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Mar. 18—RAPID CITY — Parity is not a word typically used to describe a state tournament field where the No. 1 team is undefeated, but this year's boys 'AA' state tournament is unique.
Yes, top-ranked and unbeaten Lincoln is the favorite. But it wouldn't be a major shock if someone sprung an upset. The Pats had some close calls during the season. They barely escaped with a win at Jefferson, a team that didn't even make the tournament.
And the rest of the field is a good one.
Huron has SDSU-bound stretch guard Blake Ellwein. Brandon Valley is the reigning champion. Roosevelt has been lurking in the shadows all season, while O'Gorman is playing for outgoing legendary coach Derek Robey.
Then there's Harrisburg, who people always seem to overlook.
The action tips off Thursday at Monument Ice Arena. Here's a team-by-team look at the field.
1. SF Lincoln
Record: 21-0
Coach: Luke Hanneman
Top players: Sam DeGroot, 21.0 points, 8.9 rebounds per game; Sam Ericsson, 13.1 points; Brody Schafer, 10.1 points, 6.5 assists
Last year: 3rd place
Opener: vs 9. Tea Area, Thursday, Noon
2. SF Roosevelt
Record: 17-4
Coach: Mitch Begeman
Top players: Bryson Skogsberg, 13.8 points, 5.4 rebounds per game; Deondre Painter, 11.9 points; Memphis Bylander, 10.9 points; Justin Bilal, 10.2 points
Last year: Missed state tournament
Opener: vs 7. Brandon Valley, Thursday, 6 p.m.
3. Huron
Record: 17-4
Coach: Tim Buddenhagen
Top players: Blake Ellwein, 21.8 points per game; Davis Chase, 13.6 points
Last year: 5th place
Opener: vs 6. SF O'Gorman, Thursday, 7:45 p.m.
4. Harrisburg
Record: 16-5
Coach: Scott Langerock
Top players: Stellen Larson, 14.3 points per game; Crayton Jibben, 12.7 points; David Doe, 9.5 points; Cole Kooker, 9.5 points
Last year: 4th place
Opener: vs Watertown, Thursday, 1:45 p.m.
5. Watertown
Record: 16-5
Coach: Pat McClemans
Top players: Carter Buisker, 17.5 points per game; Jackson McClemans, 14.4 points; Jack Mack, 11.7 points
Last year: Missed state tournament
Opener: vs Harrisburg, Thursday, 1:45 p.m.
6. SF O'Gorman
Record: 13-8
Coach: Derek Robey
Top players: Chace Hermanson, Mason Clark, Kamden Cisse
Last year: 8th place
Opener: vs. 3. Huron, Thursday, 7:45 p.m.
7. Brandon Valley
Record: 13-8
Coach: Craig Nelson
Top players: Ayuel Deng, 13.1 points per game; Lincoln McInerney, 11.4 points
Last year: State champions
Opener: vs 2. SF Roosevelt, Thursday, 6 p.m.
9. Tea Area
Record: 13-8
Coach: Drew Weber
Top players: Gavin Shawd, 21.2 points per game; Grifin Wiebenga, 16.9 points; Mitch Grant, 9.1 points, 6.3 rebounds per game
Last year: Missed state tournament
Opener: vs SF Lincoln, Thursday, Noon
Continue reading...
Yes, top-ranked and unbeaten Lincoln is the favorite. But it wouldn't be a major shock if someone sprung an upset. The Pats had some close calls during the season. They barely escaped with a win at Jefferson, a team that didn't even make the tournament.
And the rest of the field is a good one.
Huron has SDSU-bound stretch guard Blake Ellwein. Brandon Valley is the reigning champion. Roosevelt has been lurking in the shadows all season, while O'Gorman is playing for outgoing legendary coach Derek Robey.
Then there's Harrisburg, who people always seem to overlook.
The action tips off Thursday at Monument Ice Arena. Here's a team-by-team look at the field.
1. SF Lincoln
Record: 21-0
Coach: Luke Hanneman
Top players: Sam DeGroot, 21.0 points, 8.9 rebounds per game; Sam Ericsson, 13.1 points; Brody Schafer, 10.1 points, 6.5 assists
Last year: 3rd place
Opener: vs 9. Tea Area, Thursday, Noon
2. SF Roosevelt
Record: 17-4
Coach: Mitch Begeman
Top players: Bryson Skogsberg, 13.8 points, 5.4 rebounds per game; Deondre Painter, 11.9 points; Memphis Bylander, 10.9 points; Justin Bilal, 10.2 points
Last year: Missed state tournament
Opener: vs 7. Brandon Valley, Thursday, 6 p.m.
3. Huron
Record: 17-4
Coach: Tim Buddenhagen
Top players: Blake Ellwein, 21.8 points per game; Davis Chase, 13.6 points
Last year: 5th place
Opener: vs 6. SF O'Gorman, Thursday, 7:45 p.m.
4. Harrisburg
Record: 16-5
Coach: Scott Langerock
Top players: Stellen Larson, 14.3 points per game; Crayton Jibben, 12.7 points; David Doe, 9.5 points; Cole Kooker, 9.5 points
Last year: 4th place
Opener: vs Watertown, Thursday, 1:45 p.m.
5. Watertown
Record: 16-5
Coach: Pat McClemans
Top players: Carter Buisker, 17.5 points per game; Jackson McClemans, 14.4 points; Jack Mack, 11.7 points
Last year: Missed state tournament
Opener: vs Harrisburg, Thursday, 1:45 p.m.
6. SF O'Gorman
Record: 13-8
Coach: Derek Robey
Top players: Chace Hermanson, Mason Clark, Kamden Cisse
Last year: 8th place
Opener: vs. 3. Huron, Thursday, 7:45 p.m.
7. Brandon Valley
Record: 13-8
Coach: Craig Nelson
Top players: Ayuel Deng, 13.1 points per game; Lincoln McInerney, 11.4 points
Last year: State champions
Opener: vs 2. SF Roosevelt, Thursday, 6 p.m.
9. Tea Area
Record: 13-8
Coach: Drew Weber
Top players: Gavin Shawd, 21.2 points per game; Grifin Wiebenga, 16.9 points; Mitch Grant, 9.1 points, 6.3 rebounds per game
Last year: Missed state tournament
Opener: vs SF Lincoln, Thursday, Noon
Continue reading...
