Field includes Hamlin, Sioux Valley & Groton Area in A; Castlewood, De Smet & Leola-Frederick in B
Six area high school boys basketball teams are looking to challenge for championships in state tournaments that run Thursday through Saturday at Rapid City and Aberdeen.
No. 2 seed Hamlin, No. 3 Sioux Valley and No. 7 Groton Area are set to compete in the Class A tourney that will be played in the Summit Arena at The Monument in Rapid City. No. 2 seed Castlewood, No. 3 De Smet and No. 7 Leola-Frederick Area are playing in the Class B tourney in the Barnett Center at Aberdeen.
State A (Hamlin vs. Groton Area)
The two Northeast Conference rival opened the season on Dec. 8 on Groton and will meet again at 7 p.m. Central time on Thursday at Rapid City.
Hamlin finished third in its first state tournament in 30 years last March and returned pretty much everybody. They've lost two close games to unbeaten and No. 1 seed Sioux Falls Christian and another close game a Cordova team ranked highly in Tennessee.
Guard Tyson Stevenson (15.2) is the lone heavily-used senior for Hamlin, which fields a lineup that includes 5-11 junior Easton Neuendorf (15.9 ppg and 169 assists), 6-3 junior Evan Stormo (10.9 ppg), 6-2 sophomore Jackson Wadsworth (10.4 ppg) and 6-6 junior Zac Van Meeteren (5.6 rpg).
"The level of parity and competition in the State A tournament is unlike any other tournament," Hamlin coach Todd Neuendorf said.
A chance to avenge two losses to Sioux Falls Christian in Saturday's championship is the center of attention for the Chargers.
"That's not even on our radar. There's too many good teams to even be thinking about it," Neuendorf said. "Our main focus is Groton Area because they're playing really well right now. They can shoot the ball and they can defend."
And it's certainly been quite a well since the two teams met in the previous matchup, which offers hope for coach Brian Dolan's Tigers to try to settle the score.
Lane Tietz, a 5-11 senior, avearaged 21.2 points per game for a Groton Area team that also features 5-11 senior Jacob Zak (13.7 ppg) and 6-3 sophomore Ryder Johnson (10.5 ppg).
The Tigers, returning to state for the second time in three years, also lost games to fellow state-tournament teams Pine Ridge, Dakota Valley and Vermillion.
Sioux Valley
Coach Bill Vincent's Cossacks are back to challenge for a first state title that has proven to be elusive for the Cossacks, who have had their fair share of success through the years. Sioux Valley finished seoncd in both the 2021 and 2022 state tourneys.
Sioux Valley lost back-to-back games to three-time defending State B champion De Smet and Hamlin in early February, but has since won seven consecutive games.
"We're coming in playing the underdog role a bit with people remembering all the good players who have gone out the door for us in recent years," Vincent said. "These guys just stepped up as the year went along and got us back to the state tournament."
Alec Squires, a 6-10 senior who is headed to South Dakota State University, leads the Cossacks with 20 points and 11 rebounds per game. Other leaders include 6-3 senior Maxwell Engebretson (15 ppg, 5 apg), 6-2 junior Maverick Nelson (12 ppg, 4 apg), 6-4 senior Hudsyn Ruesink (8 ppg, 6 rpg) and 5-10 senior Jace Christensen (7 ppg, 4 apg).
Castlewood vs. Leola-Frederick Area
Two area teams are also meeting in a first-round matchup in the State B tournament, Castlewood is 20-3 and was ranked No. in the final regular-season poll knows it can't overlook a Leola-Frederick Area team that is 22-1.
Castlewood's leaders include 6-9 junior Bryon Laue (15.5 ppg, 10.2 rpg), 6-0 senior Lane Tvedt (15.8 ppg), 6-0 junior Jamison Keszler (10.7 ppg) and 6-4 junior Luke Baumberger (8.1 ppg).
