Check out the pairings for the state high school boys basketball tournaments

RAPID CITY, S.D. –  The high school winter sports season wraps up this week with the state boys basketball tournaments in Rapid City, Sioux Falls and Aberdeen.

Twenty-four teams will be battling it out for a state title in their respective class.

State ‘A’ Boys Basketball Tournament in Sioux Falls

Pairings for Thursday, March 16

#8 Hot Springs vs #1 Dakota Valley          11 a.m.  MT

#5 Hamlin vs #4 Sioux Valley                    12:45 p.m.

#7 Elk Point-Jefferson vs #2 St. Thomas More             5 p.m.

#6 Mount Vernon-Plankinton vs #3 SF Christian         6:45 p.m.

St. Thomas More Preview

St. Thomas More is back in the state tournament for the fifth year in a row.

Last season, the Cavaliers finished in third place.

STM enters as the No. 2 seed with a record of 20-2.

The Cavaliers open the tournament against seventh seed Elk Point-Jefferson who is 17-5 on the season.

Senior Caleb Hollenbeck leads St. Thomas More with 22 points and 4 rebounds per game.

Meanwhile, the Huskies are led by six-foot five forward Easton Kempf who averages 14 points and 6.8 rebounds per contest.

Hot Springs Bison Preview

The Hot Springs Bison are back in the state boys basketball tournament for the first time in four years.

Hot Springs upset Rapid City Christian in the Region 8 semifinals.

Then the Bison surprised the Winner Warriors in the So-Dak 16.

Hot Springs enters the state tournament with a 19-4 record and will play top seed Dakota Valley in the opening round who is 23-0 on the year.

The Bison are led by a pair of juniors.

Josh Kleinsasser averages 14.2 points per game followed by Matt Close with 11.4.

On the other hand, the Bison will have to try and shut down Isaac Bruns who averages 26 points per contest.

Dakota Valley is looking to win its second straight state title.

State ‘AA’ Boys Basketball Tournament in Rapid City

Pairings for Thursday, March 16

#9 Harrisburg vs #1 SF Jefferson          12 p.m.  MT

#5 SF Washington vs #4 Yankton           1:45 p.m.

#7 SF Roosevelt vs #2 SF Lincoln            6 p.m.

#6 Pierre vs #3 Mitchell                             7:45 p.m.

State ‘B’ Boys Basketball Tournament in Aberdeen

Pairings for Thursday, March 16

#8 Castlewood vs #1 Lower Brule              11 a.m.  MT

#5 White River vs #4 Faith                         12:45 p.m.

#7 Ethan vs #2 Aberdeen Christian           5 p.m.

#6 Viborg-Hurley vs #3 De Smet               6:45 p.m.