South Dakota
Area unbeatens Bucks, Phoenix and Avon fighting for top seeds in football playoffs
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.
Landon Dierks / Mitchell Republic
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
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
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
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.
Mitchell Republic file photo
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.
The South Dakota Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at March 10, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from March 10 drawing
16-21-30-35-65, Mega Ball: 07
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from March 10 drawing
03-27-43-45-49, Bonus: 04
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize
- Prizes of $100 or less: Can be claimed at any South Dakota Lottery retailer.
- Prizes of $101 or more: Must be claimed from the Lottery. By mail, send a claim form and a signed winning ticket to the Lottery at 711 E. Wells Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501.
- Any jackpot-winning ticket for Dakota Cash or Lotto America, top prize-winning ticket for Lucky for Life, or for the second prizes for Powerball and Mega Millions must be presented in person at a Lottery office. A jackpot-winning Powerball or Mega Millions ticket must be presented in person at the Lottery office in Pierre.
When are the South Dakota Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky for Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
- Lotto America: 9:15 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Dakota Cash: 9 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.
- Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Dakota editor. You can send feedback using this form.
South Dakota
Trading property tax for sales tax: Legislature moves forward with parts of homeowner relief package
PIERRE — Two pieces of a property tax reduction package prepared by South Dakota’s legislative leadership and the executive branch are moving forward, but one bill failed during votes on Monday as lawmakers began the final week of the annual legislative session.
The House of Representatives voted
42-27
in support of
Senate Bill 245
, which would pull future revenue from a scheduled sales tax increase from 4.2% to 4.5% next year into a relief fund for homeowner property taxes, and use nearly $56 million in one-time money to seed the fund before the sales tax increase.
The Senate supported
House Bill 1323
, which would reduce the number of petition signatures needed to force an election on a local government’s decision to levy property taxes beyond limits set by the state. The Senate passed the bill 19-15.
Both bills have to return to the opposite chamber for consideration of amendments.
The Senate rejected
House Bill 1253
, which would cap annual assessment growth for owner-occupied homes and commercial properties at 5% annually and reset assessments back to market value every five years. The bill failed with a 9-24 vote.
The bills are part of a broader,
five-bill legislative package
targeted at property tax relief.
Another bill
in the package, which would allow counties to implement a half-percent sales tax with proceeds going to homeowner property tax credits, is awaiting the governor’s signature after he proposed it and it received both chambers’ approval.
The legislative budget committee is scheduled to consider a fifth piece of legislation in the package on Tuesday.
The bill
would reduce maximum property tax levies for school districts.
Sales tax bill overcomes concerns about future budget needs
SB 245 would capture revenue from the impending sales tax increase to deposit into a “homeowner property tax reduction fund” meant to reduce property taxes levied by school districts. The Legislature and then-Gov. Kristi Noem reduced the state sales tax rate three years ago but scheduled the reduction to sunset in 2027.
House Speaker Jon Hansen, R-Dell Rapids, told lawmakers on Monday that the bill would be an “investment in the people,” because it’ll give South Dakota homeowners more money to spend as they choose. Hansen, the bill’s sponsor and a candidate for governor, said that would lead to more spending and, therefore, more sales tax revenue. The state relies on sales taxes, while counties and schools rely on property taxes, and cities receive revenue from property taxes and sales taxes.
Some opponents said the legislation would favor wealthier, property-owning South Dakotans rather than lower-income renters.
(Photo by Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)
Rep. Mike Weisgram, R-Fort Pierre, worried that automatically diverting future state revenue to reduce homeowner property taxes would come at the cost of other priorities, such as annual funding increases for state employees, Medicaid providers and public schools — which are known as the “big three” budget priorities. Lawmakers often
aim
to increase funding for the groups by 3% or inflation, whichever is less. An inflationary increase this legislative session would be 2.5%, according to the state Department of Education.
“We are just clawing to get 1.4% for the big three,” Weisgram said. “I don’t think any of us are proud of that.”
Hansen said the decision “is not an either-or” situation.
“We can help the property taxpayers in the state who desperately, desperately need it,” Hansen said, “and then I trust fully that this state is going to continue to grow and that we are going to be able to meet the needs of our core obligations of this state.”
The bill was introduced as an amendment to placeholder legislation last week, and it will head to the Senate for approval. The Senate narrowly rejected a
similar proposal
earlier this legislative session.
Senate approves lower signature threshold to force election on excess taxes
The version of House Bill 1323 that passed the Senate would set the number of petition signatures needed to force an election on an excess tax levy (often called an “opt-out”) for a local government at 2,500 or 5% of registered voters within its jurisdiction, whichever is less. The current threshold to refer decisions by a local government is 5% of registered voters in the district, without a 2,500 signature cap.
The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Taffy Howard, R-Rapid City, said it will still be difficult to refer decisions by a local government to voters.
“You’re talking dozens and dozens of volunteers, weeks of organized effort,” Howard said. “There’s not a lot of people that have been through that and can even organize that kind of effort. So it’s not a trivial bar.”
Because the bill was amended since it last appeared in the House, it’ll now go to the House for approval.
HB 1253 intended to provide South Dakota homeowners and commercial property owners predictable increases in their property assessments, which factor into property taxes they pay, over five year periods.
But opponents said the change would shift the property tax burden onto farmers and ranchers and surprise homeowners every five years when assessments would be re-based on market value, which could lead to double-digit increases in assessments.
This story was originally published on
SouthDakotaSearchlight.com.
______________________________________________________
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South Dakota
Political Pulse: South Dakota Senate Majority Leader Jim Mehlhaff on data centers, property taxes and more
RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – State Senate Majority Leader Jim Mehlhaff joined Political Pulse over the weekend.
Mehlhaff weighed in on property tax proposals, data centers, and effort to repeal the death penalty and speculation that Kristi Noem could run for Senate.
The interviewed was taped on Saturday.
See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it.
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Copyright 2026 KOTA. All rights reserved.
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