Monday, February 24, 2025
Farmer's Union Insurance
605 Sports
Class A girls basketball region previews
Mahpiya Luta guard Ashlan Carlow-Blount (1) drives to the hoop while Vermillion Tanagers guard Taylor Reuvers (11) during the second half of the Girls Hanson Classic Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025 at the Corn Palace in Mitchell.
(Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)
Feb 23, 2025
 

By Ryan Deal 

605 Sports

The march to the Class A girls basketball tournament in Spearfish starts Feb. 25. 

The Class A girls basketball tournament is March 13-15 in Spearfish, and teams will start their postseason pushes Feb. 25-27 with region play. The SoDak 16 contests are March 6. 

Here’s a look at each Class A girls region tournament:


Region 1A

Aberdeen Roncalli edged Groton for the No. 1 seed in this region, finishing with 43.650 seed points compared to 43.550 points for the Tigers. 

As a result, the Cavaliers earned a first-round bye in the first round. Roncalli has gone 5-1 against Region 1A teams this season, with its lone defeat against Milbank (48-38) on Feb. 6. Roncalli could see Milbank in the second round, if the Bulldogs get past Webster Area on Feb. 25. 

Milbank just defeated Webster Area (64-34) in the regular-season finale on Feb. 20. 

Groton Area faces Redfield and Sisseton plays Britton-Hecla in the other first-round contests. Groton Area coasted past Redfield, 51-9, on Jan. 4. Sisseton beat Britton-Hecla, 67-28, on Feb. 4. 

Sisseton is gunning for its third straight Class A state tourney appearance, finishing third each of the past two seasons. 

Feb. 25

No. 4 Milbank (12-8) vs. No. 5 Webster Area (10-10), 7 p.m., CT, Milbank 

No. 2 Groton Area (14-6) vs. No. 7 Redfield (3-17), 6 p.m., CT, Groton  

No. 3 Sisseton (13-7) vs. No. 6 Britton-Hecla (5-15), 7:30 p.m., CT, Groton 

Feb. 27

No. 1 Aberdeen Roncalli (15-5) vs. No. 4 Milbank or No. 5 Webster Area, 7 p.m., Aberdeen Roncalli 


Region 2A

Hamlin earned Region 2A’s No. 1 seed and a first-round bye with a 17-3 regular-season record. 

The Chargers are also No. 3 overall in the Class A seed points standings, and are eyeing their fifth state tournament qualification in the past six seasons. Hamlin has defeated every other Region 2A team this season, and will play Clark/Willow Lake or Florence/Henry in the second round on Feb. 27. Clark/Willow Lake defeated Florence/Henry, 52-32, on Dec. 21. 

Sioux Valley is the No. 2 seed and played Hamlin to a tight 62-59 decision on Jan. 14. Sioux Valley plays Deuel, a team it defeated 72-28 on Feb. 11. 

Great Plains Lutheran plays Elkton-Lake Benton in the other first-round contest. The Panthers defeated the Elks, 51-36, on Feb. 1. 

Feb. 25 

No. 4 Clark/Willow Lake (11-8) vs. No. 5 Florence/Henry (8-12), TBD

No. 2 Sioux Valley (16-4) vs. No. 7 Deuel (4-16), TBD

No. 3 Great Plains Lutheran (14-5) vs. No. 6 Elkton-Lake Benton (7-13), TBD

Feb. 27

No. 1 Hamlin (17-3) vs. No. 4 Clark/Willow Lake or No. 5 Florence/Henry


Region 3A

Flandreau’s 14-6 regular-season record earned the Fliers the No. 1 seed in Region 3A.

The Fliers lone defeat against a Region 3A team was a 58-48 setback in the regular-season finale. Flandreau, which has qualified for the past two state tournaments, will play Dell Rapids or Garretson in the second round on Feb. 27. 

The Fliers have defeated both the Quarriers (48-43) and Blue Dragons (41-21) this season. Dell Rapids defeated Garretson (48-29) on Jan. 23. 

Tri-Valley is the No. 2 seed after putting together an 11-9 regular-season record. The Mustangs will play Madison, a team they defeated 56-28 on Dec. 17. 

