SD Heat Tournament Preview
The South Dakota Heat Tournament will be played this weekend at Tea High School with a decent sized group at the 15U and 16U levels and a five team 17U group. 17U. This is a five team event that includes…
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Continue ReadingThe South Dakota Heat Tournament will be played this weekend at Tea High School with a decent sized group at the 15U and 16U levels and a five team 17U group.
17U. This is a five team event that includes the host Heat Squad playing in their fourth event, the Niners Select team playing in their third of seven events, the Niners Elite squad playing in their first event, Sioux Falls Washington, and Black Hills Gold which is a new name.
You have to expect Washington to be the favorite with Logan Uttech, Jack Talley, Zach Heins, Isaac Goeman, and Angel Arroyo leading the way amongst others. They are a Class AA favorite next year so of course they will be a favorite in this event. This team was in the ECI Spring Review a couple weeks back and had a nice showing making the final four.
The South Dakota Heat has played in three events: the top division of the Spring Jam and the two SPTS events. They haven’t won a game yet but the level of talent they have played is strong. They will have a chance to grab several wins this weekend with shooter Sheldon Siemonsma, lead guard Tiegen Priebe, and 2018 Jeff Schuch leading the way.
The Dakota Niners have two teams in the event. Niners Select is led by Bennett White of Wolsey-Wessington, Cole Barthel of Tea Area, Bradley Dean of Pierre, and Tanner Heim and Mason Peter of Dell Rapids. Niners Elite is half 2018 kids (including Jadon and Jaxon Janke of Madison) as well as five 2017 players including Florence-Henry players Charlie Kahnkie and Kory Lane.
16U. The 16U event will be split into two pools and play four games followed by a fifth game matching the teams from each pool and their corresponding placement spot in the pools. This event has Grassroots clubs South Dakota Heat, Niners Elite, Niners Select, and North Dakota Cougars, high school squads Tea HS, Huron HS, Washington HS, and Wagner HS, as well as a couple teams playing for the first time and that is Black Hills Gold and United.
The Cougars haven’t lost a game yet in the two small events they played in (seven games), the Heat has lost all of their games but has played a high level of competition, and the Niners Elite team is 3-5 through two events. Black Hills Gold, United, and Niners Select are playing in their first event. The high school squads will likely have mostly JV and B squad players from their programs.
15U. This level has four teams in each pool playing three games and then split into two brackets where two more games will be played. There are four Grassroots squads that we are familiar with, a couple high school teams (Tea and Washington), and SD Crush and Black Hills Gold making their debut.
Niners Select is 4-5 after two events while SD Heat hasn’t won yet playing the SPTS schedule. The SW MN Stars have been outstanding so far this year going 11-6 against a tough schedule and being ranked 6th in Minnesota for the 15U division.