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RAPID CITY — Watertown definitely put up a valiant effort in a bid to secure a first-round win in the state Class AA high school boys basketball tournament for the first time in 17 years.
In the end, however, it was fourth-seeded Harrisburg that escaped with a 65-61 win on Thursday, March 19, 2026, in the Ice Arena at The Momument.
The two Eastern South Dakota Conference foes battled to the wire in a game late in the regular season and the rematch was nearly identical.
"It was just two evenly-matched teams going at it," Watetown coach Pat McClemans said. "I thought both teams made plays and big plays at times."
One of the game's biggest plays came with 25.8 seconds when Harrisburg's Stellen Larson missed the second of two free throws and teammate David Doe grabbed the offensive rebound. Crayton Jibben then sank one of two free throws with 20.5 seconds to put the Tigers ahead 63-59.
Still, Watertown didn't go away. Jackson McClemans capped a big game by hitting two free throws with 11.4 seconds left. After Harrisburg avoided a five-second call on an in-bounds play with a timeout, the Tigers weren't able to avoid the call a second time.
That gave the Arrows one final chance, but Carter Buisker's 3-pointer bounced off the rim and Harrisburg's Larson added two free throws to put the victory on ice.
"What can you say about this group all year," Coach McClemans said. "They just kept battling. It's certainly disappointing because you'd like to get into the semifinals. We just didn't make enough plays."
The biggest difference in the tight battle between the two teams turned out to be rebounding. Harrisburg grabbed 15 offensive rebounds in the game and finished with a 38-28 advantage on the glass.
Jibben led a quartet of double-figure scorers for the Tigers (17-5) with 19 points. Larson added 16, Myles Nour 13 and Doe 10. Larson collected 12 rebounds.
Buisker tallied 23 points and McClemans 19 points and six rebounds for the Arrows (16-6), who also got eight points and six rebounds from Jack Mack.
"When you look at it from my perspective, the rebounding just killed us. They were just way more physical than we were," Coach McClemans said. "And in the first half, we just weren't very good offensively. We dribbled too much and didn't move the ball very well. In the second half, I thought we settled in."
Watertown, playing in the state tournament for only the third time since 2009, will look to bounce back in the consolation bracket.
Highlights from other first-round games include:
After escaping with a two-point win in the regular-season matchup, top-seeded Lincoln improved to 22-0 with a big second half. The Patriots outscored the ninth-seeded Titans (13-9) 41-18 in the final 16 minutes.
Sam DeGroot's 22 points and 15 rebounds sparked the Patriots. Brody Nour added 13 points and Brody Schafer and Sam Ericsson nine each. Schafer also had six assists.
Gavin Shawd (12 points, nine rebounds) and Mitch Grant and Lane Sieber (10 points apiece) led the way for Tea Area.
STATE B BOYS BASKETBALL: No. 1 seed Viborg-Hurley, No. 3 De Smet & No. 4 Aberdeen Christian drop openers
Second-seeded Roosevelt (18-4) advanced to the semifinals with the win over seventh-seeded Brandon Valley (13-9).
Memphis Bylander scored 14 points, Capital Schmaus 13 and Bryson Skogsberg 12 for the Rough Riders.
Ayuel Deng, Briggs Knutson and Lincoln McInerney each produced 10 points and Austin Dowd eight for the Lynx.
Third-seeded Huron (18-4) also put four players in double figures in its win over sixth-seeded O'Gorman (13-9).
Blake Ellwein recorded 16 points, Myles Ellwein 15, Davis Chase 13 and Anderson Porisch 11 for the Tigers, who pulled away with a 22-13 scoring spurt in the third quarter.
Mason Clark's 14 points and Jaxson Weeldreyer's 10 topped the Knights. Kamden Cisse pitched in with nine rebounds.
STATE A BOYS BASKETBALL: Top four seeds win openers in state A boys basketball tournament
Consolation semifinals open at noon Central with Watertown facing Tea Area. Brandon Valley and O'Gorman square off at 1:45 p.m.
Lincoln battles Harrisburg in the first semifinal at 6 p.m., followed by Roosevelt vs. Huron at 7:45 p.m.
The tourney wraps up with four games on Saturday, March 21.
Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on X (formerly known as Twitter) @PO_Sports or email: [email protected]
This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: First-round games in state Class AA boys basketball tournament
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In the end, however, it was fourth-seeded Harrisburg that escaped with a 65-61 win on Thursday, March 19, 2026, in the Ice Arena at The Momument.
