It’s a guard-dominant Class B boys basketball all-state team.
The six first-team selections are all backcourt players that can shoot, dribble, score and defend. They also headline this year’s Class B boys basketball all-state first-team, which was announced today by the South Dakota High School Basketball Coaches Association. Fourteen of the 18 selections are perimeter-oriented players.
The first-team includes De Smet sophomore Kalen Garry, Northwestern senior Zech Clemens, Dell Rapids St. Mary junior Connor Libis, Aberdeen Christian senior Andrew Rohrbach, Hanson senior Reggie Slaba and Sully Buttes senior Nick Wittler.
Slaba, who is making his first all-state appearance, had a breakout season for the Beavers. He logged 21.5 points, 3 rebounds and 3 steals per game. The 6-footer knocked down a school-record 75 3-pointers and put down a handful of breakaway jams this season. The first Hanson player selected to the first team since Jordan Marquardt in 2015, Slaba finished with 1,011 career points. He also recorded 193 rebounds, 160 assists and 76 steals in his career. He poured in a school-record 47 points against Mount Vernon/Plankinton and drilled a school-record 11 3-pointers in a game last season. Slaba will run track and field next season at South Dakota State University.
“Reggie is the epitome of what it takes to become a successful player,” Hanson coach Josh Oltmanns said. “He has spent countless hours in the gym working on his game and becoming one of the best players I have had the privilege to coach in my career. Reggie has always been undersized and has used that as motivation to work harder than his opponents.”
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Garry, who guided De Smet to a 21-2 record before the season was canceled by the coronavirus pandemic, is the Class B player of the year, as selected by the coaches. A 6-foot-2 shooting guard, Garry is a budding player in the prep basketball scene. He averaged team-highs in points (21) and rebounds (6.5), while also racking up team-bests in steals (35) and 3-pointers made (39). Garry poured in 482 points this season and sits at 1,041 points after 49 career games. A second-team selection last season, Garry is the first De Smet player selected to the Class B all-state first-team since Josh McNames in 1995.
“Kalen is the player he is today mainly because he has a passion for competition and loves the game,” De Smet coach Jeff Gruenhagen said. “Kalen is always working on his game, whether that is shooting at the gym or hitting the weight room. He is great to have in practice as he gives his best every day and pushes his teammates.”
A 6-foot-4 shooting guard, Clemens is a repeat first-team selection. He’s the first Northwestern player named to the all-state first-team for two straight seasons since twin brothers Chad and Scott Boekelheide in 1990 and ‘91.
Clemens registered 23.6 points, 6.7 rebounds and recorded 62 steals this season. The uber-athletic Clemens also broke away for several slam dunks in his career. A future Northern State University basketball player, Clemens finished as Northwestern’s all-time leading scorer with 1,725 career points.
“Zech is an overall all-around player,” Northwestern coach Anthony Redman said. “He had to do everything for us this year. He can get to the rim off the dribble and finish at the rim and make free throws. He can shoot threes and his bread and butter is pump fake one dribble jump shot. He was our point at times during the season and he could find the open man.”
Libis is also a repeat first-team honoree. He’s the first player from Dell Rapids St. Mary selected to consecutive first-team all-state teams since current coach Colby Fitzgerald in 2003 and ‘04.
Libis continued to pump in the points during his junior campaign. Libis averaged 25.3 points and 4.3 rebounds per game this season. The 5-foot-9 scoring guard has 2,141 points and 280 3-pointers through 106 career games.
“Connor is a kid who always comes ready to play whether it is a practice, workout, or game,” Fitzgerald said. “He is always putting in the extra time and it shows on game days. Connor has been one of our team leaders over the past few seasons which attributes to a lot of our success. He has a knack for scoring and is always improving his all-around game.”
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Rohrbach and the Knights made school history this season. A third-team selection last season, Rohrbach is the first Aberdeen Christian player selected to the first-team in program history. Rohrbach was a driving force for the Knights, who qualified for the state tournament for the first time in school history.
A 6-foot point guard, stuffed the stat sheet to the tune of 18.8 points, 8 rebounds, 7.1 assists and 2.9 steals per game. He finished with 1,416 career points, which is second all-time in program history behind brother Matt Rohrbach (1,477). Andrew Rohrbach also racked up 557 rebounds, 485 assists and 231 steals during his career. He will play basketball next season at Northern State.
