Yankton, Dakota Valley, De Smet win state basketball championships

Dakota Valley and De Smet repeated as champions while Yankton won a thriller in Rapid City.

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The 2023 South Dakota boys’ state basketball tournament wrapped up on Saturday night as the Yankton Bucks won the Class AA title, the Dakota Valley Panthers won the Class A title and the De Smet Bulldogs won the Class B title.

CLASS AA

Yankton 65, Mitchell 61

RAPID CITY – Yankton took a 15-12 lead at the end of the first quarter and was up 36-30 at halftime. The Kernels made it a 48-44 game heading into the fourth quarter and took a 55-54 lead on Charlie McCardle’s jumper with 2:42 to go but a pair of Mac Ryken free throws put the Bucks up for good on the way to the state title.

Ryken led the Bucks with 19 points while Markus Talley led Mitchell with 16 points.

Sioux Falls Jefferson finished in third place with a 65-56 victory over Sioux Falls Jefferson.

CLASS A

Dakota Valley 54, Sioux Falls Christian 48

SIOUX FALLS – The Chargers took a 13-12 lead at the end of the first quarter and a 26-24 lead at halftime, but Dakota Valley bounced back, tying the game at 42 at the end of the third quarter and winning the fourth quarter 12-6 to win its second straight state championship.

Isaac Bruns scored a game-high 22 points to go with seven rebounds for the Panthers while Ethan Bruns had 20 points and seven rebounds for the Chargers.

Hamlin took third place at the tournament, defeating Elk Point Jefferson 53-40 on Saturday afternoon.

CLASS B

De Smet 62, Lower Brule 48

ABERDEEN – The Sioux jumped ahead 15-13 at the end of the first quarter, but the Bulldogs took a 27-26 lead at halftime. De Smet pulled away in the second half, leading 43-36 at the end of the third quarter and winning the fourth quarter 19-12 for their second straight state title.
Damon Wilkinson had a double-double for De Smet with 18 points and 20 rebounds and Brian LaRoche Jr. had 16 points for the Sioux.

Aberdeen Christian finished in third place after defeating White River 70-65.