One weeks remains in the South Dakota high school regular season for Class 11B and the three nine-man divisions, with final postseason positioning on the line across the region come Friday night.

From undefeated squads aiming to secure top seeds and home-field advantage to teams looking to make a late push into the 16-team playoff fields, the area has programs facing many different circumstances this week.

Here’s a look at where every Mitchell-area team stands ahead of this week’s regular-season finales.

Battling for a spot at the top of the crowded standings is unbeaten Woonsocket/Wessington Springs/Sanborn Central (7-0). The Bucks are one of three undefeated teams remaining in the class, not to mention three more one-loss squads. WWSSC is currently tied with one-loss Clark/Willow Lake for No. 3, while the other two unbeatens, Elk Point-Jefferson and St. Thomas More, are tied for first.

The last step toward the postseason isn’t an easy one for the Bucks, who host a Mount Vernon/Plankinton squad on Friday that has played several top teams close and is gaining momentum behind a two-game win streak.

Not far behind, Wagner (5-2) enters the final week of the regular season at No. 5 in the standings. The Red Raiders are the top two-loss team due to a strength of schedule that ranks in the top eight of the class. With an idle date last week to regroup from losses to WWSSC and EPJ, Wagner looks to get back on track before the playoffs by hosting one-win Miller/Highmore-Harrold on Friday.

Having faced the most difficult schedule in the class with an opponent win percentage of .678, Mount Vernon/Plankinton (3-4) stands at No. 10. The Titans could still have a shot at a top-eight seed and a home game by pairing an upset win over WWSSC with losses by a couple of teams directly in front of them, such as No. 9 Parker, No. 8 Mobridge-Pollock and No. 7 Sioux Valley.

Landon Dierks / Mitchell Republic

Right behind MVP is a trio of area teams with eight games already in the books. Chamberlain (4-4) and Winner (4-4) are tied at No. 11 in the standings, and both accepted the challenge of playing a ninth regular-season game. That happens to be one contest, as the Cubs visit the Warriors on Friday. McCook Central/Montrose (5-3) is currently in line for the 13-seed but awaits its final positioning.

With work to do in its final game in order to qualify for the postseason, Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan (2-5) is tied with Beresford at No. 17, currently on the outside looking in at the 16-team field. Needing a win, the Seahawks host Parker on Friday. If BEE and Beresford remain tied for a playoff spot after Friday, the Watchdogs have the tiebreaker due to their 21-20 head-to-head win on Sept. 12.

Landon Dierks / Mitchell Republic

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Standing tall atop the class is Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy (7-0). Despite playing the most difficult schedule in the class, with an opponent win percentage of .614, the Phoenix have won by an average of more than 34 points per game. With a cushion of more than 2.5 seed points over Hamlin and Parkston, which are tied at No. 2, FMFA appears to be locked into home-field advantage throughout its playoff run regardless of its final outcome. The Phoenix host Class 9B power Avon in the Great Plains Conference title game on Friday.

Since running into FMFA on opening night, Parkston (6-1) has rattled off six-straight wins and could possibly earn a top-two seed of its own with a win and a Hamlin loss this week. The Trojans host Gregory in the regular-season finale on Friday.

Bon Homme (6-2) moved up to No. 5, with its two losses coming against FMFA and Parkston. The Cavaliers have already played their eight regular-season games and are idle this week.

Marcus Traxler / Mitchell Republic

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Kimball/White Lake (4-3) has recovered from a three-game mid-season skid to put itself at No. 8 in position for a first-round home game. Three teams — Viborg-Hurley, Gregory and Scotland/Menno — are within one seed point of the Wildkats entering this week. KWL plays winless Wolsey-Wessington in Huron on Friday.

Gregory (4-3) and Scotland/Menno (4-3) are tied at No. 10, and Hanson (3-4) is right behind at No. 12. Between the trio, the highest seeding could come down to whether those teams can pick up a road win this week. On Friday, Gregory heads to Parkston, Scotland/Menno is at Alcester-Hudson and Hanson visits Canistota.

Tripp-Delmont/Armour/Andes Central/Dakota Christian (1-6) picked up its first win of the season last week, but at No. 20, will need another this week in order to make the postseason. The Nighthawks hit the road to play Class 9A Gayville-Volin on Friday.

Landon Dierks / Mitchell Republic

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Defending state champion Howard (6-1) figures to be right back in contention for a deep postseason run, though the Tigers enter the final week at No. 6 in the standings. The Tigers’ one loss came in the season opener to the team immediately ahead of them, Alcester-Hudson. In the top four slots are unbeatens Wall and Warner, followed by one-loss squads Philip and Ipswich. Howard hosts Class 9AA Viborg-Hurley on Friday.

Platte-Geddes (6-2) is right behind Howard at No. 7, slipping slightly after a 6-0 start. However, both losses game to top-five Class 9AA teams in Parkston and Bon Homme. The Black Panthers have a ninth regular-season game on the schedule, helping fill out the Great Plains Conference crossover with a home date against Corsica-Stickney on Friday.

Lurking outside of the top eight, Lyman (4-3) has played the sixth-most difficult schedule in the class and rests at No. 10. In the tussle for positioning, the Raiders are trying to fend off Harding County/Bison, Centerville and Estelline/Hendricks, who are within one-half point of Lyman entering the week. The Raiders host Wall, the No. 1 team in the class, on Friday.

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One of two undefeated squads in the class left standing, Avon (7-0) and Dell Rapids St. Mary have distanced themselves from the field. No. 1 DRSM has a lead of just under one-half point on the No. 2 Pirates, who are more than three points clear of No. 3 Faulkton Area. As such, Avon has all but secured a top-two seed in the playoffs, regardless of the outcome in the regular-season finale. The Pirates visit Class 9AA No. 1 Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy on Friday.

Right on the tipping point between staying at home and going on the road in the first round, Corsica-Stickney (5-2) is tied at No. 8 with Iroquois/Lake Preston. The Jaguars are on the road at Class 9A Platte-Geddes on Friday.

Comfortably in the playoff field but angling to move up by getting to .500, Canistota (3-4) checks in at No. 11, and Burke (3-4) is tied at No. 12 with Arlington. The Hawks play host to Class 9AA Hanson, while the Cougars visit Centerville on Friday.

One of five winless teams in the class, Colome (0-7) is at the bottom of the standings. The Cowboys visit also winless Irene-Wakonda on Friday.

Dierks covers prep and collegiate athletics across the Mitchell Republic’s coverage region area. His focus areas include: Mitchell High School football and boys basketball; area high school football, volleyball, basketball, baseball and track and field; and South Dakota State football. He is also at the forefront of the Mitchell Republic’s podcasting efforts. Dierks is a Mitchell native who graduated from South Dakota State University with his bachelor’s degree in journalism in May 2020. He joined the Mitchell Republic sports staff in August 2021. He can be reached at ldierks@mitchellrepublic.com and found on Twitter at @LDierksy.