Class A

Region 1A

Outlook: Despite losing its final three games of the regular season, Florence/Henry (15-4) holds the No. 1 seed in Region 1A, ahead of Sisseton (16-4) by less than one seed point (0.921). The Redmen defeated the Falcons in the season finale, but remained the No. 2 seed.

Florence/Henry, which is No. 9 overall in Class A, has outscored its opponents by 14 points per game. 

Florence/Henry will play No. 8 seed Tiospa Zina (2-18), while Sisseton plays No. 7 seed Clark/Willow Lake (5-15)

The other first-round matchups include: No. 3 Groton Area (11-9) vs No. 6 Milbank (9-11) and No. 4 Redfield (9-11) vs No. 5 Webster Area (9-11)

Region 2A

Outlook: Hamlin, last year’s Class A state runner-ups, went 18-2 in the regular season and claimed the No. 1 seed in Region 2A. The Chargers are No. 3 overall in the Class A standings. 

They dropped a 53-52 decision against No. 2 seed Flandreau in the season opener. But Hamlin has gone undefeated against South Dakota competition the rest of the season, with its other loss against Crofton, Neb., 43-42. 

Hamlin plays No. 8 Flandreau Indian (1-14) on Tuesday in the Region 2A opener. 

Flandreau went 16-3 to earn the region’s No. 2 seed. Despite their 16-win season, the Fliers are No. 15 overall in Class A. Flandreau plays No. 7 Elkton-Lake Benton (7-13) in the region opener.

The other first-round games include: No. 4 Sioux Valley (14-6) vs. No. 5 Great Plains Lutheran (11-9) and No. 3 Deubrook Area (15-5) vs. No. 6 Deuel (5-15). 

Region 3A

Outlook: West Central and Sioux Falls Christian, two of the top six overall seeds in Class A, headline Region 3A.

The Trojans (18-2) are No. 2 overall and No. 1 in the region, while the Chargers (17-3) are No. 6 overall and No. 2 in the region. 

West Central’s two losses came against Class No. 1 seed Wagner (75-47) and Class B No. 1 Aberdeen Roncalli (55-52). Wagner edged West Central for the No. 1 overall seed by .150 seed points. West Central plays No. 8 Dell Rapids (3-17) in the region opener on Tuesday.

The Chargers enter postseason on an eight-game winning streak and their last defeat came against West Central (64-57) on Jan. 24. Sioux Falls Christian will play No. 7 Baltic (5-15) on Tuesday to start region play.

The other first-round games include: No. 4 Tri-Valley (11-9) and No. 5 McCook Central/Montrose (8-12) and No. 3 Garretson (12-8) vs. No. 6 Madison (3-17).

Region 4A

Outlook: Dakota Valley held off Vermillion for the No. 1 seed in Region 4A. The Panthers finished with 44.950 seed points, while the Tanagers had 43.650 seed points. 

Dakota Valley (16-4) is No. 7 overall in the Class A standings and three of their losses were against Class A powers West Central (64-53), Sioux Falls Christian (60-54) and Hamlin (58-44). 

The Panthers play No. 8 Parker (1-19) in the region opener on Tuesday. 

Vermillion, which is No. 14 overall in Class A, finished with a 15-5 record in the regular season. The Tanagers dropped a 61-41 decision against Dakota Valley on Feb. 8. Vermillion plays No. 7 Beresford (8-12) in the Region 4A opener on Tuesday.

The other first-round games include: No. 4 Lennox (11-9) vs. No. 5 Canton (10-10) and No. 3 Tea Area (12-8) and No. 6 Elk Point-Jefferson (7-13). 

Region 5A

Outlook: Expected the unexpected in Region 5A.

The region finished with six teams in the top-24 overall Class A standings: No. 1 Wagner, No. 10 Parkston, No. 11 Mount Vernon/Plankinton, No. 12 Hanson, No. 20 Sanborn Central/Woonsocket and No. 24 Andes Central/Dakota Christian. 

Wagner (19-1) received the region’s lone first-round bye during their resurgent season. The Red Raiders picked up wins over formidable opponents Winner, Sioux Falls Christian, Corsica-Stickney, Parkston, West Central, Mount Vernon/Plankinton, Ethan and Andes Central/Dakota Christian. 

Wagner’s lone loss came against Hanson (44-40) on Feb. 1 and a potential rematch looms in the season round. 

No. 4 Hanson (16-4) plays No. 5 Sanborn Central/Woonsocket (15-5) on Tuesday and winner plays Wagner on Thursday. Hanson topped SCW, 47-39, on Jan. 25. 

No. 2 Parkston (15-5) plays No. 7 Bon Homme (7-13) and No. 3 Mount Vernon/Plankinton (15-5) plays No. 6 Andes Central/Dakota Christian (14-6).

Parkston defeated Bon Homme, 60-45, on Jan. 20. MVP and ACDC did not play in the regular season. But MVP just outlasted Parkston by a 53-42 decision on Feb. 17.

Region 6A

Outlook: Crow Creek recorded a 15-5 regular season to earn Region 6A’s No. 1 seed. 

The Chieftains won 12 of their last 13 games to end the regular season. They knocked off No. 2 seed Winner, 56-42, on Jan. 24. But dropped a 68-59 decision against No. 3 Mobridge-Pollock on Jan. 13. 

Crow Creek still finished with 42.750 seed points, outdistancing Winner (42.450) and Mobridge-Pollock (42.421) for the top seed. The Chieftains are No. 18 in Class A. Crow Creek plays No. 8 McLaughlin (3-16) on Tuesday. 

Winner (12-8) plays No. 7 Stanley County (3-17) in the region opener on Tuesday. The Warriors are gunning for their fourth consecutive state tourney appearance. 

Mobridge-Pollock (13-6) plays No. 6 Cheyenne-Eagle Butte (6-14) and No. 4 Dupree (12-8) plays No. 5 Chamberlain (9-11). 

Region 7A

Outlook: Behind its 18-1 record, Lakota Tech secured the No. 1 seed in Region 7A.

The Tatanka are Class A’s No. 4 overall seed and are riding a 13-game winning streak. Lakota Tech’s lone loss game Red Cloud in the Lakota Nation Invitational title game. But Lakota Tech avenged the defeat four games later. 

Lakota Tech plays the No. 4 Pine Ridge (8-11) vs. No. 5. St. Francis Indian (8-12) winner on Thursday. 

No. 2 seed Red Cloud (17-2) plays No. 7 Little Wound (4-16) on Tuesday. The Crusaders, who are No. 8 overall in Class A, have lost to Lakota Tech (79-60) and St. Thomas More (51-48). 

No. 3 Todd County (10-7) plays No. 6 Bennett County (7-12) in the region’s other first-round game. 

Region 8A

Outlook: Perennial power St. Thomas More captured Region 8A’s No. 1 seed. 

The Cavaliers (17-3) will play the No. 4 Hill City (12-8) vs. No. 5 Custer (11-9) winner on Thursday.

St. Thomas More is No. 5 in the Class A overall standings and enters the postseason on a nine-game winning streak. The Cavaliers dropped a pair of back-to-back games to West Central (64-42) and Parkston (42-38) before their season-long winning streak. STM defeated Class A foes Winner (40-28) and Red Cloud (51-48) within four days of each other. 

No. 2 Belle Fourche (13-7) plays No. 7 Lead-Deadwood (1-19) and No. 3 Rapid City Christian (13-7) plays No. 6 Hot Springs (4-16) in the other first-round games.