West Central plays Baltic in the other Region 3A first-round contest. The Trojans defeated the Bulldogs (55-40) in the season opener on Dec. 10. 

Feb. 25

No. 4 Dell Rapids (7-13)  vs. No. 5 Garretson (5-15), 7 p.m., CT, Dell Rapids 

No. 2 Tri-Valley (11-9) vs. No. 7 Madison (1-19), 7 p.m., CT, Tri-Valley 

No. 3 West Central (12-8) vs. No. 6 Baltic (5-15), 7 p.m., CT, West Central

Feb. 27 

No. 1 Flandreau (14-6) vs. No. 4 Dell Rapids or No. 5 Garretson, TBD

Sioux Falls Christian's Aubrie VanBeek (1) goes up for a shot against Lyman on Feb. 14 at the Corn Palace. (Ryan Deal / 605 Sports)

Region 4A

Sioux Falls Christian’s 19-1 regular-season record earned the Chargers the No. 1 overall seed in Class A. The Chargers also secured the first-round bye in Region 4A action. 

The Chargers’ lone defeat was against Region 4A team Vermillion, a 53-38 setback on Feb. 6. Sioux Falls Christian will play Elk Point-Jefferson or Lennox in the second round on Feb. 27. 

Sioux Falls Christian defeated the Huskies (63-57) and the Orioles (46-33) during the regular season. 

Dakota Valley plays Beresford and Vermillion plays Canton in the other first-round matchups. Dakota Valley defeated Beresford, 71-51, on Dec. 17. Vermillion edged Canton, 61-57, in the season opener. 

Vermillion, which won last season’s state championship, is on an eight-game winning streak after back-to-back losses against Mahpiya Luta and Elk Point-Jefferson. 

Feb. 25 

No. 4 Elk Point-Jefferson (15-5) vs. No. 5 Lennox (13-7), TBD

No. 2 Dakota Valley (18-2) vs. No. 7 Beresford (10-10), TBD

No. 3 Vermillion (17-3) vs. No. 6 Canton (14-6), TBD

Feb. 27

No. 1 Sioux Falls Christian (19-1) vs. No. 4 Elk Point-Jefferson or No. 5 Lennox


Region 5A

Wagner earned Region’s 5A No. 1 seed with a 15-5 regular-season record. As a result, the Red Raiders also earned the first-round bye and will play McCook Central/Montrose or Hanson in the second round. 

Wagner has won eight of its last nine games entering the postseason, and is chasing its third state tournament berth in the past four seasons. 

The Red Raiders defeated Hanson (59-34) on Feb. 4, but they did not play McCook Central/Montrose during the regular season. 

McCook Central/Montrose defeated Hanson (77-31) on Jan. 14. 

Mount Vernon/Plankinton plays Parker and Scotland/Menno plays Bon Homme in the other first-round matchups. MVP, which qualified for last season’s Class A tournament, is the No. 2 seed after finishing 16-4 in the regular season.

The Titans and Pheasants did not play during the regular season. Scotland/Menno defeated Bon Homme (25-13) during the regular season. 

Feb. 25

No. 4 McCook Central/Montrose (9-11) vs. No. 5 Hanson (6-14), TBD

No. 2 Mount Vernon/Plankinton (16-4) vs. No. 7 Parker (0-20), TBD

No. 3 Scotland/Menno (9-11) vs. No. 6 Bon Homme (6-14), TBD 

Feb. 27 

No. 1 Wagner (15-5) vs. No. 4 McCook Central/Montrose or No. 5 Hanson 


Region 6A

Mobridge-Pollock’s 16-3 record earned it the No. 1 seed in Region 6A, finishing ahead of No. 2 Miller by 1.308 seed points. The Tigers secured the region’s first-round bye. 

The Tigers have defeated every other team in Region 6A, and have won five of their last six games entering the postseason. Mobridge-Pollock is gunning for its first state tourney appearance since 2011. 

Mobridge-Pollock will play Crow Creek or Platte-Geddes in the second round on Feb. 27. The Tigers defeated Crow Creek (89-41) on Jan. 16, but did not play Platte-Geddes during the regular season. 

