Preseason South Dakota Prep Media Basketball Poll: A look at top teams ahead of the season

Michael McCleary, Sioux Falls Argus Leader
·2 min read

Roosevelt and Washington are at the top of the Class AA rankings for boys and girls basketball in the preseason South Dakota Prep Media Basketball Poll. Class A is led by Sioux Falls Christian in boys and Winner in girls. Class B is led by De Smet in boys and Aberdeen Roncalli in girls.

Of the six top-ranked teams, only Winner didn't win a state championship in the 2020-2021 season. Aberdeen Roncalli won the girls Class A state title and now are ranked at the top of Class B.

Here is the preseason South Dakota Prep Media Basketball Poll. Teams are ranked by points received and first-place votes are in parentheses.

Boys basketball

Class AA

1. Roosevelt (4) 35

2. O’Gorman (1) 32

3. Washington (4) 31

T-4. Lincoln (1) 19

T-4. Aberdeen Central 19

Receiving votes: Harrisburg 7, Mitchell 4, Rapid City Stevens 1, Brandon Valley 1, Yankton 1.

Roosevelt's Koor Kuol hugs O'Gorman's Joe Lynch after Roosevelt beat O'Gorman in the class AA state boys basketball championship on Saturday, March 20, 2021 at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center in Rapid City.
Roosevelt's Koor Kuol hugs O'Gorman's Joe Lynch after Roosevelt beat O'Gorman in the class AA state boys basketball championship on Saturday, March 20, 2021 at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center in Rapid City.

Class A

1. SF Christian (9) 49

2. Sioux Valley (1) 40

3. Dakota Valley 21

4. St. Thomas More 15

5. Dell Rapids 11

Receiving votes: Tea Area 7, Winner 4, Milbank 1, Madison 1, Vermillion 1

Class B

1. De Smet (10) 50

2. White River 30

3. Aberdeen Christian 26

4. Dell Rapids St. Mary 8

5. Viborg-Hurley 7

Receiving votes: Platte-Geddes 6, Canistota 6, Howard 5, Lyman 4, Waubay-Summit 3, Castlewood 2, Wolsey-Wessington 1, Lower Brule 1, Gregory 1

De Smet's Kalen Garry goes up for the show against Viborg-Hurley in the Class B semifinals on Friday night in Aberdeen.
De Smet's Kalen Garry goes up for the show against Viborg-Hurley in the Class B semifinals on Friday night in Aberdeen.

Girls basketball

Class AA

1. Washington (9) 49

2. O’Gorman (1) 38

3. Brandon Valley 22

4. Stevens 20

5. Harrisburg 13

Receiving votes: Pierre 3, Aberdeen Central 3, Mitchell 1, Rapid City Central 1.

The Washington girls basketball team holds their trophy aloft in victory after winning the Class AA girls state tournament championship game on Saturday, March 13, 2021, at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls.
The Washington girls basketball team holds their trophy aloft in victory after winning the Class AA girls state tournament championship game on Saturday, March 13, 2021, at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls.

Class A

1. Winner (4) 40

2. St. Thomas More (2) 29

3. Hamlin (2) 26

4. West Central (1) 14

5. Flandreau (1) 13

Receiving votes: Sioux Falls Christian 9, Dakota Valley 6, Tea Area 5, Wagner 3, Lakota Tech 2, Mount Vernon/Plankinton 2, Garretson 1.

Winner players celebrate after winning a semifinal matchup against McCook Central/Montrose at the State A Girls Basketball Tournament in Sioux Falls on Friday.
Winner players celebrate after winning a semifinal matchup against McCook Central/Montrose at the State A Girls Basketball Tournament in Sioux Falls on Friday.

Class B

1. Roncalli (7) 40

2. Corsica-Stickney (2) 35

3. White River 29

4. Ethan 17

5. Castlewood (1) 13

Receiving votes: Aberdeen Christian 5, Colman-Egan 4, Viborg-Hurley 2, Herreid/Selby Area 2, Warner 1, Bridgewater-Emery 1, Wall 1.

Follow sports reporter Michael McCleary on Twitter @mikejmccleary.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Preseason South Dakota Prep Media Basketball Poll