TUESDAY SPORTS, JANUARY 13, 2025
MITCHELL KERNELS
— Mitchell Kernels boys basketball will be at No. 2 SF Roosevelt on Tuesday at 7 pm.
— Mitchell Kernels girls basketball host SF Roosevelt on Tuesday at 7 pm. The pregame on KORN News Radio starts at 6:45 pm.
— Mitchell Kernels gymnastics travels to the Huron Invitational on Friday at 5:30 pm.
— Mitchell Kernels girls wrestling is back on the mats at the Harrisburg Invitational on Friday, then both the Mitchell boys and girls will host the Jerry Opbroek Invitational at 9 a.m. on Saturday, at the high school gym.
DAKOTA WESLEYAN
— The 10th-ranked Dakota Wesleyan women’s basketball host Waldorf on Wednesday at 5 pm.
— Dakota Wesleyan men’s basketball host Waldorf on Wednesday at 6:45 pm.
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE
— South Dakota State men’s basketball will be at North Dakota State on Wednesday at 7 pm.
— South Dakota State women’s basketball host Denver on Thursday at 7 pm.
— South Dakota State wrestling will be at Utah Valley on Friday night at 8 pm CST.
SOUTH DAKOTA
— USD women’s basketball will host North Dakota on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
— USD men’s basketball face Kansas City on Thursday at 7 p.m.
LEGION BASEBALL
— From the Mitchell Republic, Mitchell’s American Legion baseball program is back for the 2026 season under a new organization called Palace City Baseball Association. The South Dakota American Legion Athletic Commission approved the reinstatement last Sunday, ending a suspension that began after legal issues involving former players. Palace City Baseball will field Junior and Senior Legion teams and looks to rebuild youth baseball in Mitchell. Registration is now open, and the group is working to raise $70,000 to support the upcoming season.
HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL – MONDAY
Mt. Vernon/Plankinton 42, Garretson 18 (girls)
Garretson 59, Mt. Vernon/Plankinton 44 (boys)
Bridgewater-Emery 61, Colman-Egan 30 (boys)
Avon 50, Gregory 39 (girls)
🏀 43rd Annual Hanson Girls Classic – Corn Palace, Saturday, January 17
10:00 AM Hanson vs. Woodbury Central (IA)
11:30 AM No. 9B Sanborn Central/Woonsocket vs. Elk Point-Jefferson
1:00 PM Corsica-Stickney vs. No. 6B Harding County – Q107.3
2:30 PM No. 1B Lyman vs. No. 10A Mobridge-Pollock
4:00 PM St. Thomas More vs. No. 7A Dakota Valley
5:30 PM No. 5A Wagner vs. No. 3A Hamlin – Q107.3
7:00 PM No. 2B Parkston vs. No. 4B Ethan – Q107.3
8:30 PM No. 1A Mahpíya Lúta vs. No. 2A Lennox
NFL
— The Houston Texans have secured their first road playoff win in franchise history, beating the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-6 on Monday night. The Texans held Pittsburgh to 175 yards of offense and scored a pair of defensive touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Houston stretched its winning streak to 10 games and advances to play New England in the division round. Aaron Rodgers passed for 146 yards and threw a pick-6 on what could be the final throw of his 21-year career.
— John Harbaugh has interviewed for the Atlanta Falcons head coaching job, his first formal interview since being fired by the Baltimore Ravens last week. Harbaugh, who led the Ravens for 18 seasons and won a Super Bowl in 2012, has also been in talks with several other teams including the Giants, Titans, Browns, Raiders, and Cardinals. The Falcons, who fired coach Raheem Morris after an 8-9 season, will also interview former Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel.
NFL DIVISIONAL ROUND
Denver Broncos vs. Buffalo Bills – Saturday at 3:30 pm on CBS
Seattle Seahawks vs. San Francisco 49ers – Saturday at 7 pm on FOX
New England Patriots vs. Houston/Pittsburgh – Sunday at 2 pm on ABC/ESPN
Chicago Bears vs. Los Angeles Rams – Sunday at 5:30 pm on NBC
GOLF
— Brooks Koepka is back on the PGA Tour just five weeks after leaving LIV Golf, but it’s coming at a massive cost. The five-time major champion will donate $5 million to charity and give up PGA Tour equity and FedEx Cup bonus money, a penalty that could total more than $50 million. Koepka returns later this month at the Farmers Insurance Open. The Tour says this is a one-time deal, and only a few other LIV stars would even be eligible.
