SD AA Rundown
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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…
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Continue ReadingSouth 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
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. Markus Talley Markus Talley 6'2" | PG Mitchell | 2025 State SD 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. Braylon Bear Braylon Bear 6'2" | SG Sioux Falls Jefferson | 2024 SD came up clutch when JHS really needed it.
It is hard to bet against the Kernels and Ryker Kreutzfeldt. I think the firepower of Markus Talley Markus Talley 6'2" | PG Mitchell | 2025 State SD , Gavin Soukup Gavin Soukup 6'3" | SG Mitchell | 2024 State SD , and Colton Smith Colton Smith 6'5" | PF Mitchell | 2026 State SD will be too much for JHS in this matchup. Add in role players like Landen Soulek Landen Soulek 5'11" | CG Mitchell | 2025 State SD , Parker Mandel Parker Mandel 6'3" | SF Mitchell | 2025 State SD , and Gavin Hinker Gavin Hinker 6'4" | PF Mitchell | 2025 State SD , 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! Tommy Hoffman Tommy Hoffman 6'3" | SG Sioux Falls Washington | 2025 State SD led all scorers with 25 points followed closely by Jhace Woods Jhace Woods 6'3" | SF Sioux Falls Washington | 2026 State SD 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 Jhace Woods Jhace Woods 6'3" | SF Sioux Falls Washington | 2026 State SD and Tommy Hoffman Tommy Hoffman 6'3" | SG Sioux Falls Washington | 2025 State SD will prevail. The Riders will not be able to keep Woods out of the paint and Hoffman will come up clutch. PHD is thinking Lucas Johnson Lucas Johnson 6'6" | SF Sioux Falls Washington | 2025 State SD , Samuel Baskin Samuel Baskin 6'1" | PG Sioux Falls Washington | 2025 SD , and Brennan VerHey Brennan VerHey 6'1" | SG Sioux Falls Washington | 2025 State SD step up as role players. I could also see Lubab Kambalo Lubab Kambalo 5'7" | PG Sioux Falls Washington | 2024 State SD hitting a few key 3-pointers. It sounds like Jackson Brouwer Jackson Brouwer 6'3" | SF Sioux Falls Roosevelt | 2024 State SD will be back for RHS, it will be interesting to see how he fits in. It is hard to bet against Naser Ismail Naser Ismail 5'8" | PG Sioux Falls Roosevelt | 2024 State SD & Hayden Goff Hayden Goff 6'0" | CG Sioux Falls Roosevelt | 2024 State SD . 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 Jacoby Mehrman Jacoby Mehrman 6'4" | PG Harrisburg | 2024 State SD and company. Do not forget that Braeden VanBockern Braeden VanBockern 6'3" | SG Harrisburg | 2024 State SD can go off for 20-30 points at a moment’s notice, and BIG man Camden Phipps Camden Phipps 6'6" | PF Harrisburg | 2024 State SD will help patrol the paint. Expect Caden Beauchamp Caden Beauchamp 6'4" | PF Watertown | 2024 State SD , Kohen Kranz Kohen Kranz 6'0" | CG Watertown | 2024 State SD , Marcus Rabine Marcus Rabine 6'1" | SF Watertown | 2024 State SD , Jake Olson Jake Olson 6'2" | SF Watertown | 2024 State SD , and Dylon Rawdon Dylon Rawdon 6'0" | PG Watertown | 2024 State SD 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 Lukas Morgan Lukas Morgan 6'7" | SF Brandon Valley | 2024 State SD 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. Blake Ellwein Blake Ellwein 6'8" | SF Huron | 2026 State SD had another productive game with a Double-Double. CJ Gainey CJ Gainey 5'11" | SG Huron | 2024 SD and diaper dandy Anderson Porisch Anderson Porisch 6'4" | SF Huron | 2027 State SD 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. Josh Olthoff Josh Olthoff 6'9" | C Brandon Valley | 2024 State SD will be tough to handle down low for the Tigers. I think Landon Dulaney Landon Dulaney 6'1" | CG Brandon Valley | 2025 State SD , Aiden Zerr Aiden Zerr 6'2" | SF Brandon Valley | 2025 State SD , Brayden Miller Brayden Miller 5'10" | SG Brandon Valley | 2025 State SD , Hayden Anderson Hayden Anderson 6'6" | PF Brandon Valley | 2024 State SD , Briggs Knutson Briggs Knutson 5'8" | PG Brandon Valley | 2026 State SD , and Ryland Carroll will come out firing on all cylinders in the first round and pick up the W. You never know though, Blake Ellwein Blake Ellwein 6'8" | SF Huron | 2026 State SD could play the spoiler and go off of for 35.
Best of luck to everyone at State!