Previewing the Pentagon HS Basketball Classic
If you want to see some top-ranked teams battle it out tonight stop by the Sanford Pentagon. The Pentagon Classic features a matchup between the top-ranked teams in Class A in SD and also features the top team in Class 2A in Iowa.
Sioux Falls Christian vs. Sioux Valley 6:30 p.m.
This is the first of a stretch of three great games to end the day. The top-ranked team in Class A plays the third-ranked team in Class A Sioux Valley. Both teams have passed pretty much every test that has been thrown at them this year, so this one should live up to the hype. SFC’s scoring is spread out between three or four different people, if you shut down Koln Oppold then Gavin Schipper will score or Lincoln Unruh will pick up the scoring. They usually have four players in double figures in scoring, combine that with stifling defense there is a reason why SFC is the only undefeated team in Class A. For Sioux Valley they have 6’7 senior Trevor Hanson, a top-three prospect in this years class, who has been improving every game so far. He scored his 1,000th point two days ago against Flandreau when he put up 26 in the win. Will Hanson be able to pull his team to the biggest win of the season so far? Will SFC stay undefeated?
Prediction: Sioux Falls Christian is too much to handle with all the scorers they have. SFC stays undefeated and No. 1.
Western Christian Hull, Iowa vs. Madison 8 p.m.
This is the second of the top three games as the top-ranked team in Class 2A in Iowa plays another top-ranked team in SD as they beat Tea Area earlier this season. Western Christian Hull is tall. Period. They have at least four players over 6’4. 6’6 junior Jacob Vis leads the Wolfpack with 18 points on 68% shooting and averages about 8 rebounds a game. Senior Caleb Harmsen averages 14 points on 48% shooting and junior Carter Broek rounds out the double-figure scoring with 10 points on 58% shooting. The Wolfpack shoot 53 percent as a team and haul in about 30 rebounds a game. Madison might be able to combat the Wolfpack’s height with their quickness and overall athleticism. The Bulldogs have a D1 commit in 6’6 senior Aaron Fiegen and the combination of the Janke twins, Jadon and Jaxon. Madison took down then top-ranked Tea Area and suffered their first loss to top-ranked Sioux Falls Christian. This will be a good game to watch. Will Western Christian’s height effect Madison? Or will Madison’s quickness be too much for Western Christian to handle?
Prediction: Western Christian Hull’s height is too much for the Bulldogs and remains undefeated against SD schools and overall.
Sioux Falls Washington vs. Sioux City East, Iowa 9:30 pm
Sioux Falls Washington won their national record 42nd state championship in football this last football season and saw several of their seniors commit to division 1 football programs like Seth Benson to Iowa and Zach Heins to South Dakota State. So, it’s safe to say they have some athletes on their team. They are a quick, fast and very athletic team to play. Heins led Washington with 17 points and five rebounds against then top-ranked Harrisburg a couple weeks ago. Sioux City East has some athletes of their own in 6’6 senior Van Rees and 6’2 junior Aidan Vanderloo. Rees averages 17 points 8 rebounds a game, he also shoots 57% from the field. He does a nice job at getting to the line as he has attempted 82 free throws, nailing 63 of them for 76% from the line. Junior Vanderloo averages 16.7 points per game, about 3 assists and 4 rebounds. As a team, they are shooting an impressive 52% from the field and 41% from beyond the arc. Will SFW’s athleticism be too much for Sioux City East? Or will Sioux City East continue their hot shooting and beat the Warriors?
Prediction: Sioux City East travels up I-29 and knocks off the hometown team in the final game of the Pentagon Classic.
Follow @PrepHoopsDakota tonight as we will have score updates throughout the games.