By Jacob Wuertz
605 Sports
Eight state tournament spots will be up for grabs across the state today.
The Class A SoDak 16 is today as teams look to earn spots to the state tourney, which is March 17-19 in Rapid City. Here’s a look at each Class A SoDak 16 contest:
No. 1 Dakota Valley (22-0) vs No. 16 Madison (10-12), 7 p.m.
BERESFORD — Undefeated and top-seeded Dakota Valley faces off with Dak-XII Conference-foe Madison at Beresford High School in Tuesday’s SoDak 16.
Dakota Valley has qualified for the state tournament in five out of the last six years, with the exception being 2019. The Panthers have run the table, winning all 22 of its games and averaging 70.6 points per game while doing it. They are led by junior guards Isaac Bruns, Randy Rosenquist, and Jaxon Hennies. Seniors Joey Bryan and Brayden Major, junior Sam Faldmo, and sophomore Jaxson Wingert have also contributed to the Panthers success.
Dakota Valley defeated Parker (75-52) and Vermillion (73-35) to advance to the SoDak 16. The Panthers have defeated six teams (Class B Platte-Geddes, Class A Tea Area, St. Thomas More, Sioux Falls Christian, Lakota Tech, Madison) that have qualified for the SoDak 16, including their SoDak 16 opponent the Madison Bulldogs (71-40) on February 18.
Madison has qualified for the Class A state tournament four out of the last five years, winning the Class A championship in 2018. The Bulldogs picked up Region 3A wins over Garretson (55-52) and West Central (75-69) to qualify for the SoDak 16.
Eight of Madison’s 12 losses have come by 10 points or less, and five of those 12 losses were to SoDak 16 qualifying teams (Tea Area, Winner, Flandreau, Sioux Falls Christian, and Dakota Valley). The Bulldogs are paced by seniors Aspen Dahl, Mickale Dohrer, Nate Ricke, and Trey Smith. Junior Aiden Jensen (6-8) and freshman Ben Brooks (6-7) anchor the Bulldogs front court. Madison averages 55.5 ppg while allowing 54 ppg.
No. 2 St. Thomas More (19-2) vs No. 15 Stanley County (15-7), 7 p.m.
BOX ELDER — Perennial power St. Thomas More and upset-minded newcomer Stanley County will clash for a spot in the Class A tournament on Tuesday.
St. Thomas More has qualified for seven of the last eight Class A tournaments since 2014, with the exception being in 2018. The Cavaliers have scored an average of 58 points per game this season, while only giving up 36.8 ppg. Their two losses have come against the number one-ranked teams in Class A and B, Dakota Valley and De Smet. St. Thomas More picked up a Region 8A win over Custer (66-27) to advance to the SoDak 16. The Cavaliers are paced by senior Cade Kandolin and junior Caleb Hollenbeck.
Stanley County has earned their first ever SoDak 16 appearance in school history. The Buffaloes are looking to make their first state tournament appearance since a sixth-place finish in 1997, their only Class A appearance. Stanley County picked up Region 6A wins over Crow Creek (63-50) and Chamberlain (42-36) to qualify for the SoDak 16. Five of Stanley County’s seven losses have come to SoDak 16 qualifying teams (Winner, Lyman twice, Potter County, and White River). The Buffaloes are led by senior Lathan Prince and average 50.9 ppg while surrendering 46.7 ppg.
No. 3 Winner (21-1) vs No. 14 Red Cloud (15-6), 8 p.m.
KADOKA — Winner and Red Cloud will battle for a spot in the Class A state tournament in the SoDak 16 on Tuesday.
The Winner Warriors are looking for a repeat bid to the state tournament after qualifying last season, finishing in eighth place. The Warriors lone loss on the season was to Gregory, and have since won nine straight games, including beating McLaughlin (62-31) and Mobridge-Pollock (72-52) in Region 6A action to qualify for the SoDak 16. Winner is led by junior guard Blake Volmer, who averages 16.6 points, 8.7 rebounds and four assists per game. The Warriors are also powered by seniors Slade Cournoyer, Elijah Peterson, and Finn Bartels, along with junior Ethan Bartels and sophomore Aiden Barfuss. The Warriors average 60.7 ppg.
Red Cloud is looking to return to the state tournament for the first time since finishing as consolation champions in 2018. All six of the Crusaders' losses have come against teams that qualified for the SoDak 16 (Sturgis in AA, Lakota Tech twice, Rapid City Christian, and St. Thomas More in A, and White River in B). Red Cloud picked up Region 7A wins over St. Francis (80-47) and Little Wound (64-61) to qualify for the SoDak 16. The Crusaders are paced by juniors Adriano Rama and Jules Ecoffey and average 63.9 ppg while allowing 51.7 ppg.
No. 4 Flandreau (18-3) vs No. 13 Clark/Willow Lake (15-7), 7 p.m.
MADISON — Flandreau and Clark/Willow Lake are looking to end long Class A state tournament droughts in Tuesday’s SoDak 16 contest in Madison.
Flandreau last qualified for the State A tournament in 2004, an eighth-place finish, while Clark/Willow Lake has not qualified for the Class A tournament since 2015, though it did take home the Class B crown in 2019.
Flandreau picked up Region 2A wins over Flandreau Indian (86-43) and Deubrook Area (56-37) to earn a spot in the SoDak 16, while its three losses on the season have come against Hamlin, Sioux Valley, and De Smet. Seniors Tash Lunday and Chase LeBrun pace the Fliers, who average 64.3 ppg. Flandreau defeated Clark/Willow Lake 71-53 on February 12.
