Area Sports

South Dakota Prep Media Basketball Polls – January 12, 2026

The South Dakota Prep Media Basketball Poll for the week of Jan. 12 is listed below, ranking the top-five teams in Class AA, top-10 teams in Class A and Class B, the team’s record, points received and ranking in the previous poll. First-place votes are listed in parentheses.

Boys

Class AA
1. Lincoln (23) 8-0 115 1
2. Roosevelt 6-1 91 3
3. Harrisburg 4-2 35 5
4. Spearfish 5-0 32 4
5. Huron 5-2 23 2
Receiving votes: Mitchell 20, Tea Area 15, Watertown 14

Class A
1. West Central (23) 8-0 230 2
2. SF Christian 5-1 197 1
3. Clark/Willow Lake 7-0 192 3
4. St. Thomas More 5-1 139 4
5. Mahpiya Luta 8-0 131 5
6. Hamlin 4-1 103 8
7. Groton Area 6-3 76 9
8. Vermillion 5-2 70 10
9. Cheyenne-Eagle Butte 7-1 44 RV
10. Lennox 3-3 28 6
Receiving votes: Dakota Valley 24, Madison 22, Stanley County 8, Flandreau 1. 

Class B
1. Viborg-Hurley (20) 8-0 226 1
2. De Smet (3) 7-0 205 2
3. Castlewood 6-1 180 3
4. Sully Buttes 5-1 139 4
5. Aberdeen Christian 5-1 128 5
6. Wessington Springs 6-2 102 6
7. Wall 6-3 94 7
8. Freeman 5-2 77 9
9. Deubrook Area 6-1 39 10
10. Estelline-Hendricks 7-1 26 RV
Receiving votes: Parkston 22, Lyman 14, Marty 10, St. Mary’s 2, Bridgewater-Emery 1. 

Girls 

Class AA
1. Brandon Valley (23) 6-0 115 1
2. O’Gorman 5-1 86 2
3. Washington 7-0 72 3
4. Aberdeen Central 6-1 47 4
5. Tea Area 6-2 13 5
Receiving votes: Rapid City Stevens 12. 

Class A
1. Mahpiya Luta (22) 8-0 229 1
2. Lennox (1) 9-0 207 2
3. Hamlin 6-0 180 3
4. Sioux Valley 6-0 159 4
T-5. SF Christian 6-2 119 6
T-5. Wagner 6-1 119 7
7. Dakota Valley 5-2 89 5
8. West Central 6-1 63 8
9. Roncalli 7-1 52 9
10. Mobridge-Pollock 5-2 24 10
Receiving votes: Clark/Willow Lake 12, Lakota Tech 12. 

Class B 
1. Lyman (13) 5-0 214 2
2. Parkston (4) 8-0 200 3
3. Bennett County (5) 4-2 179 4
4. Ethan 7-1 129 5
5. Centerville (1) 7-2 126 1
6. Harding County 9-0 115 6
7. Colman-Egan 7-0 108 7
8. Chester 8-1 63 9
9. Sanborn Central/Woonsocket 5-1 61 8
10. Gayville-Volin 7-1 27 NR
Receiving votes: Corsica-Stickney 22, Highmore-Harrold 11, Lemmon 9, Waubay-Summit 1.  

_______________________________________

South Dakota Power 5 Poll  (Week of Jan. 12)
Top five teams; 1st place votes are listed in parentheses

Teams receiving votes are the total number of votes, not 1st place votes

*Team rankings based on the majority of the votes from voters

Boys’ Class AA
1. Sioux Falls Lincoln (14)
2. Sioux Falls Roosevelt
3. Huron
4. Harrisburg (1)
5. Spearfish
Receiving Votes: Tea Area 7, Watertown 4, Mitchell 3

Boys’ Class A
1. West Central (15)
2. Sioux Falls Christian
3. Clark/Willow Lake
4. St. Thomas More
5. Maĥpíya Lúta
Receiving Votes: Lennox 2, Groton Area 1, Vermillion 1, Stanley County 1

Boys’ Class B
1. Viborg-Hurley (13)
2. De Smet (2)
3. Castlewood
4. Sully Buttes
5. Aberdeen Christian
Receiving Votes: Wessington Springs 3, Wall 3, Deubrook Area 1, Estelline/Hendricks 1

Girls’ Class AA
1. Brandon Valley (15)
2. O’Gorman
3. Sioux Falls Washington
4. Aberdeen Central
5. Rapid City Stevens
Receiving Votes: Tea Area 6

Girls’ Class A
1. Maĥpíya Lúta (15)
2. Lennox
3. Hamlin
4. Sioux Valley
5. Sioux Falls Christian
Receiving Votes: Wagner 4, Dakota Valley 2

Girls’ Class B
1. Lyman (10)
2. Parkston (2)
3. Centerville (2)
4. Bennett County (1)
5. Harding County
Receiving Votes: Colman-Egan 3, Chester 2, Gayville-Volin 2, Ethan 2, Highmore-Harrold 1, Sanborn Central/Woonsocket 1

by Brent Nathaniel
Top Story

Watertown Boys Surge Past O’Gorman; Girls Fall to No. 2 Knights

WATERTOWN, S.D. – A big second quarter propelled Watertown past Bishop O’Gorman 69-52 in high school boys basketball Friday night at the Watertown Civic Arena.

