The Madison boys' basketball team will get a chance at revenge tonight when it faces Platte-Geddes at about 8:30 p.m. at the 27th annual Hanson Boys Classic, which is held at the Corn Palace.
Madison lost to the Black Panthers in last year's Class A state title game, 55-42. The No.1-ranked Bulldogs (10-0) and No. 4 Platte-Geddes (7-1) is the last game scheduled during the eight-game Hanson Classic Saturday night.
Platte-Geddes' only loss this season came against Sioux Falls Christian earlier this season at the Parkston Classic.
Just like the Parkston Classic, the Hanson Classic will be experimenting with halves. The halves will be 16 minutes each, instead of 18 minutes like the Parkston Classic used. There will also be a 35-second shot clock in effect. The Hanson and Parkston Classics are two of many Class A and B tournaments around the state to experiment with the shot clock and halves this season.
Another highlighted matchup on the day is a battle of two unbeatens. The Parkston Trojans are currently ranked No. 4 in Class A, are 10-0 and will face the top-ranked team in Class B, the Hanson Beavers, at approximately 7 p.m.
ADVERTISEMENT
Parkston's closest game this season came on Jan. 15 against district opponent Wagner. Parkston squeaked out with a 56-55 win. Hanson had back-to-back three-point wins in January against Mount Vernon and Howard.
Hanson is currently 9-0 on the season and is one of three teams in Class B still undefeated and Parkston is one of four Class A teams undefeated in the state.
One of the other teams from Class B that is undefeated is a surprising Mitchell Christian team, which is currently ranked No. 6 in the state. The Eagles will take on Langford at about 2:30 p.m.
Mitchell Christian (10-0) came into the season without the preseason rankings it had the past two years, but after dominating its first nine opponents by an average of 21.1 points per game, the Eagles are back on top of the Class B ranks.
Langford is currently 4-3 on the season.
Another battle between two Class A ranked teams is at 5:30 p.m., when No. 3 Sioux Valley (11-0) takes on No.6 St. Thomas More (9-1).
Both teams are currently undefeated against South Dakota teams, as St. Thomas More lost to Beatrice, Neb., on Dec. 30. After that, St. Thomas More hasn't beaten an opponent by fewer than nine points. Its biggest win was Tuesday against Newell by 47 points.
To open the day, the Avon Pirates (2-7) will play Chester (5-7) at 10 a.m. Avon grabbed its second win of the season Thursday against Andes Central.
ADVERTISEMENT
Sully Buttes (4-5) and Stickney (5-3) are scheduled to play at 11:30 a.m. Stickney's losses this season have come against some very strong opponents. It lost to Wagner (7-2), undefeated Parkston and 9-1 Hitchcock-Tulare.
To start the afternoon, Clark/Willow Lake will play McCook Central/Montrose at 1 p.m. Both teams are 7-2.
At 4 p.m., two out-of-area Class A ranked teams will play. No. 10 Red Cloud faces No. 9 Sisseton. Red Cloud is currently 9-2.
Admission is $7 for adults and $4 for students and is good for all eight games. Games will start 10 minutes following the completion of the previous game.
