ABERDEEN — There’s plenty of familiarity in this year’s Class B state boys basketball tournament.

Of the eight teams in the field, six of them return from last season’s state tournament. Viborg-Hurley, last season’s state runner-ups, is the No. 1 seed with a 20-3 record. The Cougars will play Lyman, another 2025 qualifier, at 11 a.m. CT in the first round. 

Castlewood, which won last season’s state championship, Aberdeen Christian, Freeman, and Wall also return from the 2025 tournament. 

No. 4 Aberdeen Christian plays No. 5 Castlewood at 12:45 p.m., in the second afternoon game. No. 2 Freeman plays No. 7 Sully Buttes at 5 p.m., and No. 3 De Smet plays No. 6 Wall at 6:45 p.m., to close out the first day. 

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

No. 1 Viborg-Hurley

Record: 20-3

Coach: Shane Warwick

Key Players: Brady Schroedermeier (22.8 ppg, 9.6 rpg), Jake Austin (11.5 ppg), Braydyn Morrison (8.8 ppg, 50 3-pointers), Nolan Kolthoff (7.4 ppg, 5.1 rpg). 

Notes: No. 1 Viborg-Hurley plays No. 8 Lyman at 11 a.m., CT, in the first round. … The Cougars defeated Avon (59-39) and Centerville (58-35) in Region 4B action. Viborg-Hurley topped White River (70-57) in the SoDak 16. … Viborg-Hurley is making its sixth state tournament appearance since 2019. The Cougars finished second last season. … Coach Shane Warwick played college basketball at Northern State University, and his son Walker is a senior guard for the Cougars. … Brady Schroedermeier will play college football at Division I South Dakota State University next season. He scored his 1,000th career point this season. 

No. 8 Lyman

Record: 17-6

Coach: Cooper Garnos

Key Players: MJ Diehm (17.5 ppg, 5 apg, 3.8 rpg, 2.7 spg), Dawsen Volmer (12.3 ppg, 4.9 rpg), Cole Kieffer (8.1 ppg), Josiah Vaad (6.5 ppg).

Notes: No. 8 Lyman plays No. 1 Viborg-Hurley at 11 a.m., CT, in the first round. … Lyman defeated Mitchell Christian (65-29) and Corsica-Stickney (61-39) in Region 5B action. The Raiders defeated Leola/Frederick Area (59-46) in the SoDak 16. … The Raiders are making back-to-back state tournament appearances. Lyman finished eighth last season. … Cooper Garnos, a former Lyman boys basketball player, was a member of the 1985 Class B state championship team. Cooper’s son, Canyon, is a junior guard for the Raiders. 

No. 4 Aberdeen Christian

Record: 20-3

Coach: Matt Rohrbach

Key Players: Brooks Jett (13.4 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 36 blocks), Luke Kaiser (11.1 ppg, 4 rpg), Dylan Hofer (9.8 ppg), Jett Johnson (7.1 ppg). 

Notes: No. 4 Aberdeen Christian plays No. 5 Castlewood at 12:45 p.m., CT, in the first round. … Aberdeen Christian defeated Waverly-South Shore (58-47) and Warner (61-56) in Region 1B action. The Knights defeated Sioux Falls Lutheran (67-52) in the SoDak 16. … Aberdeen Christian is making its sixth state tourney qualification since 2020. The Knights finished seventh last season. 

No. 5 Castlewood

Record: 20-3

Coach: Paul Raasch

Key Players: Kamden Keszler (18.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg), Will Aderhold (10.3 ppg, 7 rpg), Leonard Wernke (7.6 ppg, 6.2 rpg), Brody Bass (7.2 ppg, 5 rpg). 

Notes: No. 5 Castlewood plays No. 4 Aberdeen Christian at 12:45 p.m., CT, in the first round … Castlewood defeated James Valley Christian (70-51) and Wessington Springs (55-53) in the Region 2B tournament. The Warriors qualified for the state tournament with a 69-43 win over Timber Lake in the SoDak 16. … Castlewood is making its fifth straight Class B state tournament appearance, and won last season’s state championship. … Raasch is the third winningest boys basketball coach in South Dakota history, behind only Custer’s Larry Luitjens and Mitchell’s Gary Munsen. 

