SD AA Rundown

South Dakota Class AA is down to 8 teams! That means the State Tournament is set. It is always sad to see a season end, but that happens in the playoffs.   The big dance is in Sioux Falls at the Denny Sanford Premier Center this year. The AA State Tournament is March 14th-16th.   That is a ton of time off, but it will be good for teams to rest up/heal, watch film, and game plan for that first-round game.   Saturday/SoDak 16 Scores   Harrisburg 79 Sturgis Brown 41   Sioux Falls Washington 52 Pierre 47   Sioux Falls Roosevelt 54 Aberdeen Central 36   Sioux Falls Jefferson 63 Rapid City Stevens 59 (overtime)   Brandon Valley 70 Spearfish 48   Mitchell 60 Yankton 46   Huron 62 O'Gorman 51   Watertown 31 Sioux Falls Lincoln 28   <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:371px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   PHD knows we have a while before the AA State Tournament. At the same time, this will give us something to think about as we prepare for this action-packed week of basketball coming up in ND and SD.   State Tournament Matchups   #1 Mitchell (20-1) vs. #8 Sioux Falls Jefferson (12-9)   Kernel PPG: 61 OPPG: 49 Cavalier PPG: 59 OPPG: 56   Regular Season: Mitchell won 71-58   In the SoDak 16 game, Mitchell dominated against Yankton. [player_tooltip player_id='1297809' first='Markus' last='Talley'] led the Kernels with 25 points in the large-margin victory.   It looked like RC Stevens was going to win the road game at Jefferson. However, the Cavs fought, clawed, and battled back for a HUGE OT win. [player_tooltip player_id='2338428' first='Braylon' last='Bear'] came up clutch when JHS really needed it.   It is hard to bet against the Kernels and Ryker Kreutzfeldt. I think the firepower of [player_tooltip player_id='1297809' first='Markus' last='Talley'], [player_tooltip player_id='1373691' first='Gavin' last='Soukup'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1466940' first='Colton' last='Smith'] will be too much for JHS in this matchup. Add in role players like [player_tooltip player_id='2344089' first='Landen' last='Soulek'], [player_tooltip player_id='2344092' first='Parker' last='Mandel'], and [player_tooltip player_id='2310403' first='Gavin' last='Hinker'], and PHD predicts the Kernels get the win. Mitchell is currently on a 14-game win streak and we think that will move to 15 after the first round of State.   #4 Sioux Falls Roosevelt (15-6) vs. Sioux Falls Washington (14-7)   Rough Rider PPG: 57 OPPG: 51 Warrior PPG: 55 OPPG: 54   Regular Season: They split, Roosevelt won the first meeting 71-49 & Washington won the second 56-52   In the SoDak 16 game, the Riders took care of business against Aberdeen Central for an 18-point victory.   Washington beat Pierre by 5 points. It was not the prettiest basketball game ever, but a win is a win in the playoffs! [player_tooltip player_id='1503882' first='Tommy' last='Hoffman'] led all scorers with 25 points followed closely by [player_tooltip player_id='1641566' first='Jhace' last='Woods'] with 23 points.   PHD is predicting the Warriors to win the rivalry game in this first-round matchup. These two know each other well, and the coaches will be prepared, but [player_tooltip player_id='1641566' first='Jhace' last='Woods'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1503882' first='Tommy' last='Hoffman'] will prevail. The Riders will not be able to keep Woods out of the paint and Hoffman will come up clutch. PHD is thinking [player_tooltip player_id='1958459' first='Lucas' last='Johnson'], [player_tooltip player_id='1625211' first='Samuel' last='Baskin'], and [player_tooltip player_id='2316168' first='Brennan' last='VerHey'] step up as role players. I could also see [player_tooltip player_id='2231625' first='Lubab' last='Kambalo'] hitting a few key 3-pointers. It sounds like [player_tooltip player_id='1266274' first='Jackson' last='Brouwer'] will be back for RHS, it will be interesting to see how he fits in. It is hard to bet against [player_tooltip player_id='1851364' first='Naser' last='Ismail'] & [player_tooltip player_id='1489682' first='Hayden' last='Goff']. However, PHD predicts that WHS will handle the Rider press, control the tempo, and win in a knockdown, drag-out, low-scoring battle. This should be the game of the day in the opening round.   #2 Harrisburg (18-3) vs. #7 Watertown (13-8)   Tigers PPG: 64 OPPG: 47 Arrows PPG: 56 OPPG: 55   Regular Season: Harrisburg won in a low-scoring affair 53-37   The Tigers ran the Scoopers out of the gym for a blowout 38-point win.   The Arrows won their game in a dogfight over the Pats from LHS. At first glance, I thought this one was a football score 31-28. You take the win any way that you can get it in the playoffs and now Watertown is heading to State!   Watertown has had a nice season and they picked up some quality wins over Huron (x2), SF Roosevelt, SF Washington, and Brandon Valley. However, the Tigers will be too much with [player_tooltip player_id='1270335' first='Jacoby' last='Mehrman'] and company. Do not forget that [player_tooltip player_id='1266265' first='Braeden' last='VanBockern'] can go off for 20-30 points at a moment's notice, and BIG man [player_tooltip player_id='1348899' first='Camden' last='Phipps'] will help patrol the paint. Expect [player_tooltip player_id='2091678' first='Caden' last='Beauchamp'], [player_tooltip player_id='1266267' first='Kohen' last='Kranz'], [player_tooltip player_id='2139471' first='Marcus' last='Rabine'], [player_tooltip player_id='2091798' first='Jake' last='Olson'], and [player_tooltip player_id='2091797' first='Dylon' last='Rawdon'] to put up a fierce fight.   #3 Brandon Valley (16-5) vs. #6 Huron (13-8)   Lynx PPG: 61 OPPG: 49 Tigers PPG: 55 OPPG: 54   Regular Season: BV won big by a score of 64-43   The Lynx won by 22 over the Spartans. It sounds like [player_tooltip player_id='1266218' first='Lukas' last='Morgan'] got in the game late and was able to slam a dunk! Good for Morgan to get on the court and throw it down one last time on his home court.   Huron beat OG in the SoGak 16 game by 11. [player_tooltip player_id='1467166' first='Blake' last='Ellwein'] had another productive game with a Double-Double. [player_tooltip player_id='2139433' first='CJ' last='Gainey'] and diaper dandy [player_tooltip player_id='2128932' first='Anderson' last='Porisch'] also scored in double digits in the win.   I like this Huron team with the young talent, senior leaders, and quality athletes, but I can't bet against coach Craig Nelson. His team is tough and disciplined. The Lynx are also flush athletes, size, and talent. [player_tooltip player_id='1401657' first='Josh' last='Olthoff'] will be tough to handle down low for the Tigers. I think [player_tooltip player_id='1761714' first='Landon' last='Dulaney'], [player_tooltip player_id='2328479' first='Aiden' last='Zerr'], [player_tooltip player_id='2338417' first='Brayden' last='Miller'], [player_tooltip player_id='1883992' first='Hayden' last='Anderson'], [player_tooltip player_id='1641563' first='Briggs' last='Knutson'], and Ryland Carroll will come out firing on all cylinders in the first round and pick up the W. You never know though, [player_tooltip player_id='1467166' first='Blake' last='Ellwein'] could play the spoiler and go off of for 35.   Best of luck to everyone at State!   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/08/PHD.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/08/PHD.jpg?w=400" alt="" class="wp-image-1272514" /></a></figure>

South Dakota Class AA is down to 8 teams! That means the State Tournament is set. It is always sad to see a season end, but that happens in the playoffs.