Other highlights for area boys and girls basketball teams from the past week
As a writer, we're not supposed to use cliches like "To be the best, you have to beat the best."
Bear with me, this is the perfect time to bring that phrase up when talking about some of what happened in area high school boys and girls basketball Jan. 16-22.
To make a point, let's talk about the Castlewood and Hamlin boys basketball teams. Coach Paul Raasch's Castlewood squad is 11-1 but fell from the top spot in the state's Class B ratings when it lost to Viborg-Hurley (then No. 4, now No. 1) on Saturday in the Hanson Corn Palace Classic. The Warriors had an 18-point first-half lead slip away.
Lane Tvedt scored 18 points and big man Bryon Laue had 12 points and 12 rebounds in the loss for Castlewood. Brody Schroedermeier scored 21 and Nick Hanson 20, including the game-winning basket with 2.4 seconds left, for Viborg-Hurley. The Cougars are still coached by Revillo native Galen Schoenefeld.
The Warriors fell to No. 3 in the ratings on Monday and bounced back with a 48-40 win over No. 4 and three-time state B champion De Smet. Tvedt had 13 points, Laue 10 points and nine rebounds and Quincy Thu 11 and seven. Tom Aughenbaugh tallied 16 points and George Jensen eight points and nine rebounds for De Smet (9-3).
Upcoming games for Castlewood including a visit by No. 2 Class A Hamlin on Jan. 29 and a makeup game against a 14-1 Dawson-Boyd (Minn.) team on Feb. 2.
Now let's talk about another veteran leader in Hamlin's Todd Neuendorf. His Chargers ((9-2), through no fault of their own, actually fell in the ratings after losing 63-57 to Cordova (Tenn.) on Dec. 29 and then suffering a 54-52 loss to No. 1 Sioux Falls Christian in early January.
But after sweeping two No. 2-rated teams last week, No. 2 Class B De Smet 64-46 and No. 2 Class A Dakota Valley 84-62 in the Hanson Corn Palace Classic, Hamlin is back to No. 2 in Class A.
Easton Neuendorf had 20 points and 10 rebounds, Evan Stormo 12 and seven, Tyson Stevenson 17 points and Jackson Wadsworth 11 in the win over De Smet. Grant Wilkinson (12 points and 10 rebounds), Jensen (12 and six) and Kadyn Fast (10 points) led De Smet.
Neuendorf added 25 points, seven assists and four blocked shots in the win over two-time defending state A champion Dakota Valley. Stevenson added 19 points, Zac VanMeeteren 14 and Stormo 13 plus 10 rebounds. Jaxson Wingert tallied 33 points and 10 rebounds for Dakota Valley, which had a 62-game winning streak snapped. The all-time state record of 64 was set by Armour in 1978-80.
Next up for Hamlin is a rematch against Sioux Falls Christian on Saturday at Madison and the visit to Castlewood. Win or lose, it's the quality competition that could pay bid dividends later in the season for the two talented area teams.
Other Notable Games/Performances
Arlington's girls (9-2) fell out of the Class B rankings with a 51-41 loss to now No. 1 Ethan last week. Ava Lingemann scored 23 points for Ethan (12-1). Addie Steffensen had 16 points and Jaelyn Huntimer 11 for the Cardinals.
Clark-Willow Lake's Emmerson Larson played the hero in the Cyclones' 42-40 win over Great Plains Lutheran on Monday, Larson hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 3.9 seconds left and added a free throw later before a potential game-winning 3 at the buzzer was off for the mark for the Panthers. Sullivan Felberg added 10 points for CWL. Alex Heil had 15, Austin Rubendall 10 and Myles York eight for GPL.
Top individual efforts came from Lane Tvedt of Castlewood (38 points in win over Dell Rapids St. Mary), Jake Jorenby of Deuborok Area (36 points in win over Tri-Valley), Alec Squires of Sioux Valley (68 points and 27 rebounds in three wins) and Keegan Stewart of Aberdeen Roncalli (30 points in win over Northwestern).
