By Ryan Deal

605 Sports

No. 1 De Smet (21-1) vs. No. 16 Chester Area (12-10), 7:30 p.m.

HURON — No. 1 seed and No. 1 ranked De Smet is closing in another trip to the Bs.

The Bulldogs have qualified for three consecutive Class B state tournaments, including last year’s state championship. They were the Class B state runner-ups in 2019 (the 2020 tournament was canceled due to the pandemic).

De Smet is led by all-state guards Kalen Garry and Rett Osthus, who have combined for more than 3,000 career points. Garry is headed to play at South Dakota State University, while Osthus will play at Dakota Wesleyan University. The Bulldogs are also paced by 6-foot-9 junior post Damon Wilkinson and senior forward Tory Holland. 

The Bulldogs have gone undefeated against South Dakota competition this season. Their lone loss came against national power Dream City Christian (Arizona) at the Sanford Pentagon in December. De Smet has picked up wins over a number of SoDak 16 qualifiers in both Class A and B, including Clark/Willow Lake, Sioux Valley, White River, St. Thomas More, Castlewood and Flandreau.

Standing in their way is upset-minded Chester Area, which was the No. 5 seed in Region 4B and upset No. 4 Canistota and No. 1 Howard to earn the SoDak 16 berth. The victories avenged a pair of regular-season defeats against the Hawks and Tigers.

The Flyers have also won five of their last six games. Stratton Eppard, who scored his 1,000th career point earlier this season, paces the Flyers. 

Tuesday’s contest will be played at the Huron Arena.  

No. 2 Lower Brule (19-3) vs No. 15 Viborg-Hurley (14-8), 6:30 p.m.

CHAMBERLAIN — Lower Brule and Viborg-Hurley will clash for the second time this season, with the stakes considerably higher than the first meeting. 

The Sioux edged the Cougars (63-58) on Dec. 29 at the Sanford Pentagon. Lower Brule used a late 5-0 run to pick up the five-point win over Viborg-Hurley. It was another quality win for Lower Brule, which also defeated SoDak 16 qualifiers in Lakota Tech, White River and Freeman Academy/Marion. It split with Lakota Tech, while also falling to Class A SoDak 16 qualifiers Clark/Willow Lake and Sioux Valley. The Sioux also won the Lakota Nation Invitational title earlier this season. 

The Sioux have five players averaging 9.8 points per game or more: Keshaume Thigh (18.7), Brian LaRoche (15.6), Ellwyn Langdeau (10.1), Gavin Thigh (10) and Lane Gray (9.8). Keshaume Thigh, LaRoche and Trevin McBride are all 1,000-point scorers. 

Viborg-Hurley picked up Region 5B wins over Menno (58-25) and Centerville (48-32) to earn the SoDak 16 berth. The Cougars rattled off five straight wins in the middle of the season to bolster their 14-8 record. In addition to their loss against Lower Brule, Viborg-Hurley also lost to SoDak 16 qualifiers Freeman Academy/Marion (57-42), Potter County (83-55) and Madison (69-41). 

Viborg-Hurley is led by Hayden Gilbert, who logged 18 points and 11 rebounds in its Region 5B win over Centerville. Gage Goettertz scored 14 points and Blake Schroedermier collected 12 rebounds.

No. 3 White River (18-2) vs. No. 14 Harding County (16-5), 6:30 p.m.

KADOKA — Two Class B West River teams will collide in Kadoka for a trip to the state tournament. 

The Tigers have qualified for every Class B state boys basketball tournament since 2006, while the Ranchers last qualified in 2017. 

White River enters the contest on an 11-game winning streak and it picked up wins over SoDak 16 qualifiers in Aberdeen Christian, Lyman (twice), Sioux Valley and Stanley County (twice). The Tigers two losses were against No. 1 seed De Smet (63-49) and No. 2 Lower Brule (60-57). 

White River is powered by all-state junior guard Joe Sayler, a South Dakota State University commit. Dylan Marshall and Nic Marshall also paced the Tigers, who picked up Region 7B wins over Jones County and Wall to earn the SoDak 16 berth. 

The Ranchers picked up a 72-62 win over Faith in Region 8B action to secure the SoDak 16 berth. Harding County is riding a six-game winning streak and split with Faith during the regular season before winning last Friday. Harding County’s Keegan Hett averages a team-high 16.7 points and grabs 6.7 rebounds per game. Gage Gilbert adds 12.1 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. 

No. 4 Potter County (21-1) vs No. 13 Ethan (16-6), 6 p.m.

REDFIELD — Potter County or Ethan will end state-tourney droughts on Tuesday.

The Battlers last qualified for state in 2016, while the Rustlers last made it in 2014.

Potter County enters the SoDak 16 contest on a 15-game winning streak, including Region 2B wins over Sully Buttes and Faulkton Area. 

The Battlers’ lone defeat was a 61-56 setback against No. 5 seed Aberdeen Christian on Jan. 15. Potter County picked up wins over SoDak 16 qualifiers Hanson, Viborg-Hurley, Stanley County and Timber Lake. 

Potter County senior Cooper Logan erupted for 40 points and seven 3-pointers in the win over Timber Lake. Logan is averaging 19.9 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. Grant Luikens averages team-highs in points (21.1) and rebounds (7.7). Drake Bassett (11.9 ppg) and Seth Sharp (10 ppg) also average in double figures. 

Ethan picked up Region 4B wins over Oldham-Ramona/Rutland and Bridgewater-Emery, pushing its winning streak to five games. Three of Ethan’s six losses were against SoDak 16 qualifiers Hanson, Freeman Academy/Marion and Mount Vernon/Plankinton. 

