Class A girls’ basketball teams are just one step away from coveted berths in next week’s state tournament in Watertown. As last week’s region action proved, anything is possible on any given night.
Will the upsets of last week continue in the SoDak 16? We’ll soon find out.
Here is a capsule look at each game involving area teams.
Redfield (16-6) vs. Aberdeen Roncalli (19-2), 7 p.m. in Ipswich
This matchup pits familiar foes from Region 1A and the Northeast Conference. There won’t be much scouting needed for this contest.
Roncalli won a previous matchup by 25 points on the Pheasants home court back on Dec. 17. A lot of things have changed since then. Still, the Cavaliers will wear the favorite label here.
Roncalli has lost just two games all season and its defense has been among the state’s best.
Redfield brings a seven-game winning streak into the contest and will not go quietly.
Hamlin (19-2) vs. Mobridge-Pollock (14-7), 5:30 p.m. in Watertown
Hamlin has won 14 games in a row and has not lost to a Class A team all season. The Chargers only setbacks have come to Class B powers Castlewood and White River.
Hamlin’s offense has been solid this season, scoring at least 60 points in eight games.
Mobridge-Pollock lost its first three games to start the season, but then rebounded after that. The Tigers played a tough schedule, which should pay dividends now.
The two teams do have a common opponent: Aberdeen Roncalli. Hamlin defeated the Cavaliers by one, while Mobridge-Pollock lost to Roncalli by 33 to start the season.
St. Thomas More (20-1) vs. Miller (12-9), 5:30 p.m. (MT) at Wall
All signs point to St. Thomas more in this one.
The Cavaliers have lost just one game all season despite a very competitive schedule. STM has a win against Class AA power Sioux Falls Washington on its resume. It will take a major effort to eliminate the Cavaliers in this one.
Miller, which defeated Chamberlain in the closing seconds to reach this round, should not feel any pressure.
STM and Miller do have one common opponent: Winner. The Cavaliers defeated the Warriors by four, while Miller lost to Winner by 33.