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2024 SDHSAA State Boys Basketball, Thursday Recap

Aidan DeBoer
South Dakota Public Broadcasting
Aidan DeBoer

The 2024 SDHSAA state boys basketball tournaments began Thursday from Sioux Falls (AA), Rapid City (A), and Aberdeen (B). Here's a recap from the quarterfinal round, and schedule for Friday.

Quarterfinal Round

Class AA

No. 1 Mitchell 69 No. 8 Sioux Falls Jefferson 61

Top seeded Mitchell outlasted Sioux Falls Jefferson 69-61 in Thursday’s quarterfinal round. As a team, the Kernels shot 46%, compared to the Cavaliers who shot 48%. Free throws being the difference as Mitchell recorded 19-points from the charity stripe. Markus Talley led the Kernels in scoring with 22-points. Colton Smith also recorded 16-points for Mitchell, along with ten rebounds. Sioux Falls Jefferson was led in scoring by Damaris Fields, who scored 16-points in the contest.

No. 5 Sioux Falls Washington 52 No. 4 Sioux Falls Roosevelt 45

Despite a second half surge, Washington defeated Roosevelt 52-45 on Thursday in the quarterfinals. As a team, the Warriors shot 46% from the field. They were led by Thomas Hoffman, who finished with 17-points and four steals. Lucas Johnson also scored 14-points and grabbed nine rebounds for Washington. Hayden Goff put up 14-points for Roosevelt and Nasar Ismail scored 13-points.

No. 2 Harrisburg 71 No. 7 Watertown 56

Harrisburg is moving onto the semifinals after a 71-56 win over Watertown. The Tigers were led by Jacoby Mehrman, who finished with 27-points and three steals. Camden Phipps also contributed 20-points for Harrisburg. As a team, the Tigers shot 52% from the field. Dylon Rawdon led Watertown in scoring with 21-points.

No. 3 Brandon Valley 63 No. 6 Huron 48

On what would be an emotional night, Brandon Valley defeated Huron 63-48 in the quarterfinal round. Prior to the game, they held a moment of silence at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center to honor long-time Lynx boys basketball coach Brent Deckert, who passed away Wednesday after a battle with cancer. Landon Dulaney led Brandon Valley in scoring with 18-points. As a team, the Lynx shot 44% from the field. CJ Gainey led the scoring for Huron with 15-points in the contest.

Class A

No. 1 Sioux Falls Christian 74 No. 8 Vermillion 48

Sioux Falls Christian steamed past Vermillion 74-48 in impressive fashion in the quarterfinal round. The Chargers 50% from the field and were led by Griffen Goodbary, who finished with 20-points and four blocks. Brant Wassenaar also contributed 14-points and nine rebounds. Vermillion was led by Bryson Skogsberg, who put up 15-points in the game.

No. 5 Dakota Valley 62 No. 4 Pine Ridge 58

Dakota Valley survived a late game rally to defeat Pine Ridge 62-58 in the quarterfinals. The Panthers shot 42% from the field, but it was their rebounding and second chance points that was the difference down the stretch. Dakota Valley finished +12 in the rebounding differential. Luke Bruns and Jaxson Wingert both finished with 24-points for the Panthers. Pine Ridge was led by Marvin Richard III, who dropped 30-points in the contest.

No. 2 Hamlin 46 No. 7 Groton Area 45

Hamlin survived a last second attempt to defeat Groton Area 46-45 in the quarterfinals. This matchup was incredibly even. Groton Area shot 43% from the field, while Hamlin shot 42%. Both teams tied with 13 turnovers and tied in the rebounding category too. Easton Neuendorf scored 17-points for the Chargers, and he recorded five assists too. Tyson Stevenson also scored 10-points for Hamlin. Groton’s top scorer was Lane Tietz, who finished with 12. Ryder Johnson also scored 10-points for the Tigers in the loss.