Crow Creek and Platte-Geddes also did not play during the regular season. 

Miller is the No. 2 seed and narrowly lost to No. 1 seed Mobridge-Pollock (45-40) during the regular season. 

Miller vs. Stanley County and Cheyenne-Eagle Butte vs. Chamberlain are the other first-round matchups. 

Miller defeated Stanley County (42-12) in the season opener. Cheyenne-Eagle Butte defeated Chamberlain (52-41) on Jan. 11. 

Feb. 25 

No. 4 Crow Creek (7-13) vs. No. 5 Platte-Geddes (5-15), 7 p.m., CT, Stephan 

No. 2 Miller (16-4) vs. No. 7 Stanley County (3-17), TBD 

No. 3 Cheyenne-Eagle Butte (10-10) vs. No. 6 Chamberlain (3-15), 6 p.m., Eagle Butte 

Feb. 27 

No. 1 Mobridge-Pollock (16-3) vs. No. 4 Crow Creek or No. 5 Platte-Geddes


Region 7A

Mahpiya Luta is the last undefeated team in Class A girls basketball, and easily secured the No. 1 seed in Region 7A. Mahpiya Luta also earned the first-round bye in region play.

It is gunning for a fourth-straight Class A girls basketball tournament berth. 

Mahpiya Luta will play the Pine Ridge vs. St. Francis winner in the second round on Feb. 27. Mahpiya Luta defeated Pine Ridge (83-41) and St. Francis (82-30) during the regular season. 

In the regular season, Pine Ridge and St. Francis did not play. 

Lakota Tech is the No. 2 seed and heads into postseason play on a five-game winning streak. The Tatanka plays Todd County, a team it defeated 74-34 on Jan. 21. 

Winner plays Little Wound in the other first-round matchup. Winner enters postseason play on a four-game winning streak. Winner and Little Wound did not play during the regular season. 

Feb. 25

No. 4 Pine Ridge (12-6) vs. No. 5 St. Francis (10-10), 6 p.m., MT, Pine Ridge High School

No. 2 Lakota Tech (14-6) vs. No. 7 Todd County (4-15), 6 p.m., MT, Lakota Tech High School 

No. 3 Winner (11-9) vs. No. 6 Little Wound (4-14), 7 p.m., CT, Winner

Feb. 27 

No. 1 Mahpiya Luta (20-0) vs. No. 4 Pine Ridge or No. 5 St. Francis, 6 p.m., MT, Mahpiya Luta School 


Region 8A

St. Thomas More’s 14-6 regular-season record secured the Cavaliers the No. 1 seed in Region 8A. The Cavaliers, who went undefeated against Region 8A teams this season, earned the region’s first-round bye. 

The Cavaliers are chasing their first state-tournament berth since 2022, when they won the state championship. In total, St. Thomas More has 11 state tourney appearances since 2011. 

St. Thomas More will play Custer or Hill City in the second round on Feb. 27. The Cavaliers defeated Custer (58-24) and Hill City (44-23) during the regular season. 

Rapid City Christian secured the region’s No. 2 seed with a 11-9 regular-season record. The Comets will play Lead-Deadwood in its first-round contest. Rapid City Christian defeated Lead-Deadwood (67-23) on Feb. 13.

Belle Fourche plays Hot Springs in the other first-round matchup. The Broncs defeated Hot Springs (67-24) on Jan. 28. 

Feb. 25 

No. 4 Custer (8-12) vs. No. 5 Hill City (8-12), TBD

No. 2 Rapid City Christian (11-9) vs. No. 7 Lead-Deadwood (3-17), TBD

No. 3 Belle Fourche (11-9) vs. No. 6 Hot Springs (2-18), TBD

Feb. 27

No. 1 St. Thomas More (14-6) vs. No. 4 Custer or No. 5 Hill City

St. Thomas More's Riley Gylten (10) goes up for a shot against Clark/Willow Lake on Feb. 14 at the Corn Palace. (Ryan Deal / 605 Sports)