PHD Playoff Central: Monday (SD)
PHD Playoff Central. Technically the playoffs started on Saturday with Yankton’s 56-46 win over Harrisburg but tonight is when action gets going statewide. There are pigtail games in every Class B District while first round play starts tonight in half of the Class A regions.
The Class B winners will then get 24 hours rest and then play the heavier seeds on Tuesday which is the reward for the teams with the best records, tired opponents (fresh off a win though). Class A winners this evening will then play on Thursday against the higher seeds (that is Regions 1, 2, 7, and 8). The other regions play first round games tomorrow and second round games on Friday. Class AA teams play their semi-final rounds starting tomorrow night.
The Big Stage. The big stage is without a doubt Groton Area High School this evening. While all other gyms tonight are having one game events, Groton High will host the Region 1A region games with Aberdeen Roncalli playing Milbank, Groton hosting Webster Are, and then Britton-Hecla playing Tiospa Zina in the 4/5 match-up. The perfect place to see three playoff games in a great atmosphere.
Name to Watch. Devon Leiferman of Winner. Winner lost to Todd County in their only meeting of the season 75-70 and Devon actually had 31. That total still wasn’t enough so he may have to do something similar for them to move on this evening.
Upset City. Yankton beating Harrisburg wasn’t an upset but since it was the only game to talk about from the weekend playoff wise it is our focus. Bradey Sorenson scored 18 points making 7 of 12 shots plus grabbed seven boards.
What could tonight’s upset be? Tough to call a lot of these 4/5 games upsets so I will go with the 3.6 game of St. Francis Indian vs Pine Ridge as the Warriors only lost to Pine Ridge in a close game by two scores and finished their year up beating Red Cloud. Hot Springs can play with Custer too in the Region 8 3/6 game. They played to a recent 48-44 Hot Springs win recently.
Hat Tip to the Career. Conner Erickson has a nice career for Harrisburg even though the Tigers didn’t win many games when he was an upperclassmen. The 6-foot-3 guard has a chance to be on a college roster next fall.