Friday Night Match-Up/Predictions
It’s a winter Friday Night in South Dakota and that means high school basketball. What are the games to see? Who do we think will win? The top match-up? PHD breaks it down.
Tea Area at Madison. The state title game rematch is now here. Both teams are undefeated plus they are the top two ranked teams in Class A. Madison has played more games than Tea but hasn’t quite had the same schedule. The Bulldogs are the home team and they likely have the motivation edge considering they have revenge on their minds. Noah Freidel and Aaron Fiegen are the headliners but for me the game really comes down to how the Jankes, Jadon and Jaxon, do in comparison to Justin Hohn and Kade Stearns. Tea has 3-4 guys that stand about 6-4/6-5 that will compete against Aaron Fiegen inside (like Kaleb Joffer and Jake Friedrich). I would expect to see one of the Jankes to be on Noah often which should be a great battle. I’m going to say Madison wins by three using that homecourt and motivational edge.
Rapid City Central at Aberdeen Central. Facing their toughest test, can RC Central remain undefeated? Can Aberdeen Central recapture some of that preseason number one mojo and knock off a highly rated squad? The Nate Rook vs Dylan Hay match-up of 5’9 guards should be enjoyable. Can Elijah Williams contain Cole Bergan? Do the Golden Eagles have an answer for RC playmaker Kaillieb Walton-Blanden? Madison/Tea is the game of the night but there is a lot about this game that makes it almost as interesting. Feel like Bergan leads his team to the W.
Aberdeen Roncalli at Redfield/Doland. At 4-1 the Pheasants only have a two score loss to Groton on their resume as a blemish. Now they are looking to make a splash against Roncalli. Can Redfield/Doland pull it off? Six foot senior guard Dalton Howe is off to a fantastic start this season both scoring and creating for others. People want to talk about Gus Reede and rightfully so, if he goes off the game will be out of reach. But forgetting about Brady Morgan and senior Scipio Jeme has led other teams in the hole quickly this season. The Cavs win by 11.
Sioux Valley at Parker. Sioux Valley just obliterated MCM with the Trevors (Olson and Hanson) scoring 16 each and getting a seat for the evening early. Now in the BEC Tournament the Cossacks take on Parker for the second time this year. The first game was a 19 point Sioux Valley win (they are 7-1 this year) but Sioux Valley has been playing even better. Parker has won their other four games, three by double digits and Camden Bialas is coming off a 29 point performance. Bialas vs Trevor Olson will be a fun match-up to watch but unfortunately for Parker, Sioux Valley has too many others around Hanson.
Hamlin at Groton Area. This is a match-up of 5-1 teams with Groton on a five game winning streak. Seric Shabazz is the senior leader for Groton Area and he’s had some really good games to start the year while the sophomore backcourt of Jonny Doeden and Brodyn DeHoet are an exciting pair to keep an eye on for the future. John Roe is a key senior for Hamlin while their junior wings Mitchell Noem and Connor Bawdon have people in their community excited. Who wins? Home team.
Watertown at Yankton. A pair of 3-3 teams who will fight to keep from going under .500 this evening. Watertown an Yankton have both lost three of four games and desperately need to get back on the winning side of things. The Arrows are not as big as Yankton up front but Max Sonne and Sololmon Bach are looking for their chance to slow Matthew Mors who had 23 last night in the loss to undefeated Harrisburg. At the start of the year we thought Yankton would be the better team so we think they get the win at home.
SF Lincoln at Hopkins. Lincoln is undefeated this season and looking for their next challenge. They will surely get it tonight when they face Anthony Davis (top 20 talent in Minnesota), Blaise Beauchamp and Kerwin Walton (both top 20 sophomores in Minnesota), Wisconsin commit Joseph Hedstrom, and nationally ranked top 150 player Zeke Nnaji who has six high major offers. The Royals are ranked second in Minnesota’s big class of talent and have only lost one game. It’s been a nice season for Diang Gatlauk, Jared Janos, Christophe Bwanya, and company but Hopkins is a big and athletic team and Lincoln will be overmatched.
SF Washington at Champlin Park. A year ago Champlin Park was 31-1 and lost in the state final. Seven men from their nine man rotation have graduated so the Rebels are 4-3 to start the year. The Rebels still have D1 offered Josiah Strong, sharpshooter Bennett Otto, and good size up front to counter Zach Heins in the paint. Topher Zahn and Logan Uttecht will have key roles slowing the shooting touch of Strong and Otto. By the end of the weekend Washington will have played more games against Minnesota teams (4) than teams in South Dakota (3). Washington beat Marshall from Minnesota so they can beat the Rebels but they also lost to Prior Lake. The game will be close but Champlin Park will likely underestimate their opponents so Washington can win this game.