MITCHELL — The 42nd annual girls basketball Hanson Classic is Saturday, Jan. 18 at the Corn Palace. 

The eight-game event features nine teams either ranked or receiving votes in the latest South Dakota Prep Media Basketball Poll. The classic starts at 10 a.m. with Hanson vs. Arlington and concludes with Vermillion vs. Mahpiya Luta at 8:30 p.m.

The classic will be livestreamed for $15 at www.beavers.liveticket.tv.

Here are five matchups to watch this year’s Hanson Classic:

Elk Point-Jefferson vs. Aberdeen Roncalli 

A pair of one-loss teams will kick off the final five games at the Hanson Classic. 

Elk Point-Jefferson (6-1) has lost to Class A No. 1 Sioux Falls Christian, a 63-57 decision in Elk Point. The Huskies are coming off a 60-39 win over Wagner, which was receiving votes in the latest South Dakota Prep Media Basketball Poll. 

The Cavaliers (7-1) dropped a 50-45 decision against Mobridge-Pollock on Dec. 17. But have rattled off six straight wins, including a 54-42 win over quality foe Sisseton on Jan. 10. 

The contest looms large in the Class A picture. Roncalli is currently No. 4 in the Class A seed points standings, while EPJ is No. 12 in the standings. The Huskies are also receiving votes in the latest Class A poll. 

Dakota Valley vs. Groton Area 

Class A No. 4 Dakota Valley will put its undefeated record on the line against Groton Area.

The Panthers (9-0) are one of three undefeated teams left in Class A, joined by Sioux Falls Christian (9-0) and Mahpiya Luta (9-0). 

The Panthers feature three players that score in double figures: Camryn Sommervold (16.4 ppg), Ella Otten (16.3 ppg) and Aubree Worden (10.7 ppg). 

Dakota Valley is currently tied with Sioux Falls Christian atop the Class A seed points standings, with 46.333 points apiece. 

The Tigers (6-2) have dropped games against Hamlin (44-41) and Lennox (49-39). Groton Area strung together five straight wins from Dec. 17 to Jan. 9, including wins over Sisseton (48-45) and Clark/Willow Lake (32-30). 

Parkston vs. Lyman 

Two of the five remaining undefeated teams in Class B will clash at 5:30 p.m.

No. 2 Parkston (9-0) is undefeated since moving down from Class A to Class B, while No. 3 Lyman improved to 6-0 after beating Kadoka Area on Tuesday. 

Parkston, which plays Class A foe Wagner on Thursday, has outscored its opponents by 29 points this season and is averaging 58.7 points per game. The Trojans are No. 3 in the seed points standings (46.444), trailing only Lyman (47.000) and Centerville (46.700). 

The Raiders have coasted through their schedule, too. Lyman’s two closest games were against Bennett County (51-49) and Kadoka Area (54-49). 

Against Kadoka Area, Jordyn Scott led with 18 points, four rebounds and seven assists, while Mak Scott had 16 points, five rebounds and five assists in the win. Brooke Palmer tallied 11 points and seven rebounds while Kenzie Wagner had eight points for the Raiders.

Centerville vs. Ethan 

Last year’s Class B champ Centerville will play state tourney regular Ethan in a marquee Class B matchup. 

Centerville (10-0) is riding a 22-game winning streak, and hasn’t lost since Feb. 3, 2024 against Flandreau. The Tornadoes have outscored their opponents by 23.5 points this season, and own quality wins over Vermillion (48-45) and Andes Central/Dakota Christian (51-41). 

Centerville is currently No. 2 in the Class B seed points standings with 46.700 points, behind Lyman (47.000). 

Centerville is powered by all-staters Emma Marshall and Althea Gust. 

Ethan (8-1) dropped a 49-38 decision against Andes Central/Dakota Christian on Dec. 17, but have since strung together seven straight victories. The Rustlers have also picked up wins over Class A foes Hamlin (49-46) and Wagner (47-43). Ethan is currently No. 6 in the Class B seed points standings (45.333) and another quality win could bolster its seed points. 

The Rustlers are paced by Taziah Hawkins, a junior guard that scored 29 points and hit nine 3-pointers against Avon on Jan. 9. 

Vermillion vs. Mahpiya Luta 

Vermillion’s run to the 2024 Class A state championship included a four-point win over Mahpiya Luta in the state tourney opener. The Class A powers will square off in the Hanson Classic nightcap. 

No. 2 Vermillion (8-1) dropped a 48-45 decision against Class B No. 1 Centerville on Dec. 21. The Tanagers have since won four straight games, and are currently No. 9 in the Class A seed points standings. 

Vermillion is paced by all-staters Taylor Reuvers (freshman) and senior Brooke Jensen, who has committed to play college basketball at Division I South Dakota. 

Mahpiya Luta (9-0) is one of three undefeated teams left in Class A, joined by Dakota Valley (9-0) and Sioux Falls Christian (9-0). Mahpiya Luta has outscored its opponents by 42.1 points per game this season, and won its fourth straight Lakota Nation Invitational title earlier this season. 

Mahpiya Luta is currently ranked No. 7 in the Class A seed points standings, and a win over Vermillion would boost their points. 

Mahpiya Luta is paced by all-staters Ashlan Carlow-Blount (junior) and senior Jodene Big Crow-Hunter, who was named the Lakota Nation Invitational MVP earlier this season. 

The pairings are listed below: 

Hanson vs. Arlington, 10 a.m.

Harding County vs. Hitchcock-Tulare, 11:30 a.m.

St. Thomas More vs. Lennox, 1 p.m.

Elk Point-Jefferson vs. Aberdeen Roncalli, 2:30 p.m.

Dakota Valley vs. Groton Area, 4 p.m.

Parkston vs. Lyman, 5:30 p.m.

Centerville vs. Ethan, 7 p.m.

Vermillion vs. Mahpiya Luta, 8:30 p.m.