Local Sports 1-5-24

Yankton Bucks and Gazelles Basketball will take the court inside the Corn Palace this evening for an ESD double feature against the Mitchell Kernels.

Both Yankton squads are coming off losses last time out, as the Bucks sit at 1 and 5 on the year, while the Gazelles are 2 and 4. The Mitchell boys enter the game with a 5 and 1 record following a loss to Harrisburg on Tuesday, while the Kernel girls are undefeated at 6 and 0.

The girls’ game will begin at 6:00 PM, followed by the boys. Pregame coverage on KYNT and KYNTV begins at 5:30. Bryce Ladwig will be on the call.

Mount Marty Men’s and Women’s Basketball return home tomorrow afternoon for a GPAC doubleheader against Northwestern.

The Lancer men are 4 and 8 on the year following a pair of victories over Bellevue and Haskell Indian Nations last weekend, while the MMU women enter with a 5 and 8 record, and are playing their first game since December 20th.

The women play first at 2:00 PM with the men to follow. Pregame coverage on KYNT and KYNTV begins at 1:15. Tehl Tanner will be on the call.

Mount Marty University Volleyball announced yesterday that they had signed Elkton-Lake Benton setter Tevan Erickson ahead of the 2024 season.

Erickson, a senior at Elkton-Lake Benton, is a 1st team All-State Honoree, an All-Conference honoree in the DVC, and has been named Co-MVP of the DVC. 

Erickson helped lead the Lady Elks to a 21 and 12 record and SoDak 16 appearance in her senior season, totaling 847 assists and over 100 kills to round out her high school career.

Yankton Bucks and Gazelles Wrestling both went 0 and 2 yesterday during their duals against Mitchell and Harrisburg.

The Bucks fell to Mitchell 42 to 36 and Harrisburg 57 to 22, while the Gazelles lost to Mitchell 30 to 12 and Harrisburg 22 to 6. Dylan Sloan was the lone Buck to go 2 and 0 in his matches, while Edly Amaro, Peyton Eustace, Joelton Reimnitz-Hahn, Bode Thurman, and Chase Howe also picked up victories.

For the Gazelles, Jaclyn Kite picked up the only match victory, defeating Harrisburg’s Teagan Bowers by pinfall.

Yankton Wrestling will be back in action tomorrow, as they compete in an invitational at Brandon Valley High School.

Yankton Gymnastics will have their first competition of 2024 tomorrow morning, as they compete in an invitational in Brookings.

Brookings, Harrisburg, Huron, Mitchell, Pierre, and Watertown will also compete in the invite. Events are scheduled to begin at 11:00 AM.

The South Dakota State Jackrabbits and the Montana Grizzlies are set to do battle on Sunday, with the FCS National Championship on the line.

The Jackrabbits are led by Quarterback Mark Gronowski. Gronowski was recently selected as the National Offensive Player of the Year by the  FCS Athletics Directors Association. Grownowski threw for 2,359 yards and 23 touchdowns during the season, adding another 7 touchdowns on the ground. 

Sunday will be the third FCS National title game for SDSU with Gronowski as a starter, as the redshirt junior has compiled a 36 and 3 overall record as a starter for the Jackrabbits. Kickoff between SDSU and Montana is set for 1:00 PM from Frisco, Texas.

South Dakota Men’s Basketball are 8 and 8 on the year following a pair of losses to Omaha and Eastern Washington, as they look to steady the ship tomorrow against Montana.

USD will travel to Montana for the game. The Grizzlies currently hold a 9 and 5 overall record. The game is scheduled to begin at 8:00 PM tomorrow in Missoula, Montana.

South Dakota Women’s Basketball looks for their first win of 2024 tomorrow night, as they host Idaho State inside the Sanford Coyote Sports Center.

USD have dropped two of their last three games, while Idaho State has fallen in their last 4 straight games. Tip-off from Vermillion is scheduled for 1:00 PM.

South Dakota State Men’s Basketball returns to Frost Arena tomorrow afternoon for a matchup with Montana State.

SDSU are 7 and 8 on the year, while Montana State enters with a record of 6 and 8. The tip-off from Brookings is set for 4:15 PM.

South Dakota State Women’s Basketball is back home tomorrow afternoon, as they take on Montana State.

SDSU are 8 and 5 on the year following their double overtime win over Northern Arizona on Wednesday. Montana State is 8 and 6 so far and is on a 5-game win streak. The tip-off from Frost Arena is slated for 2:00 PM tomorrow.

Doane University of the Great Plains Athletic Conference announced yesterday the hiring of Jonathan Johnson as the 34th Head Football Coach in program history.

Johnson most recently spent time as an Assistant Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator for Hilbert College (NY) in NCAA Division III. Before that, he spent time as a Defensive Coordinator for Stetson University at the FCS level.

Johnson takes over a Doane program that is fourth all-time in wins amongst active NAIA programs with 577 but has not had a winning record since the 2018-19 season.

Area High School Basketball Results (1-4-24):

In Boys Basketball:

  • Avon fell to Ethan 63 to 56.
  • Scotland lost to Tripp-Delmont-Armour 62 to 42.
  • Cedar Catholic topped Laurel-Concord-Coleridge 50 to 40.
  • Crofton was defeated by Battle Creek 62 to 56.
  • Wynot beat Tri County Northeast 52 to 34.

In Girls Basketball:

  • Avon lost to Ethan 52 to 38.
  • Scotland was defeated by Tripp-Delmont-Armour 47 to 15.
  • Cedar Catholic beat Laurel-Concord-Coleridge 63 to 49.
  • Crofton defeated Battle Creek 45 to 38.
  • Wynot topped Tri County Northeast 48 to 21.

Area High School Basketball Schedule for Tonight:

In Boys Basketball:

  • Yankton @ Mitchell
  • Bon Homme vs Wagner
  • Gayville-Volin @ Irene-Wakonda
  • Vermillion @ Parkston
  • Hartington-Newcastle vs Winside
  • Wynot @ Pender

In Girls Basketball:

  • Yankton @ Mitchell
  • Bon Homme vs Wagner
  • Gayville-Volin @ Irene-Wakonda
  • Vermillion @ Parkston
  • Bloomfield vs Ponca
  • Hartington-Newcastle vs Winside