THURSDAY SPORTS, MARCH 5, 2026
MITCHELL KERNELS
— Mitchell senior Addie Siemsen and eighth-grader CeCe Morgan have earned All-Eastern South Dakota Conference honors in girls basketball. Siemsen collected her third all-ESD selection, averaging 18.5 points per game, while Morgan was the youngest honoree with 11 points per game. On the boys’ side, Mitchell’s Colton Smith has earned his second All-ESD Conference boys’ basketball honor. The senior forward is averaging 17 points and 9 rebounds per game.
— Eight teams will compete for the South Dakota girl’s hockey state title this weekend at the Mitchell Activities Center. The tournament runs Thursday through Saturday, with opening-round matchups Thursday including No. 6 seed Mitchell taking on No. 3 seed Oahe at noon. Defending champion Sioux Falls is the top seed, facing Sioux Center at 7:30 p.m. The championship game is set for Saturday
— No. 7 Mitchell Kernels girls basketball will host No. 10 Spearfish at 6 pm on Friday in the Class AA SoDAK 16. Coverage starts at 5 pm with the KORNer Booth on KORN News Radio. Both teams finished the regular season with a 12-8 record. Spearfish defeated Mitchell on February 7, 61-55. The winner advances to the state tournament in Rapid City, March 12-14. Mitchell would face the winner between No. 2 O’Gorman/No. 15 Rapid City Central on Thursday, March 12, at 6 pm CST.
— No. 12 Mitchell Kernels boys basketball will be at No. 5 Watertown at 6 pm on Saturday in the Class AA SoDAK 16. Pregame coverage starts at 5:45 pm on KORN News Radio. Mitchell opened the season with a 59-55 overtime loss at Watertown on December 16.
DAKOTA WESLEYAN
— Dakota Wesleyan’s Avery Broughton has been named the GPAC Women’s Basketball Defensive Player of the Year. The junior from Corsica led the GPAC with 66 blocks, averaging 14.6 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. Broughton and teammate Emma Yost were named to the all-GPAC first team, while Rylee Rosenquist earned second-team honors. Shalayne Nagel and Jaida Young received honorable mentions.
— Dakota Wesleyan men’s basketball had four players earn all-GPAC honors this season. Seniors Anthony Riggans and junior Randy Rosenquist Jr. were named to the second team. Riggans led the Tigers with 13.8 points per game, while Rosenquist added 11.9 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. Freshman Easton Neuendorf and junior Steele Morgan earned honorable mention.
— Dakota Wesleyan women’s basketball will host its opening-round game in the NAIA National Tournament on Friday, March 13th at the Corn Palace. Opponent and times to be determined.
— Dakota Wesleyan baseball travels to Tucson, Arizona, this weekend with five games on the schedule.
— Dakota Wesleyan softball heads to Tucson, Arizona, this weekend with 10 games on the schedule. The Tigers face Indiana Wesleyan on Friday at 1 pm, followed by William Penn (Iowa) at 3:30 pm.
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE
— South Dakota State baseball fell short at Nebraska on Wednesday, losing 5-4. After trailing 4-0 after two innings, SDSU tied the game with a pair of runs in the top of the eighth inning. Nebraska answered with the game winning run in the bottom of the eighth. SDSU heads to U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis for three games this weekend vs. Northwestern on Friday at 11 am, vs. Minnesota on Saturday at 7 pm, and against Southern Illinois on Sunday at 10 am.
— South Dakota State women’s basketball takes on No. 7 seed Kansas City on Thursday at Noon in the quarterfinals of the Summit League Tournament. The Jackrabbit pregame show starts at 11:30 am on KORN News Radio. SDSU is 23-1 all-time vs. Kansas City, including a pair of wins this season.
— South Dakota State men’s basketball will face the No. 2 seed St. Thomas in the quarterfinals of the Summit League Tournament on Thursday at 8:30 pm. The Jackrabbit pregame show starts at 8 pm on KORN News Radio. SDSU lost both meetings this season vs. St. Thomas, including a 77-62 loss in Brookings on February 4.
— South Dakota State softball takes on Nebraska for a doubleheader on Thursday at 4 pm.
SOUTH DAKOTA
— USD men’s basketball takes on No. 5 seed Omaha on Friday at 6 pm in the quarterfinals of the Summit League Tournament. The Coyotes won both meetings this season vs. Omaha, including an 89-72 home win on February 25.
— USD women’s basketball will face the No. 6 seed Denver in the quarterfinals of the Summit League Tournament on Friday at 2:30 pm. The Coyotes won both meetings this season vs. Denver, including an 53-42 road win on February 5.