Leola-Frederick Area counters with a lineup that features 6-3 junior Noah Kippley (17.7 ppg) and 5-11 senior Brayden Sumption (13.2 ppg).
"They rely on a lot of pressure and we haven't send that from end line to end line," Castlewood coach Paul Raasch said. "It's something we're going to have to be ready to adjust to."
Castlewood suffered first-round losses to Lower Brule in each of the past two state tournaments and is taking nothing for granted despite it's No. 1 ranking and a 48-40 regular-season win over three-time defending champion De Smet, a potential semifinal foe.
"We're just approaching it like we have every game this season. We want to try to go 1-0 each game," Raasch said. "That's our focus, we're not looking at anything else. It's a wide open tournament. I know everybody says that every year, but this is a very balanced field."
De Smet
The team that has the most experience of playing in the right side of the bracket at state is De Smet and head coach Jeff Gruenhagen has the Bullodgs back in the mix for a Class B record fourth consecutive state title.
After dropping games to Hamlin and Castlewood as part of a three-game stretch in January, the Bulldogs will take the floor at Aberdeen with an 11-game winning streak.
"Our defense has really come together," Gruenhagen, whose team is allowing only 40 points per game, said.
Senior guards Tom Aughenbaugh (10.9 ppg) and Kadyn Fast (10.3 ppg), 6-6 senior George Jensen (12.1 ppg, 6.5 rpg) and 6-4 senior Trace Van Regenmorter (6.1 ppg, 8 rpg) are returning leaders for a squad that has replaced standout center Damon Wilkinson with his younger brother, 6-8 sophomore Grant Wilkinson (10 ppg, 6.9 rpg).
"I think we have as good as chance as anybody," Gruenhagen said. "The guys have done a great job of coming together and jelling as the seasons has gone on."
State AA Boys Preview: McClemans: "Now the question is, what are you going to do when you get there, right?"
Class A Overview
First-Round Pairings — No. 1 seed Sioux Falls Christian (23-0) vs. No. 8 Vermillion (16-7), 1 p.m. Central; No. 4 Pine Ridge (21-1) vs. No. 5 Dakota Valley (20-3), 2:45 p.m.; No. 2 Hamlin (20-2) vs. No. 7 Groton Area (19-4), 7 p.m. and No. 3 Sioux Valley (21-3) vs. No. 6 Rapid City Christian (20-3), 8:45 p.m.
Christian beat Vermillion 81-50, Hamlin handled Groton Area 58-36 and Sioux Valley slipped past Rapid City Christian 71-65 during the regualr season. Pine Ridge and Dakota Valley are meeting for the first time this season.
Tourney Notes — Sioux Falls Christian was rated No. 1 in the final South Dakota Prep Media poll, followed by Hamlin, Pine Ridge, Sioux Valley and Dakota Valley. Groton Area also received votes.
Sioux Falls Christian is playing at state for the ninth-straight year and two-time defending champion Dakota Valley and Sioux Valley each for the fifth-straight year. Hamlin is also back frrom last year and Rapid City Christian is playing at state for the first time since 2003, Pine Ridge since 2019, Vermillion since 2021 and Groton Area since 2022.
The top-seed Chargers beat Vermillion 81-50, Hamlin handled Groton Area 58-36 and Sioux Valley slipped past Rapid City Christian 71-65 during the regular season. Pine Ridge and Dakota Valley are meeting for the first time this season.
"Sioux Falls Christian and Hamlin have been getting all the credit and they should with the seasons they have had," Vincent said. "It's kind of their tournament to lose in a sense. They're the clear-cut favorites and all of the rest of us are going to see what type of tournament we can put together."
"I know that's what people are talking about it but I think everyone is this tournament is good," Neuendorf said. "to be honest with you, I don't think anyone has a good matchup."
