Class A Results 

Class AA

The South Dakota High School Activities Association has released the playoff brackets for Class 11AAA through 11A.

To see the brackets follow these links:
11AAA
11AA
11A

The South Dakota High School Activities Association has released the schedule for the South Dakota high school football playoffs classes 11B through 9B.

To see each class follow the link:
11B
9AA
9A
9B

 Minnesota State was selected by the league coaches as the preseason favorite in the NSIC for the 2019-20 season. The Mavericks received 214 points, garnering seven first places votes to sit six points ahead of second place Augustana. The Vikings had 208 points and six first place votes. Minnesota Duluth was third with 196 points and the other three first place votes.
In the divisional rankings, Minnesota Duluth was the unanimous choice in the north, picking up all seven first place votes for 49 points. Northern State was second with 40 points and the other first place vote (coaches cannot vote for their own team). In the south, Minnesota State held the top spot with 47 points and five first place votes. Augustana was second with 44 points and the other three first place votes.

NSIC coaches rank each team from 1 to 15 with a first place vote receiving 15 points, second place 14, third place 13, etc. Coaches do not rank their own team or vote for their own players in the preseason poll.

The NSIC regular season championship will be based on the 22-game schedule. Each team will play teams in their division twice (14) and teams in the other division once (8). An NSIC North and South Division Champion will also be awarded. Divisional standings will also be based on all 22 NSIC contests played. In the case of a tie, co-champions will be awarded. The 16-team NSIC / Sanford Health Men’s Basketball Tournament Quarterfinals, Semifinals and Championships are set to take place Sat.-Tues., February 29 to March 3 at the Sanford Health Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. First round games will be played on the campus of the top eight seeds on Wednesday, Feb. 26.

The 2019-20 men’s basketball season gets underway on Friday, November 1 with Wayne State at the D2CCA Division II Tip Off Classic with the rest of the league starting up on Friday, November 8. Conference action beginning for the majority of teams on Saturday, November 30.

NSIC Players to Watch - 2019-20
Preseason Players of the Year in Italics (More info at link above)  
 

The North Border vs. Northwestern football game scheduled for Friday at 7:00 p.m. in Leola has been postponed.  The game will be played Saturday at 5:00 p.m. 

Class 11AAA
1. SF Roosevelt (22) 5-1 114 2
2. SF Lincoln (1) 5-1 90 3
3. Harrisburg 5-1 59 4
4. Brandon Valley 4-2 57 1
5. SF O’Gorman 4-2 25 5
Class 11AA
1. Pierre (23) 6-0 115 1
2. Brookings 6-0 92 2
3. Mitchell 3-3 63 3
4. Huron 3-3 47 4
5. Sturgis 2-4 23 NR
Receiving votes: Yankton 5.
Class 11A
1. Tea Area (17) 5-1 109 1
2. Dell Rapids (6) 6-0 98 2
3. Dakota Valley 4-2 55 3
4. Madison 3-3 37 5
5. Canton 4-2 24 RV
Receiving votes: Tri-Valley 20, West Central 2.
Class 11B
1. Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan (19) 6-0 111 1
2. Winner (4) 7-0 96 2
3. Webster Area 6-0 65 3
4. St. Thomas More 5-1 45 4
5. Mount Vernon/Plankinton 4-2 22 5
Receiving votes: McCook Central/Montrose 6.
Class 9AA
1. Bon Homme (22) 7-0 114 1
2. Viborg-Hurley (1) 6-0 93 2
3. Deuel 5-1 68 4
4. Parker 5-1 46 5
5. Hamlin 5-2 9 RV
Receiving votes: Arlington/Lake Preston 6, Baltic 5, Lemmon-McIntosh 4.
Class 9A
1. Sully Buttes (16) 6-0 105 1
2. Canistota/Freeman (6) 6-0 98 2
3. Britton-Hecla (1) 6-0 71 3
4. Howard 5-1 41 5
5. Gregory 5-1 26 4
Receiving votes: Warner 4.
Class 9B
1. Colman-Egan (21) 6-0 113 1
2. Dell Rapids St. Mary (2) 6-0 94 2
3. Wolsey-Wessington 4-2 62 3
4. Harding County 5-1 49 4
5. Herreid/Selby Area 5-1 24 5
Receiving votes: Alcester-Hudson 3.

Tackle football remains one of the most popular sports in America, but participation in high school football in South Dakota and across the United States is falling steadily as the risk of brain injuries from the sport becomes clearer.

