Inside the Rankings: Class B Snapshot
The is the last piece to the series where PHD give you a rankings breakdown for the preseason as most teams get started Friday or Saturday. Today we examine the Class B field and the preseason top 10. Lots of…
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Continue ReadingThe is the last piece to the series where PHD give you a rankings breakdown for the preseason as most teams get started Friday or Saturday. Today we examine the Class B field and the preseason top 10. Lots of familiar faces in the top 5 however this is a year where a lot of improved teams will assert themselves. If that happens, there will be some names you need to know as well as some younger players ready to step into the spotlight.
Rankings:
After a 3rd place finish in 2018 and a championship in 2017, Bridgewater-Emery is the team that sits atop the preseason rankings. Led by all-stater Sawyer Schultz this groups should be strong with experienced players like Carter Dye and Jamin Arend. The nod at #2 goes to Clark/Willow Lake as they return Jacob Prouty and Micah Burke to a team that finished runner-up last year. White River will be improved once again as they return a great junior class, senior Jadice Morrison and add Crow Creek transfer Luke Wells. Timber Lake had the best run late last year and return the combo of Tucker Kraft and Brayden Pay Pay. Rounding out the top 5 is defending champion Sully Buttes. Although they’ve lost a lot, junior guard Nick Wittler will lead their attack.
The second half of the top ten include three more teams from Region 5; Canistota, Irene-Wakonda and Viborg-Hurley. Canistota has nice depth and some younger talented players. Same rings true for Viborg-Hurley who has lots of younger talent to accompany Brodee Sherman. Irene-Wakonda is led by do-it-all player and athlete Trey King. At #8, Warner is back and ready to try and take Region 1 behind Daylin Simon. Rounding out the top 10 is Lower Brule who return scoring guard Shane Sazue and 6’11” big man Nate Hyde.
Impact Players:
- Sawyer Schultz – Bridgewater-Emery, SR
- Jacob Prouty – Clark/Willow Lake, SR
- Trey King – Irene-Wakonda, SR
- Brandon Benike – Castlewood, SR
- Jamin Arend – Bridgewater-Emery, SR
- Jadice Morrison – White River, SR
- Nick Wittler – Sully Buttes, JR
- Trevin Holland – DeSemt, SR
- Carter Dye – Bridgewater-Emery, SR
- Brayden Pay Pay – Timber Lake, SR
- NIck Sayler – White River, JR
- Shane Sazue – Lower Brule, SR
- Connor Libis – Dell Rapids St. Marys, SO
- Tucker Kraft – Timber Lake, SR
- Brodee Sherman – Viborg-Hurley, SR
- Tyson Iyotee – White River, JR
- Kyler Meyer – Britton-Hecla, SR
- Jackson Kinzer – Colome, SR
- Braxton Schmidt, Freeman, SR
- Austin Olson – Jones County, SR
Up and Coming Players to Watch:
- Isaac Sumption – Leola/Frederick, SO
- Grant Mikkelsen – Viborg-Hurley, SO
- Matthew Nibbe – Elkton/Lake Benton, SO
- Tristan Nielsen – Castlewood, FR
- Rett Osthus – DeSemet – FR
- Joe Sayler – White River, 8TH
- Jackson Isakson – Aberdeen Christian, 8TH
Most Important to their team’s success:
- King – Irene-Wakonda
- Benike – Castlewood
- Prouty – C/WL
- Schultz – B-E
- Libis – DR St. Mary