South Dakota
Denver Basketball shuts down South Dakota State in a 99-80 win – DU Clarion
In Saturday’s matchup, DU faced off against South Dakota State in a showdown primarily between the guards Tommy Bruner (DU) and Zeke Mayo (SDSU). Bruner led the Crimson and Gold with an impressive 26 points and six assists, while SDSU’s Mayo closely followed with 19 points and three assists.
“(Mayo’s) a premier player in our conference and in college basketball. We tried to force the ball out of his hand and double-team him. At the end of the day, we wanted him to take fewer shots than in other games. We beat a really good basketball team,” Head Coach Jeff Wulbrun said.
Bruner maintains his position as the highest point scorer in the NCAA and the leader in assists in the Summit League with the performance against the Jackrabbits.
“He’s been at the top of other teams’ scouting reports. He’s just such a good player; I feel like a lot of people don’t understand what level he’s really at. They’re seeing someone special,” Wulbrun said.
Bruner’s contributions played a pivotal role in the 99-80 victory over the Jackrabbits. This marked Denver’s highest-scoring game since 2001 when Terry Carroll was the head coach, concluding the year with an 8-20 record.
The Crimson and Gold maintained their lead for the majority of the game, briefly losing it early in the second half. Defensively, DU stifled South Dakota with key charges from Touko Tainamo and Isaiah Carr, officially securing the lead later in the second half.
Junior forward Pedro Lopez-Sanvicente displayed an exceptional performance, shooting 71% from three and 75% from the field. This game marked his highest-scoring performance of his career, surpassing his previous best by 15 points and showcasing him as a confident shooter.
The team now stands 2-1 in conference play, tying them for first place in the Summit League, and sitting 11-7 overall.
The win handed the Jackrabbits their first loss in conference play this season. The Crimson and Gold now set their sights on North Dakota for two upcoming games against North Dakota and North Dakota State, with the action starting on Thursday night at 6 p.m.
Here are the 2025-26 South Dakota Basketball Coaches Association All-State boys basketball teams:
Class AA
First Team
Sam DeGroot, SF Lincoln, 6-7, sr., F (20.9 points per game, 8.8 rebounds per game, 2.2 assists per game)
Blake Ellwein, Huron, 6-10, sr., G (22.6 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 2.1 apg)
Gavin Shawd, Tea Area, 6-1, jr., G (21.2 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.5 apg)
Stellen Larson, Harrisburg, 6-3, sr., F (14.3 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 1.7 apg)
Carter Buisker, Watertown, 6-3, sr., G (18.8 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 3.9 apg)
Brody Schafer, SF Lincoln, 6-0, jr., G (9.8 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 6.3 apg)
Second Team
Colton Smith, Mitchell, 6-5, sr., G-F (17.3 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 3 apg)
Davis Chase, Huron, 6-8, jr., F (15.6 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 1.6 apg)
Ayuel Deng, Brandon Valley, 6-3, sr., G (13.5 ppg, 6 rpg, 2 apg)
Sam Ericsson, SF Lincoln, 6-3, sr., G (13.4 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.4 apg)
Colby Nuttbrock, SF Jefferson, 6-5, jr., F (19 ppg, 7 rpg, 1.9 apg)
Grifin Wiebenga, Tea Area, 6-4, jr., F (16.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 3.4 apg)
Honorable Mention
Jackson McClemans, Watertown, 6-5, sr., G-F (14.8 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 6.0 apg)
Mason Clark, O’Gorman, 6-0, sr., G (13.1 ppg, 3 rpg, 3.3 apg)
Memphis Bylander, SF Roosevelt, 6-5, sr., F (11.2 ppg, 3 rpg, 2.2 apg)
Justin Bilal, SF Roosevelt, 6-5, sr., F (10.2 ppg, 4 rpg, 1.6 apg)
Hayden Rock, Sturgis, 5-11, sr., G (21.4 ppg, 4 rpg, 3.4 apg)
Bergan Tetzlaff, Brookings, 6-6, sr., F (15.3 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 3.2 apg)
• Player of Year — DeGroot.