Participation in 11-player boys football in South Dakota fell by 5.2% over the past three years, and dropped by 16.6% over the past decade, according to national survey data. Enrollment in high school grades stayed the same during that period.

Recent studies have shown that from 5% to 10% of youth football players will suffer a concussion — defined as a “mild traumatic brain injury” — at some point during a full season. With about 1 million athletes playing high school football in the U.S. annually, that means between 50,000 and 100,000 teens will suffer a concussion each year, not including those at the youth and junior high levels.

Supporters of football — including players, parents, coaches and association officials — see the sport as one that builds character, focuses on teamwork and is outright fun to play and watch. They also note that fear of injury is only one element of a complex decision that high school athletes make in terms of whether to play football or any sport.

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Class AA
Rank-School FPV Rcd TP Pvs
1. Watertown (19) 14-1 99 1
2. S.F. O'Gorman (1) 13-1 81 2
3. Huron - 10-4 44 RV
4. S.F. Roosevelt - 11-4 42 RV
5. Brandon Valley - 8-5 20 5
Others receiving votes: : S.F. Washington (10-5) 8, Aberdeen Central (8-4) 6.

Class A
Rank-School FPV Rcd TP Pvs
1. Dakota Valley (15) 17-1 95 1
2. Miller (2) 15-1 73 2
3. S.F. Christian - 15-8 72 3
4. McCook Central-Montrose - 15-3 37 4
5. Hill City - 21-0 18 5
Others receiving votes: Parker (16-6) 4, Groton Area (16-4) 1.

Class B
Rank-School FPV Rcd TP Pvs
1. Northwestern (20) 26-0 100 1
2. Faulkton Area - 15-3 76 2
3. Chester Area - 15-6 59 3
4. Faith - 15-2 33 5
5. Ethan - 15-3 15 RV
Others receiving votes: Burke (18-4) 11, Kadoka Area (19-2) 4, Gayville-Volin (17-4) 2.

The 2019-20 Summit League men's basketball season is expected to be a highly-contested journey all the way to the first week of March and a strong indicator of that is nearly half of the programs received first-place votes in the preseason poll.

And, after all the votes were tabulated, it was 2019 Tournament Champion North Dakota State that found itself on top of that poll after receiving 23 of 34 first-place votes from a panel of the league's nine head coaches, sports information directors and select media members. NDSU's ascension to the top of the preseason poll is the program's first since the 2013-14 season.

The Bison, who topped the poll with 526 points, captured the postseason event as the No. 4 seed with Tournament MVP Vinnie Shahid leading the way. Shahid was one of six players selected to the preseason all-league first team. Classmate Tyson Ward (12.4 ppg) was a second-team honoree.

South Dakota followed NDSU in second place with six first-place votes and 457 total points. The Coyotes are led by second-year head coach Todd Lee, who has Preseason Player of the Year Stanley Umude back to anchor a squad that went 7-9 in league play a year ago. Umude is the first Coyote to earn that distinction since USD joined the league prior to the 2011-12 season.

Lee also has two more preseason all-league team selections in Triston Simpson (first team) and Tyler Hagedorn (second team) back to aid in a potential championship run. Hagedorn was a preseason all-league selection a year ago as well, but missed the entire campaign due to injury.

With a pair of front-line starters back that landed on the preseason all-league first team, Oral Roberts was pegged to finish third in the poll with a trio of first-place votes and a 404-point total. Forwards Emmanuel Nzekwesi, a second team all-league performer last year, and 2019 Newcomer and Freshman of the Year Kevin Obanor both return to provide a potent inside threat.

Following its runner-up finish from a year ago, Omaha was picked to finish fourth with 369 points. Reigning Coach of the Year Derrin Hansen has a veteran squad back with three double-figure scorers returning to his lineup. Two members of the that trio, JT Gibson (12.9 ppg) and Matt Pile (11.2 ppg), were preseason all-second team selections.

South Dakota State's Eric Henderson inherits a Jackrabbits' squad that has won the last four regular-season titles. The former Jackrabbit assistant is one of two first-year coaches in the league and his team was picked to finish fifth with 300 points, while receiving the final two first-place votes.

Purdue Fort Wayne, who enters its final season as a league member, was picked to finish sixth with 224 points. Senior Matt Holba is the Mastodons top-returning scorer after averaging 11.7 ppg a year ago. He was picked as a preseason all-second team honoree.