The Arrows outscored the Knights 13-4 in the second frame to take a 30-16 lead at the half. After a back-and-forth third quarter, Watertown put away O’Gorman with a 22-point fourth quarter. Four Arrows reached double figures, led by Carter Buisker with 18 points. Jack Mack had a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Jackson McClemans added 12 points and dished out five assists, while Kaden Decker finished with 11 points.

Mason Clark led O’Gorman with 13 points.

In the girls contest in Sioux Falls, No. 2 Bishop O’Gorman jumped out to a 40-7 lead at the half and never looked back in a 56-26 win over Watertown. This was the second top-five opponent Watertown has faced this week, following a loss to No. 1 Brandon Valley on Tuesday.

The Arrows were led by Jordan Remmers with eight points. Gabi Olson added five, and Andi Olson finished with four.

O’Gorman’s Sydney Terveen led all scorers with 26 points.

Next up for Watertown basketball is Aberdeen Central on Tuesday night. The girls will be at home, while the boys travel to Aberdeen.

See all the scores from Friday night in the Scoreboard HERE.

by Brent Nathaniel
Top Story

Four Arrows Reach Double Figures in Victory Over Brandon Valley

BRANDON, S.D. – Four players scored in double figures as Watertown pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 59-52 win over Brandon Valley on Tuesday night in high school boys basketball.

Trailing 47-45 heading into the final frame, Watertown held Brandon Valley to just five points in the fourth quarter to secure the comeback victory. Carter Buisker led the Arrows with 14 points. Jack Mack recorded a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Jackson McClemens also scored 12 points, and Kaden Decker added 10.

Lincoln McInerney led Brandon Valley with 20 points.

In the girls’ matchup, number one Brandon Valley stifled Watertown in a dominant 74-28 win. Lydia Stemwedel led the Arrows with eight points. Kynsee Russell added seven.  Brandon Valley’s Alyvia Padgett led all scoring with 27.  

Watertown returns to action against O’Gorman on Thursday, Jan. 9. The boys team will host the Knights, while the girls team will travel to Sioux Falls.

See all the scores from Tuesday night in the Scoreboard HERE.

by Brent Nathaniel
Area Sports

South Dakota Prep Media Basketball Polls – Jan. 5, 2026

The South Dakota Prep Media Basketball Poll for the week of Jan. 5 is listed below, ranking the top-five teams, the team’s record, points received and ranking in the previous poll. First-place votes are listed in parentheses.

Boys

Class AA

  1. Lincoln (21) 6-0 105 1
  2. Huron 5-1 71 2
  3. Roosevelt 4-1 60 3
  4. Spearfish 4-0 31 T-5
  5. Harrisburg 3-1 19 T-5

Receiving votes: Mitchell 13, Watertown 8, Brandon Valley 4, Tea Area 4.

Class A

  1. SF Christian (17) 3-0 206 1
  2. West Central (4) 6-0 192 2
  3. Clark/Willow Lake 5-0 168 3
  4. St. Thomas More 4-1 120 4
  5. Mahpiya Luta 6-0 99 T-7
  6. Lennox 2-2 89 5
  7. Dakota Valley 4-1 75 9
  8. Hamlin 3-1 61 10
  9. Groton Area 4-2 48 6
  10. Vermillion 3-2 36 RV

Receiving votes: Cheyenne-Eagle Butte 33, Madison 13, Baltic 8, Rapid City Christian 6, Stanley County 1.

Class B

  1. Viborg-Hurley (11) 6-0 197 3
  2. De Smet (4) 5-0 184 4
  3. Castlewood (6) 4-1 177 1
  4. Sully Buttes 4-0 125 9
  5. Aberdeen Christian 3-1 95 5
  6. Wessington Springs 3-2 67 6
  7. Wall 4-3 66 7
  8. Parkston 5-1 57 RV
  9. Freeman 2-2 53 8
  10. Deubrook Area 5-1 37 RV

Receiving votes: Estelline-Hendricks 27, St. Mary’s 21, Ipswich 17, Lyman 16, Marty 9, Ethan 4, Bridgewater-Emery 2, Sanborn Central/Woonsocket 1.

