First Look: The Class A State Tournament (SD)
#1 Madison vs #8 Dakota Valley. The Bulldogs defeated Dakota Valley 64-55 in late February and controlled the game from the start earning a quick double figure lead. Mason Leighton led Madison with 20 points while Aaron Feigen had 13. Madison dominated the glass and forced Dakota Valley into 21 turnovers. Robert Rosenquist has been on a big run late in the year and his 20 point game here helped kickstart things. The Bulldogs are 18-4 and the event favorite . Dakota Valley finished the year under .500 but beating Vermillion and Sioux Valley in back to back games means that they have taken #1 seeds down before and can do it again.
Prospect Watch. Six-foot-6 junior Aaron Fiegen has taken big steps forward this weekend. He’s a versatile big and at times he’s been the team’s go to producer. College coaches will be watching Aaron close to see how he handles playing on the big stage.
#4 Sioux Falls Christian vs #5 Mt. Vernon/Plankinton. SF Christian will be the best team that MVP has played all year (arguably). They certainly have some of he top prospects they’ve played all year. The Chargers have played the tougher schedule, but will that matter? MVP has won 11 games in a row including a nice win over Dell Rapids. The Titans did have a terrible time with Chamberlain who beat them by 25. MVP is a really small team but Devin Rihanek is a double-double talent. Between he and Cody Muilenburg that will give something that Koln Oppold and Dejay Fykstra will have to work against.
Prospect Watch. Six-foot Koln Oppold is a wing with face-up game at the arc. Oppold can hit with feet set or use his long and strong frame to attack with a dribble and make plays. He’s been a top option for the Chargers many nights.
#2 Chamberlain vs #7 Tri-Valley. Tri-Valley has won 15 of 16 games and is the hottest team in the state coming into the state tournament. Regardless of what the seed says Tri-Valley is the likely favorite team coming in and the Seth Friesz versus Jayden Burggraff match-up could be one of the most physical in the state. The Cubs have the size to throw at Will Steineke but Tri-Valley may have the guard edge by a small margin.
Prospect Watch. The Mustangs have one of the state’s toughest players and best defenders in Jayden Burggraff who is also a leader for the team. College programs need workers and Jayden is that, people will be watching to see how his skills have grown.
#3 St. Thomas More vs #6 Tea Area. The Cavs have prepped for state with their schedule that has included Washington, Roncalli, Madison, Sioux Valley, Red Cloud, Dell Rapids, and others. St. Thomas More has beaten Roncalli, Sioux Valley, and Red Cloud but they lost five games this year and it was against the best competition they faced. Tea is the hotter team coming in having won eight of their last nine games but they had three double figure losses against the best teams they played. So both of these teams have the talent to make a run but they’ve been as consistent as tey wanted. Ethan and Noah Freidel, Jake Satter, Isaac Kortemeyer, Tayton Maher, and Preston Arity are all players people know. Which group steps up?
Prospect Watch. Noah Freidel, a 6-foot-4 shooting guard, is one of the state’s best prospects right now. Noah already has scholarship options at the D2 level but can he be a D1 guy? His progress will be watched closely.