SD Games To Watch After New Years

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It is hard to believe it but 2024 is right around the corner! 2023 was a crazy year for many reasons, but now it is time to look a couple of days into the future and talk about intriguing games to watch. We are specifically looking at games in South Dakota on Tuesday, January 2nd.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We have a mix of B, A, and AA teams from SoDak to look at.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1399487,"width":"546px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/03/SD-1.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/03/SD-1.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-1399487" style="width:546px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"30px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:30px"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Games To Watch After New Years</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"30px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:30px"><strong>January-2-2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Groton @ Warner</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Groton Tigers</strong> - 3-2 Record, lost to Hamlin &amp; Pine Ridge</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Player:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1270361' first='Lane' last='Tietz'] </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players To Watch:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1371416' first='Jacob' last='Zak'], [player_tooltip player_id='1548634' first='Ryder' last='Johnson']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Warner Monarchs</strong> - 3-1 Record, lost to Webster Area</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Player:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1311797' first='Hunter' last='Cramer']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players To Watch:</strong> <strong>Brodey Sauerwein</strong>, <strong>Zachary Evans</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We have an A vs. B tilt and these towns are about 30 minutes away, so the two teams should know each other well. You always expect the B teams to play extra hard as it would be a nice feather in their cap to knock off an A team. The matchup to watch in this one is [player_tooltip player_id='1270361' first='Lane' last='Tietz'] vs. [player_tooltip player_id='1311797' first='Hunter' last='Cramer']. Both are talented PG's with sharp skills and they can score the rock from a variety of angles. This should be a fun one to watch. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>West Central @ #1 Sioux Falls Christian</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Went Central Trojans</strong> - 3-3 Record, lost to Dell Rapids, Vermillion, Groton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Player:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1415234' first='Jake' last='Kuhl']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players To Watch:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2076018' first='Connor' last='Mebius'], [player_tooltip player_id='1919285' first='William' last='Kuhl IV'], [player_tooltip player_id='1688734' first='Crew' last='Heier']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#1 Sioux Falls Christian Chargers</strong> - 4-0, UNDEFEATED</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Player:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1503883' first='Griffen' last='Goodbary']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players To Watch:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1390318' first='Cole' last='Snyder'], [player_tooltip player_id='1545638' first='Cooper' last='Goodbary'], [player_tooltip player_id='2128940' first='Brant' last='Wassenaar']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is a Region 3 game, so this one will mean a lot to both squads. We have a battle of premier BIGs from SD in this one. [player_tooltip player_id='1415234' first='Jake' last='Kuhl'] is committed to Northern State and [player_tooltip player_id='1503883' first='Griffen' last='Goodbary'] has an offer from Augustana, these two a long and mobile. We will also have a fun PG matchup with [player_tooltip player_id='1390318' first='Cole' last='Snyder'] and young [player_tooltip player_id='2076018' first='Connor' last='Mebius']. West Central has not lived up to the hype yet, it will be interesting to see how they look in the New Year. Questions...Is [player_tooltip player_id='1390319' first='Britton' last='Mulder'] back from injury or will he rest until the Hamlin game? Who is the best freshman on the court, [player_tooltip player_id='2076018' first='Connor' last='Mebius'] or [player_tooltip player_id='2128940' first='Brant' last='Wassenaar']?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Tea @ Vermillion</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tea Titans</strong> - 3-3 Record, lost to Dakota Valley, O'Gorman, Marshall (MN)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Player:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1278718' first='Sam' last='Almas']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players To Watch:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1270654' first='Jessen' last='Wiebenga'], [player_tooltip player_id='1657085' first='Boston' last='Willemssen'], [player_tooltip player_id='1548942' first='Marshall' last='Smythe'], [player_tooltip player_id='1270653' first='Garrett' last='Wiebenga']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Vermillion Tanagers</strong> - 4-1 Record, lost to Boys Town (NE)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Player:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1489687' first='Zoan' last='Robinson']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players To Watch:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1503880' first='Carter' last='Hansen'], [player_tooltip player_id='1929459' first='Trey' last='Hansen'], [player_tooltip player_id='1986901' first='Bryson' last='Skogsberg']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is an important Region 4 matchup, so both teams will be playing with high energy and effort. There will be a couple of high-octane athletes on the floor with [player_tooltip player_id='1278718' first='Sam' last='Almas'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1489687' first='Zoan' last='Robinson']. Almas is averaging nearly 20 ppg, can the Tanagers slow him down? Vermillion has a balanced attack and they have 4 or 5 guys that can shoot and put up solid points. [player_tooltip player_id='1986901' first='Bryson' last='Skogsberg'] is a youngster to keep eyes on, he can fill-it-up and his range runs way deep. The Titans have the deeper bench and more size. This should be an interesting game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>#1 Harrisburg @ #2 Mitchell</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Harrisburg Tigers</strong> - 4-1, lost to Cordova (TN)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Player:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1270335' first='Jacoby' last='Mehrman']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players To Watch:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1266265' first='Braeden' last='VanBockern'], [player_tooltip player_id='1348899' first='Camden' last='Phipps'], [player_tooltip player_id='1263156' first='Braeden' last='Feeldy']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mitchell Kernels</strong> - 6-0, UNDEFEATED</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Players:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1466940' first='Colton' last='Smith']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players To Watch:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1373691' first='Gavin' last='Soukup'], [player_tooltip player_id='1625209' first='Markus' last='Talley'], [player_tooltip player_id='2310403' first='Gavin' last='Hinker']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This one will be a battle for the bragging rights of being the top AA team in South Dakota. There will be no shortage of talent, athletes, and shooters on the floor. <em>Scott Langerock</em> and <em>Ryker Kreutzfeldt</em> are both top-notch coaches, the teams/players know each other well, and this should be an intense battle. We could easily see these two play each other at the end of the season for the State Championship. X-factor for the Kernels could be [player_tooltip player_id='2310403' first='Gavin' last='Hinker'] who is shooting a scalding 70 FG%, boarding up, and doing the dirty work for Mitchell. Questions...Who will be the best lefty on the court [player_tooltip player_id='1270335' first='Jacoby' last='Mehrman'] or [player_tooltip player_id='1625209' first='Markus' last='Talley']? Which team starts the New Year hot? Who has the better bench, who takes care of the ball, and who wins the rebounding battle? All signs are pointing to a blockbuster AA matchup at the Corn Palace on Tuesday night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontStyle":"italic","fontWeight":"800","fontSize":"25px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:25px;font-style:italic;font-weight:800">Best of luck to all the South Dakota teams in 2024!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2298937,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/12/GamestoWatch.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/12/GamestoWatch.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-2298937" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->