SD AA Rundown

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The big dance is in Sioux Falls at the Denny Sanford Premier Center this year. The AA State Tournament is March 14th-16th.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Saturday/SoDak 16 Scores</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Harrisburg 79</strong> Sturgis Brown 41</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sioux Falls Washington 52</strong> Pierre 47</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sioux Falls Roosevelt 54</strong> Aberdeen Central 36</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sioux Falls Jefferson 63</strong> Rapid City Stevens 59 (overtime)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Brandon Valley 70</strong> Spearfish 48</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mitchell 60</strong> Yankton 46</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Huron 62</strong> O'Gorman 51</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Watertown 31</strong> Sioux Falls Lincoln 28</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1399487,"width":"371px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <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> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">State Tournament Matchups</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>#1 Mitchell (20-1) vs. #8 Sioux Falls Jefferson (12-9)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kernel PPG:</strong> 61 <strong>OPPG:</strong> 49 <strong>Cavalier PPG:</strong> 59 <strong>OPPG:</strong> 56</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Regular Season:</strong> Mitchell won 71-58</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It is hard to bet against the Kernels and <em>Ryker Kreutzfeldt</em>. 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. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>#4 Sioux Falls Roosevelt (15-6) vs. Sioux Falls Washington (14-7)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rough Rider PPG:</strong> 57 <strong>OPPG:</strong> 51 <strong>Warrior</strong> <strong>PPG: </strong>55 <strong>OPPG:</strong> 54</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Regular Season: </strong>They split, Roosevelt won the first meeting 71-49 &amp; Washington won the second 56-52</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the SoDak 16 game, the Riders took care of business against Aberdeen Central for an 18-point victory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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'] &amp; [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. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>#2 Harrisburg (18-3) vs. #7 Watertown (13-8)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tigers PPG:</strong> 64 <strong>OPPG:</strong> 47 <strong>Arrows PPG:</strong> 56 <strong>OPPG:</strong> 55</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Regular Season:</strong> Harrisburg won in a low-scoring affair 53-37</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Tigers ran the Scoopers out of the gym for a blowout 38-point win. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>#3 Brandon Valley (16-5) vs. #6 Huron (13-8)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lynx PPG:</strong> 61 <strong>OPPG:</strong> 49 <strong>Tigers PPG: </strong>55 <strong>OPPG:</strong> 54</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Regular Season:</strong> BV won big by a score of 64-43</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I like this Huron team with the young talent, senior leaders, and quality athletes, but I can't bet against coach <em>Craig Nelson</em>. 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 <strong>Ryland Carroll</strong> 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. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontStyle":"normal","fontWeight":"800"}},"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size" style="font-style:normal;font-weight:800">Best of luck to everyone at State!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1272514,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <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> <!-- /wp:image -->