MONDAY SPORTS, JANUARY 5, 2025
MITCHELL KERNELS
— Mitchell High School has announced designated parking for senior citizens and handicap-accessible vehicles at home basketball games. On game nights, the Northwest Parking Lot will be reserved to provide closer and safer access to the gym. The school says signage will be in place. Mitchell hosts Harrisburg on Tuesday night at 7 pm.
— Mitchell Kernels girls basketball won at Harrisburg on Friday night 42-33. Addie Siemsen led the Kernels with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Siemsen reached 1,000 career points with a free throw in the third quarter. Mitchell improves to 3-3 on the season and will host Yankton on Friday at 6 pm.
— Mitchell Kernels boys basketball faces Harrisburg on Tuesday at 7 pm.
— Mitchell Kernels gymnastics captured the team title at its home meet on Saturday, led by a season-best floor exercise score. The Kernels had a winning total of 145.15, finishing ahead of Watertown and Sioux Falls Lincoln. Olivia Prunty led Mitchell with a win on uneven bars and a second-place finish in the all-around, while multiple Kernels placed in the top six on floor. Mitchell now prepares for the Brookings Invitational on Saturday.
— Mitchell Kernels wrestling competes in Harrisburg in a triangular on Thursday against the Tigers and Yankton at 5 pm
DAKOTA WESLEYAN
— No. 10 Dakota Wesleyan women’s basketball dominated from the opening quarter, defeating Midland 91-40 on Saturday. The Tigers held the Warriors to just 12 first-half points and shot nearly 59% from the field, building a 48-12 halftime lead. Emma Yost led Dakota Wesleyan with 15 points as the Tigers had four players score in double figures and finished with 31 assists. Jenna Weber scored 25 of Midland’s 40 points, but the Warriors shot just 25% as a team. Dakota Wesleyan improves to 11-4 overall and 7-2 in conference play. The Tigers host Doane on Wednesday at 6 pm at the Corn Palace.
— Dakota Wesleyan men’s basketball used a strong finish to the first half and clutch free throws to earn a 79–70 road win over Midland on Saturday. The Tigers led 42–37 at halftime. Steele Morgan led all scorers with 23 points on 10-of-12 shooting, while Anthony Riggans added 19. The Tigers, 8-8 on the season, host Doane on Wednesday at 6 pm at the Corn Palace.
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE
— South Dakota State women’s basketball shook off a slow start and rolled past Omaha 65–36 on Saturday. Tied at 13 after the first quarter, the Jackrabbits took control by outscoring the Mavericks 32–11 across the second and third quarters. All five SDSU starters scored in double figures, led by Maggie Hartwig with 12 points and a season-high 16 rebounds. SDSU forced 17 Omaha turnovers and held the Mavericks to just 25% shooting. The Jackrabbits improve to 12–4 overall and 2–0 in Summit League play. SDSU returns to Brookings to host Oral Roberts on Saturday, January 10 at 1 p.m.
— South Dakota State men’s basketball dropped an overtime road game Saturday night, falling to North Dakota 90–87. Damon Wilkinson forced overtime with a putback with 19 seconds left in regulation. UND went ahead on a three with 17 seconds left in overtime and sealed it at the free-throw line, while SDSU turned it over on its final chance to tie. Joe Sayler led the Jacks with 27 points and Jaden Jackson added 22. SDSU returns home Thursday to host Denver at 7 pm
— No. 8 South Dakota State wrestling earned its first-ever dual win over Arizona State on Friday night at the Pentagon, defeating the Sun Devils 24–14. The Jackrabbits won six matches, including three major decisions. SDSU wrapped up the Soldier Salute in Coralville, Iowa, with four wrestlers reaching the podium on Sunday. Jacob Herm and Jarrett Wadsen led the way with third-place finishes at 165 and 184 pounds. SDSU heads to the NWCA National Duals next weekend.
SOUTH DAKOTA
— USD women’s basketball opened Summit League play with a convincing 67–47 road win over Kansas City on Saturday. Molly Joyce led the way with a season-high 21 points, scoring 11 in the first quarter. USD led by seven after one, was up 10 at halftime, and pushed the margin to as many as 23 in the second half. The Coyotes, 11–4 on the season hosts Oral Roberts on Thursday at 7 pm.
— USD men’s basketball, 8-8 on the season, will be at St. Thomas on Wednesday at 8 pm.
NFL – WEEK 18
— The Minnesota Vikings cruised to a 16-3 win over the Green Bay Packers, ending the season with five straight victories. QB J.J. McCarthy left in the third quarter reaggravating a right hand injury, while fullback C.J. Ham scored a touchdown in what could be his final game. Justin Jefferson hit 100 yards for the first time in 12 games, securing his sixth straight 1,000-yard season. The Vikings end the season with a 9-8 record.
— The Denver Broncos wrapped up the AFC’s top playoff seed with a 19-3 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. The Broncos tied their franchise record with 14 wins and will have a first-round bye before hosting their first playoff game in a decade.
