2023 Class B Boys Basketball Tournament Capsules 

Lower Brule

Record: 20-3

Coach: Brian LaRoche Sr.

Key players: Brian LaRoche Jr. (24.6 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 3.6 spg, 2.4 apg), Gavin Thigh (18.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg), Lane Gray (10.5 ppg, 3.7 rpg), Ellwyn Langdeau Jr. (9.2 ppg, 5.3 rpg), Tayshawn Battese (6.1 ppg, 6 rpg).

Notes: No. 1 Lower Brule will play No. 8 Castlewood at noon in the quarterfinals. … The Sioux defeated the Warriors this season, 64-61, on Brian LaRoche Jr’s 3-pointer at the buzzer. … Laroche Jr., and Thigh are both 1,000-point career scorers. … Lower Brule, last season’s Class B state runner-ups, is making its fourth appearance since 2018. … Two of Lower Brule’s three losses were against Class B tourney teams Aberdeen Christian (62-48) and De Smet (61-53). Lower Brule defeated fellow tourney qualifier White River (62-54) at the DWU/Culver’s Classic. 

Castlewood

Record: 18-5

Coach: Paul Raasch

Key players: Lane Tvedt (16 ppg, 52 3-pointers), Bryon Laue (14.6 ppg, 9.6 rpg), Joe Decker (8.1 ppg, 45 3-pointers), Jackson Schofield (6.6 ppg, 5.7 rpg), Quincy Thu (4.5 ppg), Booker Schooley (4.4 ppg). 

Notes: No. 8 Castlewood will play No. 1 Lower Brule at noon in the opening round. … The Warriors were defeated by the Sioux earlier this season, 64-61. … Castlewood is making its second consecutive Class B state tourney berth. … Four of Castlewood’s five losses have come against state tournament teams: Lower Brule, De Smet, Hamlin and Sioux Valley. … Laue is a 6-foot-8 sophomore center. 

Faith 

Record: 22-1

Coach: Travis Grueb

Key players: Jackson Schauer (20 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 3 spg), Jess Harper (13.3 ppg, 7.2 rpg), Rylan Palmer (13.2 ppg, 3.7 apg, 2.9 spg), Caden Selby (12.9 ppg, 3.8 rpg), Matthew Gray (5.1 ppg, 5.8 rpg). 

Notes: No. 4 Faith will play No. 5 White River at 1:45 p.m. in the quarterfinal round. … Faith and White River did not play this season. … Faith’s lone loss came against Class A state tourney qualifier Hot Springs. … The Longhorns’ last state tourney berth in 2020 was canceled due to COVID-19. 

White River 

Record: 19-4

Coach: Eldon Marshall 

Key players: Joe Sayler (30.8 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 3.7 apg), Nicolas Marshall (17.8 ppg, 5.3 apg, 4 rpg, 3.6 spg), T.J. Beardt (8.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg), Gavin Folkers (7.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg).

Notes: No. 5 White River will play No. 4 Faith at 1:45 p.m. in the first round. … White River and Faith did not play this season. … Three of White River’s four losses came against state tournament qualifiers: Aberdeen Christian, Sioux Falls and Lower Brule. … The Tigers have qualified for 18 straight Class B boys basketball tournaments. … Joe Sayler will play college basketball at South Dakota State University. He’s the fifth all-time leading scorer in South Dakota boys basketball history with 2,611 career points. 

Aberdeen Christian 

Record: 21-2

Coach: Matt Rohrbach 

Key players: Ethan Russell (15.8 ppg, 7.1 rpg), Malek Wieker (15.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 4.5 apg), Jackson Isakson (11.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg), Kaden Clark (5.7 ppg, 5.1 rpg). 

Notes: No. 2 Aberdeen Christian will play No. 7 Ethan at 6 p.m. in the first round. … The Knights have now qualified for four straight Class B boys basketball tournaments. … Ethan Russell, Malek Wieker and Jackson Isakson have each scored more than 1,000 career points. … Wieker will play college basketball at the University of Jamestown, while Isakson will play football at South Dakota State University. Russell, a college basketball prospect, is undecided on his future plans. … Aberdeen Christian has defeated fellow Class B state tournament teams Lower Brule (62-48) and White River (87-68) this season. 

Ethan 

Record: 20-3

Coach: Bryce Roth 

Key players: Riley Endres (13.9 ppg), Kody Klumb (11.8 ppg), Drake Gustafson (8.2 ppg), Taite Klumb (7.7 ppg), Wyatt Sinkie (7.5 ppg), Logan Koch (5.7 ppg).

Notes: No. 7 Ethan will play No. 2 Aberdeen Christian at 6 p.m. in the quarterfinals. … Ethan is making its first state tournament berth since 2014. … Ethan enters the state tournament on a seven-game winning streak. … Ethan lost to Class A state tournament team Mount Vernon/Plankinton, 63-62. 

De Smet 

Record: 20-3

Coach: Jeff Gruenhagen

Key players: Damon Wilkinson (21.3 ppg, 12.6 rpg, 38 blocked shots), George Jensen (10.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 35 blocked shots), Kadyn Fast (9.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg), Kasen Janssen (9.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg), Thomas Aughenbaugh (7.2 ppg, 41 3-pointers).

Notes: No. 3 De Smet will play No. 6 Viborg-Hurley at 7:45 p.m. in the first round. … De Smet has now qualified for five straight Class B boys basketball tournaments. The Bulldogs won the 2021 and ‘22 Class B state titles. … Wilkinson, a 6-foot-10 senior center, has scored more than 1,000 career points and logged multiple double-doubles this season. … De Smet’s three losses have come against Class A teams Sioux Valley, Hamlin and Tea Area. The Bulldogs have wins over Class B state tournament teams Lower Brule (61-53) and Castlewood (56-36). 

Viborg-Hurley 

Record: 20-3

Coach: Galen Schoenfeld 

Key players: Nick Hanson (16.5 ppg, 9.3 rpg), Kobee Sherman (10 ppg, 3.7 rpg), Gage Goettertz (9.8 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 3.8 apg), Brady Schroedermeier (8.7 ppg, 4.9 rpg), Bryson Morrison (6.7 ppg, 3.6 rpg). 

Notes: No. 6 Viborg-Hurley will play No. 3 De Smet at 7:45 p.m. in the quarterfinals. … The Cougars have now qualified for four state tournaments since 2019. … Goettertz, a 6-foot-4 forward, is the lone senior on the roster. … The Cougars have six players that are 6-foot-2 or taller. … Two of Viborg-Hurley's three losses were against Class A teams Elk Point-Jefferson and Madison. EPJ is playing in this week’s Class A state tourney.