RAPID CITY — Top-seeded and unbeaten Sioux Falls Lincoln is set to meet third-seeded Huron for the 2026 state Class AA boys basketball champion.
Lincoln (23-0) slipped past fourth-seeded Harrisburg 53-48 and Huron (19-4) downed second-seeded Sioux Falls Roosevelt 53-44 in semifinal games on Friday, March 20, 2026, at the Ice Arena in The Monument.
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Lincoln and Huron will meet for the state championship at about 7:45 p.m. Central on Saturday, March 21. In other games, it’s Tea Area vs. O’Gorman for seventh place at noon, Watertown vs. Brandon Valley in the consolation champion at 1:45 p.m. and Harrisburg vs. Roosevelt for third place at 6 p.m.
Sam DeGroot scored 24 points, Brody Schafer 11 and Sam Ericsson nine for SFL. Stellen Larson’s 14 points and eight rebounds paced Harrisburg. Cole Kooiker and Crayton Jibben each added 11 points.
Huron converted 28 of 32 free throws to hold off Roosevelt in the second semifinals. Blake Ellwein made 15 of 17 free throws and led all players with 23 points and 13 rebounds. Anderson Porisch tacked on 13 points and Myles Ellwein eight. Deondre Painter (14 points), Memphis Bylander (10 points) and Bryson Skogsberg (eight rebounds) led SFR.
Watertown’s Kaden Decker (11) defends against Tea Area’s Gavin Shawd during their consolation semifinal game in the state Class AA boys basketball tournament on Friday, March 20, 2026, at the Ice Arena in The Monument at Rapid City.
Friday’s Consolation Semifinals
Watertown 73, Tea Area 68
Watertown avenged a regular-season loss to Tea Area by overcoming a 49-40 deficit late in the third quarter. The Arrows outscored the Titans 32-17 in the final period.
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Carter Buisker led the charge for the Arrows with 34 points. Jackson McClemans added 24 points and Jack Mack 10 rebounds.
Tea Area’s Gavin Shawd led all scorers with 40 points. Grifin Wiebenga contributed 16 points and Kayden Williamson eight rebounds.
STATE A BOYS BASKETBALL: Top seeds Sioux Falls Christian, West Central to meet for State A boys’ title
Brandon Valley 57, O’Gorman 52
Brayden Knutson produced 17 points, Austin Dowd 13, Lincoln McInerney 12 and Ayuel Deng nine for Brandon Valley. Dowd also snared eight rebounds.
Mason Clark’s 22 points and Jaxson Weeldreyer’s 10 paced O’Gorman.
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Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on X (formerly known as Twitter) @PO_Sports or email: rmerriam@thepublicopinion.com
This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Final two days of state AA high school boys basketball tournament