• Repeat Selections — 2025 (Ellwein, DeGroot and Ericsson, first team; Schafer, Smith and Wiebenga, second team; 2024 (Ellwein and Smith, first team).
Class A
First Team
Brant Wassenaar, SF Christian, 6-4, jr., G (22.8 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 5.5 apg)
Marvin Richard III, Pine Ridge, 6-3, sr., G (30.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 5.5 apg, 92 steals)
Connor Mebius, West Central, 5-10, jr., G (17.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 5.6 apg)
Trey Hansen, Vermillion, 6-4, sr., G (25.9 ppg, 8 rpg, 6.1 apg, 68 steals)
Jackson Wadsworth, Hamlin, 6-3, jr., G (21.2 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 4.4 apg)
Sully Felberg, Clark-Willow Lake, 6-8, so., F (15.6 ppg, 7 rpg, 2.3 apg)
Second Team
Will Kuhl, West Central, 6-10, sr., F-C (15.7 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 1.6 apg)
Wyatt Gylten, St. Thomas More, 6-4, sr., G-F (19.2 ppg, 7 rpg, 4.2 apg)
Ryder Johnson, Groton Area, 6-5, sr., G (16.4 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 2.9 apg)
Riley Casey, Little Wound, 6-1, sr., G (26.8 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 5.8 apg, 75 steals)
Boden Stevenson, Hamlin, 6-5, jr., F (17.2 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 5.1 apg)
Tatum Sorensen, Dakota Valley, 6-2, sr., G (22.5 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 3.6 apg, 60 steals)
Third Team
Eddie Duffy, Stanley County, 6-2, jr., G-F (20.2 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 3.7 apg)
Tate Gerdes, Lennox, 6-3, sr., G (15.5 ppg, 6 rpg, 4 apg)
Aiden Hanssen, Lennox, 6-0, jr., G (17.8 ppg, 6 rpg, 3 apg)
Chris Bevers, Clark-Willow Lake, 6-3, jr., G (14.3 ppg, 6 rpg, 3 apg)
Zane Messick, Hill City, 6-0, sr., G (19 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3.1 apg, 59 steals)
Cooper Goodbary, SF Christian, 6-4, sr., F (12.5 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 2.9 apg)
Honorable Mention
Luke Sheppard, Flandreau, 6-5, sr., F (16.3 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 5.2 apg)
Damien Clown, Cheyenne-Eagle Butte, 6-0, sr., G (15 ppg, 3 rpg, 2 apg)
Carter Craven, Winner, 6-6, jr., F (23.4 ppg, 10.7 rpg, 2.2 apg)
Brady Hiltunen, Sioux Valley, 6-2, jr., G (17 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 3.4 apg)
Levi Elk Nation, Cheyenne-Eagle Butte, 6-2, sr., G (13 ppg, 6 rpg, 5 apg)
Isaak Hunter, Miller, 6-4, sr., F (18.4 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 3 apg)
Paxton Deal, Stanley County, 6-0, sr., G (16.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.9 apg, 47 steals)
• Player of Year — Wassenaar.
• Repeat Selections — 2025 (Richard and Wassenaar, first team; Hansen, Gerdes and Mebius, second team; Craven, Johnson, Hunter and Felberg, third team; Goodbary and Kuhl, honorable mention); 2024 (Richard, first team; Hansen, honorable mention).