No. 2 Freeman

Record: 21-2

Coach: Lance Friesen

Key Players: David Walter (18.3 ppg, 7.8 rpg, Tate Sorensen (10.3 ppg, 5.6 rpg), Tayden Kerrigan (9.4 ppg, 5 rpg), Luke Peters (8.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg). 

Notes: No. 2 Freeman plays No. 7 Sully Buttes at 5 p.m., CT, in the first round. … Freeman defeated Gayville-Volin (66-42) and Parkston (63-54) in Region 4B action. The Flyers defeated Lower Brule (62-40) in the SoDak 16. … Freeman placed sixth last season, its first state tournament berth since 1999. … Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy won the Class 9AA state football championship this past fall. … Walter, a 6-foot-5 sophomore, scored his 1,000th career point earlier this season. 

No. 7 Sully Buttes

Record: 18-5

Coach: Brian White

Key Players: Wesley Wittler, Gavin Colson, Jett Yackley, Easton Moore.  

Notes: No. 7 Sully Buttes plays No. 2 Freeman at 5 p.m., CT, in the first round. … The Chargers defeated Highmore-Harrold (68-34) and Faulkton Area (55-44) in Region 6B action. Sully Buttes defeated Dupree (42-40) in the SoDak 16. … Sully Buttes is making its first state tournament berth since 2020 (canceled due to COVID-19). … Wittler has scored more than 1,900 career points. Brady Hyde has the school scoring record with 1,927 career points. … Wittler will play college football at NAIA Northwestern College. 

No. 3 De Smet

Record: 19-4

Coach: Jeff Gruenhagen

Key Players: Grant Wilkinson (24.5 ppg, 16.7 rpg), Noah Luethmers (14.2 ppg, 4.3 rpg), Carter Wilkinson (11.1 ppg, 4.5 rpg), Slayten Wilkinson (8.3 ppg, 5.7 rpg).

Notes: No. 3 De Smet plays No. 6 Wall at 6:45 p.m., CT, in the first round. … The Bulldogs defeated Iroquois/Lake Preston (84-52) and Deubrook Area (53-51) in Region 2B action. De Smet advanced to the state tournament with a 56-45 win over Ipswich in the SoDak 16. … The Bulldogs are making their eighth state tournament appearance since 2016. … Grant Wilkinson, a 6-foot-10 senior all-state center, will play college football at Division I South Dakota State University, where his brother Damon is a member of the basketball team. … Grant’s younger brother, Nate, is a 6-foot-5 eighth-grade center for the Bulldogs. … Slayten Wilkinson, a senior, and Carter Wilkinson, a junior, are cousins with Grant and Nate. 

No. 6 Wall

Record: 19-4

Coach: Ryan Kjerstad

Key Players: Teelan Kjerstad (27.9 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 4 spg, 3.9 apg), Emmet Dinger (15.7 ppg, 5 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.7 spg), Dawson Handcock (9.1 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 2.7 apg), Trevor Schulz (7.7 ppg, 4 rpg, 2.9 apg), Jace Mohr (6 ppg, 4.3 apg, 3.9 rpg).

Notes: No. 6 Wall plays No. 3 De Smet at 6:45 p.m., CT, in the first round. … The Eagles defeated Philip (87-54) and New Underwood (81-65) in Region 7B action. Wall qualified for the state tournament with a 72-66 win over Sanborn Central/Woonsocket in the SoDak 16. … Wall won last season’s consolation championship. … Wall’s only other state tournament berth was in 2001. … Kjerstad, a 6-foot-1 junior all-state guard, has scored 1,483 career points. … Kjerstad’s father, Ryan, is the head coach for the Eagles. … Wall won the Class 9A state football championship this past fall.