ESD champion Kernels land Dylan Soulek, Steele Morgan on all-conference boys basketball squad

Mitchell's Dylan Soulek (23) drives around a Watertown defender along the baseline during a Class AA SoDak 16 state-qualifying boys basketball game on Saturday, March 4, 2023, at the Corn Palace.

By Landon Dierks

March 07, 2023 at 12:03 PM

MITCHELL — Seniors Dylan Soulek and Steele Morgan represented Mitchell on the all-Eastern South Dakota Conference boys basketball team, announced in a release on Monday.

Soulek, a 6-foot-3 guard, led the Kernels in scoring at 13.2 points along with 4.8 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game.

He scored in double figures in 17 of 21 games, including a season-high 25 points in the ESD title-clinching game at Brandon Valley, and dished out five or more assists nine times, with a season-best eight against Campbell County (Wyo.) in the Hoop City Classic.

Morgan, who was also an all-conference performer in 2021-22, pulled down a team-best 7.4 rebounds and ranked second with 11.7 points and 2.2 assists per game.

He reached double figures in scoring in 16 of 21 games, with a season-best 18 points against Thunder Basin (Wyo.) in the Hoop City Classic, and collected 10 or more rebounds five times, with a season-high 14 boards against Watertown in the SoDak 16.

Mitchell won the ESD outright for the second-straight season, finishing with a 7-1 mark in conference play, trailed by Brandon Valley and Yankton in a tie for second at 6-2.

Mitchell's Steele Morgan (44) handles the ball while looking to pass around a Watertown defender along the baseline during a Class AA SoDak 16 state-qualifying boys basketball game on Saturday, March 4, 2023, at the Corn Palace.

Eastern South Dakota Conference all-conference team (listed alphabetically by last name)
Spencer Barr, sr., Aberdeen Central
Ethan Determan, sr., Harrisburg
Jackson Edman, sr., Pierre
Lincoln Kienholz, sr., Pierre
Jacoby Mehrman, jr., Harrisburg
Lukas Morgan, jr., Brandon Valley
Steele Morgan, sr., Mitchell
Rugby Ryken, sr., Yankton
Dylan Soulek, sr., Mitchell
Reilyn Zavesky, sr., Huron

Honorable Mention
Drew Ryken, sr., Yankton

By Landon Dierks

Dierks covers prep and collegiate athletics across the Mitchell Republic's coverage region area, focusing on Mitchell High School football and boys basketball and area high school football, volleyball and basketball, as well as Dakota Wesleyan women's basketball. He was also the lead on the Mitchell Republic Gridiron Spotlight, producing video and providing live play-by-play for the traveling weekly prep football broadcast during its first season in the fall of 2021. Dierks is a Mitchell native who graduated from South Dakota State University with his bachelor's degree in journalism in May 2020. He joined the Mitchell Republic sports staff in August 2021. He can be reached at ldierks@mitchellrepublic.com and found on Twitter at @LDierksy.

ESD champion Kernels land Dylan Soulek, Steele Morgan on all-conference boys basketball squad

Morgan was a repeat selection from 2021-22, while Soulek was named all-conference for the first time.