Other Players to Watch — 5-10 junior Benson Kieffer (15.9 ppg), 6-5 junior Julius Frog (15.6 ppg, 5.6 rpg), 5-11 junior Simon Kieffer (15.3 ppg) and 6-2 senior Wilson Kieffer (6.4 rpg) of Rapid City Christian; 6-10 junior Griffen Goodbary (20 ppg, 7 rpg), 6-0 junior Cole Snyder (11 ppg), 6-3 freshman Brant Wassenaar (10 ppg) and 6-2 junior Britton Mulder (10 ppg) of Sioux Falls Christian.
6-3 sophomore Trey Hansen (17.8 ppg, 6.9 rpg), 6-1 freshman Bryson Skogsberg (13.2 ppg), 6-3 junior Carter Hansen (12.8 ppg, 7.3 rpg) and 6-1 senior Zoan Robinson (10.6 ppg) over Vermillion; 6-2 sophomore Marvin Richard III (23.3 ppg), 6-7 senior Kanye Hollow horn (11.4 ppg, 7.5 rpg) and 6-2 senior Jaylin Rouillard (11.7 ppg) of Pine Ridge; and 6-7 senior Jaxson Wingert (26.6 ppg, 8.2 rpg) and 6-2 junior Luke Bruns (18.9 ppg) of Dakota Valley.
Class B Overview
First-Round Pairings — No. 1 seed White River (21-2) vs. No. 8 Viborg-Hurley (18-5) at noon; No. 4 Wessington Springs (22-1) vs. No. 5 Howard (20-3) at 1:45 p.m.; No. 2 De Smet (20-3) vs. No. 7 Gregory (19-4) at 6 p.m.; and No. 3 Castlewood (20-3) vs. No. 6 Leola-Frederick Area (22-1) at 7:45 p.m.
Howard defeated Wessington Springs 38-33 early in the season and those teams meet in the only rematch of the first round.
Tourney Notes — De Smet joined Webster (1946-48) as the only two schools to win three-straight State B titles last March and the Bulldogs have a chance to snap the tie. White River was fourth, Castlewood seventh and Viborg-Hurley eighth in last year's state tournanment.
Castlewood was rated No. 1, White River No. 2, De Smet No. 3, Wessington Springs No. 4 and Howard No. 5 in the final South Dakota Prep Media poll with Leola-Frederick Area and Viborg-Hurley also receiving votes.
More: Merriam: Success of De Smet's boys basketball program hard to match
White River is making its 19th-straight appearance in the state. De Smet is next at six and Castlewood follows with three. It is Wessington Springs' first appearance since 1994, Howard since 1995, Leola-Frederick Area since 2005, Gregory since 2015 and Viborg-Hurley since 2021.
"De Smet is still pretty darn good and they're the three-time defending champions," Raasch said. "Until somebody knocks them off, I'd say they're the favorite."
Other Players to Watch — 6-1 senior Nicolas Marshall (26.2 ppg)and 6-6 senior Jordan Uhlir (13.9 ppg, 5.8 rpg) of White River; 6-6 junior Nick Hansen (22 ppg, 9.5 rpg) and 6-0 sophomore Brady Schroedermeier (12.1 ppg, 6.1 rpg) of Viborg-Hurley; and 6-0 sophomore Parker Graff (17.1 ppg) and 6-3 junior Ryder Michalek (14.7 ppg, 8.0 rpg) of Wessington Springs.
6-4 junior Luke Koepsell (16 ppg, 7.3 rpg) and 6-8 senior Kolt Koepsell (14. 7 ppg, 9.8 rpg) of Howard; and 6-7 senior Daniel Mitchell (14.9 ppg, 7.6 rpg), 6-1 junior Noah Bearshield (14 ppg) and 6-1 junior Cruz Klundt (12.1 ppg, 6.2 rpg) of Gregory.
Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on X (formerly known as Twitter) @PO_Sports or email: rmerriam@thepublicopinion.com
This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Preview of state Class A and B boys basketball touranments
