SD: The Opening Tip

<p>Believe it or not, the tip off of the first basketball game in South Dakota is just 16 days away.  On that Thursday Rapid City Central plays Cheyenne West in Wyoming in Gillette, Wyoming as a part of a three games in three day tour (the next day Central takes on Cheyenne Central and on Saturday they face Rock Spring).  Central’s tip off will signal the start of the season and on that weekend there will be two days full of quality games around the state.  Here are some of the ones that has PHD excited:</p><p><u>Tea Area at Dakota Valley. </u>  Things are expected to be much improved for Tea this year, they start the season on the road against a Dakota Valley team that also played a lot of young guys last season.  <strong>Ethan Friedel and Robert Rosenquist</strong> are players to watch in this one.</p> <p><u>Watertown at Huron. </u>  Our pick for the different South Dakota Player of the Year honors in the preseason is <strong>Nate Davis</strong>. He and Watertown kick the year off against a Huron squad that PHD expects to be much improved.  Game one will show how much help Davis has and how for along Huron has come with a good off-season of team events.</p> <p><u>Lennox at SF Christian</u>.  This is the game to see on Friday night.  The preseason number one taking on a state tournament squad from a year ago that brings back most of it’s pieces.  Two preseason top ten teams with all state level stars in <strong>Chad Barkema and Jacob Hinker. </strong>Excellent first game of the season.</p> <p><u>Dell Rapids at West Central. </u> Basketball is not an individual game but many eyes will be on the Saturday morning box score to see what <strong>Noah Vettrus and Ty Hoglund</strong> had for their clubs.   If there was ever a game to see two guys do so much for their teams this is it because the year is early and many new players are being broken in so Noah and Ty may have to do a lot.</p> <p><u>Rapid City Stevens at Washington/Lincoln.</u>  With Central heading west, Stevens has decided to come east for the weekend to play the defending champs (Lincoln) and one of the two big favorites in Class AA (Washington).  <strong>Mason Archambault</strong> has a lot of new players breaking in around him so he will have to lead and a lot of eyes will be on him.</p> <p><u>Elk Point-Jefferson at Madison.</u>  We think really high of Madison as you can tell of their lofty preseason ranking (4th).  That outstanding group of juniors and sophomores led by<strong> Tanner DenHoed</strong> will receive a quality first team playing <strong>Michael Murphy, Aaron Koupal,</strong> and company. </p> <p><u>Brookings at Pierre TF Riggs.</u>  Our ranking of Pierre in the preseason is just behind the two favorites.  There are lofty goals for this club with <strong>Brevin Kaiser and Erin Severyn</strong> leading the way.  After going through the previews  PHD felt that maybe we undervalued Brookings with <strong>Issac Brandt, Zach Treiber,</strong> and company.  Is Pierre a title contender? Is Brooking a top ten squad?  Game one will give a bit of indication.</p> <p><u>SF Washington vs St. Thomas More</u>.  The senior led Washington group of <strong>Signaos, Farniok, Smith, and Keller</strong> against the junior talent from More in <strong>Kortmeyer and Satter</strong> plus senior guard <strong>PJ Friedel</strong>.  Does More have the depth and experience to play tap to buzzer with the state runner up?  Great test to see where each is at.</p> <p> </p>