The 42nd annual boys Hanson Classic is Saturday, Jan. 20 at the Corn Palace. 

The eight-game event features eight teams ranked or receiving votes in the latest South Dakota Prep Media Basketball Poll. The classic starts at 10 a.m. with Hanson vs. Clark/Willow Lake and concludes at 8:30 p.m. with Dakota Valley vs. Hamlin. 

The classic will be livestreamed for $12.50 at www.beavers.liveticket.tv.

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

St. Thomas More vs. Class B No. 2 De Smet 

Two state tournament regulars — from different classes — will tip off at 2:30 p.m.

St. Thomas More has qualified for 16 Class A state tournaments since 2004. De Smet has qualified for the past five Class B state tournaments and has won the last three state championships. 

De Smet won the only meeting between the two powerhouses, a 36-30 decision at the Sanford Pentagon in 2022. 

De Smet (9-2) is powered by seven seniors, including 6-foot-6 forward George Jensen who scored 12 points in its recent game against Hamlin on Jan. 16. The STM matchup starts a tough slate to close the season for the Bulldogs, who will also play Castlewood, Cansitota, Sioux Valley, Flandreau and Wolsey-Wessington down the stretch. 

St. Thomas More (8-2) is paced by six seniors, including 6-foot-1 guard Holden Griswold. After the De Smet contest, the Cavaliers will play Spearfish and Rapid City Christian in a big Region 8A contest next week. 

Class A No. 4 Sioux Valley vs. RV Rapid City Christian

Two unfamiliar Class A foes will face off at 4 p.m.

Sioux Valley, a school seven miles from Brookings, will play Rapid City Christian in the first-ever meeting between the programs. The two teams will be among the top Class A contenders come March. 

Sioux Valley has qualified for 10 Class A state tournaments since 2007, while Rapid City Christian is gunning for its first state tourney berth since 2003. 

The Cossacks (9-0) will play Deubrook Area on Thursday before facing the Comets. Sioux Valley is led by 6-foot-10 Alec Squires, who has committed to play at South Dakota State University. 

Rapid City Christian (8-1) dropped an 80-66 decision against Pine Ridge in the Lakota Nation Invitational championship game. The Comets have picked up double-digit wins the rest of the way. 

The Comets are currently playing short handed as junior guard Benson Kieffer broke his foot Jan. 5 against Dickinson Trinity (North Dakota). Rapid City Christian coach Kyle Courtney is hopeful Kieffer can return by mid-February, but it “just depends on how quickly it heals.”

Senior guard Cayden Von Eye was also hurt in early January and his status is unclear for the remainder of the season, said Courtney. 

The Comets have relied on Julius Frog, Aiden Roberts, Simon Kieffer, Wes Schlabach and Wilson Kieffer during the past few weeks. 

Class B No. 3 White River vs. Class B No. 5 Dell Rapids St. Mary

A top-five Class B matchup kicks off the night action at 5:30 p.m.

The Tigers, who graduated 2023 South Dakota Mr. Basketball Joe Sayler, have rattled off an 11-1 record this season and recently won the Jones County Invitational in Murdo. White River, which has qualified for every Class B state tournament since 2006, will play at St. Francis on Thursday before facing the Cardinals. 

White River is paced by all-state guard Nic Marshall, who is coming off a 30-point performance against Jones County in the Jones County Invitational championship game. The Tigers are also led by Mackenzie Wike, Ray Crow, Evastine Wright and Jordan Uhlir. 

The Cardinals (7-2) catapulted up the Class B rankings after knocking off then-No. 1 De Smet, 60-56 on Dec. 18. Dell Rapids St. Mary has dropped games against Class A No. 4 Sioux Valley (59-47) and Class B No. 1 Castlewood (68-46). 

Dell Rapids St. Mary is led by Maverick LeBrun, Trevon Beckman and Trimmier Hanson. The Cardinals are 2-0 against White River, with both wins coming during the 2021 season. 

Class B No. 4 Viborg-Hurley vs. Class B No. 1 Castlewood

A rematch of last season’s Class B consolation championship is set for 7 p.m.

The Warriors outlasted the Cougars, 46-41, in last season’s fifth-place game at Wachs Arena. The two Class B contenders will collide again at the Corn Palace. 

Castlewood (9-0) has risen to the top of the Class B rankings and is beating its opponents by a 25.2 points per game margin. The Warriors have picked up seven wins over Class A opponents, including a narrow 62-57 win over Flandreau. 

Castlewood is powered by 6-foot-9 junior center Bryon Laue and senior guard Lane Tvedt, who is coming off a 38-point performance against Dell Rapids St. Mary on Jan. 16. The Warriors will host Oldham-Ramona-Rutland on Friday before facing the Cougars. 

The Cougars (6-1) dropped a 57-55 decision against Elk Point-Jefferson on Dec. 19. Viborg-Hurley has won every other game by double digits. The Cougars will play Baltic on Jan. 18 before their rematch against Castlewood. 

Viborg-Hurley is paced by 6-foot-6 junior forward Nick Hanson, who logged 27 points and 11 rebounds in a win over Avon on Jan. 16. 

Class A No. 2 Dakota Valley vs. Class A No. 3 Hamlin

Dakota Valley will put its Class A record winning streak on the line twice this week, including a rematch against Hamlin at 8:30 p.m.

The Panthers (8-0) have won 61 straight basketball games, the longest streak in Class A boys basketball history and they’re inching closer to another record. Armour holds the longest winning streak in boys basketball history with 64 straight from 1978-80. 

Dakota Valley will face Tri-Valley and Hamlin this week as it chases history. It will then play at No. 1 Sioux Falls Christian on Jan. 25. 

The Panthers defeated Hamlin, 77-63, in last season’s Class A semifinals en route to their second consecutive state championship. 

The Panthers are powered by 6-foot-7 senior big Jaxson Wingert, along with junior guards Luke Bruns, Logan Collette and senior guard Charlie Margeas. 

Hamlin (7-2) has dropped contests against No. 1 Sioux Falls Christian (54-52) and Cordova, Tennessee (63-57) this season. The Chargers have picked up double-digits wins the rest of the season, including a 64-46 decision against Class B No. 2 De Smet on Jan. 16. 

Hamlin will face Redfield before facing the Panthers.

The Chargers are paced by all-state junior guard Easton Neuendorf, along with senior guard Tyson Stevenson, sophomore guard Jackson Wadsworth and junior forward Evan Stormo. 

The complete pairings include:

Hanson vs. Clark/Willow Lake, 10 a.m.

Ipswich vs. Gregory, 11:30 a.m.

Winner vs. Howard, 1 p.m.

St. Thomas More vs. De Smet, 2:30 p.m.

Sioux Valley vs. Rapid City Christian, 4 p.m.

White River vs. Dell Rapids St. Mary, 5:30 p.m.

Viborg-Hurley vs. Castlewood, 7 p.m.

Dakota Valley vs. Hamlin, 8:30 p.m.