Clark/Willow Lake defeated Webster Area (62-45) and Tiospa Zina (47-40) to qualify for the SoDak 16. Four of the Cyclones losses have come against teams that have qualified for the SoDak 16 (Sioux Valley, De Smet, Tea Area, and Flandreau). Clark/Willow Lake is paced by seniors Tyler O’Neill (14.7 ppg/5.3 rpg) and Noah Boykin (10.2 ppg/4.7 rpg), along with juniors Brady Jordan, Kaplan Felberg (10.3 ppg/6.5 rpg) and Trey Huber. The Cyclones average 59.0 ppg while allowing 52.0 ppg.
No. 5 Tea Area (16-6) vs No. 12 Sioux Falls Christian (13-9), 7:30 p.m.
SIOUX FALLS — Two teams that are familiar with recent state tournament success will battle for a spot in this year’s Class A tournament on Tuesday at the Sanford Pentagon.
Tea Area qualified for three straight Class A tournaments from 2017-2019, winning state championships in 2017 and 2019 and finishing runner-up in 2018. The Titans defeated Beresford (79-46) and Lennox (66-54) in Region 4A action to qualify for the SoDak 16. Tea Area and Sioux Falls Christian met on January 25, with the Titans picking up the win, 61-48. The Titans are led by seniors Cael Lundin, Jeff Worth, Alex Pies, junior Reis Kirschenman, and sophomore Sam Almas.
Sioux Falls Christian is looking to repeat as Class A champions after taking home the title last season. Six of the Chargers’ losses have come by single digits. Sioux Falls Christian defeated McCook Central/Montrose (68-38) and Dell Rapids (62-57) in Region 3A to advance to the SoDak 16. The Chargers are led by seniors Brooks Nelson, Jaden Witte, and Nathan Koole and juniors Tayton Snyder and Ethan Bruns.
No. 6 Groton Area (19-3) vs No. 11 Mount Vernon/Plankinton (16-6), 7:30 p.m.
REDFIELD — Two teams looking to get back in the state tournament atmosphere will square off in Redfield in Tuesday’s Class A SoDak 16.
The Groton Area Tigers are looking for their first state tournament appearance since finishing in sixth place in the 2001 State A tournament. The Tigers are paced by seniors Jayden Zak and Kaden Kurtz and sophomores Lane Tietz and Jacob Zak. Groton Area’s three losses have come against Lennox, Clark/Willow Lake, and Sisseton. Groton Area picked up Region 1A wins over Sisseton (54-38) and Milbank (59-51) to qualify for the SoDak16.
Mount Vernon/Plankinton finished three straight years in eighth place from 2015-2017 and is seeking its first state tournament appearance since the 2017 tournament. The Titans earned Region 5A wins against Andes CentralDakota Christian (85-43) and Parkston (52-38) to reach the SoDak 16. MVP is paced by juniors Reed Rus and Jordan Stoltz, and sophomore Zach Baker.
No. 7 Sioux Valley (17-5) vs No. 10 Hanson (16-5), 6 p.m.
SIOUX FALLS — Sioux Valley and Hanson will play for a spot in the Class A tournament in Tuesday’s SoDak 16 at the Sanford Pentagon.
The Sioux Valley Cossacks were last season’s Class A runner-up and look to take the next step and win the crown this year. The Cossacks have qualified for the state tournament in three of the last four years. Sioux Valley’s five losses have come against SoDak 16 qualifying teams De Smet, White River, Castlewood, Flandreau, and Sioux Falls Christian. The Cossacks earned Region 2A wins over Great Plains Lutheran (60-40) and Hamlin (71-42) to qualify for a berth in the SoDak16. They are led by junior guard Oliver Vincent, as well as seniors Hayden Ruesink, Damian Danzeisen, and Parker Puetz, and sophomore Alec Squires.
Hanson is looking for its first tournament berth since winning the Class B title in 2015, although the Beavers are no strangers to Class A state tournaments. The Beavers took home the Class A championship in 1986, their only State A tournament appearance in school history. Hanson has excelled since moving to Class A this season, outscoring its opponents by 10.5 ppg. Three of Hanson’s five losses have come against SoDak 16 qualifying teams (Viborg-Hurley, Potter County, and Mount Vernon/Plankinton). Hanson defeated Bon Homme (56-20) in Region 5A play to advance to the SoDak 16. The Beavers are led by seniors Noah Price and Luke Haiar and junior Ethan Cheeseman.
No. 8 Rapid City Christian (17-5) vs No. 9 Lakota Tech (15-5), 7:30 p.m.
WALL — Two schools looking to make their first Class A state tournament appearance will face off at Wall High School in Tuesday’s SoDak 16.
Rapid City Christian is not only looking for its first Class A tournament appearance, but also its first state tournament win should it defeat the Tatanka on Tuesday and advance. The Comets only previous appearance in a state tournament came in Class B in 2003, an eighth-place finish.
Two of Rapid City Christian’s five losses have come to teams in the SoDak 16, with St. Thomas More also in the Class A SoDak 16 and White River having qualified for the Class B SoDak 16. The Comets average 58.6 points per game while giving up 46.4 points per game. Rapid City Christian picked up Region 8A wins over Lead-Deadwood (72-38) and Hill City (77-60) to qualify for the SoDak 16.
Like the Comets, Lakota Tech is also looking for its first Class A tournament appearance. However, unlike the Comets, the Tatanka are looking for their first-ever state tournament appearance regardless of class, as this is the second season of Lakota Tech basketball. Two of Lakota Tech’s five losses have come to Lower Brule (Class B) and Dakota Valley (Class A), teams that have also qualified for the SoDak 16. The Tatanka are led by seniors Beau Donovan and Triston LeBeau and juniors Quincy Means and Jordan Whirlwind Horse. Lakota Tech averages 68.5 points per game while allowing 59.4 points per game. The Tatanka defeated Todd County (79-59) in Region 7A to advance to the SoDak 16.