Although the State B Boys Basketball Tournament will once again feature the De Smet Bulldogs, who are the two-time defending state champions, there is plenty of parity in this year’s state tournament starting today at Wachs Arena.

While the Bulldogs lost several key players from last year’s championship team, they still brought back the pieces to make another state title run. De Smet is still considered a favorite by some, including Aberdeen Christian coach Matt Rohrbach. On one hand, Rohrbach believes his team is the favorite, but on the other hand, he believes De Smet has a right to be the favorite.

“From a competitor standpoint we would like to think we are (the favorites). You’re not going to be a very good competitor if you don’t believe in yourself,” Rohrbach said. “However, De Smet has won the last two tournaments so they deserve the right to be the favorites until they lose.”

Rohrbach’s Knights have been one of the top teams in the state all season. Christian returned everyone from last year’s seventh place team, and has the experience to make a run at the school’s first state title.

Ethan head coach Bryce Roth brings his Rustlers team to the tournament for the first time since 2014. Roth believes the tournament is wide open, but says the teams with more tournament experience have the edge.

“As far as I can see, this year’s tournament is wide open,” Roth said. “All the teams have losses this season and overall, the talent is fairly even. As with any tournament though, you would tend to lean towards teams that are coming in with the most experience.”

White River has the most tournament experience of any of the eight teams in the tournament. The Tigers have qualified for the State B tournament the past 18 years, and are led by South Dakota State University commit Joe Sayler, who averages 30.8 points per game. White River is looking for its first state title since 2013.

Viborg-Hurley, which last played in the state championship game against White River in 2013, has qualified for its fourth state tournament in the past five years. The Cougars are young, but have the size and athleticism to match up with anyone in the tournament.

The Faith Longhorns are playing in their first state tournament since 2015, although they qualified for the 2020 state tournament (canceled due to COVID-19). Faith coach Travis Grueb believes Lower Brule is the tourney favorite.

Lower Brule is playing in its third consecutive state tournament. Last year’s runner-up, the Sioux look to finish what they started last season and claim the school’s first state title. Lower Brule returned several players from last year’s team and enters as the top seed.

Castlewood is playing in its second consecutive state tournament and is looking for the school’s first state title since 2001. The Warriors return several key players from last season, and are a title contender, despite being the eighth seed.

Today’s opening round pairings have Lower Brule vs. Castlewood and noon, Faith vs. White River at 1:45 p.m., Aberdeen Christian vs. Ethan at 6 p.m., and De Smet vs. Viborg-Hurley at 7:45 p.m.

Here is a look at each team in the field:

Aberdeen Christian Knights (21-2)

Key Players: Ethan Russell (15.8 points per game, 7.1 rebounds), Malek Wieker (15.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists), Jackson Isakson (11.3 points, 4.5 rebounds), Kaden Clark (5.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists), Andrew Brennan (4.1 points, 2.5 assists).

Thoughts on opening round opponent Ethan: “Ethan is our first opponent. We played them this last summer in Sioux Falls,” Christian coach Matt Rohrbach said. “They are a hard-working bunch and put together a nice regular season. We are excited for the challenge.” 

What the Knights need to do to have a chance to win the championship: “We need to continue to do the little things such as winning the assists to turnover battle, the rebounding battle and the toughness battle,” Rohrbach said. “If we continue to do that, we will be a tough out.”

Castlewood Warriors (18-5)

Key Players: Lane Tvedt (16.0 points per game, 71 assists), Bryon Laue (14.6 points, 212 rebounds), Joe Decker (8.1 points), Jackson Schofield (6.6 points, 132 rebounds), Booker Schooley (88 assists, 86 rebounds), Quincy Thu (75 rebounds).

Thoughts on opening round opponent Lower Brule: “Lower Brule is an explosive and athletic team, and causes problems with their quickness,” Castlewood coach Paul Raasch said.

What the Warriors need to do to have a chance to win the championship: “The same things we stress all season long: defend, rebound, value the ball,” Raasch said.

De Smet Bulldogs (20-3)

Key Players: Damon Wilkinson (21.3 points per game, 12.6 rebounds, 38 blocks, 27 steals), George Jensen (10.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 53 assists, 35 blocks), Kadyn Fast (9.8 points, 66 assists, 45 steals), Kasen Janssen (9.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 48 assists, 26 steals), Tom Aughenbaugh (7.2 points, 49 assists, 25 steals), Gannon Gruenhagen (53 assists, 26 steals).

Thoughts on opening round opponent Viborg-Hurley: “Viborg-Hurley is a young team, but has very good athletes. They have some height and play very physical,” De Smet coach Jeff Gruenhagen said. “We have seen them shoot very well from the 3-point line, so we will have to be solid on D from everywhere and try to control the paint and not give them looks close to the rim. We need to share the ball and establish the inside-out game with Damon, and be patient on offense and crash the offensive boards.”

