South Dakota Playoff Central: Super Tuesday!
Tonight is THE NIGHT. Twenty games. Twenty teams going to state, twenty more done for the season. Not to mention The Sweet 16 has everybody in state excited. Super Tuesday!
Tonight is so big the best way to run it down is ranking the games 1-20 in terms of excitement and interest plus a little conversation with it.
- Chester Area vs Bridgewater-Emery. B State Qualifier. The last time they played the Flyers crashed hard 88-69 as B-E won the game at the Mike Miller Classic. B-E is still the state’s lone undefeated squad but tonight they may fce their toughest game of the season. In the first contest the Huskies forced 25 Chester Area turnover scoring 41 points off those turnovers. They also made 11 triples. Sawyer Schultz had 25 points while Sam Arend had 11 points and six steals. Since then though Chester Area has been rolling with 11 straight wins against the toughest schedule a Class B team has faced. The game will be closer this time.
- Brandon Valley at Brookings. AA State Qualifier. Brookings won both of the previous meetings this year 50-42 and 58-42. Brookings had the edge on the glass both games with Brennan Carlson nearing double-doubles both times. Brandon Valley first off needs to get more than 42 points this time.
- Platte-Geddes vs Gregory. Quite amazing that one of these teams will make state. Platte-Geddes beat Corsica-Stickney giving them their third loss of the year while Gregory knocked off heavily favorite Colome. One of them will go to state and be Cinderella of Class B basketball. Who wants the slipper boys?
- Thomas More vs Aberdeen Roncalli. Sweet 16 at Pierre TF Riggs High. This will be their second meeting this year. The Cavs won the first game 66-58 on December 30th. Roncalli is 1-5 against Sweet 16 opponents this year (beat Clark/Willow Lake) while St. Thomas More is well prepared after putting together a tough schedule (15 of their 20 opponents were double figure win teams).
- Clark Willow Lake vs Tri Valley. Sweet 16 from the Swiftel Center in Brookings. Could be the sleeper pick for game of the night. A two loss Cyclones grip against the Mustangs who may be the hottest team in the state. Tri-Valley has won 14 of their last 15 games. Both teams have size and tough forwards.
- Sioux Valley vs Dakota Valley. Sweet 16 at the Pentagon. Dakota Valley beats Vermillion in the biggest upset of the round of 32 and what is their reward? A game with the number one seed and the number one ranked team in state. Go big or go home right?
- Little Wound vs Tea Area. Sweet 16 at the Winner Armory. This is one of those games where you look at the seed points and think “that doesn’t seem right” as Little Wound is a 5 seed and Tea Area is a 12 seed. Little Wound lost big to Dakota Valley and Vermillion, they will need a great game to beat Tea.
- Potter County vs Sully Buttes. The Chargers beat Potter County in a fun game last month. Sully Buttes knocked down 13 treys and it took them to a 64-58 win. Lincoln Jorde also had a great day scoring 24 points including a dominating second half. Jorde is one of the state’s up and comers after having a great junior year.
- Aberdeen Central at Sturgis Brown. The Scoopers grabbed everyone’s attention with a season opening 63-60 win over Central. That was three months ago though. The Scoopers have had a losing streak down the stretch although Central hasn’t won two games in a row since Christmas time themselves. Tough call.
- Irene Wakonda vs Parker. B State Qualifier. Irene-Wakonda forced 15 Parker turnovers in the game two months ago on their way to a 51-42 win. Levi Van Beek had 12 points and nine boards while Tate Gale scored 16 despite a tough shooting night.
- SF Christian vs Sisseton. Sweet 16 at the Swiftel Center in Brookings. The Redmen have solid wins over Roncalli and Red Cloud that make you think this could be competitive but the defending champs aren’t likely to bow out here. That said Sisseton has played everyone close except Tri-Valley a month ago.
- Madison vs Hot Springs. Sweet 16 at the Corn Palace. Madison was likely crossing their fingers hoping Dakota Valley would get the 16 and they did. Hot Springs played only one of the Sweet 16 teams all year and only scored 23 points against them (St. Thomas More).
- Pine Ridge vs Mt Vernon/Plankinton. Sweet 16 from the Winner Armory. MVP won the first battle a month ago 66-55. In he last game Devin Rihanek and Michael Janis went at each other with near double-double numbers. Rihanek had a game high 23 points while Janis grabbed 13 boards plus 18 points.
- SF Roosevelt at Harrisburg. AA State Qualifier. It still amazes me that a team that is 1-21 is a game away from the state tournament. I get why but it’s still mind boggling. Harrisburg has won 8 of their last 10 games and 11-12 I feel this is the perfect way for them to hit .500.
- Wolsey Wessington vs Castlewood. B State Qualifier. Castlewood has had some ugly games against the best teams in the state (Both A and B teams). Wolsey Wessington is one of those really good teams so it should be a big differential point wise.
- Harding County vs Lemmon. B State Qualifier. The Ranchers won a close and exciting 69-65 game the first time around and they should win again. This game should be closer to a ten point contest.
- RC Central at Huron. AA State Qualifier. Huron won the first game 64-55 as they had more depth. Hyland Heinz, Kobe Bush, and Tye Evers just brought too much depth.
- Langford Area vs Florence/Henry. B State Qualifier. The expectation is that Langford rolls and rolls big. This is a real step up for the Falcons.
- Chamberlain vs Crow Creek. Sweet 16 at Pierre TF Riggs High. Crow Creek has a 12-8 record and was completely crushed by the Cubs when they played hits year 68-44. Seth Friesz controlled the game with 29 points and eight rebounds.
- White River vs Wall. B State qualifier. White River beat Wall 90-54 not that long ago. Enough said.