Addie Neuendorf of Hamlin scored 31 points in a girls' win over Redfield.
Jan. 8-15: No. 1 Class B Castlewood and Leola-Frederick Area remain unbeaten in boys basketball
Other Boys Basketball
(From Reported Games, All Points Unless Otherwise Indicated)
Tuesday, Jan. 16 — Milbank 55 (Garrett Mertens 17, Joe Schulte 16), Waubay-Summit 35 (Traveion Neilan 15); Flandreau 60 (Paul Parsley 18 plus 15 rebounds), Deuel 42 (Trey Maaland 16); Sioux Valley 71 (Alec Squires 26 plus 6 rebounds, Hudsyn Ruesink 13 plus 7 rebounds, Maxwell Engebretson 13), Chester Area 42 (Jovi Wolf 19); Estelline-Hendricks 82 (Wyat James 14 plus 5 assists, Braxton Pravecek 14, Braxton Jongeling 14 plus 7 rebounds, Kyler Carlson 13 and Mattix Hausman 11 assists), Oldham-Ramona-Rutland 55 (Cooper Merager 19, Brayden Hanson 13).
Waverly-South Shore 45 (Zach Ries 10, Colton Kranz 10, Kyle Kneeland 9), Great Plains Lutheran 37 (Alex Heil 15 plus 5 rebounds plus 4 steals and Myles York 7); Canton 79 (Matt Anderson 19), Elkton-Lake Benton 63 (Tanner Drietz 21); Mount Vernon-Plankinton 62 (Zach Baker 17), Redfield 32; Deubrook 65 (Jake Jorenby 36, Gavin Landmark 14), Tri-Valley 58 (Trey Johnson 14); Castlewood 68 (Lane Tvedt 38, Bryon Laue 11 plus 16 rebounds, Jamison Keszler 11 assists), Dell Rapids St. Mary 46 (Maverick LeBrun 17, Trevan Beckman 15).
281 Conference Tourney: Semifinal games included Wessington Springs 58 (Parker Graff 29, Ryder Michalek 19), James Valley Christian 56 (Jerrod Wallman 17, Dax Frandsen 14, Isaac Korell 10); Sanborn Central-Woonsocket 43 (Payton Uecker 10, Trey Moody 10 plus 14 rebounds), Wolsey-Wessington 36 (Moshe Richmond 12, Tate French 12). Consolation semifinal games included Highmore-Harrold 65 (Carson Stephenson 20, Trake Cowan 18 plus 11 rebounds), Sunshine Bible Academy 34 (Dominic Kalacinski 16, Trey Thieman 10); Hitchcock-Tulare 58 (Erik Salmen 10, Patrick Maynard 16 plus 11 rebounds, Jackson Maynard 13 plus 12 rebounds), Iroquois-Lake Preston 37 (Lucas Peskey 12 plus 6 rebounds, Josh McMasters 9).
Aberdeen Christian 52 (Joey Johnson 19 plus 12 rebounds), Faulkton Area 37 (Spencer Melius 11, Layne Cotton 9 plus 7 rebounds) Sisseton 63, Flandreau Indian School 10; Ipswich 52 (Jace Konsor 20, Chet Peterson 10), North Central 26 (Cooper Oxner 9); Warner 79 (Brodey Sauerwein 18 plus 15 rebounds, Hunter Cramer 14, Zachary Evans 12, Drew Bakeberg 11), Northwestern 49 (Nathan Melius 23, Dawson Ward 18 plus 7 rebounds);
Thursday, Jan. 18 — Sioux Valley 75 (Alec Squires 22 plus 10 rebounds and 6 asssits; Maverick Nelson and Hudsyn Ruesink 12 each and Maxwell Engebretson and Jace Christensen 11 each), Deubrook Area 65 (Jake Jorenby 18, Gavin Landmark 12 plus 6 rebounds); Leola-Frederick Area 69 (Brayden Sumption 20, Noah Kippley 12), Northwestern 31 (Nathan Melius 13); Aberdeen Christian 56 (Joey Johnson 19), Waubay-Summit 28 (Traveion Neilan 10); Hamlin 83 (Tyson Stevenson 14, Easton Neuendorf 11, Jackson Wadsworth and Jameson Nebel 10 each), Redfield 19 (Tristen O'Daniel 10); Deuel 66, Tiospa Zina 55; Groton Area 61 (Lane Tietz 24, Ryder Johnson 9 plus 6 rebounds), Milbank 28 (Garrett Mertens 8).