Western Illinois, who became the first No. 8 seed in tournament history to knock off the top seed a year ago, was picked to finish seventh after totaling 188 points. The Leathernecks return the league's top returning scorer in Kobe Webster. The junior was a preseason first-team selection after averaging 17.0 ppg.

Like Henderson, North Dakota's Paul Sather is a first-year coach as he took over for the Fighting Hawks after a successful run in Division II at Northern State. His first UND squad was picked to finish eighth with 164 points after winning six league contests in its debut season as a league member last season.

Denver rounded out the poll in ninth place with 113 total points. Head coach Rodney Billups has a young core back that will look to bounce back from a three-win season in league play.

Points for the preseason poll were compiled on a 9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis, while all-league teams were compiled on an 11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis. The top six vote-getters earned first-team honors and the next five were selected to the second team. Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own student-athletes or team.

The 2020 Summit League Tournament will be March 7-10 at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center in Sioux Falls, S.D.

2019-20 Preseason Summit League Player of the Year
Stanley Umude – South Dakota

Preseason All-Summit League First Team
Emmanuel Nzekwesi, Oral Roberts, Sr., F (14.8 ppg/8.5 rpg/1.2 apg)
Kevin Obanor, Oral Roberts, So., F (14.4 ppg/7.2 rpg/0.5 apg)
Vinnie Shahid, North Dakota State, Sr., G (13.1 ppg/3.0 rpg/2.6 apg)
Triston Simpson, South Dakota, Sr., G (14.0 ppg/3.7 rpg/3.6 apg)
Stanley Umude, South Dakota, Jr., F (14.4 ppg/5.5 rpg/1.4 apg)*
Kobe Webster, Western Illinois, Jr., G (17.0 ppg/4.4 rpg/3.1 apg)

Preseason All-Summit League Second Team
Tyler Hagedorn, South Dakota, Sr., F (13.0 ppg/5.9 rpg/1.1 apg)#
JT Gibson, Omaha, Sr., G (12.9 ppg/2.8 rpg/2.1 apg)
Matt Holba, Purdue Fort Wayne, Sr., F (11.7 ppg/4.2 rpg/1.2 apg)
Matt Pile, Omaha, Jr., F (11.2 ppg/7.9 rpg/1.2 apg)
Tyson Ward, North Dakota State, Sr., F (12.4 ppg/6.2 rpg/2.3 apg)
*Preseason Player of the Year automatically earns a spot on first team
#Hagedorn's stats are from 2017-18 season

Preseason Poll

South Dakota and Coyote senior guard Ciara Duffy were named The Summit League preseason favorite and Preseason Player of the Year, respectively, for the upcoming 2019-20 women's basketball season.

The Coyotes, who topped the preseason poll with 527 points, were selected as preseason favorites for the first time since joining the league in 2011. South Dakota received 20 of the 34 first-place votes in the preseason poll, while the remaining 14 went to reigning Summit League Tournament Champion South Dakota State (2^nd; 496 points; 13 first-place votes) and Denver (3^rd; 394 points; 1 first-place vote).

Duffy was voted The Summit League Women's Basketball Player of the Year after receiving 28 of the 34 first-place votes.  Joining Duffy on the Preseason All-Summit League First Team is teammate Hannah Sjerven, South Dakota State forwards Myah Selland and Tagyn Larson along with Denver forward Madison Nelson and guard Lauren Loven.

The Preseason All-Summit League Second Team is made up of the South Dakota duo of guards Chloe Lamb and Madison McKeever and accompanied by South Dakota State guard Tylee Irwin, Western Illinois guard Olivia Kaufmann and Oral Roberts guard Keni Jo Lippe.

Points for the preseason poll were compiled on a 9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis, while all-league teams were compiled on an 11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis. The top six vote-getters earned first-team honors and the next five were selected to the second team. Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own student-athletes or team.

The 2019-20 campaign begins in just under a month as South Dakota (at Northeastern), Oral Roberts (vs. Central Christian), Denver (at Kansas City), Purdue Fort Wayne (vs. Purdue Northwest) and Omaha (vs. Creighton) all play on opening night (Nov. 5). The Summit League regular season begins on Dec. 29 with three conference matchups.

The 2020 Summit League Tournament will be March 7-10 at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center in Sioux Falls, S.D.