Girls

Class AA

  1. Brandon Valley (21) 4-0 105 1
  2. O’Gorman 3-1 75 2
  3. Washington 6-0 69 3
  4. Aberdeen Central 5-1 40 4
  5. Tea Area 6-1 16 RV

Receiving votes: Jefferson 6, Rapid City Stevens 4.

Class A

  1. Mahpiya Luta (20) 6-0 209 1
  2. Lennox (1) 6-0 187 2
  3. Hamlin 5-0 156 3
  4. Sioux Valley 5-0 139 4
  5. Dakota Valley 5-0 127 5
  6. SF Christian 5-1 114 6
  7. Wagner 4-1 71 9
  8. West Central 6-1 60 8
  9. Roncalli 6-1 36 10
  10. Mobridge-Pollock 3-2 34 7

Receiving votes: Lakota Tech 7, Clark/Willow Lake 6, St. Thomas More 6, Milbank 2, Groton Area 1.

Class B

  1. Centerville (12) 6-1 187 2
  2. Lyman (2) 4-0 177 3
  3. Parkston (2) 6-0 165 4
  4. Bennett County (5) 2-2 147 1
  5. Ethan 5-0 116 6
  6. Harding County 6-0 114 5
  7. Colman-Egan 6-0 88 8
  8. Sanborn Central/Woonsocket 3-1 64 7
  9. Chester 5-1 32 RV
  10. Corsica-Stickney 2-2 19 9

Receiving votes: Ipswich 16, Deubrook Area 11, Highmore-Harrold 9, Lemmon 5, Waubay-Summit 3, North Central 2.

_______________________________
South Dakota Power 5 Polls

Boys’ Class AA

  1. Sioux Falls Lincoln (15)
  2. Huron
  3. Sioux Falls Roosevelt
  4. Spearfish
  5. Tea Area

Receiving Votes: Mitchell 4, Watertown 2, O’Gorman 1

Boys’ Class A

  1. Sioux Falls Christian (13)
  2. West Central (2)
  3. Clark/Willow Lake
  4. St. Thomas More
  5. Maĥpíya Lúta

Receiving Votes: Lennox 6, Hamlin 2, Baltic 1

Boys’ Class B

  1. Viborg-Hurley (11)
  2. De Smet (2)
  3. Castlewood (2)
  4. Sully Buttes
  5. St. Mary’s

Receiving Votes: Wall 6, Aberdeen Christian 4, Wessington Springs 2, Estelline/Hendricks 2, Deubrook Area 1, Freeman 1, Ipswich 1, Parkston 1

Girls’ Class AA

  1. Brandon Valley (15)
  2. O’Gorman
  3. Sioux Falls Washington
  4. Aberdeen Central
  5. Tea Area

Receiving Votes: Rapid City Stevens 6, Sioux Falls Jefferson 1, Spearfish 1

Girls’ Class A

  1. Maĥpíya Lúta (15)
  2. Lennox
  3. Hamlin
  4. Sioux Valley
  5. Dakota Valley

Receiving Votes: Sioux Falls Christian 2, Wagner 1, St. Thomas More 1

Girls’ Class B

  1. Centerville (10)
  2. Lyman (2)
  3. Parkston (1)
  4. Bennett County (2)
  5. Harding County

Receiving Votes: Sanborn Central/Woonsocket 3, Colman-Egan 3, Ethan 2, Highmore-Harrold 1, Ipswich 1, Deubrook Area 1

by Brent Nathaniel
Top Story

Mack, Buisker, and Rehorst lead Watertown to doubleheader sweep of Douglas

BOX ELDER, S.D. – A strong second half propelled Watertown past Douglas 44-28 in high school girls basketball Saturday afternoon.

Leading 19-17 at the half, Watertown outscored the Patriots 27-9 in the second half to secure the victory. The Arrows were led by Lily Mack with 13 points, while Kynsee Russell added 12. Gabi Olson led the effort on the boards with seven rebounds and added six points. Douglas was led by Olivia Harris with 13 points.

The Watertown boys completed the doubleheader sweep with a 69-49 victory over Douglas. Four Arrows scored in double figures, including Carter Buisker and Isaac Rehorst, who notched 15 points each. Buisker was the leading rebounder with nine. Jack Mack and Jackson McClemans added 13 points apiece, with McClemans dishing out seven assists. Joshua Divis led the Patriots with 10 points.

Watertown basketball returns east Jan. 6 for a series against Brandon Valley. The boys travel to Brandon while the girls host the Lynx.

Watertown split with Sturgis on Saturday. Read more about that HERE.

by Brent Nathaniel