281 Conference Tourney: Wessington Sprinjgs 61 (Parker Graff 24), Sanborn Central-Woonsocket 47 (Bryce Larson 9 plus 6 rebounds) in championship; Wolsey-Wessington 64 (Tate French 22 plus 12 rebounds), James Valley Christian 49 (Jerrod Wallman 13 plus 8 rebounds and Davis Chase 13-8) for third place; Highmore-Harrold 67 (Trace Cowan 22 plus 9 rebounds), Hitchcock-Tulare 53 (Patrick Maynard 19 plus 6 rebounds, Erik Salmen 15 plus 6 rebounds) for fifth place; and Iroquois-Lake Preston 66 (Josh McMasters 23, Lucas Peskey 17), Sunshine Bible Academy 61 (Trey Thieman 21) in OT for seventh place.
Prep Polls: Hamlin, Sioux Valley, De Smet and Castlewood boys' teams also ranked this week
Friday, Jan, 19 — Castlewood 82 (Larz Tvedt 14, Jyler Tharaldsen 12, Jamison Keszler 11, Brody Bass 10 plus 6 rebounds), Oldham-Ramoma-Rutland 36 (Caden Hojer 11); Waverly-South Shore 56 (Sam Appelhof 22, Brady Eschen 10, Monty Thompson 10), Wilmot 38 (Maddux Foss 7); Great Plains Lutheran 57 (Myles York 10, Austin Rubendall 9 plus 6 rebounds, Brody Scharlemann 8, Martin Krenz 8 rebounds), Sioux Falls Lutheran 28 (Rowen Becker 12); Faulkton Area 48 (Layne Cotton 14 plus 18 rebounds, Gian DiMaria 13, Spencer Melius and Trey Machtemes 11 each), Ipswich 41 (Jace Konsor 13, Trevor Heinz 12, Chet Peterson 10 plus 10 rebounds); Aberdeen Roncalli 67 (Keegan Stewart 30, Maddox Miller 16), Northwestern 53 (Nathan Melius 28, Lincoln Woodring 14).
Warner 57 (Brodey Sauerwein 20, Zach Evans 15), Britton-Hecla 36 (Dawson Treeby 11); Stanley County 71 (Broch Zeeb 29), Potter County 42 (Ryder Falkenhagen 20, Carter Luikens 8 plus 9 rebounds); Webster Area 71 (Ian Lesnar 23 plus 5 rebounds, Matthew Mount 12, Brent Bearman 10), Sisseton 44 (Austin Kohl 15, Nate Tchida 12, Gage Hanson 10, Mason Herzog 12 rebounds); Milbank 80 (Garrett Mertens 24 plus 8 rebounds, Joe Schulte 16, Yohana Ajwanga 11 plus 7 rebounds), Florence-Henry 36 (Carson Vavruska 10); Elkton-Lake Benton 66 (Tanner Drietz and Colt Beck 16 each, Elliot Erickson 12, Carson Griffith 11 plus 9 rebounds), Colman-Egan 65 (Jase Mousel 28 plus 9 rebounds, Jack Mousel 13 plus 10 rebounds);
Saturday, Jan. 20 — North Central 45 (Raynor Sprague and Dawson Walz 9 each), Langford Area 13 (Kalen Goedel 7 rebounds); Sioux Valley 71 (Alec Squires 26 plus 11 rebounds, Maxwell Engebretson 22), Rapid City Christian 65 (Simon Kieffer 25); De Smet 57 (Kadyn Fast 14 plus 5 steals, Britt Carlson 11 plus 7 rebounds, Grant Wilkinson 8 plus 10 rebounds, George Jensen 10), St. Thomas More 45 (Turner Thompsin 18); Gregory 55 (Daniel Mitchell 21 plus 11 rebounds), Ipswich 51 (Jace Konsor 27, Trevor Heinz 15 plus 13 rebounds); Hanson 66 (Jayce Slaba 32 plus 6 assits), Clark-Willow Lake 64 (Sullivan Felberg 24, Bo Begeman 14, Emmerson Larson 10 plus 7 rebounds); Waverly-South Shore 52 (Sam Appelhof 18, Colton Kranz 11, Zach Ries 10), Britton-Hecla 25; Leola-Frederick Area 61 (Noah Kippley 10, Gavin Nickelson 9); South Border, N.D. 47 (Kaden Bader 16).