Class B
First Team
Grant Wilkinson, De Smet, 6-10, sr., C (24.4 ppg, 18.8 rpg, 45 blocks)
Teelen Kjerstad, Wall, 6-3, jr., G (27.9 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 4 apg, 91 steals)
Wesley Wittler, Sully Buttes, 6-1, sr., G (22.3 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 2.5 apg, 81 steals)
Brady Schroedermeier, Viborg-Hurley, 6-2, sr., F (22.7 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 2.7 apg, 70 steals)
Kamden Keszler, Castlewood, 6-3, jr., G (19.2 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3.2 apg)
David Walter, Freeman, 6-5, so., G (17.7 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 3 apg)
Second Team
Brycen Bruening, Parkston, 6-2, jr., G (19.7 ppg, 6 rpg, 2.3 apg, 61 steals)
Colby Flowers, Wessington Springs, 6-5, sr., F (19 ppg, 9 rpg, 3 apg)
MJ Diehm, Lyman, 5-11, jr., G (19 ppg, 3 rpg, 6 apg, 60 steals)
Chance Schoenfeld, Deubrook Area, 6-9, sr., F-G (19.3 ppg, 8 rpg, 48 blocks)
Brooks Jett, Aberdeen Christian, 6-5, jr., f (13.9 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 29 blocks)
Ben Weber, Bridgewater-Emery, 6-6, sr., F (18.5 ppg, 10.7 rpg, 6 apg)
Third Team
Parker Graff, Wessington Springs, 6-1, sr., G (16 ppg, 5 rpg, 2 apg)
Tate Sorensen, Freeman, 6-2, sr., F (10.3 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.8 apg)
Emmet Dinger, Wall, 6-3, sr., F (15.7 ppg, 5 rpg, 2.5 apg)
Holden Wollman, Bridgewater-Emery, 6-2, sr., G (21.8 ppg, 6 rpg, 2 apg)
Jake Austin, Viborg-Hurley, 5-9, sr., G (12 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 2.3 apg)
Lucas Peskey, Iroquois-Lake Preston, 6-0, jr., G (19.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 3.2 apg, 56 steals)
Honorable Mention
Noah Luethmers, De Smet, 6-3, jr., G (14.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.2 apg)
Dawsen Volmer, Lyman, 6-4, jr., F-G (13 ppg, 7 rpg, 40 blocks)
Colt Keiser, Gregory, 6-6, sr., F (18.3 ppg, 10.7 rpg, 47 blocks)
Westyn Thorpe, Leola-Frederick Area, 5-10, sr., G (10.8 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 4.2 apg)
Kassen Keough, Langford Area, 6-0, sr., G (21 ppg, 5 rpg, 45 steals)
Hogan Hlavacek, Waubay-Summit, 6-7, so., C-F (16 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 2.2 apg)
Caleb Richmond, Wolsey-Wessington, 6-1, sr., G (15.3 ppg, 5 rpg, 4 apg)
• Player of Year — Wilkinson.
• Repeat Selections — 2025 (Wilkinson and Wittler, first team; Schroedermeier, Flowers and Weber, second team; Kjestad, Walter, Jett, Graff and Dinger, third team; Bruening, honorable mention); 20024 (Graff, third team; Weber and Wittler, honorable mention).
Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on X (formerly known as Twitter) @PO_Sports or email: rmerriam@thepublicopinion.com
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – Governor Rhoden officially signed HB 1082 into law on Friday, March 27.
HB 1082 is a bill that establishes parameters for reimbursing school districts that provide free or reduced-price meals to students.
Representative Kadyn Wittman, who has worked to pass the bill for several years, expressed excitement and gratitude in a post to Facebook on Friday.
“10,000 kids across our state will now have access to free school meals. No stigma. No barriers. Just the support they need to learn and grow,” wrote Wittman.
“So incredibly grateful to everyone who made this happen. This is a big win for South Dakota families!”
You can see the full bill and its sponsors here.
Copyright 2026 Dakota News Now. All rights reserved.
RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – Students at South Dakota Mines heard Wednesday from retired four-star general Maryanne Miller about her journey to the highest ranks of the U.S. military.
Miller is a retired four-star U.S. Air Force general. She is the only member of the Air Force Reserve ever to be promoted to this level.
She spoke about finding greatness and living a life of fulfillment. Her stories came from her time in the Air Force and as a volunteer for Saint Teresa of Calcutta’s Missionaries of Charity.
“We so much get focused on what is our next step in life, what’s the next career move, how do we make ourselves better in our career, and we forget about how do we make ourselves better as a human being,” Miller said. “Because they have to go tandem. If it’s not tandem, you’re going to get off track.”
Miller was commissioned in 1981 and rose through the ranks before becoming a four-star general in 2018. She was the only woman serving as a four-star officer in the military at the time. She retired in 2020 after serving for almost 40 years.
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Copyright 2026 KOTA. All rights reserved.
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