What the Bulldogs need to do to have a chance to win the championship: “We need to continue to share the ball and score with a balanced attack. We will try to establish the inside game with Damon but he draws a lot of defense down there, so some good perimeter shooting and patience on O will be needed,” Gruenhagen said. “Our team D will need to be solid. There are a lot of really skilled players in the tournament, so we need to lock in and play great D and only give teams one shot and get the boards cleared.”

Ethan Rustlers (20-3)

Key Players: Riley Endres (13.9 points per game), Kody Klumb (11.8 points), Drake Gustafson (8.2 points), Taite Klumb (7.7 points), Wyatt Sinkie (7.5 points), Logan Koch (5.7 points).

Thoughts on opening round opponent Aberdeen Christian: “Aberdeen Christian is in familiar territory with another trip to the tournament and the hometown advantage. They have a good senior group that is used to playing in big moments,” Ethan coach Bryce Roth said. “Defensively they are lengthy and are opportunistic. Offensively they play with a lot of confidence and can score from all spots on the floor.” 

What the Rustlers need to do to have a chance to win the championship: “Defensively we will need to hold teams under 55 points and we need to shoot well from the perimeter,” Roth said. “Half-court execution will need to be the best we have done it all season.”

Faith Longhorns (22-1)

Key Players: Jackson Schauer (20 points per game, 4.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 3 steals), Jess Harper (13.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists), Rylan Palmer (13.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 2.9 steals), Caden Selby (12.9 points, 3.8 rebounds), Matthew Gray (5.1 points, 5.8 rebounds).

Thoughts on opening round opponent White River: “We have White River and year in and year out, they are a standard in South Dakota basketball,” Faith coach Travis Grueb said. “We are looking forward to the match up.”

What the Longhorns need to do to have a chance to win the championship: “We will need to hit shots and rebound. We have four guys all capable of scoring 20,” Grueb said.

Lower Brule Sioux (20-3)

Key Players: Brian LaRoche, Jr. (24.6 points per game, 5.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 3.6 steals), Gavin Thigh (18.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 3.0 steals), Lane Gray (10.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2.2 steals), Ellwyn Langdeau (9.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.0 steals), Tayshawn Battese (6.1 points, 6.0 rebounds), Tate Elk Soldier (6.0 points).

Thoughts on opening round opponent Castlewood: “They’re a pretty tough team. (We) played them twice, in overtime and a buzzer-beater,” Lower Brule coach Brian LaRoche said. “They’re a top five team in the state, they’ve been ranked, they play a tough schedule, and they’re no (number) eight team, I know that. They’re very well coached and they all play pretty good basketball.”

What the Sioux need to do to have a chance to win the championship: “Our defense. I think our defense gets overlooked quite a bit,” LaRoche said. “Our defense sets our offense.”

Viborg-Hurley Cougars (20-3)

Key Players: Nick Hanson (16.5 points per game, 9.3 rebounds, 2.4 blocks), Kobee Sherman (10 points, 3.7 rebounds), Gage Goettertz (9.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists), Brady Schroedermeier (8.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2 assists, 1.9 steals), Bryson Morrison (6.7 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists).

Thoughts on opening round opponent De Smet: “They have been here a lot and been the champion the past couple years,” Viborg-Hurley coach Galen Schoenefeld said. “Wilkinson requires a lot of attention, but they have other good players around him. They are well-coached and disciplined in the things they want to do on offense and defense.”

What the Cougars need to do to have a chance to win the championship: “We have gotten here by playing good team basketball on both ends of the floor,” Schoenefeld said. “Pretty sure all five starters have led us in scoring at least once. “

White River Tigers (19-4)

Key Players: Joe Sayler (30.8 points per game, 5.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.7 steals), Nicolas Marshall (17.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 3.6 steals), T.J. Beardt (8.1 points, 5.1 rebounds), Gavin Folkers (7.5 points, 3.3 rebounds), Mackenzie Wike (3.7 points).

Thoughts on opening round opponent Faith: “They’re really good. They have some guards that can score. They can all shoot it, and they have guys that can rebound,” White River coach Eldon Marshall said. “They’re a good basketball team, and at this time of the year in the state tournament, you’re gonna face good basketball teams.”

What the Tigers need to do to have a chance to win the championship: “I think you’re looking to play good solid defense without fouling and getting in foul trouble. That would hurt any team,” Marshall said. “Knocking down open shots, being patient on offense, being smart, and rebounding. All those little things that we’ve been working on all year. Hopefully, we’re executing at all phases, each guy individually.”