Minneota, Minn. 60 (Max Rost 22), Deubrook Area 48 (Jake Jorenby and Colton Trooien 14 each); Lac qui Parle Valley, Minn. 66 (Kaden Molden 16, Matt Arndt 14), Lower Brule 52 (Brent Hood Jr. 20); Canby, Minn. 80 (Zach Ourada 16, Cayden Anderson 13), Oldham-Ramona-Rutland 48 (Caden Hojer 20); Mount Vernon-Plankinton 52 (Dylan Rihanek 17), Elkton-Lake Benton 47 (Tanner Drietz 24 plus 12 rebounds); Luverne, Minn. 66 (Carter Serr 20), Estelline-Hendricks 42 (Braxton Pravecek 12, Wyat James 9); Florence-Henry 60 (Carson Vavruska 21 plus 5 rebounds, 4 steals and 5 assists and Ty Bergh 10 rebounds), Alcester-Hudson 55 (Mateo Kleinhans 16, Dominic Van Egdom 14 rebounds); Herreid-Selby Area 56, Strasburg-Zeeland, N.D. 53.
Monday, Jan. 22 — Dell Rapids 64 (Jack Henry 20, Rhett Kloth 16 plus 9 rebounds), Milbank 45 (Yohani Ajwanga 12, Garrett Mertens 12, Joe Schulte 7 plus 8 rebounds); Groton Area 66 (Jacob Zak and Ryder Johnson 14 each, Keegan Tracy 11), Northwestern 27 (Nathan Melius 13); Estelline-Hendricks 65, Wilmot 34.
Other Girls Basketball
(From Reported Games, All Points Unless Otherwise Indicated)
Tuesday, Jan. 16 — Castlewood 58 (Presley Knecht 10, Sophia Kudrna 10, Kylie Wittnebel 10 plus 8 rebounds), Dell Rapids St. Mary 49 (Jenna Miller 22, Addison Libis 16); Faulkton Area 58 (Carley Cotton 20, Presleigh Martinmaas 11, Jaymi Senn 9 plus 9 rebounds), Aberdeen Christian 43 (Chloe Bosma 11 plus 8 rebounds, Jolie Fogarty 11); Flandreau 67 (Lizzie Pavlis 17 plus 10 rebounds. Lily Klein 15), Deuel 14; North Central 45 (Ella Batie 18, Amree Vander Vorst 14), Ipswich 21 (Marley Guthmiller 6); Hamlin 63 (Addison Neuendorf 22, Marissa Bawdon 16), De Smet 40 (Hazel Luethmers 14). Tri-Valley 60 (Lauren Grinde 24), DewubrooK Area 50 (Mataya Gouws 20); Tri-Stae 72, Wilmot 50 (Addison Heinje 35 plus 6 rebounds and 5 steals).