2019-20 Preseason Summit League Player of the Year
Ciara Duffy – South Dakota

Preseason All-Summit League First Team
Ciara Duffy, South Dakota, Sr., G (14.6 ppg/4.7 rpg/2.9 apg)
Tagyn Larson, South Dakota State, Sr., F (10.5 ppg/6.4 rpg/1.7 apg)
Lauren Loven, Denver, Sr., G (14.3 ppg/1.9 rpg/1.6 apg)
Madison Nelson, Denver, Sr., F (16.5 ppg/8.9 rpg/1.0 bpg)
Myah Selland, South Dakota State, Jr., F (12.5 ppg/5.4 rpg/3.3 apg)
Hannah Sjerven, South Dakota, Jr., C (11.8 ppg/5.9 rpg/1.9 bpg) 

Preseason All-Summit League Second Team
Tylee Irwin, South Dakota State, Jr., G (7.5 ppg/3.7 rpg/1.7 apg)
Olivia Kaufmann, Western Illinois, Sr., G (16.0 ppg/5.4 rpg/3.8 apg)
Chloe Lamb, South Dakota, Jr., G (9.6 ppg/2.7 rpg/1.6 apg)
Keni Jo Lippe, Oral Roberts, Jr., G (13.3 ppg/5.2 rpg/1.9 apg)
Madison McKeever, South Dakota, Sr., G (7.8 ppg/2.9 rpg/1.9 apg) 

*Preseason player of the year automatically earns a spot on the first team

Preseason Poll

Class 11AAA
1. Brandon Valley (20) 4-1 112 1

2. SF Roosevelt (3) 4-1 95 2

3. SF Lincoln 4-1 58 4

4. Harrisburg 4-1 54 3

5. SF O'Gorman 3-2 26 5

Class 11AA

1. Pierre (23) 5-0 115 1

2. Brookings 5-0 92 2

3. Mitchell 3-2 68 3

4. Huron 3-2 43 5

5. Yankton 2-3 27 4

Class 11A

1. Tea Area (19) 4-1 111 1

2. Dell Rapids (4) 5-0 92 2

3. Dakota Valley 4-1 73 3

4. SF Christian 3-2 32 5

5. Madison 2-3 22 4

Receiving votes: Canton 14, Tri-Valley 1.

Class 11B
1. Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan (20) 6-0 112 1

2. Winner (3) 6-0 95 2

3. Webster Area 5-0 58 3

4. St. Thomas More 4-1 37 5

5. Mount Vernon/Plankinton 3-2 27 4

Receiving votes: Mobridge-Pollock 15, McCook Central/Montrose 1.

Class 9AA
1. Bon Homme (20) 6-0 112 1

2. Viborg-Hurley (3) 5-0 95 2

3. Baltic 4-1 52 5

4. Deuel 4-1 44 4

5. Parker 4-1 31 3

Receiving votes: Lemmon-McIntosh 9, Hamlin 2.

Class 9A
1. Sully Buttes (13) 5-0 102 1

2. Canistota/Freeman (9) 5-0 100 2

3. Britton-Hecla (1) 5-0 71 3

4. Gregory 5-0 47 5

T-5. Howard 4-1 12 RV

T-5. Kimball/White Lake 4-1 12 4

Receiving votes: Warner 1.

Class 9B
1. Colman-Egan (21) 5-0 113 1

2. Dell Rapids St. Mary (2) 5-0 94 2

3. Wolsey-Wessington 3-2 67 3

4. Harding County 4-1 40 5

5. Herreid/Selby Area 4-1 20 RV

Receiving votes: Alcester-Hudson 9, Langford Area 2.

Class AA
1. Watertown (15) 12-1 83 1
2. O'Gorman (2) 11-1 70 2
3. S.F. Washington 10-3 48 3
4. Aberdeen Central 7-2 29 5
5. Brandon Valley 7-4 12 4
Receiving Votes: S.F. Roosevelt (10-4) 7, Huron (8-4) 4, S.F. Lincoln (9-5) 2
Class A
1. Dakota Valley (8) 15-1 75 3
2. Miller (6) 14-1 66 2
3. S.F. Christian (3) 12-9 61 1
4. McCook Central-Montrose 13-3 31 4
5. Hill City 19-0 19 5
Receiving Votes: Parker (14-5) 3
Class B
1. Northwestern (17) 20-0 85 1
2. Faulkton Area 13-3 62 2
3. Chester Area 13-6 35 4
4. Burke 14-2 28 3
5. Faith 14-2 21 RV
Receiving Votes: Ethan (13-2) 12, Warner (8-7) 9, Kadoka Area (13-