PHD Playoff Central: Tuesday (SD)
PHD Playoff Central. Four teams have earned their spot in the Class AA state tournament and four more can tomorrow night when the regional state qualifiers are played. The surprise team out early is 1 seed Huron who lost both district games.
We should start talking about this SF Christian versus Dell Rapids game now. This is state title game level tomorrow night in the Elmen Center and it will have everybody’s attention. Get your tickets early! It’s the feature event on Super Tuesday where teams will earn state tournament berths around South Dakota.
Ticket Punched.
AA. O’Gorman, Washington, Pierre TF Riggs, RC Stevens.
A. Sioux Valley
The Big Stage. Chamberlain and Cheyenne-Eagle Butte play at Pierre tonight for the Region 6A championship and a state tournament berth. It’s the lone game this evening and a match-up that the Cubs controlled 67-58 the last time they played in January. In that game Dodge Knipping went off four 30 points and 20 rebounds while Seth Friesz score 16. The Braves will need to slow down Kipping this time and need good performances from Grant Kohlus and Dayson Kohlus.
Upset City. Parkston over Tri Valley 63-54. Not an enormous upset as both were 12-9 going into the game but it was a three seed beating a two seed and it was the top upset seeding wise across the state last Friday. Jake DeLange led Parkston with 23 countering a double-double from Will Steineke.
Player To Watch. Seth Friesz. Last time Knipping was the star but Friesz is Mr. Consistency tonight he will likely lead his crew over the Braves as they hope to return to the state tournament with this win.
Hat Tip to the Career. Noah Huber. The Clark-Willow Lake big was one of our favorite players to watch during PHD’s young run of covering basketball in South Dakota. He was always energetic, his effort was always high level, and there will be few track standouts in college next year who have the post moves he does.
Also a hat tip to Madison shooter Tanner Denhoed who also had an excellent career fall just short of where he was hoping it would. Excellent shooter in South Dakota.