Leola-Frederick Area 50 (Sofi Losure 18 plus 7 rebounds and Laura Sumption 18), Ellendale, N.D. 41; Sioux Valley 61, Chester Area 55; Langford Area 41, Hankinson, N.D. 14; Great Plains Lutheran 46 (Esta Cameron 15, Abby Kjenstad 9, Halle Bauer and Katherine Prahl 8 each), Waverly-South Shore 10; Milbank 67 (Tyra Berry 21, Isabella Anderson 20), Waubay-Summit 36 (Eva Benike 18, Peyton Rumpza 9); Mount Vernon-Plankinton 54, Redfield 17); Florence-Henry 48 (Caylin Kelly 11 plus 11 rebounds and 7 steals; Taylor Watson 12 and Ashlynn Vavruska 10), Webster Area 24 (Erin Sannes 12); Central Minnesota Christian 73, Canby 30 (Ava Danielson 12); Canton 49, Elkton-Lake Benton 32.
281 Conference Tourney: Semifinal games included Wessington Springs 41 (Carissa Scheel 19, Avery Orth 13 plus 18 rebounds), James Valley Christian 39 (Addie Bartholow 14) and Sanborn Central-Woonsocket 44 (Liza Boschee 20 plus 10 rebounds), Iroquois-Lake Preston 40 (Adison Moore 20, Hadlee Holt 9 plus 15 rebounds, Faith Steffensen 9). Consolation semifinals included Highmore-Harrold 44 (Kendall Cermark and Jada Baloun 14 each), Sunshine Bible Academy 26 (Abby Hinman and Betra Amare 6 each) and Wolsey-Wessington 47 (Lainey Uttecht 23, Payton Kemnitz 16), Hitchcock-Tulare 44 (Cambree Hoekman 16, Katelyn Schroeder 12 plus 11 rebounds).
Thursday, Jan. 18 — Hamlin 66 (Addie Neuendorf 31, Marissa Bawdon 18), Redfield 33 (Katie Rozell 14); Canby, Minn. 57 (Brynn Kockelman 16, Ava Danielson 13, Emily Nelson 11 plus 10 rebounds), Dawson-Boyd 47; Leola-Frederick Area 50 (Laura Sumption 15, Jillian Ellwein 13, Sofia Losure 12 plus 9 rebounds), Northwestern 38 (Ella Boekelheide 11 plus 6 rebounds, Tara Blachford 10); Colman-Egan 50 (Kaylie Voelker 19, Brynlee Landis 17), Elkton-Lake Benton 38 (Tevan Erickson 15, Kylie Ramlo 8 plus 10 rebounds).
Waubay-Summit 43 (Peyton Rumpza 16, Eva Benike 15), Aberdeen Christian 35 (Chloe Bosma 14); Groton Area 42 (Sydney Leicht 12), Milbank 39 (Isabella Anderson 13, Tyra Berry 10); Deuel 63, Tiospa Zina 28; Sisseton 69 (Krista Langager 11 plus 6 rebounds, Hannah Leverson 11, Emmalee Nielsen 10), Webster Area 29 (Erin Sannes 17 plus 8 rebounds); Langford Area 44, Waverly-South Shore 27.
281 Conference Tourney: Wessington Springs 40 (Carissa Scheel 12, Kerstynn Heim 11 rebounds), Sanborn Central-Woonsocket 38 (Liz Boschee 18 plus 8 rebounds) in OT in championship; James Valley Christian 61 (Kaylie Robisnon 20 plus 9 rebounds), Iroquois-Lake Preston 46 (Adison Moore 12, Becca Rich 11, Kera Dubro 11) for third place; Wolsey-Wessington 52 (Lainey Uttecht 20), Highmore-Harrold 47 (Jada Baloun 15) in OT for fifth place; Hitchcock-Tulare 49 (Katelyn Schroeder 23 plus 10 rebounds), Sunshine Bible Academy 24 (Annaliese Van Zee 5 plus 8 rebounds) for seventh place.
