South Dakota Prep Media basketball polls for Feb. 16: Spartans surge back to No. 5 in Class B boys rankings

As the biggest riser in the South Dakota Prep Media basketball polls this week, Wessington Springs is back in the top five of the Class B boys rankings.

Ranked No. 8 last week, the Spartans took down then-No. 2 Viborg-Hurley 55-47 at the DWU Classic on Saturday night. The victory boosted Springs back into the top-five for the first time since Jan. 19. Meanwhile, Viborg-Hurley slipped from No. 2 to No. 4 this week.

The Class B rankings were also shaken up by another top clash at the DWU Classic as Freeman dominated Wall 72-48. As a result, the Flyers climbed to No. 3 in the poll with two first-place votes, only behind No. 1 Castlewood and No. 2 De Smet. From No. 5 last week, Wall dipped to No. 8 this week.

Freeman and Wessington Springs are joined by two more Mitchell-area squads in the top 10: No. 7 Parkston and No. 9 Sanborn Central/Woonsocket, which entered the top-10 for the first time this season. Lyman is also receiving votes.

In the Class B girls rankings, Lyman and Parkston held firm at No. 1 and No. 2 following the Raiders’ 60-50 head-to-head win at the DWU Classic. Ethan moved up one spot to No. 4 on the heels of a 76-48 rout of then-No. 3 Bennett County, the reigning Class B champions. The Warriors slid to No. 5 this week, with No. 3 Colman-Egan rounding out the top five.

Here is a breakdown of the latest rankings.

The South Dakota Prep Media basketball polls for the week of Feb. 16, 2026, are listed below. First-place votes are indicated in parentheses and teams are ranked by total points received.

1. Sioux Falls Lincoln (20), 16-0, 100; 2. Sioux Falls Roosevelt, 14-2, 64; 3. Tea Area, 12-4, 45; 4. Huron, 13-4, 40; 5. Watertown, 13-3, 27.
Others receiving votes: Harrisburg 22, Spearfish 2.

Moved up: No. 3 Tea Area (from No. 5), No. 5 Watertown (from receiving votes).
Moved down: Harrisburg (from No. 3).

1. West Central (19), 18-0, 199; 2. Sioux Falls Christian (1), 15-1, 181; 3. Clark/Willow Lake, 15-2, 159; 4. Hamlin, 15-2, 137; 5. Lennox, 11-5, 110; 6. St. Thomas More, 12-5, 92; 7. Groton Area, 13-4, 78; 8. Vermillion, 13-5, 50; 9. Stanley County, 14-2, 39; 10. Mahpiya Luta, 15-3, 36.
Others receiving votes: Cheyenne-Eagle Butte 11, Sioux Valley 4, Pine Ridge 3, Dakota Valley 1.

Moved up: No. 7 Groton Area (from No. 9), No. 9 Stanley County (from No. 10).
Moved down: No. 8 Vermillion (from No. 7), No. 10 Mahpiya Luta (from No. 8).

1. Castlewood (17), 16-2, 197; 2. De Smet, 12-5, 169; 3. Freeman (2), 16-2, 165; 4. Viborg-Hurley (1), 15-3, 131; 5. Wessington Springs, 14-4, 110; 6. Aberdeen Christian, 14-2, 108; 7. Parkston, 15-3, 69; 8. Wall, 13-4, 66; 9. Sanborn Central/Woonsocket, 14-3, 23; 10. Sully Buttes, 13-5, 21.
Others receiving votes: Estelline/Hendricks 19, Deubrook Area 11, Lyman 10, Leola/Frederick Area 1.

Moved up: No. 2 De Smet (from No. 3), No. 3 Freeman (from No. 4), No. 5 Wessington Springs (from No. 8), No. 9 Sanborn Central/Woonsocket (from receiving votes).
Moved down: No. 4 Viborg-Hurley (from No. 2), No. 8 Wall (from No. 5), No. 10 Sully Buttes (from No. 9), Estelline/Hendricks (from No. 10).

1. Brandon Valley (20), 16-0, 100; 2. O’Gorman, 16-1, 80; 3. Sioux Falls Washington, 12-3, 60; 4. Rapid City Stevens, 13-4, 32; 5. Aberdeen Central, 11-5, 26.
Others receiving votes: Mitchell 1, Spearfish 1.

Moved up: None.
Moved down: None.

1. Mahpiya Luta (20), 180, 200; 2. Hamlin, 16-1, 178; 3. Lennox, 15-3, 150; 4. Wagner, 15-2, 140; 5. Sioux Falls Christian, 15-4, 121; 6. Sioux Valley, 15-2, 97; 7. Clark/Willow Lake, 15-2, 85; 8. Aberdeen Roncalli, 14-4, 39; 9. West Central, 14-4, 36; 10. St. Thomas More, 13-5, 21.
Others receiving votes: Rapid City Christian 19, Mobridge-Pollock 12, Lakota Tech 2.

Moved up: No. 8 Aberdeen Roncalli (from No. 9), No. 9 West Central (from No. 10).
Moved down: No. 4 Wagner (from No. 3 tie), No. 10 St. Thomas More (from No. 8).

1. Lyman (19), 17-1, 197; 2. Parkston, 16-2, 159; 3. Colman-Egan (1), 18-0, 154; 4. Ethan, 16-1, 151; 5. Bennett County, 15-3, 111; 6. Centerville, 16-2, 108; 7. Chester, 15-2, 79; 8. Harding County, 17-1, 50; 9. Waubay/Summit, 17-2, 27; 10. Gayville-Volin, 14-3, 25.
Others receiving votes: Highmore-Harrold 13, Corsica-Stickney 10, Sanborn Central/Woonsocket 10, Wall 6.

Moved up: No. 3 Colman-Egan (from No. 4), No. 4 Ethan (from No. 5), No. 9 Waubay/Summit (from No. 10 tie), No. 10 Gayville-Volin (from receiving votes).
Moved down: No. 5 Bennett County (from No. 3), Sanborn Central/Woonsocket (from No. 9), Corsica-Stickney (from No. 10 tie).