Area High School Basketball Preview for Tuesday, January 6, 2026

January 5, 2026 Travis Kriens Local, Regional and National Sport stories

A busy night of high school basketball is on tap Tuesday, Jan. 6th across the region as teams look to build momentum in the heart of the season.

Mitchell Kernels boys will host Harrisburg at 7 p.m., with live coverage on KORN News Radio, FM 101.3/AM 1490, and streaming at KORNRadio.com. Coverage kicks off at 6 p.m. with the KORNer Booth pregame show featuring Sports Director Travis Kriens, alongside Marcus Traxler and Landon Dierks of the Mitchell Republic. The Kernels, receiving votes in the latest Class AA media poll, face a tough Harrisburg team ranked fifth in Class AA with a 3-1 record.

Earlier at 6:15 p.m., Bridgewater-Emery hosts Sanborn Central/Woonsocket for a girls and boys doubleheader on Q107.3 with Clint Greenway. Both girls teams enter the contest with 3-1 records, each with their only loss to top-ranked opponents, Bridgewater-Emery to No. 1 Centerville and Sanborn Central/Woonsocket to No. 10 Corsica-Stickney. On the boys side, Bridgewater-Emery holds a 3-2 record, while Sanborn Central/Woonsocket is 4-1.

In Class B action, No. 7A Wagner plays host to undefeated No. 5B Ethan for a doubleheader at 6:15 p.m. on KORN Country 92.1 with Shaun Michaels. Ethan remains unbeaten at 5-0 and averages 67 points per game, the second highest in Class B. Wagner, meanwhile, has a stout defense allowing just 34 points per game and holds a 4-1 record.

Additional area games tip off Tuesday, including Mt. Vernon/Plankinton vs. Corsica-Stickney, Parkston vs. Hanson, Tripp-Delmont/Armour vs. Kimball/White Lake, and Platte-Geddes vs. Canistota.

HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL – TUESDAY
Bridgewater-Emery vs. Sanborn Central Woonsocket (DH) – 6:15 pm on Q107.3
Wagner vs. Ethan (DH) – 6:15 pm on KORN Country 92.1
Mt. Vernon/Plankinton vs. Corsica-Stickney (DH)
Parkston vs. Hanson (DH)
Tripp-Delmont/Armour vs. Kimball/White Lake (DH)
Platte-Geddes vs. Canistota (DH)
Faulkton Area vs. Wessington Springs (DH)
Irene-Wakonda vs. Freeman (DH)
Alcester-Hudson vs. Avon (DH)
Andes Central/Dakota Christian vs. Gregory (DH)
No. 1 Sioux Falls Christian vs. No. 2 West Central (boys)
Colman-Egan vs. Mitchell Christian (boys)
Dell Rapids vs. McCook Central/Montrose (girls)
Howard vs. Sioux Falls Lutheran (girls)
CLASS AA – GIRLS
Watertown vs. No. 1 Brandon Valley
Brookings vs. No. 2 O’Gorman
Vermillion vs. Yankton
Sturgis vs. Rapid City Central

CLASS AA – BOYS
Pierre vs. No. 1 Sioux Falls Lincoln
Mitchell vs. No. 5 Harrisburg
Brandon Valley vs. Watertown
O’Gorman vs. Brookings
Vermillion vs. Yankton
Tea Area vs. Sioux City North, Iowa
Sturgis vs. Rapid City Central
Douglas vs. Rapid City Stevens

South Dakota High School Basketball Media Poll (Jan. 5, 2026)

Boys Class AA

  1. Lincoln (6-0)

  2. Huron (5-1)

  3. Roosevelt (4-1)

  4. Spearfish (4-0)

  5. Harrisburg (3-1)
    Receiving votes: Mitchell, Watertown, Brandon Valley, Tea Area

Boys Class A

  1. Sioux Falls Christian (3-0)

  2. West Central (6-0)

  3. Clark/Willow Lake (5-0)

  4. St. Thomas More (4-1)

  5. Mahpiya Luta (6-0)

Boys Class B

  1. Viborg-Hurley (6-0)

  2. De Smet (5-0)

  3. Castlewood (4-1)

  4. Sully Buttes (4-0)

  5. Aberdeen Christian (3-1)
    Others receiving votes: Ethan, Bridgewater-Emery, Sanborn Central/Woonsocket

 

Girls Class AA

  1. Brandon Valley (4-0)

  2. O’Gorman (3-1)

  3. Washington (6-0)

  4. Aberdeen Central (5-1)

  5. Tea Area (6-1)

Girls Class A

  1. Mahpiya Luta (6-0)

  2. Lennox (6-0)

  3. Hamlin (5-0)

  4. Sioux Valley (5-0)

  5. Dakota Valley (5-0)

Girls Class B

  1. Centerville (6-1)

  2. Lyman (4-0)

  3. Parkston (6-0)

  4. Bennett County (2-2)

  5. Ethan (5-0)
    Others receiving votes: Sanborn Central/Woonsocket