The two Eastern South Dakota Conference foes battled to the wire in a game late in the regular season and the rematch was nearly identical.
"It was just two evenly-matched teams going at it," Watetown coach Pat McClemans said. "I thought both teams made plays and big plays at times."
One of the game's biggest plays came with 25.8 seconds when Harrisburg's Stellen Larson missed the second of two free throws and teammate David Doe grabbed the offensive rebound. Crayton Jibben then sank one of two free throws with 20.5 seconds to put the Tigers ahead 63-59.
Still, Watertown didn't go away. Jackson McClemans capped a big game by hitting two free throws with 11.4 seconds left. After Harrisburg avoided a five-second call on an in-bounds play with a timeout, the Tigers weren't able to avoid the call a second time.
That gave the Arrows one final chance, but Carter Buisker's 3-pointer bounced off the rim and Harrisburg's Larson added two free throws to put the victory on ice.
"What can you say about this group all year," Coach McClemans said. "They just kept battling. It's certainly disappointing because you'd like to get into the semifinals. We just didn't make enough plays."
The biggest difference in the tight battle between the two teams turned out to be rebounding. Harrisburg grabbed 15 offensive rebounds in the game and finished with a 38-28 advantage on the glass.
Jibben led a quartet of double-figure scorers for the Tigers (17-5) with 19 points. Larson added 16, Myles Nour 13 and Doe 10. Larson collected 12 rebounds.
Buisker tallied 23 points and McClemans 19 points and six rebounds for the Arrows (16-6), who also got eight points and six rebounds from Jack Mack.
"When you look at it from my perspective, the rebounding just killed us. They were just way more physical than we were," Coach McClemans said. "And in the first half, we just weren't very good offensively. We dribbled too much and didn't move the ball very well. In the second half, I thought we settled in."
Watertown, playing in the state tournament for only the third time since 2009, will look to bounce back in the consolation bracket.
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Highlights from other first-round games include:
Sioux Falls Lincoln 69, Tea Area 44
After escaping with a two-point win in the regular-season matchup, top-seeded Lincoln improved to 22-0 with a big second half. The Patriots outscored the ninth-seeded Titans (13-9) 41-18 in the final 16 minutes.
Sam DeGroot's 22 points and 15 rebounds sparked the Patriots. Brody Nour added 13 points and Brody Schafer and Sam Ericsson nine each. Schafer also had six assists.
Gavin Shawd (12 points, nine rebounds) and Mitch Grant and Lane Sieber (10 points apiece) led the way for Tea Area.
STATE B BOYS BASKETBALL: No. 1 seed Viborg-Hurley, No. 3 De Smet & No. 4 Aberdeen Christian drop openers
Sioux Falls Roosevelt 58, Brandon Valley 47
Second-seeded Roosevelt (18-4) advanced to the semifinals with the win over seventh-seeded Brandon Valley (13-9).
Memphis Bylander scored 14 points, Capital Schmaus 13 and Bryson Skogsberg 12 for the Rough Riders.
Ayuel Deng, Briggs Knutson and Lincoln McInerney each produced 10 points and Austin Dowd eight for the Lynx.
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Huron 60, O'Gorman 45
Third-seeded Huron (18-4) also put four players in double figures in its win over sixth-seeded O'Gorman (13-9).
Blake Ellwein recorded 16 points, Myles Ellwein 15, Davis Chase 13 and Anderson Porisch 11 for the Tigers, who pulled away with a 22-13 scoring spurt in the third quarter.
Mason Clark's 14 points and Jaxson Weeldreyer's 10 topped the Knights. Kamden Cisse pitched in with nine rebounds.
STATE A BOYS BASKETBALL: Top four seeds win openers in state A boys basketball tournament
Friday, March 20 Schedule
Consolation semifinals open at noon Central with Watertown facing Tea Area. Brandon Valley and O'Gorman square off at 1:45 p.m.
Lincoln battles Harrisburg in the first semifinal at 6 p.m., followed by Roosevelt vs. Huron at 7:45 p.m.
The tourney wraps up with four games on Saturday, March 21.
Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on X (formerly known as Twitter) @PO_Sports or email: [email protected]
This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: First-round games in state Class AA boys basketball tournament
Continue reading...