No. 6 Rapid City Christian 75 No. 3 Sioux Valley 72

Rapid City Christian upset third seeded Sioux Valley 75-72 in thrilling double overtime fashion on Thursday night from Rapid City. The Cossacks shot 45% in the game, which was better than the Comets, who shot 35%, but Rapid City Christian scored more points off of turnovers and outrebounded. They also shot more efficiently from the charity stripe. Benson Kieffer scored 25-points and Simon Kieffer knocked down 23-points for the Comets. Max Engebretson was the leading scorer for Sioux Valley with 20-points.

Class B

No. 1 White River 72 No. 8 Viborg-Hurley 57

White River shot an impressive 55% from the field enroute to a 72-57 win over Viborg-Hurley on Thursday. Jordan Uhlir dropped 21-points for the Tigers. He also recorded four rebounds and a couple steals. Nicolas Marshall also scored 20-points for White River with seven assists. Nick Hanson led Viborg-Hurley in scoring with 17-points.

No. 5 Howard 53 No. 4 Wessington Springs 38

Howard is moving onto the semifinals after a 53-38 win over Wessington Springs. The Tigers shot 51% from the field, while the Spartans shot 31%. Kolt and Luke Koepsell combined for 37-points for Howard. Parker Graff was the leading scorer for Wessington Springs with 14-points.

No. 2 De Smet 41 No. 7 Gregory 38

De Smet topped Gregory in thrilling fashion 41-38 on Thursday night to advance to the semifinals. George Jensen knocked down a three off the glass with 1-second to play to give the Bulldogs a three-point win. Jensen scored 14-points in the game for De Smet. He also had six rebounds. Kadyn Fast also scored 14-points for the Bulldogs. Gregory’s top scorer was Cruz Klundt, who finished with 13-points in the game.

No. 3 Castlewood 72 No. 6 Leola/Frederick Area 67

Castlewood outlasted Frederick Area 72-67 on Thursday in Aberdeen to advance to the semifinals. The Warriors were led by Bryon Laue, who finished with 25-points, eleven rebounds, and four blocks. Jamiso Keszler also put up 20-points for Castlewood. Brayd Sumpton led Leola/Frederick with 23-points, six boards, and two steals.

Friday Schedule

Class AA
Consolation Semifinals
No. 4 Sioux Falls Roosevelt vs No. 8 Sioux Falls Jefferson – 12 pm CT
No. 6 Huron vs No. 7 Watertown – 1:45 pm CT
Semifinals
No. 1 Mitchell vs No. 5 Sioux Falls Washington – 6 pm CT
No. 2 Harrisburg vs No. 3 Brandon Valley – 7:45 pm CT

Class A
Consolation Semifinals
No. 4 Pine Ridge vs No. 8 Vermillion – 12 pm MT
No. 7 Groton Area vs No. 3 Sioux Valley – 1:45 pm MT
Semifinals
No. 1 Sioux Falls Christian vs No. 5 Dakota Valley – 6 pm MT
No. 2 Hamlin vs No. 6 Rapid City Christian – 7:45 pm MT

Class B
Consolation Semifinals
No. 4 Wessington Springs vs No. 8 Viborg-Hurley – 12 pm CT
No. 6 Leola/Frederick vs No.7 Gregory – 1:45 pm CT
Semifinals
No. 1 White River vs No. 5 Howard – 6 pm CT
No. 2 De Smet vs No. 3 Castlewood – 7:45 pm CT

Nate Wek is currently the sports content producer and sports and rec beat reporter for South Dakota Public Broadcasting. He is a graduate of South Dakota State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism Broadcasting and a minor in Leadership. From 2010-2013 Nate was the Director of Gameday Media for the Sioux Falls Storm (Indoor Football League) football team. He also spent 2012 and 2013 as the News and Sports Director of KSDJ Radio in Brookings, SD. Nate, his wife Sarah, and three sons, Braxan, Jordy, and Anders live in Canton, SD.