PIERRE, S.D. – Brackets have been set for the 2026 Girls Class A and Class B basketball tournaments.
In Class A, held at the Watertown Civic Arena, Hamlin returns as the No. 1 seed with a 21-1 record. The Chargers return for the second consecutive year after finishing third in 2025; they won the title in 2023 but missed the tournament in 2024. They open this year’s campaign against No. 8 seed Lakota Tech (19-4).
The tournament features strong contenders throughout the field. No. 2 seed and last year’s runner-up, Mahipya Luta, enters as the only undefeated team at 21-0. They will face No. 7 seed West Central (18-4).
Wagner (19-2) looks to make a splash as the No. 3 seed. The Red Raiders aim to improve on last year’s seventh-place finish as they open against 2025 champion Sioux Falls Christian (19-5), the No. 6 seed this year.
No. 4 seed Sioux Valley (21-2) also returns, seeking to improve on a fifth-place finish a year ago. The Cossacks open against No. 5 seed Lennox (19-3).
In Class B, held at First Bank & Trust Arena in Brookings, Lyman enters as the No. 1 seed with a 21-2 record. After finishing sixth a year ago, they face Corsica-Stickney (17-5) in the opening round.
Parkston (20-3) is the No. 2 seed and looks to build on a fifth-place finish last year. They take on No. 7 seed Centerville (21-2), which finished third in 2025 and took home the championship in 2024.
Defending champion Bennett County (20-3) enters as the No. 3 seed. They face No. 6 seed Harding County (22-1). The Ranchers missed the tournament a year ago after finishing sixth in 2024.
No. 4 seed Ethan (21-2) faces No. 5 seed Colman-Egan (22-1), which has only one loss this season. Ethan missed the tournament last year but finished third in 2024.
The Girls Class A and Class B tournaments run March 12-14.
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