The Dakota Valley Preview

Some of the top Class B talent is in the Dakota Valley Conference.  Today we preview the league in detail.   Conference Commentary Arlington - With an all league player returning in Ryker ErstadRykerErstad6'0" | PGArlington | 2022StateSD plus last year’s role playing juniors stepping into bigger roles as seniors, Arlington should still be good.  20-win good again?  We shall see.  Colman-Egan - The Hawks sere a senior dominated squad a season ago that went .500.  They are now a very young team that will need time to fill the roles and be as competitive as they need to be.  Dell Rapids St. Mary - The Cards lost some games last year that ate at them all off-season long.  With all of their top pieces back and another one transferring in, the Cards have big dreams this winter.  They are off to a good start crushing Mitchell Christian in game one.  De Smet - The Bulldogs were 22-2 in 20219-20 and they have biggest impact guys back for another run at the state title.  They’ve blown out Deubrook and Clark/Willow Lake already and will be looking to avenge last year’s two losses. This is the best team in Class B basketball entering the season.  Deubrook Area - The Dolphins won 7 games last season and bring back their best two players.  Another step forward is expected and this is a team without a senior on the roster.  Elkton-Lake Benton - The Elks have four starters back from a 16 win club and two of those players were all league talents including first team all Dakota Valley player Matthew NibbeMatthewNibbe6'4" | PFElkton-Lake Benton | 2021StateSD.   Estelline/Hendricks -  Won just six games last season.  Picked up a nice win to start the season but with few key guys to replace they will be right around the same spot.  Lake Preston - The Divers went 11-13 last year and have their best players back for their senior season.  Tough start losing to ORR by 20 in the opener but they should be better than last year.  Oldham-Ramona/Rutland - A full court pressuring squad that has two of their best players back from last season and they are off to a 2-0 start with a pair of 20 win area victories.    Dakota Valley Predictions De Smet Dell Rapids St. Mary Arlington Elkton-Lake Benton Oldham-Ramona/Rutland Lake Preston Deubrook Area Colman-Egan Estelline/Hendricks   Dakota Valley Preseason All Conference First Team Ryker ErstadRykerErstad6'0" | PGArlington | 2022StateSD of Arlington (Sr) Kalen GarryKalenGarry6'2" | SGDeSmet | 2022StateSD of DeSmet (Jr) Connor LibisConnorLibis5'9" | PGDell Rapids-St. Mary | 2021StateSD of Dell Rapids St. Mary (Sr) Matthew NibbeMatthewNibbe6'4" | PFElkton-Lake Benton | 2021StateSD of Elkton-Lake Benton (Sr) Rett OsthusRettOsthus6'0" | PGDeSmet | 2022StateSD of DeSmet (Jr)   Second Team Mason Bunker of Arlington (Sr) Jasper DenisonJasperDenison6'3" | SFLake Preston | 2021StateSD of Lake Preston (Sr) Max HerberMaxHerber6'4" | PFDell Rapids-St. Mary | 2021StateSD of Dell Rapids St. Mary (Sr) Tory HollandToryHolland6'2" | SFDeSmet | 2022StateSD of DeSmet (Jr) Sam Palmer of Dell Rapids St. Mary (Sr)   Third Team Nick BowneNickBowne6'2" | SFDeubrook | 2022StateSD of Deubrook (Jr) Marcus HarmingMarcusHarming6'0" | SGElkton-Lake Benton | 2021StateSD of Elkton-Lake Benton (Sr) Will MatsonWillMatson6'2" | SGOldham-Ramona/Rutland | 2022StateSD of Oldham-Ramona/Rutland (Jr) Ethan McCuneEthanMcCune6'1" | SGDe Smet | 2021StateSD of De Smet (Sr) Ashaun Roach-ValandraAshaunRoach-Valandra6'2" | PFTodd County | 2021StateSD of Dell Rapids St. Mary (Sr)   Fourth Team Orion Albertson of Oldham-Ramona/Rutland (Jr) Riley BenningRileyBenning6'0" | PGEstellline/Hendricks | 2021StateSD of Estelline/Hendricks Cody Cavanaugh of De Smet (Sr) Mason Gaumer of Elkton-Lake Benton (Sr) Austin Gullickson of Colman-Egan (Sr)   Fifth Team Aiden Erickson of Elkton-Lake Benton (Sr) Carter Malone of Lake Preston (Sr) Andrew Tooien of Deubrook Area (Jr) Isaac Trygstad of Oldham-Ramona/Rutland (Jr)