There’s nothing like the South Dakota high school basketball season.

From December to March, South Dakota fans rally around their teams like no other sport and it was more of the same this season. The 2021-22 season was full of epic games, dazzling individual performances and jam-packed gyms. 

Before we flip the page toward spring sports season, here’s a look back at some of the best moments of the 2021-22 season.

Best atmosphere

Wachs Arena 

After COVID-19 restrictions hindered crowds in 2020-21, the fans were back in full force during the 2021-22 season. 

This was evident at state tournaments and especially at the State B boys basketball tournament at Wachs Arena. The annual three-day tournament regularly draws the best crowds and it was no different this season.

The atmosphere, however, again reached a fever pitch during the semifinal and championship sessions. In the two sessions, fans were treated to a memorable Lower Brule/White River 3OT thriller and the 8,000-seat arena was at near full capacity as De Smet polished off another championship the following night.

It’s the best atmosphere for any state tournament and it didn’t disappoint this season. 

Best championship performance

Damon Wilkinson, De Smet

In a game full of big-time players, Damon Wilkinson stood out above the rest in the State B boys basketball championship game.  

In De Smet’s 49-26 win over Lower Brule, Wilkinson powered the Bulldogs with 19 points and 23 rebounds. The junior center finished 9 of 16 from the field, collected 15 offensive rebounds and his 6-foot-9 frame dominated in the post against the undersized Sioux. 

An all-tourney selection, Wilkinson averaged 18 points, 13 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game at the state tournament. 

Best Cinderella 

Viborg-Hurley Girls

The Viborg-Hurley Cougars didn’t let the No. 8 seed label phase them. 

The Cougars captured their first-ever state girls basketball championship on March 12 in Watertown. The championship run included wins over the top-three seeds on consecutive nights. 

In the opener, Viborg-Hurley stunned No. 1 and defending Class A champ Aberdeen Roncalli, 69-58. In the semifinals, the Cougars continued their unlikely run and upset No. 3 Corsica-Stickney, 43-38. In the championship, Viborg-Hurley erased an eight-point third-quarter deficit and outlasted No. 2 De Smet, 58-53. 

The Cougars are the first No. 8 seed to win the Class B girls state championship since Baltic in 2001. 

“We never thought of ourselves as an eighth seed,” Viborg-Hurley coach Molly Mason said after the game. “We prepared like we were the best team in the state and everybody’s records were 0-0.”

Best game

Lower Brule 86, White River 83 (3OT)

Lower Brule edged White River, 60-57, in the Lakota Nation Invitational Championship in December. We had no idea then, but the best was yet to come between the Sioux and Tigers. 

On March 18, they clashed in the Class B semifinals and what transpired was a two-hour thriller for the ages. 

In Lower Brule’s three-overtime victory, there were momentum swings, clutch shot after clutch shot and it took place in front of a rocking Wachs Arena. The entertaining seesaw battle included three technicals, seven double-digit scorers, nine ties, 11 lead changes, 17 3-pointers, 45 total fouls, 55 total field goals, 59 total free throws and 169 total points. Lower Brule’s Brian LaRoche Jr., Gavin Thigh and White River’s Gavin Folkers each hit late-clock shots to keep extending the game. 

The final overtime featured five lead changes and Lower Brule hit four three throws in the final 32 seconds to preserve the victory. 

“What a great game,” Lower Brule coach Brian LaRoche Sr., said after the game. “It can’t get better than that.”

It also landed in the record books. The 169-point total tied the State B boys basketball tournament record for most points in a semifinal game, tying Sully Buttes (92) and Elkton-Lake Benton (77) in 2009. 

Best individual performance

Kaycee Groves, Faith 

There were a handful of 40-point outings, but Kaycee Groves gets the nod for her performance in Faith’s Class B semifinal double-overtime defeat to De Smet.

In the 52-50 defeat, Groves poured in 31 points and nearly willed her team to a state championship appearance. The senior guard finished 13 of 31 from the field, 4 of 8 at the 3-point line, grabbed eight rebounds and saved her best for last. 

In regulation, Groves dribbled the ball up the court and calmly buried a 3-pointer to force overtime with 6.5 seconds left. In the first overtime, Groves banked in a 3-pointer at top of the key to force another overtime. Under two minutes left, Groves scored her 31st point and a 48-47 Faith lead. Groves, however, was held scoreless from there and De Smet advanced to the championship game. 

“She’s a phenomenal player,” De Smet coach Brendon Pitts said afterward. “She’s one of the best in the state and we tried to defend her, but she hit some big shots and I think we are playing good defense on her. She is a good player and she made plays."

A 5-foot-10 guard, Groves recently signed to play college basketball at Black Hills State University. 

Best upset

Sioux Falls Jefferson Girls

Sioux Falls Jefferson played its first-ever state girls basketball tournament game on March 12, and what a game it was. 

In their first season of existence, the Cavaliers qualified as the No. 8 seed and faced mighty Sioux Falls Washington in the opener. The Warriors, powered by University of Texas signee Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda, won the 2021 state championship and defeated Jefferson twice during the 2021-22 season. 

Washington defeated Jefferson by 66-38 and 45-42 margins during the regular season. But the Cavaliers stunned the Warriors, 47-43, in Rapid City and spoiled their repeat bid. Cierra Watkins (16 points), Jaidyn Dunn (12 points/11 rebounds) and Aliyah McGovern-Harrington (12 points) powered the upset victory.

The Cavaliers finished third at their inaugural state tournament. 

Best shot

Jackson Neuman, Platte-Geddes

On Jan. 17, Gregory’s Daniel Mitchell rose up for a game-tying 3-pointer and overtime appeared imminent against Platte-Geddes. But Jackson Neuman had other ideas. 

Mitchell’s 3-pointer went in with 6 seconds left, and after taking the inbound pass, Neuman drilled a 3/4-court heave as time expired for the 56-53 victory in Platte. The 70-foot buzzer beater set off a celebration by the home crowd and the video captured on YouTube later erupted on social media. 

Best quote

Eldon Marshall, White River 

Coach Eldon Marshall kept things in perspective after White River’s triple-overtime defeat against Lower Brule in the Class B semifinals. 

“It’s tough to see your guys in there crying and hurting,” Marshall said after the emotional defeat. “But I told them I love them no matter what and there’s no one else I would want to be hurting with. I am crying with those guys. It hurts. But I told them if this is the worst thing that happens in your life, then you’re pretty darn lucky.”

We’re all so lucky for another fun-filled basketball season. 

See ya next year.