The recent boys' high school basketball regional tournaments in South Dakota, covering both Class A and Class B, showcased a series of exhilarating contests that have now paved the way for the upcoming state championships. Throughout various regions, including 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 6A, and 6B, teams battled intensely in both quarterfinal and initial rounds. The results saw many higher-seeded teams securing their progression, marked by a mix of commanding displays and closely fought victories, all with the ultimate goal of advancing to the prestigious SoDak 16 state-qualifying games.
In Region 1A, three teams distinguished themselves with strong first-round performances. Webster Area, the second seed, triumphed over seventh-seeded Redfield with a score of 85-64, fueled by Jack Shoemaker's remarkable 29 points and 24 rebounds. Redfield's Grady Hulscher also had an impressive game with 29 points. Third-seeded Britton-Hecla secured a tight 59-54 win against sixth-seeded Aberdeen Roncalli, led by Jaxon Zuehlke's 21 points. Milbank, seeded fifth, overcame Sisseton in a dramatic 48-45 finish, with Sam Rick contributing 18 points. These victories set up compelling semifinal matchups between Milbank and top-seeded Groton Area, and Webster Area hosting Britton-Hecla.
Region 1B saw the top four seeds successfully advance, each defending their home court. Aberdeen Christian defeated Waverly-South Shore 58-47, while Warner edged out Northwestern 66-57 in overtime, thanks to a late field goal by Gage Knuppe that forced the extra period. Leola-Frederick Area (LFA) pulled away from Wilmot with a 60-48 victory, and Waubay-Summit bested Hitchcock-Tulare 51-36. These results established semifinal clashes with Aberdeen Christian facing Warner and LFA playing Waubay-Summit.
In Region 2A, the quarterfinal round on March 3 saw second-seeded Hamlin, third-seeded Sioux Valley, and fourth-seeded Elkton-Lake Benton (ELB) all claim home victories. Hamlin dominated Florence-Henry 73-33, with Aiden Abraham leading the charge with 24 points. Sioux Valley defeated Deuel 59-44, powered by Brady Hiltunen's 18 points and 9 rebounds. ELB secured a 67-29 win against Great Plains Lutheran. The semifinals will feature ELB visiting Clark-Willow Lake and Sioux Valley traveling to Hamlin for what promise to be intense matchups.
Region 2B's quarterfinal games on March 3 also saw the top four seeds—De Smet, Castlewood, Wessington Springs, and Deubrook Area—emerge victorious on their respective home courts. De Smet comfortably beat Iroquois-Lake Preston 84-52, with stellar performances from Grant Wilkinson and Carter Wilkinson, each scoring 24 points. Castlewood overcame James Valley Christian 70-51, while Deubrook Area narrowly defeated Estelline-Hendricks 55-51, and Wessington Springs bested Wolsey-Wessington 71-40. These results set up the semifinals in the Huron Arena, where De Smet will play Deubrook Area, and defending state champion Castlewood will face Wessington Springs.
The Class A and B regional tournaments have concluded, paving the way for the SoDak 16 state-qualifying games. The state championships are scheduled to take place from March 19-21, with Class A competing in Rapid City and Class B in Aberdeen. Fans can anticipate more thrilling basketball action as these top teams battle for the ultimate title.