioux Falls Jefferson. … Rock, a 7-foot-1 junior, has verbally committed to Division I Iowa State University. … Elliot Whitney and Ethan Lincoln will play college basketball at Gustavus Adolphus College, while Lincoln will also compete in track and field. Eli Olson will play college basketball at Mount Marty. 

Sioux Falls Roosevelt 

Record: 13-8

Coach: Mitch Begeman 

Key players: Abraham Kamara (11.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg), Jack Radel (11.1 ppg, 4 rpg), Jackson Brouwer (10.6 ppg, 3.9 rpg), Nasar Imsail (6.6 ppg), Hayden Goff (6.6 ppg), Garang Kuol (6.5 ppg).

Notes: No. 7 Roosevelt will play No. 2 Lincoln at 6 p.m. in the first round. … Roosevelt split the season series with Lincoln this season. … Roosevelt has now qualified for the past five Class AA state tournaments. … Jack Radel will play college baseball at Notre Dame next season. 

Mitchell 

Record: 17-4

Coach: Ryker Kreutzfeldt 

Key players: Dylan Soulek (13.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 4.4 apg), Steele Morgan (11.7 ppg, 7.4 rpg), Colton Smith (10.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg), Markus Talley (7.6 ppg), Charlie McCardle (6.9 ppg, 4.5 rpg), Gavin Soukup (6.1 ppg), Aiden Myers (5 ppg). 

Notes: No. 3 Mitchell will play No. 6 Pierre at 7:45 p.m. in the quarterfinals. … Mitchell defeated Pierre, 62-55, on Feb. 16 at the Corn Palace. … The Kernels won their 18th Eastern South Dakota Conference boys basketball championship this season. … Dylan Soulek will play college baseball at Northern State University. Steele Morgan will play college basketball at Dakota Wesleyan University. He’s the son of former DWU men’s basketball player Wes Morgan and nephew of former Tiger Scott Morgan. 

Pierre 

Record: 14-7

Coach: Brianna Kusler 

Key players: Lincoln Kienholz (18.5 ppg, 5.6 rpg), Benjamin Heisler (14 ppg, 6 rpg), Jackson Edman (13.7 ppg, 8.5 rpg), Brecken Krueger (5.6 ppg), Jacob Mayer (5.2 ppg).

Notes: No. 6 Pierre will play No. 3 Mitchell at 7:45 p.m in the first round. … The Governors lost to Mitchell, 62-55, on Feb. 16 at the Corn Palace. … Kienholz, an all-state quarterback, will play college football at Ohio State University next season. Kienholz has 1,416 career points and is No. 10 on the Class AA boys basketball scoring list. Lane Severyn is Pierre’s all-time leader and is No. 9 on the Class AA scoring list with 1,471 career points. … Edman will play college basketball at Division II Black Hills State University.