PHD Playoff Central: The Heart of March Madness

It’s win or go home.  The epitome of March Madess.  Tonight a spot in the Sweet 16 (SoDak 16) is on the line for teams in Class A and Class B.  Where are the big games at?

PHD Playoff Central.  Class A basketball has several games to keep an eye on.  Here is our top five games:

• Dakota Valley (18-2) vs Tea Area (14-7)
• Dell Rapids (14-6) vs West Central (14-7)
• Flandreau (14-6) vs Florence-Henry (15-4)
• Sioux Valley (19-1) vs Clark/Willow Lake (14-7)
• Sisseton (12-9) vs Tiospa Zina (13-6)

The top two games on the list include Top 10 ranked basketball teams.  DV and Tea Area have been ranked all season long and in the first game of the season the Panthers beat Tea Area 66-55.  West Central and Dell Rapids is another ranked match-up.  West Central has been in and out of the top ten while Dell Rapids has been a top ten squad all year.  The Quarriers beat West Central by 20 earlier in the year. 

The Big Stage.  The Corn Palace.  The center of basketball in the state of South Dakota.  Four games today and not just any games, win or go home contests.  Not just any contests, some of the best teams in the state of South Dakota.  Fourth ranked Howard versus 5th ranked Elkton-Lake Benton followed by 5th ranked Dell Rapids-St. Mary against 15-5 Hanson.  Then at 5:30 it’s 8th ranked Platte-Geddes against Gregory and their freshman Daniel Mitchell (best frosh in the state at this point).  The night cap is Corsica-Stickney against Burke.  All of this outstanding basketball under one roof.  One night.  March Madness. 

Players to Watch. Let’s continue with the Corn Palace.  Here is the competing talent that is must see:

• Sam Aslesen Sam Aslesen 6'7" | SF Howard | 2021 State SD of Howard (6’7 senior)
• Hayden Bahmuller Hayden Bahmuller 6'7" | C Hanson | 2021 State SD of Hanson (6’7 senior)
• Marcus Harming Marcus Harming 6'0" | SG Elkton-Lake Benton | 2021 State SD of Elkton-Lake Benton (6’0 senior)
• Connor Libis Connor Libis 5'9" | PG Dell Rapids-St. Mary | 2021 State SD of Dell Rapids-St. Mary (5’9 senior)
• Daniel Mitchell of Gregory (6’7 freshman)
• Matthew Nibbe Matthew Nibbe 6'4" | PF Elkton-Lake Benton | 2021 State SD of Elkton-Lake Benton (6’4 senior)
• Ashaun Roach-Valandra Ashaun Roach-Valandra 6'3" | PF Todd County | 2021 State SD of Dell Rapids-St. Mary (6’3 senior)
• Tisyn Spader Tisyn Spader 6'4" | SF Howard | 2021 State SD of Howard (6’4 senior)
• Kelby VanDerWerff Kelby VanDerWerff 6'5" | PF Platte-Geddes | 2021 State SD of Platte-Geddes (6’5 senior)
• Brendan Wentland Brendan Wentland 6'0" | PG Corsica-Stickney | 2021 State SD of Corsica-Stickney (6’1 senior)
• Ben Witt of Burke (6’0 junior)

Three More Sites to See Multiple Games. Class B basketball has multiple win or go home games at the Aberdeen Civic Arena, Huron High School, and at Freeman High School. Aberdeen Christian (16-4) vs Waverly-South Shore (14-4) and Warner (15-5) vs Waubay/Summit (14-4) are competing at the Aberdeen Civic Arena and these games could go in any direction.  Looking for games that will likely be the most competitive?  The Aberdeen Civic Arena is your location.