“Andrew has been an excellent leader and point guard for us,” said Aberdeen Christian coach David Rohrbach, who is Andrew’s brother. “He averaged nearly 19 points a game this year and can really score the ball. What I appreciate most about him is his relentless attitude with which he plays. It shows in him averaging over eight rebounds and nearly three steals per game.”
Wittler lands on the first team for the second straight season. He’s the first Sully Buttes player selected to consecutive all-state first-teams since former teammate Lincoln Jordre in 2017 and ‘18.
Wittler guided the Chargers to their fourth consecutive state tournament appearance. The 6-foot-1 Wittler posted 23.7 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game in his senior campaign. He erupted for a pair of 40-point games this season, including a masterpiece against Potter County in the Region 2B tournament. Against the Battlers, he poured in 25 points in the second half and all 18 of the team’s fourth quarter points.
Wittler, who finished with 1,616 career points, was at his best late in games. In the state championship game his sophomore season, Wittler buried a barrage of 3-pointers to power a comeback win over Clark/Willow Lake. He will play basketball next season at Dakota Wesleyan University.
“Nick has the ability to completely take over a game with his ability to score in so many ways, as well as make plays on the defensive end,” Sully Buttes coach Brian White said. “When the lights are brightest, I want Nick Wittler on my team. He is very simply one of the best players to ever come through our community and he's not replaceable. He has meant so much to our community and he will be missed.”
Second-team all-state honorees include Bridgewater-Emery senior Chase Arend, Sanborn Central/Woonsocket senior Noah Dickson, Ethan senior Brady Hawkins, Arlington senior Trey Ramstad, White River senior Nick Sayler and Colman-Egan senior Dalton Voelker.
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Third-team all-state selections include Harding County senior Zack Anders, Burke senior Jaden Frank, Viborg-Hurley junior Chase Mason, Canistota junior Tyce Ortman, Viborg-Hurley junior Gradee Sherman and Platte-Geddes junior Kelby VanDerWerff.
2020 Class B Boys All-State Basketball Team
As selected by the South Dakota Basketball Coaches Association
FIRST TEAM
Kalen Garry, De Smet, 6-2, Guard, Sophomore -- 21 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 39 3-pointers, 35 steals.
Zech Clemens, Northwestern, 6-4, Guard, Senior -- 24.2 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 62 steals.
Connor Libis, Dell Rapids St. Mary, 5-9, Guard, Junior -- 25.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 42% on field goals.
Andrew Rohrbach, Aberdeen Christian, 6-0, Guard, Senior -- 18.8 ppg, 8 rpg, 7.1 apg, 2.9 spg.
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Reggie Slaba, Hanson, 6-0, Guard, Senior -- 21.5 ppg, 3 rpg, 3 spg, 75 3-pointers.
Nick Wittler, Sully Buttes, 6-1, Guard, Senior -- 23.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.3 spg.
SECOND TEAM
Chase Arend, Bridgewater-Emery, 5-11, Guard, Senior -- 20.4 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 5.4 apg, 79 steals.
Noah Dickson, Sanborn Central/Woonsocket, 6-4, Guard/Forward, Senior -- 20 ppg, 11 rpg, 2.8 spg.
Brady Hawkins, Ethan, 6-3, Guard/Forward, Senior -- 20.2 ppg, 13 rpg, 2.5 apg.
Trey Ramstad, Arlington, 6-2, Guard, Senior -- 18.2 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 6.5 apg.
Nick Sayler, White River, 6-1, Guard/Forward, Senior -- 16.7 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 3.1 spg, 2.5 apg.
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Dalton Voelker, Colman-Egan, 6-5, Forward, Senior -- 22.2 ppg, 13 rpg, 2.6 apg.
THIRD TEAM
Zack Anders, Harding County, 5-11, Guard, Senior -- 20.4 ppg, 7.2 apg, 5.9 rpg, 2.8 spg.
Jaden Frank, Burke, 6-3, Guard/Forward, Senior -- 22 ppg, 5 rpg, 4 apg, 93 steals, 42 blocks.
Chase Mason, Viborg-Hurley, 6-4, Guard, Junior -- 11 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 2.6 apg, 34 steals, 11 blocks.
Tyce Ortman, Canistota, 5-11, Guard, Junior -- 14.7 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 4.2 apg, 74 steals.
Gradee Sherman, Viborg-Hurley, 6-4, Forward/Center, Junior -- 17.2 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 2.6 apg, 28 steals, 15 blocks.
Kelby VanDerWerff, Platte-Geddes, 6-5, Forward, Junior -- 15.3 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 2.2 apg.
