MCM, Canistota put streaks on the line at DWU Classic

Both the McCook Central/Montrose Fighting Cougars and the Canistota Hawks are on a roll.

The two teams, made up of players from McCook County, each are on five-game winning streaks.

But by the end of their 5 p.m. Saturday game at the Dakota Wesleyan University Classic, only one team will continue its hot streak.

“We have played well at the end of some close games,” McCook Central/Montrose coach Bill Marquardt said of the recent run. “We do have some wins that could have gone either way.

“But I think we have gotten better defensively as the year has gone on and become more consistent offensively. We are excited to play a good team like Canistota. They are 12 miles from Salem, so we have been traditional rivals over the years.”

The fighting Cougars are 11-5 this season and leading District 9A. Marquardt said that he and Canistota coach Pat Jolley have been coaching against each other since the ’80s

Canistota is 15-1and averaging 69.2 points per game while holding its opponents to 39.7 points per game.

The Hawks’ only loss of the season came to White River in the final game of the Hanson Classic.

At the time, Canistota was ranked second in the Class B state polls and White River was ranked first. Canistota coach Pat Jolley could not be reached for comment on this report.

The entire classic, which includes seven games, is being played at the Corn Palace in Mitchell. One person familiar with playing high school games at the Palace is Mount Vernon/ Plankinton coach Eric Denning.

Last year Denning’s Mount Vernon squad defeated Aberdeen Roncalli 59-50 at the DWU Classic. This year Denning is the coach of the newly co-oped Mount Vernon/Plankinton Titans.

“We like the competition at the tournament and they do a lot of nice things for the teams,” said Denning, whose MV/P squad played at the Corn Palace last month in the Hanson Classic.

“They give out pizza, T-shirts and name game MVPs. Things like are neat. … The teams in the tournament are good competitive teams, so it is going to be quality basketball,” he said.

MV/P (11-5) takes on Tri-Valley (6-10) at 12:30 p.m. Both teams are in the same district and Denning said if the post season started today, they would meet in the first game.

Right after the MV/P-Tri-Valley game, Corsica/Stickney plays Castlewood.

The Jaguars are 10-5 and riding a three-game win streak, while Castlewood is 7-5.

The Classic kicks-off at 11 a.m. with Sully Buttes against Centerville. Top-ranked White River and second-ranked James Valley Christian concludes the tournament in a game that starts at 8 p.m.

DWU High School Classic Schedule

Today at the Corn Palace in Mitchell

11 a.m.: Sully Buttes vs. Centerville.

12:30 p.m.: Tri-Valley vs. Mount Vernon/Plankinton.

2 p.m.: Corsica/Stickney vs. Castlewood.

3:30 p.m.: Dell Rapids vs. Spearfish.

5 p.m.: McCook Central/Montrose vs. Canistota.

6:30 p.m.: Aberdeen Roncalli vs. Viborg/Hurley

8 p.m.: White River vs. James Valley Christian

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