As the pool of remaining teams gets smaller, the games get bigger.
As Class AA girls' basketball teams begin district play, the teams in Class A and B move on to the regions where one game is all that separates teams from a state tournament berth.
|District 3AA|
|Today, Thursday|
|7 p.m. at higher seeds|
This district contains two of the state's top three Class AA teams and the top three squads in the Eastern South Dakota Conference.
Aberdeen Central got the nod as the top seed and will host throughout the district and the region, if needed. Action gets under way tonight with Aberdeen Central (18-1) hosting Huron (4-16) at 7 p.m. at Golden Eagles Arena in Aberdeen. In the other half of the bracket, Pierre (10-10) travels to Mitchell (18-2) for a 7 p.m. game at the Corn Palace.
The Golden Eagles beat Huron twice during the regular season, but the Tigers are an interesting matchup. Huron relies on its outside shooting and Aberdeen's strength is inside. The Golden Eagles need to stop Huron's outside shooters.
A possible scenario for the district final could have Central and Mitchell facing off for the third time this season. The two teams split during the regular season by winning at home. Aberdeen would host if that matchup happens.
|Region 1A|
|Tuesday|
|7 p.m. at Groton|
Aberdeen Roncalli is one step away from a place the Cavaliers have never gone; the State A Girls' Basketball Tournament.
The Cavaliers, Northeast East Conference champions, lost to Herreid-Selby Area, St. Thomas More and Warner during the regular season. Roncalli has won eight games in a row including a win over Summit.
Aberdeen Roncalli (17-3) plays Milbank (13-8) at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Groton, a neutral site. The Cavaliers beat Milbank 57-44 in the regular season but the game was closer than the final margin. Milbank last advanced to the state tournament in 2006 and 2007.
This game has two questions. Can Milbank handle Aberdeen's pressure defense? Can Roncalli find enough offense?
|Region 6A|
|Friday|
|7 p.m. at Gettysburg|
On paper, this region clash between Chamberlain and Cheyenne-Eagle Butte looks heavily slanted in favor of Chamberlain.
The Cubs only loss of the season was to Parkston, and Chamberlain beat Cheyenne-Eagle Butte 46-32 in their only meeting of the season. Chamberlain (20-1) has an 18-game winning streak. CEB (13-8) lost four of six games to end the regular season.
Cheyenne-Eagle Butte last played in the State A tournament in 2009 and Chamberlain has not advanced to state since 2005.
|Region 1B|
|Friday|
|7 p.m. at Milbank|
This region features a gigantic clash between two of the state's best.
Summit (21-1) takes on Warner (21-1) at 7 p.m. Friday at Milbank. In their only meeting of the regular season, Summit beat Warner at Warner by a score of 52-41. Both teams rolled during the regular season and picked up conference crowns along the way.
Both teams are well-coached, have height and are used to playing big games on big stages. Summit has qualified for every state tournament since 2006. In the last four seasons, the Eagles have won three titles and finished second once. Warner last qualified for the state tourney in 1996. The Monarch girls have a 55-1 record in volleyball and basketball this school season.
|Region 3B|
|Thursday|
|7 p.m. at Gettysburg|
This region brings together two teams with successful histories in girls' basketball.
Sully Buttes (19-3) will play Herreid-Selby Area (21-1) on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Gettysburg. Sully Buttes lost to Warner, Deuel (Class A) and Herreid-Selby Area 52-50 this season. The Wolverines only loss was to Summit.
Sully Buttes finished second at the State B Tournament last season and has played in a total of eight state tourneys. Selby Area has seven state tournament appearances, the last in 2004. The cooperative, Herreid-Selby Area, has never played in a state tourney.
|Region 8B|
|Tuesday|
|7 p.m. at Faith|
If the goal is to get hot at state tournament time, Newell is doing things the right way.
Newell has an eight-game winning streak and knocked off previously undefeated Lemmon in the district final.
Newell (16-6) will play Timber Lake (15-7) at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at Faith. Timber Lake beat Newell by one point in the first game of the year.
Newell has played in seven state tournaments; four in Class A and three in B. The Irrigators last tourney appearance was 2011. Timber Lake has also advanced to seven state tourneys with the last one in 2007.