RAPID CITY — Sioux Falls Lincoln enters as a heavy favorite in the Class AA state boys basketball tournament.

The Patriots are riding an undefeated season into Rapid City and are outpacing opponents by 22.6 points per game this season.

The top-seeded Patriots will play No. 9 Tea Area at 11 a.m., MT, Thursday in the opener followed by No. 4 Harrisburg battling No. 5 Watertown at 12:45 p.m., MT, inside the Ice Arena at the Monument. The night session features No. 2 Sioux Falls Roosevelt taking on No. 7 Brandon Valley at 5 p.m., MT, with No. 3 Huron playing No. 6 O’Gorman in the night cap game at 6:45 p.m., MT.

Here’s a look at all eight teams in the field:

No. 1 Sioux Falls Lincoln

Record: 21-0

Coach: Luke Hannemann

Key Players: Sam Ericsson (13 ppg, 3.7 rpg), Sam DeGroot (21 ppg, 8.9 rpg), Brody Schafer (10.1 ppg, 6.6 apg)

Notes: No. 1 Sioux Falls Lincoln plays No. 9 Tea Area at 11 a.m., MT, in the first round . … Lincoln topped Tea Area, 62-60, on Jan. 31. … The Patriots defeated Sturgis Brown (88-44) in the SoDak 16. … Ericsson, a 6-foot-3 senior guard, will play college basketball at Augustana next year. … DeGroot, a 6-foot-7 senior forward, will also play basketball at Augustana next season. … Schafer, a 6-foot junior guard, has verbally committed to play quarterback at South Dakota State University. … Lincoln earned a third-place finish at the state tournament last season.

No. 9 Tea Area

Record: 13-8

Coach: Drew Weber

Key Players: Gavin Shawd (21.2 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.5 apg, 2.4 spg), Grifin Wiebenga (16.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 3.4 apg), Mitch Grant (9.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1 bpg, 1 spg)

Notes: No. 9 Tea Area plays No. 1 Sioux Falls Lincoln at 11 a.m., MT, in the first round . … The Titans narrowly lost to SF Lincoln, 62-60, on Jan. 31. … Tea Area defeated Spearfish (66-56) in the SoDak 16. … The Titans are making its first trip to the state boys basketball tournament since 2019, and its first since moving up to Class AA. 

No. 4 Harrisburg

Record: 16-5

Coach: Scott Langerock

Key Players: Stellen Larson (14.3 ppg, 9.5 rpg), Crayton Jibben (12.7 ppg, 3.9 rpg), David Doe (9.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2 spg), Cole Kooiker (9.5 ppg, 2.8 apg)

Notes: No. 4 Harrisburg plays No. 5 Watertown at 12:45 p.m., MT, in the first round. … Harrisburg lost to Watertown (60-55) on Feb. 26. … Harrisburg defeated Yankton (69-59) in the SoDak 16. … Harrisburg is making a third consecutive trip to the state tournament, taking home fourth place last season. 

No.  5 Watertown

Record: 16-5

Coach: Pat McClemans

Key Players: Carter Bruisker (17.5 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1 spg), Jackson McClemans (14.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 3.4 apg, 2.9 spg), Jack Mack (11. 7 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 2.4 apg, 1.6 spg), Isaac Rehorst (7.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 1 spg), Kaden Decker (7.3 ppg, 2 rpg, 1 spg)

Notes:  No. 5 Watertown plays No. 4 Harrisburg at 12:45 p.m., MT, in the first round. … Watertown defeated Harrisburg (60-55) on Feb. 26. … Watertown took down Mitchell (57-43) in the SoDak 16. … Watertown is back in the state tournament after a one-year hiatus. … McClemans, a 6-foot-5 senior guard/forward, will play baseball at Southwest Minnesota State next season. … Decker, a 5-foot-11 senior guard, will play football at Morningside University next season.

No. 2 Sioux Falls Roosevelt

Record: 17-4

Coach: Mitch Begeman

Key Players: Bryson Skogsberg (13.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 2.1 rpg, 1.5 spg), Deondre Painter (11.9 ppg, 3.3 rpg), Memphis Bylander (10.9 ppg, 1 spg), Justin Bilal (10.2 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.2 spg), CJ Schmaus (8.4 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 3.3 apg, 1.9 spg).

Notes: No. 2 Sioux Falls Roosevelt plays No. 7 Brandon Valley at 5 p.m., MT, in the first round. … Roosevelt defeated Brandon Valley (67-50) on Dec. 20. … Roosevelt defeated Rapid City Central (67-38) in the SoDak 16. … Roosevelt is back in the state tournament after making it last in 2024.  

No. 7 Brandon Valley

Record: 13-8

Coach: Craig Nelson

Key Players: Ayuel Deng (13.1 ppg, 6.4 rpg), Lincoln McInerney (11.4 ppg, 4.2 rpg), Briggs Knutson (7.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 3.3 apg), Austin Dowd (7.1 ppg, 5 rpg).

Notes: No. 7 Brandon Valley plays No. 2 Sioux Falls Roosevelt at 5 p.m., MT, in the first round. Brandon Valley lost to Roosevelt (67-50) on Dec. 20. … Brandon Valley defeated Sioux Falls Jefferson (72-58) in the SoDak 16. … The Lynx have made the state tournament each of the past two seasons, including a runner-up finish in 2024 and winning the state championship last year.  

No. 3 Huron

Record: 17-4

Coach: Tim Buddenhagen

Key Players: Blake Ellwein (21.8 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 3.8 apg, 1.6 spg), Davis Chase (13.6 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1.6 apg), Anderson Porisch (7.6 ppg, 5 rpg), Myles Ellwein (6.8 ppg, 2 rpg), Carter Porisch (6.8 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2 apg).

Notes: No. 3 Huron plays No. 6 O’Gorman at 6:45 p.m., MT, in the first round. … Huron defeated O’Gorman (61-57) on Feb. 24. … Huron defeated Pierre (68-40) in the SoDak 16. … Ellwein, a 6-foot-10 senior guard, will play college basketball at South Dakota State next season. … The Tigers are making a third-consecutive trip to the state tournament.  

No. 6 O’Gorman

Record: 13-8

Coach: Derek Robey

Key Players: Mason Clark, Chace Hermanson, Jaxon Weeldreyer, Kamden Cisse.