Dak XII/NEC Conference Clash Recap
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The Dak XII/NEC Conference Clash took place at Madison High School in Madison, South Dakota on Saturday, January 27th. With there being two gyms with games ongoing, I wasn’t able to see all the action, so this is a quick…
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Continue ReadingThe Dak XII/NEC Conference Clash took place at Madison High School in Madison, South Dakota on Saturday, January 27th. With there being two gyms with games ongoing, I wasn’t able to see all the action, so this is a quick recap of what I did see. I will be going back and watching what I did miss. The Dakota Valley vs Groton Area and the Sioux Falls Christian vs Hamlin games aren’t included and will be featured and broken down into more detail in an upcoming article.
Tea Area 61 — Clark/Willow Lake 35
Tea Area brought heavy full-court pressure and CWL struggled with it.
Junior guard Marshall Smythe Marshall Smythe 6'2" | PG Tea Area | 2025 State SD impressed, handling the ball and the offense, finishing with 13 points.
Grifin Wiebenga Grifin Wiebenga 6'3" | SF Tea Area | 2027 State SD is a Freshman to know for Tea Area. He had 6 points and 7 rebounds and impacts the game in so many ways. Boston Willemssen Boston Willemssen 6'6" | C Tea Area | 2024 State SD of Tea Area impressed me as well. With his size at 6’6, willingness to battle, and leaping ability.
Tri-Valley 87 — Redfield 42
Did not see this game, but did like seeing stud Freshman for Tri-Valley, Brady Jewett Brady Jewett 5'11" | CG Tri-Valley | 2027 State SD , score 23 points.
Dell Rapids 56 — Milbank 48
SDSU football commit, Jack Henry, got to his spots again and scored 18 points. Had a few nice blocks and defensive plays.
Big Rhett Kloth Rhett Kloth 6'9" | C Dell Rapids | 2024 State SD scored 12 points, and turned things on after a slow start. Started to control the paint and dial in.
Dell Rapids was designing touches for Tad Tjaden Tad Tjaden 6'6" | SF Dell Rapids | 2025 State SD to get to his mid-range game. He scored 9.
Yohana Ajwanga
Yohana
Ajwanga
6'5" | PF
Milbank | 2024
State
SD
of Milbank scored 17 points.
Senior
Garrett Mertens
Garrett
Mertens
6'3" | SG
Milbank | 2024
State
SD
is a great athlete. Can move with speed and power. Jumps out of the gym. He had 9 points.
6’6 wing/forward
Joe Schulte
Joe
Schulte
6'4" | SF
Milbank | 2024
SD
jumped-out with his length and skill combo. 8 points for him.
5’11 guard Sam Rick Sam Rick 5'11" | PG Milbank | 2027 State SD is a Freshman to watch and in the next few years for Milbank.
Elk-Point Jefferson 62 — Sisseton 47
Was able to see some of the game. Ashton Fairbanks Ashton Fairbanks 6'2" | SF Elk Point-Jefferson | 2025 State SD scored 15 points and was MVP of the game.
Evan Fornia
Evan
Fornia
6'6" | PF
Elk Point-Jefferson | 2024
State
SD
looked big and strong. He had 12 points.
Kayden Moore
Kayden
Moore
5'11" | CG
Elk-Point Jefferson | 2024
State
SD
scored 11.
Senior guard, Carson Timmins Carson Timmins 5'10" | SG Elk Point-Jefferson | 2024 State SD looked good, scoring 9 points.
For Sisseton, Nate Tchida Nate Tchida 5'10" | SG Sisseton | 2024 State SD scored 13 points.
Sisseton’s Hayden Hellwig impressed me as a 6’2 Sophomore. Good overall athlete, jumper, and mover. One to know and watch.
