The road to Wachs Arena in Aberdeen starts tonight as Class B boys’ basketball teams will start on the journey to the state tournament later this month.

The safety net is gone and it’s a matter of survive and advance for squads across the state. For the semifinal winners of the regions, an entry into next week’s SoDak 16 is in store.

Here is a capsule look at each of the area regions:

Region 1B

Monday, Tuesday, and Friday at highest seeds

There could be some late-game drama before things are settled in this region.

Leola-Frederick is the top seed, but had a tough time shaking free of potential semifinal foe Waverly-South Shore in an earlier matchup.

Aberdeen Christian is the second seed, but lost a previous game against potential semifinal opponent Waubay-Summit.

Home-court advantage should help both of the top seeds this time around.

Teams W L

Leola-Frederick 18-2

Aberdeen Christian 15-5

Waubay-Summit 13-7

Waverly-South Shore 12-8

Warner 8-12

Northwestern 9-11

Hitchcock-Tulare 6-14

Wilmot 6-14

Tiopsa Zina 2-17

Langford Area 3-17

Monday’s Games: Tiospa Zina at Wilmot, 7 p.m.; Langford Area at Hitchcock-Tulare, 7 p.m.

Tuesday’s Games: Tiospa Zina/Wilmot winner at Leola-Frederick, 7 p.m.; Warner at Waverly-South Shore, 7 p.m.; Langford Area/Hitchcock-Tulare winner at Aberdeen Christian, 7 p.m.; Northwestern at Waubay-Summit, 7 p.m.

Friday’s Games: Semifinals at highest remaining seeds

Region 2B

Monday, Tuesday, and Friday

At Lake Preston, Huron, Castlewood, Wessington Springs and Madison

It’s hard to imagine a better top half of a region anywhere else in the state.

Castlewood and Wessington Springs both played in the state tournament a year ago, but have big hurdles to clear just to get out of the region.

Castlewood recently played potential semifinal foe Estelline-Hendricks, walking away with a nine-point win.

Wessington Springs split a pair of regular-season games with Wolsey-Wessington, so keep an eye on that potential semifinal matchup.

De Smet, which also competed in the state tourney a year ago, is always a dangerous postseason foe.

Teams W L

Castlewood 18-2

Wessington Springs 18-2

Wolsey-Wessington 16-4

Estelline-Hendricks 16-4

De Smet 12-8

Duebrook Area 9-11

James Valley Christian 12-8

Iroquois-Lake Preston 7-13

Arlington 1-19

Oldham-Ramona-Rutland 3-17

Monday’s Games: Arlington at Iroquois-Lake Preston, 7 p.m.; Oldham-Ramona-Rutland at James Valley Christian, 7 p.m.

Tuesday’s Games: Arlington/Iroquois-Lake Preston winner at Castlewood, 6 p.m.; De Smet vs. Estelline-Hendricks at Castlewood, 7:30 p.m.; Oldham-Ramona-Rutland/James Valley Christian winner at Wessington Springs, 6 p.m.; Deubrook Area vs. Wolsey-Wessington at Wessington Springs, 7:30 p.m.

Friday’s Games: Semifinals at Dakota State in Madison

Region 6B

Monday, Tuesday, and Friday at North Central, Miller, highest seeds

On paper it appears that Sully Buttes and Ipswich will be favored to advance out of this region, but it probably won’t be easy.

Sully Buttes, which has won 11 of its past 12 games, recently beat potential semifinal foe Faulkton by just two points.

Ipswich could be in line for a rematch with Wakpala in the other semifinal. The Tigers won the first encounter by just six points, but home-court advantage would help in the rematch.

Teams W L

Sully Buttes 15-4

Ipswich 12-8

Wakpala 10-10

Faulkton 8-12

Potter County 7-13

Highmore-Harrold 6-14

Sunshine Bible 5-11

North Central 7-13

Herreid-Selby Area 4-16

Tiospaye Topa 5-14

Monday’s Games: Herreid-Selby Area at North Central, 7 p.m.; Tiospaye Topa at Sunshine Bible, 7 p.m.

Tuesday’s Games: Herreid-Selby Area/North Central winner at Sully Buttes, 7 p.m.; Potter County at Faulkton, 7 p.m.; Tiospaye Topa/Sunshine Bible winner at Ipswich, 7 p.m.; Highmore-Harrold at Wakpala, 7 p.m.

Friday’s Games: Semifinals at highest remaining seeds.