South Dakota Class AA Boys Tournament Field Filled with History
Eight teams are heading to Rapid City for a chance to win a state basketball championship. For most, it would add to a very rich history.
This year's tournament field includes Aberdeen Central, Brookings, Harrisburg, Huron, Pierre, Rapid City Stevens, Sioux Falls Lincoln, and Sioux Falls O'Gorman. Between those eight teams, a combined 40 state championships have been won dating back to 1913.
Aberdeen Central has made the most state tournament appearances with 72 since 1913. It is Huron, however, that has the most championships out of the field of eight. The Tigers have won 11 titles with their first one coming in 1917.
Lincoln has appeared in the last three championship games, and have won the last two. O'Gorman is looking to get back into the title game for the first time since 2012.
Harrisburg is the only team that has not won a Class AA title out of the field. They transitioned to Class AA in 2014 and will make their first Class AA state tournament appearance. They did win a title back in 1960 in Class B.
Here's a full breakdown of the history for each team. Appearances do NOT count this current season, and they include full history of all classes they have appeared in.
Aberdeen Central
- 72 appearances
- 8-12 in championship games
- 1-5 in Class AA championship games
- Last title: 1988 (AA)
Brookings
- 34 appearances
- 5-4 in championship games
- 1-1 in Class AA championship games
- Last title: 1987 (AA)
Harrisburg
- 4 appearances *Making first AA appearance this season*
- 1-0 in championship games
- 0-0 in Class AA championship games
- Last title: 1960 (B)
Huron
- 50 appearances
- 11-5 in championship games
- 2-1 in Class AA championship games
- Last title: 2004 (AA)
Pierre TF Riggs
- 44 appearances
- 4-3 in championship games
- 1-2 in Class AA championship games
- Last title: 2013 (AA)
Rapid City Stevens
- 18 appearances
- 1-2 in championship games
- 1-1 in Class AA championship games
- Last title: 1989 (AA)
Lincoln
- 33 appearances
- 5-5 in championship games
- 3-4 in Class AA championship games
- Last title: 2016 (also won 2015)
O'Gorman
- 17 appearances
- 5-4 in championship games
- 5-4 in Class AA championship games
- Last title: 2012 (capped off three straight championships 2010-2012)