— Myles Garrett set a new NFL single-season sack record with his 23rd sack as the Cleveland Browns secured a 20-18 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders led a final drive capped by Andre Szmyt’s 49-yard game-winning field goal as time expired. The Browns’ defense scored two touchdowns, including a 97-yard interception return by Devin Bush.
— The Seattle Seahawks secured the NFC’s No. 1 seed and the NFC West division title with a 13-3 win over the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday. The Seahawks now head into the playoffs with home-field advantage, while the 49ers prepare for a road wild-card game.
— Aaron Rodgers threw a go-ahead touchdown pass to Calvin Austin III with 55 seconds left, as the Steelers beat the Ravens 26-24 when Baltimore’s Tyler Loop missed a 44-yard field goal as time expired, giving Pittsburgh the AFC North title.
— The Falcons beat the Saints 19-17, thanks to Dee Alford’s late red-zone interception. That win helped the Carolina Panthers clinch the NFC South title with the Falcons and Saints finishing tied at 8-9.
— The Detroit Lions rallied to beat the Chicago Bears 19-16 on Jake Bates’ 42-yard field goal as time expired. The Bears erased a 16-point fourth-quarter deficit but fell short, finishing as the NFC’s No. 2 seed.
— Trevor Lawrence broke the Jacksonville Jaguars’ single-season touchdown record, throwing three TD passes in a 41-7 win over the Tennessee Titans. The Jaguars clinched the AFC South title with their third division crown in nine years and their second 13-win season ever. Lawrence finished with 38 total touchdowns and over 4,000 passing yards for the third time.
— The Houston Texans clinched the No. 5 seed in the AFC playoffs with a 38-30 win over the Indianapolis Colts. C.J. Stroud threw two touchdowns before resting at halftime, while Ka’imi Fairbairn’s 43-yard field goal with 12 seconds left sealed the victory. The Texans extended their winning streak to nine games, while the Colts dropped their seventh straight and missed the playoffs.
— The Las Vegas Raiders have secured the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft after the New York Giants defeated the Dallas Cowboys 34-17. The Raiders, who finished with a 2-15 record, will get the first pick for only the second time in franchise history.
— The Philadelphia Eagles’ backup-heavy lineup lost 24-17 to the Washington Commanders, costing them the NFC’s No. 2 seed. The Eagles will start the playoffs as the No. 3 seed, hosting San Francisco next weekend.
— Rhamondre Stevenson scored three touchdowns as the New England Patriots cruised past the Miami Dolphins 38-10 Sunday. The Patriots finished 14-3, their best record since 2016.
NFL WILD CARD PLAYOFFS
Carolina Panthers vs. Los Angeles Rams – 3:30 pm on Saturday, FOX
Chicago Bears vs. Green Bay Packers – 7 pm on Saturday, Amazon
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Buffalo Bills – Noon on Sunday, CBS
Philadelphia Eagles vs. San Francisco 49ers – 3:30 pm on Sunday, FOX
New England Patriots vs. Los Angeles Chargers – 7 pm on Sunday, NBC
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Houston Texans – 7:15 pm on Monday, ABC/ESPN
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS – SEMIFINALS
No. 6 Ole Miss vs. No. 10 Miami – Fiesta Bowl, 6:30 pm, Thursday, on ESPN
No. 1 Indiana vs. No. 5 Oregon – Peach Bowl, 6:30 pm, Friday, on ESPN
Midwest Miracles Classic – Corn Palace, Saturday
Ethan 66, Wall 39 – Ethan’s Marissa Storm with 23 points and five 3-pointers.
Pine Ridge 79, Freeman 66 – Marvin Richard III with 43 points and seven assists and six 3-pointers.
McCook Central/Montrose 68, Viborg-Hurley 20 – MCM’s Ella DeKnikker with 19 points
Lyman 65, Bridgewater-Emery 47 (boys)
Centerville 47, Bridgewater-Emery 30 (girls)
Lyman 44, Corsica-Stickney 35 (girls)
Viborg-Hurley 61, Wall 51 (boys)
Clark/Willow Lake 59, Vermillion 49 (boys)
Centerville 78, White River 40 (boys)
Wagner 72, Avon 53
No. 9 Wagner 62, Avon 42
Howard 66, Platte-Geddes 35
Wessington Springs 70, Highmore-Harrold 38
CLASS AA – BOYS
No. 2 Huron 68, SF Washington 52
Rapid City Stevens 63, Rapid City Central 45
Yankton 68, Aberdeen Central 35
Tea Area 62, Sturgis 40
Watertown 69, Douglas 49
Bismarck N.D. 92, Pierre 56
GIRLS
No. 3 SF Washington 63, Huron 41
No. 4 Aberdeen Central 76, Yankton 51
Tea Area 49, Sturgis 31
Watertown 44, Douglas 28
Bismarck N.D. 57, Pierre 44
COLLEGE BASKETBALL – SATURDAY
No. 1 Arizona 97, Utah 78
No. 6 Duke 91, Florida State 87
No. 8 Houston 67, Cincinnati 60
No. 10 BYU 83, Kansas State 73
No. 11 Vanderbilt 83, South Carolina 71
SMU 97, No. 12 North Carolina 83
No. 14 Alabama 89, Kentucky 74