SD Games To Watch After New Years
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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…
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Continue ReadingIt 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.
We have a mix of B, A, and AA teams from SoDak to look at.
Games To Watch After New Years
January-2-2024
Groton @ Warner
Groton Tigers – 3-2 Record, lost to Hamlin & Pine Ridge
Top Player: Lane Tietz Lane Tietz 5'11" | CG Groton | 2024 State SD
Players To Watch: Jacob Zak Jacob Zak 5'11" | SG Groton Area | 2024 State SD , Ryder Johnson Ryder Johnson 6'3" | SG Groton Area | 2026 State SD
Warner Monarchs – 3-1 Record, lost to Webster Area
Top Player: Hunter Cramer Hunter Cramer 6'1" | PG Warner | 2024 State SD
Players To Watch: Brodey Sauerwein, Zachary Evans
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 Lane Tietz Lane Tietz 5'11" | CG Groton | 2024 State SD vs. Hunter Cramer Hunter Cramer 6'1" | PG Warner | 2024 State SD . 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.
West Central @ #1 Sioux Falls Christian
Went Central Trojans – 3-3 Record, lost to Dell Rapids, Vermillion, Groton
Top Player: Jake Kuhl Jake Kuhl 7'0" | C West Central | 2024 State SD
Players To Watch: Connor Mebius Connor Mebius 5'8" | PG West Central | 2027 State SD , Will Kuhl Will Kuhl 6'8" | PF West Central | 2026 State SD , Crew Heier Crew Heier 6'4" | SF West Central | 2024 SD
#1 Sioux Falls Christian Chargers – 4-0, UNDEFEATED
Top Player: Griffen Goodbary Griffen Goodbary 6'10" | PF Sioux Falls Christian | 2025 State SD
Players To Watch: Cole Snyder Cole Snyder 6'0" | CG Sioux Falls Christian | 2025 State SD , Cooper Goodbary Cooper Goodbary 6'3" | SG Sioux Falls Christian | 2026 State SD , Brant Wassenaar Brant Wassenaar 6'3" | SG Sioux Falls Christian | 2027 State SD
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. Jake Kuhl Jake Kuhl 7'0" | C West Central | 2024 State SD is committed to Northern State and Griffen Goodbary Griffen Goodbary 6'10" | PF Sioux Falls Christian | 2025 State SD has an offer from Augustana, these two a long and mobile. We will also have a fun PG matchup with Cole Snyder Cole Snyder 6'0" | CG Sioux Falls Christian | 2025 State SD and young Connor Mebius Connor Mebius 5'8" | PG West Central | 2027 State SD . 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 Britton Mulder Britton Mulder 6'2" | SG Sioux Falls Christian | 2025 State SD back from injury or will he rest until the Hamlin game? Who is the best freshman on the court, Connor Mebius Connor Mebius 5'8" | PG West Central | 2027 State SD or Brant Wassenaar Brant Wassenaar 6'3" | SG Sioux Falls Christian | 2027 State SD ?
Tea @ Vermillion
Tea Titans – 3-3 Record, lost to Dakota Valley, O’Gorman, Marshall (MN)
Top Player: Sam Almas Sam Almas 6'2" | SG Tea Area | 2024 State SD
Players To Watch: Jessen Wiebenga Jessen Wiebenga 6'3" | SF Tea Area | 2024 State SD , Boston Willemssen Boston Willemssen 6'6" | C Tea Area | 2024 State SD , Marshall Smythe Marshall Smythe 6'2" | PG Tea Area | 2025 State SD , Garrett Wiebenga Garrett Wiebenga 6'3" | SF Tea Area | 2024 State SD
Vermillion Tanagers – 4-1 Record, lost to Boys Town (NE)
Top Player: Zoan Robinson Zoan Robinson 6'3" | SG Vermillion | 2024 SD
Players To Watch: Carter Hansen Carter Hansen 6'3" | SG Vermillion | 2025 State SD , Trey Hansen Trey Hansen 6'3" | SG Vermillion | 2026 State SD , Bryson Skogsberg Bryson Skogsberg 6'3" | SG Vermillion | 2027 State SD
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 Sam Almas Sam Almas 6'2" | SG Tea Area | 2024 State SD and Zoan Robinson Zoan Robinson 6'3" | SG Vermillion | 2024 SD . 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. Bryson Skogsberg Bryson Skogsberg 6'3" | SG Vermillion | 2027 State SD 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.
#1 Harrisburg @ #2 Mitchell
Harrisburg Tigers – 4-1, lost to Cordova (TN)
Top Player: Jacoby Mehrman Jacoby Mehrman 6'4" | PG Harrisburg | 2024 State SD
Players To Watch: Braeden VanBockern Braeden VanBockern 6'3" | SG Harrisburg | 2024 State SD , Camden Phipps Camden Phipps 6'6" | PF Harrisburg | 2024 State SD , Braeden Feeldy Braeden Feeldy 5'10" | PG Harrisburg | 2025 State SD
Mitchell Kernels – 6-0, UNDEFEATED
Top Players: Colton Smith Colton Smith 6'5" | PF Mitchell | 2026 State SD
Players To Watch: Gavin Soukup Gavin Soukup 6'3" | SG Mitchell | 2024 State SD , Markus Talley, Gavin Hinker Gavin Hinker 6'4" | PF Mitchell | 2025 State SD
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. Scott Langerock and Ryker Kreutzfeldt 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 Gavin Hinker Gavin Hinker 6'4" | PF Mitchell | 2025 State SD 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 Jacoby Mehrman Jacoby Mehrman 6'4" | PG Harrisburg | 2024 State SD or Markus 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.
Best of luck to all the South Dakota teams in 2024!