Christmas break is complete and we are in a new year. Most schools will resume classes on Tuesday and everyone will be back into a regular routine. Are you looking for games to watch early in the week? Look no…
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Subscribe Already a subscriber? Log inChristmas break is complete and we are in a new year. Most schools will resume classes on Tuesday and everyone will be back into a regular routine. Are you looking for games to watch early in the week? Look no further, we have some suggestions for you!
Keep you fingers crossed, it sounds like we have more nasty weather heading into South Dakota. Let’s hope we can get these games in!
Games To Watch
MONDAY 1/2/23
Deuel (3-0) @ #2 De Smet (2-1)
Cardinals Info: Deuel is fresh off a 68-51 victory over Elkton-Lake Benton at the Entringer Classic in Brookings. The Cards also picked up a win last Thursday over Redfield (62-23). Deuel is off to a good start and they have been led by it’s tough defense. The Cards and the Bulldogs are both tough/gritty squads, this one could be a slugfest! I sure hope they get to play tomorrow night.
Trey Maaland
Trey
Maaland
6'1"
Deuel | 2024
SD
and
Gavin Benck
Gavin
Benck
6'2" | PF
Deuel | 2023
State
SD
are the top two Cardinals. Maaland is a versatile athlete that can score the rock in a variety of ways. Trey is a playmaker on both ends. Benck can put up points from in and out, and he does it with a soft shooting touch. Bench is a good rebounder and he has the potential to be a resilient defender. It will be interesting to see how the Cardinals defender
Damon Wilkinson
Damon
Wilkinson
6'10" | C
De Smet | 2023
State
SD
, it will certainly need to be a team effort. This is a Lake Central Conference matchup, so the players should be reved up and excited to play in this one.
Bulldog Info: De Smet took a 67-58 loss to Sioux Valley on Saturday evening at the Entringer Classic. That was a hard-fought and emotional game for both squads. The Bulldogs are currently ranked #2 in Class B, after losing to #2 ranked Sioux Valley in Class A, I would not imagine the Bulldogs dropping in the polls.
Damon Wilkinson
Damon
Wilkinson
6'10" | C
De Smet | 2023
State
SD
had a monster game against his neighbors to the east. He had a dominant performance with 27 points and 15 rebounds. Tom Aughenbaugh was the other Bulldog to score in double figures (12) vs. Sioux Valley. The Bulldogs will be ready to get back on the winning side of things, and the Deuel matchup is an LCC game, so there is an added incentive for both sides.
TUESDAY 1/3/23
**This game is rescheduled to today 1/2/2023 at 12:30
Mitchell (3-0) @ Harrisburg (2-3)
Kernel Info: Mitchell picked up two wins in the Hoop City Classic against two teams from Wyoming.
Steele Morgan
Steele
Morgan
6'4"
Mitchell | 2023
SD
and
Dylan Soulek
Dylan
Soulek
6'3" | SG
Mitchell | 2023
State
SD
had standout performances in those wins. The Kernels are an intriguing team. They have a couple of young guns, impressive athletes, hard workers, shooters, and enough size to compete with the top teams.
Colton Smith
Colton
Smith
6'5" | PF
Mitchell | 2026
State
SD
is a kid to look out for. Smith is only a freshman but is already an impact player.
Markus Talley
Markus
Talley
6'1" | PG
Mitchell | 2025
SD
is another young player (soph) to keep eyes on. The young lefty can really shoot it. Morgan and Soulek are the vets on the squad and they should be consistent producers all season. The Kernels have a nice combination of older and younger talent. After Tuesday, we should have a better idea of how good they really are.
Tiger Info: Harrisburg started the year with two losses and they took another loss at the Hoop City Classic against a good DeLaSalle team from MN. The Tigers currently look to have things on the right track as they picked up a signature win on Friday night against #5 ranked Sioux Falls Roosevelt by a score of 66-51. The Tigers have a ton of talent on their roster/bench and they are a well-coached team. However, the two DUDES right now for the Tigers are
Ethan Determan
Ethan
Determan
6'3" | SG
Harrisburg | 2023
State
SD
and
Jacoby Mehrman
Jacoby
Mehrman
6'4" | PG
Harrisburg | 2024
State
SD
. These two make a dynamic and high-powered backcourt. It will be interesting to see if the Kernels can slow down Determan and Mehrman.
#1 Sioux Falls Jefferson (3-0) @ #5 Sioux Falls Christian (5-0)
Cavalier Info: Jefferson is loaded with talent, athletes, and experienced players. They certainly know how to win the big game, as many of the basketball players helped the Cavs win the State Football Championship. So far this hoops season, the Cavs are rolling, they have wins over Roosevelt, Lincoln, and Orono (MN). Their closest game was 12 points.
Taylen Ashley
Taylen
Ashley
6'0" | PG
Sioux Falls Jefferson | 2023
State
SD
,
Kaden Year
Kaden
Year
6'6" | SF
Sioux Falls Jefferson | 2023
State
SD
,
Griffin Wilde
Griffin
Wilde
6'2" | SG
Sioux Falls Jefferson | 2023
State
SD
,
Ethan Koltz
Ethan
Koltz
6'11" | C
Sioux Falls Jefferson | 2023
State
SD
, and
Beau Giblin
Beau
Giblin
6'0" | SG
Sioux Falls Jefferson | 2023
State
SD
, have to make the scariest lineup in South Dakota. This 5 has it all, an athletic/playing-making PG, stat-stuffing/skilled 4 man, long and mobile BIG, and 2 fierce athletes on the wing. The Cavs will have more size, muscle, and athleticism. The Chargers might have better outside shooting and it’s on the Chargers home court. This game is going to be must-watch basketball!
