March in South Dakota isn't really about the weather, even if the wind is trying to blow your truck off I-90. It’s about the squeak of sneakers on hardwood and the smell of popcorn in arenas from Rapid City to Aberdeen. If you weren’t there, you missed a wild ride. The south dakota state high school basketball tournament 2025 wasn't just another set of games; it was a weekend where legends like Griffen Goodbary and Bryon Laue basically put their teams on their backs and refused to let go.
Honestly, high school hoops in this state is different. It’s tribal. You’ve got entire towns emptying out—literally leaving "Closed for State" signs on the cafe door—to drive five hours and scream until they lose their voices.
The Big School Showdown: Class AA
Down in Rapid City at The Monument, the Class AA boys' bracket was a meat grinder. Everyone was looking at Mitchell and Brandon Valley, and for good reason. These two programs have a history of playing physical, smart basketball that makes coaches elsewhere lose sleep.
The championship game was a defensive masterclass. Brandon Valley pulled off a 53-45 win over Mitchell, and if you like old-school, gritty basketball, this was your Super Bowl. Briggs Knutson led the Lynx with 17 points, showing why he’s one of the most composed guards in the state. Mitchell stayed in it thanks to Gavin Hinker’s 15 points, but Brandon Valley’s length on the perimeter eventually choked out the Kernels' shooters.
On the girls' side, the narrative was all about the Sioux Falls powerhouses. It’s kinda expected at this point, but it doesn't make the execution any less impressive. Bishop O'Gorman and Brandon Valley met in a title fight that felt more like an MMA match than a basketball game. Brandon Valley managed the sweep—taking home both the boys and girls AA trophies—marking a historic year for that school district.
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Small Town, Big Dreams: The Class B Magic
If Class AA is about polish and size, Class B is about heart and shooting percentages that shouldn't be possible in a high-pressure arena. This year, the Barnett Center in Aberdeen was rocking. The "B" is where you see the kids who have been playing together since third grade.
Castlewood absolutely dominated. They took down Viborg-Hurley 52-31 in the final. It wasn't even as close as the score looked. Bryon Laue put up a double-double (13 points, 10 rebounds) and looked like a man among boys. Watching him work the paint is basically a lesson in footwork.
- Championship: Castlewood 52, Viborg-Hurley 31
- Third Place: St. Mary’s 71, Wessington Springs 54
- Consolation Champ: Wall 79, Freeman 67
Wall’s performance in the consolation bracket was a highlight for me. Teelan Kjerstad and Emmet Dinger combined for 51 points in their final game. That’s just pure scoring instinct.
Redemption in Class A
The story of the Class A tournament was Sioux Falls Christian. Last year left a bitter taste in their mouths, but 2025 was about redemption. They faced off against Hamlin in a title rematch that had the whole gym on edge.
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Griffen Goodbary was the story. Period. He dropped 32 points and grabbed 15 rebounds. In a 32-minute high school game, those are video game numbers. Sioux Falls Christian won 61-51, finally getting that trophy back.
The Class A girls' tournament provided one of the biggest surprises with Bennett County making a massive run. They knocked out the defending champs, Centerville, in a 44-41 thriller during the semifinals. The O'Neill sisters (Peyson and Reagan) both notched double-doubles in that game. It was a classic "nobody believed in us" moment that makes high school sports so addictive.
Beyond the Scoreboard: The Impact
We often talk about these games like they’re just stats, but for a kid from a town like Castlewood or Wall, this is the peak. It affects local economies, sure—hotels are booked months in advance—but it also builds a sense of identity.
One thing people get wrong about South Dakota basketball is thinking it's "slower" than the national game. Tell that to the guys in the AA bracket who are 6'8" and can run a floor like a deer. The athleticism has spiked in the last five years, largely due to better year-round training and the influence of the local universities like SDSU and USD.
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What to Watch for in 2026
If you're already looking ahead, keep an eye on the sophomore classes in the Class A and B ranks. We saw a lot of young talent getting meaningful minutes this year because of injuries or shortened rotations. The talent pipeline isn't drying up anytime soon.
The south dakota state high school basketball tournament 2025 proved that even in an era of NIL and transfer portals at the college level, pure high school hoops still has a soul. It’s about the name on the front of the jersey and the people in the stands who knew you when you were in diapers.
How to stay involved for next season:
- Support Local: Go to the regular-season games. These kids play harder when the gym is full.
- Follow SDPB: South Dakota Public Broadcasting does the best job in the country of covering state tournaments. Watch their archives to see the shooting mechanics of the 2025 winners.
- Check the SDHSAA site: Keep an eye on the 2026 calendar. Locations rotate, and you'll want to book your hotel in Rapid City, Sioux Falls, or Aberdeen as soon as the brackets are teased.
Don't wait until March to start paying attention. The work for 2026 started the Monday after the 2025 trophies were handed out.