The Dakota Valley Preview

<p>Some of the top Class B talent is in the Dakota Valley Conference.  Today we preview the league in detail.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Conference Commentary</strong></p> <p>Arlington - With an all league player returning in [player_tooltip player_id="968167" first="Ryker" last="Erstad"] plus last year’s role playing juniors stepping into bigger roles as seniors, Arlington should still be good.  20-win good again?  We shall see. </p> <p>Colman-Egan - The Hawks sere a senior dominated squad a season ago that went .500.  They are now a very young team that will need time to fill the roles and be as competitive as they need to be. </p> <p>Dell Rapids St. Mary - The Cards lost some games last year that ate at them all off-season long.  With all of their top pieces back and another one transferring in, the Cards have big dreams this winter.  They are off to a good start crushing Mitchell Christian in game one. </p> <p>De Smet - The Bulldogs were 22-2 in 20219-20 and they have biggest impact guys back for another run at the state title.  They’ve blown out Deubrook and Clark/Willow Lake already and will be looking to avenge last year’s two losses. This is the best team in Class B basketball entering the season. </p> <p>Deubrook Area - The Dolphins won 7 games last season and bring back their best two players.  Another step forward is expected and this is a team without a senior on the roster. </p> <p>Elkton-Lake Benton - The Elks have four starters back from a 16 win club and two of those players were all league talents including first team all Dakota Valley player [player_tooltip player_id="975540" first="Matthew" last="Nibbe"].  </p> <p>Estelline/Hendricks -  Won just six games last season.  Picked up a nice win to start the season but with few key guys to replace they will be right around the same spot. </p> <p>Lake Preston - The Divers went 11-13 last year and have their best players back for their senior season.  Tough start losing to ORR by 20 in the opener but they should be better than last year. </p> <p>Oldham-Ramona/Rutland - A full court pressuring squad that has two of their best players back from last season and they are off to a 2-0 start with a pair of 20 win area victories. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Dakota Valley Predictions</strong></p> <ol> <li>De Smet</li> <li>Dell Rapids St. Mary</li> <li>Arlington</li> <li>Elkton-Lake Benton</li> <li>Oldham-Ramona/Rutland</li> <li>Lake Preston</li> <li>Deubrook Area</li> <li>Colman-Egan</li> <li>Estelline/Hendricks</li> </ol> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Dakota Valley Preseason All Conference</strong></p> <p><em>First Team</em></p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="968167" first="Ryker" last="Erstad"] of Arlington (Jr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="812196" first="Kalen" last="Garry"] of DeSmet (Jr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="757827" first="Connor" last="Libis"] of Dell Rapids St. Mary (Sr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="975540" first="Matthew" last="Nibbe"] of Elkton-Lake Benton (Sr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="812211" first="Rett" last="Osthus"] of DeSmet (Jr)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><em>Second Team</em></p> <p>Mason Bunker of Arlington (Sr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="975530" first="Jasper" last="Denison"] of Lake Preston (Sr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="975515" first="Max" last="Herber"] of Dell Rapids St. Mary (Sr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="968174" first="Tory" last="Holland"] of DeSmet (Jr)</p> <p>Sam Palmer of Dell Rapids St. Mary (Sr)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><em>Third Team</em></p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="968181" first="Nick" last="Bowne"] of Deubrook (Jr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="975579" first="Marcus" last="Harming"] of Elkton-Lake Benton (Sr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="968193" first="Will" last="Matson"] of Oldham-Ramona/Rutland (Jr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="975576" first="Ethan" last="McCune"] of De Smet (Sr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="975607" first="Ashaun" last="Roach-Valandra"] of Dell Rapids St. Mary (Sr)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><em>Fourth Team</em></p> <p>Orion Albertson of Oldham-Ramona/Rutland (Jr)</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="975600" first="Riley" last="Benning"] of Estelline/Hendricks</p> <p>Cody Cavanaugh of De Smet (Sr)</p> <p>Mason Gaumer of Elkton-Lake Benton (Sr)</p> <p>Austin Gullickson of Colman-Egan (Sr)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><em>Fifth Team</em></p> <p>Aiden Erickson of Elkton-Lake Benton (Sr)</p> <p>Carter Malone of Lake Preston (Sr)</p> <p>Andrew Tooien of Deubrook Area (Jr)</p> <p>Isaac Trygstad of Oldham-Ramona/Rutland (Jr)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>