Charger Info: I would argue that SFC should be rated higher than #5, in my opinion, they should be all the way up to #2. Rankings are just rankings, so it does not do any good to throw a fit over a number. The Chargers have been great this season with quality wins over Lennox, Elk-Point-Jefferson, and O’Gorman. Can they beat another AA team like Jefferson? The Chargers play a fast brand of basketball and they have plenty of talent. They are not just a run-and-gun team, SFC can also execute in the halfcourt.
Cole Snyder
Cole
Snyder
6'0" | CG
Sioux Falls Christian | 2025
State
SD
and
Britton Mulder
Britton
Mulder
6'2" | SG
Sioux Falls Christian | 2025
State
SD
and both youngsters but they can shoot the lights out. Jefferson is long and athletic but SFC can throw 6’6″
Ethan Bruns
Ethan
Bruns
6'6" | SF
Sioux Falls Christian | 2023
State
SD
and 6’7″
Griffen Goodbary
Griffen
Goodbary
6'8" | PF
Sioux Falls Christian | 2025
State
SD
at them. They will be undersized but they will have a fighter’s chance against the mighty Cavs. AA vs. A, public vs. private, this is going to be one heck of a good game!
#4 St. Thomas More (5-0) @ Belle Fourche (1-1)
Cavalier Info: They are a disciplined, tough, and well-coached team. They will not run you off the court, but they will play fast when it is in their favor, STM is also great at executing on both ends in the halfcourt. On Friday at the Hoops City Classic, STM took down AA Aberderden Central with a 56-46 score. The top players for the Cavs are
Caleb Hollenbeck
Caleb
Hollenbeck
6'3" | PG
St. Thomas More | 2023
State
SD
,
Jordan Uhlir
Jordan
Uhlir
6'5" | PF
St. Thomas More | 2024
State
SD
,
Will Green
Will
Green
6'1" | PG
St. Thomas More | 2023
State
SD
, and Matthew Larson. Hollenbeck is one of the best players in the State, it would be worth tuning in just to watch Caleb play. This should be a quality game. Belle Fourche has some nice players and they could give the Cavs a run for their money.
Bronc Info: Belle Fourche has not played a game since December 20th, so they could be a bit rusty. At the same time, they should be rip-roaring and ready to go as I am sure they are sick of competing against their teammates. Either way, I would expect the Broncs to ready. Belle Fourche has a good young coach and STM is a high-profile team that everyone wants to give their best game.
Anthony Budmayr
Anthony
Budmayr
6'1" | PG
Belle Fourche | 2023
State
SD
and
Anthony Staley
Anthony
Staley
6'5" | PF
Belle Fourche | 2023
State
SD
are the top Broncs to look out for.
Jet Jensen
Jet
Jensen
5'9" | SG
Belle Fourche | 2025
State
SD
is a skilled youngster to keep eyes on. It will certainly be a tall task for the Broncs to upset the Cavs. However, with the style of game that the Cavs play, I could see the Broncs keeping this one close and giving them a game.
Clark-Willow Lake (2-1) @ #2 De Smet (2-1)
Cyclone Info: CWL is led by Jerome Nesheim who is a legend in South Dakota when it comes to coaching basketball. He will certainly have his team ready to go against the Bulldogs in this LCC game. What is one thing that CWL and Smet have in common? They have both lost to Sioux Valley this season. Enough about the Cossacks, their time will come! CWL opened the season with a loss at Sioux Valley, since then, the Cyclones have picked up two blowout victories. The top Cyclones to look out for are
Kaplan Felberg
Kaplan
Felberg
6'1" | CG
Clark/Willow Lake | 2023
State
SD
,
Trey Huber
Trey
Huber
5'11" | CG
Clark/Willow Lake | 2023
State
SD
, and
Brady Jordan
Brady
Jordan
6'1" | PG
Clark/Willow Lake | 2023
State
SD
. These 3 make up a dynamic backcourt. I really like
Brady Jordan
Brady
Jordan
6'1" | PG
Clark/Willow Lake | 2023
State
SD
, he is quick, skilled, smooth, and smart. Cyclones vs. Bulldogs is going to be a good one!
Bulldog info: See above for more De Smet info. The Cyclones always seem to play the Bulldogs tough. I am interested to see how CWL deals with
Damon Wilkinson
Damon
Wilkinson
6'10" | C
De Smet | 2023
State
SD
. Whatever they do, it is going to give the Bulldogs open looks, and or an advantage at some place on the court. I am predicting
Kadyn Fast
Kadyn
Fast
6'1" | PG
De Smet | 2024
SD
and
George Jensen
George
Jensen
6'5" | SF
De Smet | 2024
State
SD
to be X-factors in this game. If the weather does not postpone anything, De Smet will be playing back and back on Monday/Tuesday. It will be interesting to see how sharp they are with 3 games in 4 days.