— USD softball travels to Greeley, Colorado, this weekend for five games against Northern Colorado and Colorado State.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
— Lou Holtz, the College Football Hall of Fame coach who led Notre Dame to a national championship and won 249 games over 33 seasons at six schools, has died. He was 89. Notre Dame announced on Wednesday that Holtz died in Orlando, Florida, surrounded by his family. A cause of death was not provided. Holtz became the first and so far only coach to lead six different teams to bowl games during a career in which he compiled a record of 249-132-7. At Notre Dame, he went 100-30-2 in 11 seasons.
NFL
— The New England Patriots have informed wide receiver Stefon Diggs that he’ll be released when the new league year begins next week. Diggs posted a goodbye on social media, thanking the Patriots for the season. Diggs led the team with 85 receptions and 1,013 yards receiving with four touchdowns in his only season in New England, helping the Patriots reach the Super Bowl.
— The Chiefs and the Rams have agreed on a trade to send star cornerback Trent McDuffie to Los Angeles in exchange for several draft picks. Kansas City is expected to get the 29th overall pick in the upcoming draft, and the Rams will also send fifth-round and sixth-round picks this spring along with a third-round pick next year. The 25-year-old McDuffie was a first round pick of Kansas City’s in 2022 and was named first-team All-Pro in 2023.
— The Indianapolis Colts placed a transition tag on quarterback Daniel Jones and the New York Jets used the franchise tag on running back Breece Hall as teams beat the deadline to place tags on potential free agents. The Colts opted to use the $37.8 million transition tag instead of the $43.9 million franchise tag, opening up the possibility that Jones could still leave without compensation for Indianapolis. Hall got the $14.3 million franchise tag from New York, meaning the Jets would get two first-round picks as compensation if they didn’t match any potential offer sheet.
— Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett has received his ninth speeding ticket since entering the NFL in 2017. He was cited last month in Ohio, for driving 94 mph in a 70 mph zone. Garrett has previous citations, including going 100 mph in a 60-mph zone last August and a 2022 crash that resulted in injuries. He faces a court date next Tuesday but can avoid appearing by paying the fine.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
— Schools participating in the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments could face fines starting at $10,000 if they fail to submit player availability reports required for the first time this year, the NCAA announced Wednesday. Player availability reports are intended to combat betting-related pressure, solicitations and harassment athletes receive from bettors connected to playing status. The requirement for the NCAA basketball tournaments is a pilot program. Teams must submit initial reports the night before games and provide any updates at least two hours prior to the scheduled tip time. The public can access reports on NCAA.com.
— A brawl broke out Wednesday during the women’s Sun Belt Tournament game between South Alabama and Coastal Carolina, leaving eight players ejected and a referee injured. The fight began under the basket with less than six minutes left in the fourth quarter between South Alabama’s Cordasia Harris and Coastal Carolina’s Tracey Hueston. The referee was knocked to the ground and required medical attention. South Alabama won the game 80-70.
WORLD CUP
— Iraq’s hopes of World Cup qualification are being impacted by the Iran war because players cannot get visas for the playoff tournament in Mexico and the team’s coach is stranded in the United Arab Emirates. The Iraqi soccer federation says, “Because of airspace closures, our head coach is unable to leave the United Arab Emirates. In addition, several embassies remain closed at the present time, preventing several professional players, technical and medical staff members from obtaining entry visas to Mexico.” Iraq is scheduled to play either Bolivia or Suriname in Mexico on March 31 for one of the last two qualification places for the World Cup.
MLB
— Atlanta Braves outfielder Jurickson Profar has been suspended for the 2026 season by Major League Baseball following his second positive test for a performance-enhancing drug. Profar tested positive for testosterone and its metabolites, the commissioner’s office said, which means testosterone that was not produced by his body. Because it was a second offense, the length of Profar’s suspension was 162 games. An All-Star in 2024, Profar was suspended for 80 games last March 31 following a positive test for a hormone that helps production of testosterone. Profar issued a statement then saying: “I would never willingly take a banned substance.”
NBA
— San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet is urging the Atlanta Hawks to cancel their upcoming promotion with Atlanta’s Magic City adult entertainment club. Kornet says the March 16 event, “would reflect poorly on us as an NBA community” and could contribute to the objectification and mistreatment of women. Kornet added that while the industry varies, many workers face abuse, harassment, and violence, and the promotion conflicts with creating a family-friendly environment where fans of all ages can safely enjoy the game.
— Rookie Kon Knueppel scored 20 points as the Charlotte Hornets extended their win streak to six games with a a 118-89 win over the Boston Celtics. Brandon Miller and LaMelo Ball each added 18 points. Coby White finished with 17 points and six assists to help Charlotte move above .500 for the first time since Oct. 26. The Hornets never trailed and led by as many as 29 points while committing only five turnovers. Derrick White led the Celtics with 29 points. Jaylen Brown added 20 points and 11 rebounds.
— Chet Holmgren had 28 points and eight rebounds, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 26 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the New York Knicks 103-100. Holmgren tied a career high with six 3-pointers. Karl-Anthony Towns had 17 points and 17 rebounds for the Knicks. Jalen Brunson had 16 points and a season-high 15 assists, but shot just 5 for 18 from the field.
