RV Dell Rapids at No. 1 Aberdeen Christian 

Class B No. 1 Aberdeen Christian faces a tough test in Class A power Dell Rapids on Saturday.

The Knights are 13-0 entering their Thursday matchup against Northwestern and have rolled through their competition this season. Aberdeen Christian is scoring 67.7 points per game and are allowing 42.2 points per game on defense. 

Aberdeen Christian is powered by a trio of 1,000-point scorers in Ethan Russell, Malek Wieker and Jackson Isakson. The Knights are the last remaining undefeated team left in Class B boys basketball. 

The Quarriers will present a tough task for the Knights. Dell Rapids, which was honorable mention in the latest Class A poll, is 11-2 entering Thursday’s game against Tri-Valley. The Quarriers two losses were against Dak-XII foes Sioux Falls Christian (65-63) and Madison (62-61). 

Dell Rapids features all-state point guard Brayden Pankonen (a 1,000-point scorer), 6-foot-3 versatile forward Jack Henry, shooting guard Camden Justice and 6-foot-8 center Rhett Kloth.  

Class A vs. Class B powers face off at Heritage Classic

The eight-game Heritage Classic is Saturday at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls. 

The game features two Class A vs. Class B matchups in the heart of the schedule. Class B No. 3 De Smet plays Class A Tea Area at 3:30 p.m., while Class B No. 2 White River plays Class A No. 3 Sioux Falls Christian at 5 p.m.

Tea Area is 8-3 entering Thursday’s game against West Central. The Titans feature a balanced scoring attack in Blake Thompson, Sam Almas, Jessen Wiebenga, Jonah Kocer and Reis Kirschenman. The Titans have dropped games against Dakota Valley (67-43), Sioux Falls O’Gorman (66-55) and Sioux Falls Christian (56-51). 

The Bulldogs, who have won the past two Class B state championships, counter with all-state center Damon Wilkinson. The 6-foot-10 Wilkinson has logged multiple double-doubles this season and is complemented by a host of wings and guards, including Tom Aughenbaugh, Gannon Gruenhagen, Kadyn Fast, Kasen Janssen and George Jensen. The Bulldogs are 12-2 entering Thursday’s game against Elkton-Lake Benton. 

In the 5 p.m. matchup, two heavyweights from their respective classes will square off. White River, which has qualified for every state tournament since 2006, is 11-2 and is powered by all-state guard Joe Sayler. The future South Dakota State University Jackrabbit currently has 2,321 career points, the 14th most in South Dakota boys basketball history. Junior guard Nic Marshall is coming off a 44-point performance a week ago against St. Francis. 

The Chargers have two big games prior to Saturday’s matchup against the Tigers. Sioux Falls Christian (12-1) will play at Vermillion on Thursday and will host Class AA No. 1 Sioux Falls Jefferson on Friday. The Chargers are paced by Ethan Bruns. 

RV Castlewood at Hamlin 

Two Lake Central Conference foes — Castlewood and Hamlin — will face off in Hayti tonight. The Warriors are 12-3, while the Chargers are 10-3. 

Castlewood feature a balanced scoring attack in sophomore center Bryon Laue, Lane Tvedt, Joe Decker, Jackson Schofield and Booker Schooley. The Warriors have dropped games against Class B foes Lower Brule (64-61), Dell Rapids St. Mary (73-70) and De Smet (56-36). 

The Warriors are riding a three-game winning streak, including a 70-43 win over Waubay-Summit on Jan. 31. 

Hamlin counters with a balanced lineup of its own. The Chargers are led by Easton Neuendorf, Brennan Keszler, Tyson Stevenson, Jackson Wadsworth and Zah VanMeeteren. Hamlin has dropped games against Class A foes Dell Rapids (64-52), Sioux Valley (69-65) and Sioux Falls Christian (48-46).