Lennox 76 — Tiospa Zina 49
Lennox opened the game with a 30-point 1st quarter. Porter Ihnen Porter Ihnen 6'5" | CG Lennox | 2024 State #318 Nation SD is back, and he looked impressive, scoring 27 points. Tate Gerdes Tate Gerdes 6'3" | SF Lennox | 2026 State SD scored 15, and Braxton Musser Braxton Musser 6'6" | SF Lennox | 2024 State SD with 12. My main stock-riser from the game is 2026 wing, Teegan Musser Teegan Musser 6'4" | SF Lennox | 2026 State SD . He’s superbly long and mobile at 6’3. He had 15 points and is pictured below. He’ll be rising up in the rankings. It also looks like Freshman Drake Mikkelsen Drake Mikkelsen 6'4" | PF Lennox | 2027 State SD is getting more involved in terms of playing time. He’s an athletic 6’4 forward with a bright future.
Tiospa Zina was led by Carvin Fish Carvin Fish 6'8" | PF Tiospa Zina | 2024 State SD , who scored 28 points.
West Central 72 — Webster Area 38
West Central has a lot of prospects that can make plays. Freshman starting point guard, Connor Mebius Connor Mebius 5'8" | PG West Central | 2027 State SD led with 14 points.
Will Kuhl
Will
Kuhl
6'8" | PF
West Central | 2026
State
SD
scored 11 points. A long 6’8 2026 Forward.
6’2 Senior guard, Paden Schulte Paden Schulte 6'2" | CG West Central | 2024 State SD , is one of the most underrated guards in the state. He’s a playmaker and will be added to the rankings in the next update.
7-footer Jake Kuhl Jake Kuhl 7'0" | C West Central | 2024 State SD certainly had an impact on the game, controlling the boards. He was a vocal leader and brought good energy.
Junior guard Carter Tetzlaff Carter Tetzlaff 6'0" | SG West Central | 2025 State SD scored 8 points.
For Webster Area,
Jack Shoemaker
Jack
Shoemaker
6'3" | SF
Webster Area | 2026
State
SD
stood out with 11 points. He’s a physical and tough 6’3 Sophomore. Will be added to the rankings.
Vermillion 57 — Parkston 38
6’3 Sophomore Trey Hansen Trey Hansen 6'3" | SG Vermillion | 2026 State SD had a big game and scored 22 points with 8 rebounds. He’s a major stock-riser in the 2026 class. Has been handling the ball for them.
Carter Hansen Carter Hansen 6'3" | SG Vermillion | 2025 State SD scored 16 points with 6 rebounds.
Senior Luke Bormann Luke Bormann 5'10" | PG Parkston | 2024 State SD of Parkston scored 9 points. He will be added to the rankings in the next update. He’s the starting point guard and has the ball often.
Brycen Bruening Brycen Bruening 6'0" | SG Parkston | 2027 State SD is a prospect to watch for Parkston. The 6’0 Freshman guard is a starter. Has some length to him and a skilled game and handle. He had 6 points in the game.
Canton 81 — Deuel 79
I did not see this game. Matt Anderson Matt Anderson 6'6" | SF Canton | 2024 State SD of Canton scored 24 points with 10 rebounds.
Braxton Mulder Braxton Mulder 6'3" | PG Canton | 2024 State SD with 23 points and 5 assists. Dagim Mesfin Dagim Mesfin 6'3" | SG Canton | 2024 SD with 10 points.
Deuel’s Gabe Sather Gabe Sather 6'2" | SG Deuel | 2025 State SD with 30 points and Trey Maaland with 27 points.
Aberdeen Roncalli 62 — Madison 51
Only saw a little bit of this game. Aberdeen Roncalli comes away with a big win over Madison. Maddox Miller Maddox Miller 6'0" | CG Aberdeen Roncalli | 2024 State SD with 25 points with five threes. Keegan Stewart Keegan Stewart 6'3" | SF Aberdeen Roncalli | 2024 State SD Scored 20 points with five threes as well.
For Madison, Ben Brooks Ben Brooks 6'9" | SF Madison | 2025 State SD scored 16 points.
Chuck Callahan Chuck Callahan 6'2" | SF Madison | 2024 State SD scored 14 points with four three-pointers.
Stay tuned for breakdowns of the Groton vs Dakota Valley and Sioux Falls Christian vs Hamlin games.