SoDak Qualifiers To Watch in A
In this article:
We made it through the first round of Regional play. Next up, the SoDak 16 Qualifiers! Those will go down on Friday, March 1st. In this article, we are taking a look at 1 game from each Region. That leaves…
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Continue ReadingWe made it through the first round of Regional play. Next up, the SoDak 16 Qualifiers! Those will go down on Friday, March 1st.
In this article, we are taking a look at 1 game from each Region. That leaves us with 8 games to check out. PHD will give you 2 reasons to watch the game and ask 2 questions about the matchup/teams/players.
Will any of these teams make the State Tournament?
SoDak Qualifiers in Class A
Region 1
#2 Milbank (16-5) vs. #3 Tiospa Zina (14-7)
WHY?
-These two played on Feb 23 and TZ won 57-55, expect another competitive game
-It will be interesting to see the pace of the game & if either team adjusts much from the last matchup
QUESTIONS
Carvin Fish Carvin Fish 6'8" | PF Tiospa Zina | 2024 State SD vs. Yohana Ajwanga Yohana Ajwanga 6'5" | PF Milbank | 2024 State SD , who wins the matchup of the BIGs?
Can Jaxson Wildung Jaxson Wildung 6'2" | SG Milbank | 2024 State SD & Garrett Mertens Garrett Mertens 6'3" | SG Milbank | 2024 State SD carry the Bulldogs to a win?
Region 2
#2 Sioux Valley (19-2) vs. #3 Flandreau (14-7)
WHY?
– Luke Sheppard Luke Sheppard 6'4" | SF Flandreau | 2026 State SD is having a nice season, Paul Parsley Paul Parsley 6'3" | SG Flandreau | 2025 State SD is another high-quality player
– Alec Squires Alec Squires 6'10" | C Sioux Valley | 2024 State #280 Nation SD is the best post defender in SD & a thunderous dunker, Max Engebretson Max Engebretson 6'3" | SG Sioux Valley | 2024 State SD is also a dude, he will have a good shot at being named All-State
QUESTIONS
The last time they played, SV won 44-35, will this one be low-scoring again?
The Cossacks played their best basketball in the 2nd half against Deuel, can they carry that over to this game?
Region 3
#2 Dell Rapids (16-5) vs. #3 Baltic (14-7)
WHY?
-These two played back on December 11th and Dells won 58-49, it should be another close game
– Jack Henry Jack Henry 6'3" | SG Dell Rapids | 2024 SD vs. Jack Erickson Jack Erickson 6'5" | SF Baltic | 2024 State SD will be a phenomenal matchup to watch
QUESTIONS
Will Kellen Artz Kellen Artz 6'9" | PF Baltic | 2026 State SD be able to slow down Rhett Kloth Rhett Kloth 6'9" | C Dell Rapids | 2024 State SD ?
Can Mark Ditter Mark Ditter 6'1" | PG Baltic | 2024 State SD & Ben Erickson Ben Erickson 6'1" | CG Baltic | 2026 State SD shoot the Bulldogs to an upset?
Region 4
#2 Lennox (14-7) vs. #3 Vermillion (14-7)
WHY?
-Battle of the birds! The Tanagers pulled the upset last year
– Porter Ihnen Porter Ihnen 6'5" | CG Lennox | 2024 State #318 Nation SD , any time he is on the court it is must-watch basketball
QUESTIONS
Tate Gerdes Tate Gerdes 6'3" | SF Lennox | 2026 State SD & Braxton Musser Braxton Musser 6'6" | SF Lennox | 2024 State SD are players to watch, how do they perform on the big stage?
If VHS wants the upset they will have to get hot from 3, will Bryson Skogsberg Bryson Skogsberg 6'3" | SG Vermillion | 2027 State SD & Trey Hansen Trey Hansen 6'3" | SG Vermillion | 2026 State SD light the nets on fire?
Region 5
#1 Parkston (14-7) vs. #5 Sanborn Central-Woonsocket (10-11)
WHY?
-They played on February 6th and Parkston won 75-64, expect a tightly contested game
– Cody Slykhuis Cody Slykhuis 6'7" | SF Sanborn Central-Woonsocket | 2024 State SD is a marvelous athlete and he will make impressive plays
QUESTIONS
Will Cody Slykhuis Cody Slykhuis 6'7" | SF Sanborn Central-Woonsocket | 2024 State SD take over and upset the #1 seed?
Brycen Bruening Brycen Bruening 6'0" | SG Parkston | 2027 State SD starts as a frosh, will he come up big under the bright lights of the playoffs?
Region 6
#2 Cheyenne-Eagle Butte (13-7) vs. #3 Stanley County (14-7)
WHY?
-Stanley County beat Cheyenne-Eagle Butte on Jan 27 by 10, so the Buffaloes will be full of confidence
-Both teams can really score the ball, this should be a high scoring & entertaining game
QUESTIONS
Easton Lawrence Easton Lawrence 6'5" | PF Cheyenne-Eagle Butte | 2025 State SD , Damien Clown Damien Clown 5'11" | CG Cheyenne-Eagle Butte | 2026 State SD , and Dayson Kennedy Dayson Kennedy 6'0" | SG Cheyenne-Eagle Butte | 2026 State SD are all averaging double-digits, who will have the splashy game?
Kaden Montana Kaden Montana 6'1" | CG Stanley County | 2025 State SD & Eddie Duffy Eddie Duffy 5'11" | SG Stanley County | 2027 State SD are two underclassmen to watch, they will have an impact, is it enough to get the Buffalo W?
Region 7
#1 Pine Ridge (19-1) vs. #4 Red Cloud (10-11)
WHY?
-Rivalry game! These two schools are about 5 minutes apart, they know each other well, it should be a great crowd
-It will be a fast-paced, intense, and high-octane contest
QUESTIONS
Marvin Richard Marvin Richard 6'0" | CG Pine Ridge | 2026 State SD averages 23.8 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 4.7 apg, 2.3 apg, will be dominate like usual?
Braylon Little Braylon Little 6'1" | CG Mahpiya Luta(Red Cloud) | 2026 State SD , Nick Zuniga Nick Zuniga 5'11" | CG Red Cloud | 2024 State SD & Monty Montileaux Monty Montileaux 6'2" | SF Red Cloud | 2024 State SD are averaging 10+ ppg, will any of them explode & pull the upset?
Region 8
#1 Hot Springs (17-3) vs. Custer (14-7)
WHY?
-They have played twice this season, Hot Spring won 50-48 & 55-40, it is tough to beat a team 3 times
– Aidyn Janis Aidyn Janis 6'4" | PF Hot Springs | 2025 State SD vs. Kyle Virtue Kyle Virtue 6'5" | PF Custer | 2025 State SD will be an excellent matchup to watch
QUESTIONS
Who has a clutch game for the Wildcats, Kincade Lehman Kincade Lehman 6'0" | SG Custer | 2025 State SD , Rhett Lowe Rhett Lowe 5'11" | CG Custer | 2025 State SD , or Kyle Virtue Kyle Virtue 6'5" | PF Custer | 2025 State SD ?
Josh Kleinsasser Josh Kleinsasser 6'2" | SG Hot Springs | 2024 State SD , Camron Maciejewski Camron Maciejewski 6'2" | SG Hot Springs | 2024 SD & Matt Close Matt Close 6'1" | CG Hot Springs | 2024 State SD are all dudes, will they stay hot and get the victory?