Class A State Tournament Preview
SF Christian (19-3) vs Aberdeen Roncalli (15-8) The Chargers lost to one South Dakota team all season, Dell Rapids (twice). They avenged that loss in the playoffs and now are the overwhelming favorite to win the Class A title. With…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingSF Christian (19-3) vs Aberdeen Roncalli (15-8)
The Chargers lost to one South Dakota team all season, Dell Rapids (twice). They avenged that loss in the playoffs and now are the overwhelming favorite to win the Class A title. With wins over Washington and O’Gorman this year already some believe they are not just playing for state, but playing for the rights to be called best team in state overall.
The Cavaliers lost 7 of their last dozen games of the season (started 7-1) before winning three playoff games in a week region 1. The positive going forward for Roncalli is that they avenged a loss to Sisseton from earlier in the year. The bad part is that teams that SF Christian beat (Washington, O’Gorman, and Dell Rapids) are teams that the Cavs have recently lost to by 24, 14, and 18 points respectively. Roncalli got by Sisseton by one point to get in this position.
Christian has a serious advantage in what they can put on the floor up front in Chad Barkema, Dejay Fkykstra, Josh Fligge, and Austin Schreur. The Cavs just don’t have the man power to match that in the frontline. And for every shot that Gus Reede can make, the Chargers can create one for Keegan Van Egdom. For every smart play that Braden Sommers makes in the backcourt Jackson Schipper can counter.
Prediction: SF Christian 71 Roncalli 53
Sioux Valley (18-4) vs Chamberlain (17-5)
Sioux Valley started the year winning 11 of 12 and have ended the year winning 8 of 9. There was a two game losing streak in the middle that helped them learn and the only team to come within four scores of them has been St. Thomas More and Madison (who beat them). The Coassacks are 8-3 against teams with winning records and the list of wins included Clark/Willow Lake, Dell Rapids, De Smet, and as we mentioned before St. Thomas More.
The Cubs are hitting their stride at the right time with an eight game winning streak entering the playoffs not to mention Chamberlain has a 3-0 record against Class A teams in the state tournament this year (beat Mt Vernon/Plankinton, Winner, and Roncalli). The wins over those state teams were quite impressive to as Chamberlain beat Winner by 13 and MtV/P by 14.
Another case of one team just being a mismatch up front compared to the other. This game isn’t quite as glaring size wise but Trevor Hanson, Zach Puetz, and Collin Kramer are 6-foot-6 forwards of different skills that blend well together. The Cubs will somewhat look like Cubs next to bears in the frontline as Chamberlain’s biggest player is 6-foot-3. That said Seth Friesz, Dodge Knippling, and Tiegen Priebe lead a young team (only two seniors on the roster) that has played well down the stretch.
Prediction: Sioux Valley 58 Chamberlain 51
St. Thomas More (18-4) vs Winner (18-5)
For a team that is a long ways away from most of the top teams in Class A the Cavs put together an outstanding schedule this year and have to be as prepared for the state tournament as anybody. Wins over Roncalli, Spearfish (twice), Red Cloud, and Vermillion, Clark/Willow Lake plus close losses to Sisseton, Sioux Valley, and Sioux Valley Christian have them ready for a three day run.
Winner had a bad end of January losing three of four and a couple of those losses simply shouldn’t happen to a team playing for a title (Todd County and Pine Ridge). But, the Warriors turned things around haven have won nine straight including region wins over Todd County, Red Cloud, and Little Wound which was a three game gauntlet most didn’t think they could get through.
Love the match-up of 6-foot-5 shooting wings Jake Satter of St. Thomas More and Devon Leifermann of Winner. Because Leifermann is more of a combo forward and Satter more of a straight wing you will see Isaac Kortemeyer on Leifermann although a zone may fit better as Winner doesn’t have much for frontcourt size. Can Kortemeyer get some fouls on Leifermann? If he does that is a huge advantage. The guard match-up will be fun with Preston Arity and PJ Freidel facing Lattrel Terkildsen, Drew DeMers, and Chase Kingsbury.
Prediction: St. Thomas More 63 Winner 52
Dakota Valley (18-4) vs Mt. Vernon/Plankinton (16-6)
Dakota Valley earned a one seed in the extremely difficult Region 4A which meant they skipped the first round game and then got Lennox in round two instead of some of the others. Dakota Valley beat Vermillion in the final 52-50 to get things back on track. Back on track? Yes. The Panthers were 12-0 and then lost 4 of 5 taking a lot of steam out of the start. However, wins over Lennox and Madison at the end of the year and then the play of victories gives them five in a row and ready for the playoffs.
The Titans are another team that had a tough stretch but they are closing well. After three straight losses in January they have won 11 of 13 and in that stretch then took out Winner Gregory, Spearfish, and Parkston twice. Many of the games have been close but the Titans are finding ways to win single digit games.
Mt. Vernon/Plankinton is Titans of their region but they are really small. That is something they can get away with at Regions but having only two players that are six feet or taller is a tough thing to do at state. Tate Deinert has played like a giant at times but the 6-foot-7 size of John Prochello, the bruising gutty play of Robert Rosenquist, and they all around production of guys like Tyler Johnson playing with 6-foot-4 forwards next to Prochello is a lot to ask.
Prediction: Dakota Valley 64 Mt. Vernon/Plankinton 57