Friday, Jan, 19 — Castlewood 54 (Presley Knecht 16, Sophia Kudrna 10, Natalie Akin and Cassidy Kirwan each 9), Oldham-Ramona-Rutland 54 (Julia Trygstad 22 plus 9 rebounds); Hill City 48 (Alaina Dean 12), Deubrook Area 30 (Kylee Johnson 8); Warner 51 (Kyra Marcuson 13, Ava Nilsson 12, Stacia Carda 10), Britton-Hecla 23 (Sterling Brassfield 9); Faulkton Area 45 (Kellli Stoecker 15 plus 6 rebounds, Carley Cotton 13 plus 8 rebounds), Ipswich 31 (Kaylin Onken 10, Tristan Geditz 9 rebounds).
Saturday, Jan. 20 — Deubrook Area 57 (Kylee Johnson 19, Kadence Bowne 13), Canby, Minn. 26 (Brynn Kockelman 13); Sisseton 84 (Krista Langager 26 plus 13 rebounds, Hannah Leverson 15 plus 8 assists, Alexia Quinn 12, Emmalee Nielsen 10 rebounds and 6 assists), Minneota, Minn. 39 (Kenadi Arndt 12); Dell Rapids St. Mary 56 (Jenna Miller 17), Lac qui Parle Valley, Minn. 26; De Smet 64 (Hazel Luethmers 25, Megan Dylla 19), Lower Brule 58 (Lael Middletent 17); Oldham-Ramona-Rutland 48 (Bailey Hyland 23), Aberdeen Christian 41 (Sophia Fogarty and Chloe Holt 10 each); Estelline-Hendricks 45 (Sadie and Brooke Johnson and Ayla Texley 13 each), Luverne, Minn. 37 (Tori Serie 14).
Castlewood 59 (Presley Knecht 19, Natalie Akin 13, Cydni Kudrna 11), Pipestone Area 51 OT (Jadyn Kor 20); Britton-Hecla 57 (Tiyanna Schott 15 plus 10 rebounds, Sterling Brassfield 11 plus 8 rebounds, Jayden Bender 11), Waverly-South Shore 33 (Carlee Mushitz 13); Potter County 44, Wolsey-Wessington 31; Leola-Frederick Area 59 (Sofi Losure 19 plus 8 rebounds and 5 assists and Laura Sumption 15 plus 5 assists), South Border, N.D. 31 (Macy Monson 11); Langford Area 48 (Megan Gustafson 23), North Central 31 (Amree Vander Vorst 10); Crofton, Neb. 64 (Sammie Allen 11), Hamlin 49 (Addie Neuendorf 15, Marisssa Bawdon 13, Musonda Kabwe 10).
Groton Area 57 (Rylee Dunker 16, Brooklyn Hansen 10), Great Plains Lutheran 45 (Olivia Holmen 12, Esta Cameron 11, Halle Bauer 9); Arlington 50 (Addie Steffensen 16 and Jaelyn Huntimer, Issie Steffensen and Jolyssa Steffensen 10 each), Westbrook-Walnut Grove, Minn. 37 (Leah Carter 12); Sioux Valley 68 (Isabelle Bloker 26), Howard (Abby Aslesen 31 plus 12 rebounds: Aberdeen Roncalli 56 (Ava Hanson 26, Claire Crawford 10)l; Clark-Willow Lake 24 (Brynn Roehrich 11, Teyha Vig 9); Florence-Henry 45 (Taylor Watson 12 plus 5 rebounds, Caylin Kelly 8 plus 10 rebounds Reese Schmidt 11), Vermillion 31 (Brooke Jensen 12).
Monday, Jan. 22 — Milbank 66 (Isabella Anderson 22, Tyra Berry 20, Belle Pauli 10 plus 6 rebounds), Dell Rapids 43 (Jersi Schultz 12); Groton Area 49 (Jerica Locke 16 plus 7 rebounds, Sydney Leicht 14), Northwestern 45 (Tara Blachford 18 plus 9 rebounds, Ana Ratigan 12 plus 8 rebounds and Ashley Haven 14 rebounds); Mobridge-Pollock 74, Potter County 57; Herreid-Selby Area 69, South Border, N.D. 33; Webster Area 43, Waverly-South Shore 8.
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: Area boys and girls basketball highlights from Jan. 16-22