— Kawhi Leonard scored 29 points as the Los Angeles Clippers won their third in a row, 130-107 over the Indiana Pacers.
— Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 23 points as the Atlanta Hawks defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 131-113 to win their fifth straight game and move above .500 for the first time since December.
— Jrue Holiday had 35 points and 11 assists, and Jerami Grant added 30 points as the Portland Trail Blazers picked up a 122-114 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.
— Quentin Grimes hit two tiebreaking free throws with 16.4 seconds remaining, while Tyrese Maxey scored 25 points as the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Utah Jazz 106-102. Keyonte George scored 30 points for the Jazz, who have lost seven in a row.
CLASS B SoDAK 16 – THURSDAY, MARCH 5
No. 1 Lyman (20-2) vs. No. 16 McIntosh (14-7) – 6 pm at Stanley County
No. 2 Parkston (19-3) vs. No. 15 De Smet (11-11) – 5:30 pm at Mitchell High School – Q107.3
No. 3 Bennett County (19-3) vs. No. 14 Ipswich (15-7) – 6 pm at Winner
No. 4 Ethan (20-2) vs. No. 13 Deubrook Area (13-9) – 7 pm at Parker – Q107.3
No. 5 Colman-Egan (21-1) vs. No. 12 Warner (16-6) – 7 pm at the Huron Arena
No. 6 Harding County (21-1) vs. No. 11 Jones County (15-5) – 6 pm MT at Spearfish
No. 7 Centerville (20-2) vs. No. 10 Highmore-Harrold (18-4) – 7 pm at Mitchell High School
No. 8 Waubay/Summit (20-2) vs. No. 9 Corsica-Stickney (16-5) – 5:30 pm at the Huron Arena – KORN Country
CLASS A SoDAK 16 – THURSDAY, MARCH 5
No. 1 Hamlin (20-1) vs. No. 16 Sisseton (11-10) – 7 pm at Watertown
No. 2 Mahpíya Lúta (20-0) vs. No. 15 McCook Central/Montrose (15-7) – 6 pm at Todd County
No. 3 Wagner (18-2) vs. No. 14 Dell Rapids (15-7) – 7 pm at Irene-Wakonda
No. 4 Sioux Valley (20-2) vs. No. 13 St. Thomas More (16-5) – 5:30 pm at Chamberlain
No. 5 Lennox (18-3) vs. No. 12 Miller (17-5) – 5:30 pm at Madison
No. 6 Sioux Falls Christian (18-4) vs. No. 11 Groton Area (16-6) – 7 pm at Madison
No. 7 West Central (17-4) vs. No. 10 Mobridge-Pollock (17-4) – 7 pm at Chamberlain
No. 8 Rapid City Christian (17-4) vs. No. 9 Lakota Tech (18-4) – 6 pm MT at Wall
CLASS AA GIRLS SoDAK 16 – FRIDAY, MARCH 6
Winners advance to the State Tournament, March 12-14 at the Summit Arena in Rapid City
No. 1 Brandon Valley (20-0) vs. No. 16 Sturgis (7-13) – 6 pm
No. 2 O’Gorman (19-1) vs. No. 15 Pierre (5-15) – 6 pm
No. 3 Sioux Falls Washington (16-4) vs. No. 14 Sioux Falls Roosevelt (7-13) – 6 pm
No. 4 Rapid City Stevens (16-4) vs. No. 13 Yankton (8-12) – 6 pm MT
No. 5 Aberdeen Central (14-6) vs. No. 12 Rapid City Central (9-11) – 6 pm
No. 6 Sioux Falls Jefferson (13-7) vs. No. 11 Huron (10-10) – 6 pm
No. 7 Mitchell (12-8) vs. No. 10 Spearfish (12-8) – 6 pm
KORN News Radio FM 101.3/AM 1490 and KORNRadio.com
No. 8 Tea Area (11-9) vs. No. 9 Harrisburg (10-10) – 7 pm
HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL – FRIDAY
REGION 5A
No. 1 McCook Central/Montrose vs. No. 4 Mt. Vernon/Plankinton
No. 2 Wagner vs. No. 3 Parker/Marion
REGION 2B
No. 2 Castlewood vs. No. 3 Wessington Springs – Huron Arena
REGION 3B
No. 1 Bridgewater-Emery vs. No. 4 Sioux Falls Lutheran – Madison High School on Q107.3
No. 2 Sanborn Central/Woonsocket vs. No. 3 Ethan – Madison High School on Q107.3
REGION 4B
No. 2 Parkston vs. No. 3 Freeman – KORN Country 92.1
REGION 5B
No. 1 Lyman vs. No. 5 Corsica-Stickney – Corn Palace
No. 3 Lower Brule vs. No. 7 Andes Central/Dakota Christian – Corn Palace