2018-19 Class AA Team Season Preview: Yankton Bucks
Over the next few weeks, PHD will recap the Class AA boys basketball state tournament qualifiers and preview their upcoming season. Yankton defeated Harrisburg 39-37 to claim the AA title.
RECAP:
The Yankton Bucks almost had an early upset of Minnesota powerhouse DeLaSalle losing 61-57 after a Matthew Mors shot barely missed. They had a nice string of wins at the end of January that included an upset of a top-five team in Harrisburg.
In the first ever Round of 16, 16 teams battled out for eight spots in the state tournament. Unlike the Class A Round of 16, the Class AA winners are not be reseeded for the state tournament. Yankton was seeded as the 11th seed and defeated No. 6 seed Aberdeen Central to advance to Sioux Falls.
As the lowest seed in the tournament, Yankton defeated No. 3 Sioux Falls Lincoln 59-57 and No. 2 seed Rapid City Central 60-52 to advance to play No. 4 seed Harrisburg in the championship.
In one of the lowest scoring championship games in recent years, Yankton pulled away with the 39-37 victory. Mors would finish with 18 points and nine boards.
With the victory, the Bucks had won their first title in 40 years. Mors averaged 28 points in the three games at the state tournament and was on the all-tournament team. The Bucks do lose four seniors, but most importantly have three more years with Mors.
THREE POINTS
1. If Matthew Mors wasn’t already a household name, he sure is now. For most freshmen, this would have been their first season playing varsity level ball. But for Mors, this is his third season playing Varsity. He has already been offered a scholarship by Divison I Creighton. He’s big, can handle the ball, can shoot the ball, rebound and defend.
6’7” Yankton freshmen Matthew Mors (@matthew_mors) received his 1st offer from Creighton (@BluejayMBB) last night after watching him play at O’Gorman!! #hardworkworks #welldeserved #BigEast #AttackFamily pic.twitter.com/UuqyeDHpWA
— South Dakota Attack (@sdattack) January 17, 2018
2. As good as Mors is there is a bit of question for next year as they lose three starters. Will he be able to lead them back to the state tournament?
3. There is also a drop in scoring if Mors ever gets into foul trouble the next highest returning scorer is junior Rex Ryken at six points a game.
MAN ON THE SPOT
Mors will look to follow up on his best season yet with another trip to the state tournament next season. All eyes will be on him more than ever after leading his underdog Yankton Bucks to a title in his freshman year.
RETURNERS
Matthew Mors | Sophomore
Rex Ryken | Senior
Owen Fasari | Senior
Cooper Cornemann | Junior
Miles Carda | Senior
THE BOTTOM LINE
Yankton will have a couple different holes to fill next season after graduating four seniors. The Bucks were the underdogs this past season but will come into next season with a target on their backs as the returning champions. But with one of the best players in Class AA and arguably the state the Bucks should be in a good place to defend their title. The main problem would be will Mors have help if he happens to get into foul trouble?