Ethan’s Riley Endres led the Rustlers with 17 points and five rebounds in its Region 4B win over Bridgewater-Emery. Jay Storm added nine points and eight rebounds. 

No. 5 Aberdeen Christian (19-3) vs. No. 12 Lyman (16-6), 6 p.m.

HURON — Two 2021 Class B state tourney teams will clash for a 2022 berth. 

Aberdeen Christian, last year’s state runner-ups, is after its third consecutive berth. Lyman is chasing back-to-back state tournament appearances as it finished in eighth place last season. 

The Knights dropped back-to-back games to No. 3 seed White River and First Assembly Christian School (Tenn.) at the Hoop City Classic in late December. But they rattled off 14 straight wins, including wins over SoDak 16 qualifiers Potter County, Waubay-Summit and Platte-Geddes. The Knights lost to Class A SoDak 16 qualifier Groton Area on Feb. 25. 

Aberdeen Christian’s Malek Wieker averages a team-high 17 points per game, while adding 5.1 rebounds and 4.4 assists per contest. Ethan Russell (14.6 ppg/9.5 rpg) and Jackson Isakson (11.1 ppg/5.8 rpg) also power the Knights. 

Lyman picked up Region 7B wins over Crazy Horse and Philip to earn a SoDak 16 berth. Five of Lyman’s six losses were against SoDak 16 qualifiers Timber Lake, White River (twice), Rapid City Christian and Waubay-Summit. Lyman defeated Class A SoDak 16 qualifier Stanley County twice during the season. The Raiders are paced by 6-foot-7 senior post Toby Estes. 

No. 6 Freeman Academy/Marion (20-2) vs. No. 11 Timber Lake (18-3), 7 p.m.

HURON — Freeman Academy/Marion is looking to make program history, while Timber Lake is looking to continue a recent trend of state tourney berths. 

Freeman Academy/Marion has never qualified for state as a co-op. Freeman Academy has never qualified for state, while Marion advanced to state in 1999. Timber Lake is gunning for its third berth since 2018. The game will be at James Valley Christian High School in Huron. 

FAM is riding a six-game winning streak, including two Region 5B wins over Alcester-Hudson (70-34) and Irene-Wakonda (66-32). During the season, the Bearcats defeated SoDak 16 qualifiers Ethan, Viborg-Hurley and Burke. FAM did lose to No. 2 seed Lower Brule (75-60) on Feb. 12 at the DWU/Culver’s Classic. The Bearcats are powered by Thalen Schroeder (6-foot-5), along with guards Quincy Blue, Connor Epp and Donte Butler. 

Timber Lake picked up Region 8B wins over Tiospaye Topa (67-30) and Lemmon (65-55) to earn the SoDak 16 berth. During the season, the Panthers defeated SoDak 16 qualifiers Lyman and Harding County. They dropped a contest to SoDak 16 qualifier Potter County in the regular-season finale. The Panthers are led by Hank Kraft, Chazz Gabe, Dixon Booth, Kedrick Martin and Brandt Ducheneaux. 

No. 7 Platte-Geddes (17-5) vs. No. 10 Waubay/Summit (19-3), 6:30 p.m.

SIOUX FALLS — Platte-Geddes is looking for another state tournament berth, while Waubay/Summit is trying to make program history.

The Black Panthers have qualified for six state tournaments since 2008, including their most recent one in 2020 (canceled due to the pandemic). Waubay/Summit is after its first berth as a co-op. Waubay last qualified in 1955, while Summit’s lone berth was in 1990. 

Four of Platte-Geddes’ five losses were against SoDak 16 qualifiers Dakota Valley, Aberdeen Christian, Hanson and Winner. The Black Panthers logged wins over SoDak 16 participants Burke and Mount Vernon/Plankinton. 

Platte-Geddes is led by 6-foot-5 senior post Caden Foxley, an all-stater and 1,000-point scorer. 

Waubay/Summit dropped back-to-back games against Aberdeen Christian and Ethan, but rattled off 11 straight wins to earn the SoDak 16 berth. The Mustangs defeated SoDak 16 participant Lyman (56-39) at the DWU/Culver’s Classic on Feb. 12. In Waubay/Summit’s Region 1B win over Warner, Damon Opdahl led the way with 17 points, 13 rebounds and five assists. Jonathon Johnston added 16 points, while Seth Gaikowski had 13 points and J Gulbraa scored 11 points. 

The contest will be played at Sioux Falls Roosevelt High School.

No. 8 Burke (19-3) vs. No. 9 Castlewood (16-6), 6:30 p.m.

MITCHELL — Burke and Castlewood can snap state tourney droughts today. 

Burke qualified in 2013 (as South Central) and before that, its last trip was in 1957. Castlewood last advanced to state in 2012. 

Burke qualified for the SoDak 16 after defeating Tripp-Delmont/Armour and Gregory in Region 6B action. The Cougars lost to SoDak 16 participants Platte-Geddes and Freeman Academy/Marion during the season, while they also lost to Gregory. Cougars went on a nine-game winning streak to bolster its 19-3 record.

In Burke’s overtime win over Gregory in Region 6B action, Ben Witt powered the win with 35 points and five 3-pointers. Reed Benter and Bryce Frank scored 13 and 11 points, respectively. 

Castlewood is riding a six-game winning streak, including Region 3B wins over Arlington and Wolsey-Wessington. The Warriors lost to SoDak 16 qualifiers Flandreau, Clark/Willow Lake and De Smet. In Castlewood’s Region 3B win over Wolsey-Wessington, Tristan Nielsen finished with 22 points and five rebounds. Lane Tvedt added 10 points.