NASCAR
— NASCAR is bringing back ‘The Chase’ in 2026, ending its elimination-style playoff format. The new system features the top 16 drivers racing over the final 10 events, with the driver who scores the most points across those races crowned champion at Homestead-Miami Speedway. There will be no round-by-round eliminations, and no winner-take-all finale. Race wins will now be worth 55 points, up from 40, to reward drivers who go for victories. NASCAR made the change after heavy fan backlash to late-race chaos deciding recent championships.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
— Arizona solidified its hold on No. 1 in the latest AP men’s college basketball poll, earning 60 of 61 first-place votes as they remain unbeaten at 16-0. Vanderbilt’s perfect season also earned the Commodores a spot in the top 10 for the first time since 2011-12. Iowa State moved up to No. 2, while Michigan fell to No. 4 after their first loss of the season to Wisconsin. Nebraska climbed to No. 8, matching a program high, while defending champion Florida reentered the poll at No. 19. Meanwhile, Kansas dropped out of the top 25.
— UConn remains the unanimous No. 1 in the latest AP women’s basketball poll. South Carolina moved up to No. 2, while LSU and TCU cracked the top 10 after. Vanderbilt, unbeaten and ranked No. 5, is at its highest spot since 2002. Maryland and Oklahoma dropped out of the top 10, while Alabama, Notre Dame, and Illinois joined the rankings. The SEC leads with nine teams in the Top 25, tied with the Big Ten for most this season.
WNBA
— The WNBA and its players’ union have agreed to a moratorium, pausing the start of free agency after missing the deadline to extend or renew their collective bargaining agreement. Negotiations continue, but major disagreements remain, especially on salaries and revenue sharing. The league proposed a maximum base salary of $1 million in 2026, with players receiving over 70% of net revenue after expenses. The players’ union counters with a demand for about 30% of gross revenue and a $10.5 million salary cap. Talks remain ongoing.
MLB
— Free agent outfielder Max Kepler has been suspended for 80 games following a positive test for a banned performance-enhancing substance in violation of Major League Baseball’s drug program. An 11-year major league veteran, Kepler spent last season with the Philadelphia Phillies. He played his first 10 seasons with the Minnesota Twins.
NEWS
— The Supreme Court is hearing arguments over state laws barring transgender girls and women from playing on school athletic teams. The culture war cases come from Idaho and West Virginia, among the first of the more than two dozen Republican-led states that have banned transgender athletes from girls’ and women’s teams. The justices are evaluating claims of sex discrimination lodged by transgender people versus the need for fair competition for women and girls. Lower courts ruled for the transgender athletes who challenged the state bans, but the conservative-dominated Supreme Court might not follow suit.
— Senegal and Ivory Coast fans who want to support their teams at the World Cup this summer have had their plans upended because of a travel ban imposed by the U.S. federal government. The two west African countries were added in December to the list of countries with “partial restrictions” on entry to tournament co-host United States, barring those on tourist visas as the supporters would be if they were to follow their teams. Some fans suggested the U.S., which is hosting the 48-team event with Canada and Mexico, should be stripped of the tournament if it doesn’t allow all participating teams their supporters.
HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL – TUESDAY
Parkston vs. Platte-Geddes (DH) – Boys game on KORN Country 92.1 at 8 pm.
Ethan vs. Bridgewater-Emery (DH)
Wessington Springs vs. Mt. Vernon/Plankinton (DH)
Kimball/White Lake vs. Sanborn Central/Woonsocket (DH)
Tripp-Delmont/Armour vs. Andes Central/Dakota Christian (DH)
Freeman vs. Parker/Marion (DH)
Elk Point-Jefferson vs. Wagner (DH)
Canistota vs. Avon (DH)
Howard vs. De Smet (DH)
Centerville vs. Scotland/Menno (DH)
Mitchell Christian vs. Corsica-Stickney (boys)
Hanson vs. McCook Central/Montrose (girls)
CLASS AA GIRLS – TUESDAY
No. 1 Brandon Valley vs. Crofton, Neb.
No. 3 Washington vs. No. 2 O’Gorman
Watertown vs. No. 4 Aberdeen Central
Mitchell vs. SF Roosevelt
Rapid City Stevens vs. Sturgis
CLASS AA BOYS – TUESDAY
No. 2 SF Roosevelt vs. Mitchell
No. 3 Harrisburg vs. Brandon Valley
Yankton vs. No. 5 Huron
SF Washington vs. O’Gorman
Aberdeen Central vs. Watertown
Tea Area vs. Pierre
Rapid City Stevens vs. Sturgis
Boys
Class AA
1. Lincoln (23) 8-0 115 1
2. Roosevelt 6-1 91 3
3. Harrisburg 4-2 35 5
4. Spearfish 5-0 32 4
5. Huron 5-2 23 2
Receiving votes: Mitchell 20, Tea Area 15, Watertown 14
Class A
1. West Central (23) 8-0 230 2
2. SF Christian 5-1 197 1
3. Clark/Willow Lake 7-0 192 3
4. St. Thomas More 5-1 139 4
5. Mahpiya Luta 8-0 131 5
6. Hamlin 4-1 103 8
7. Groton Area 6-3 76 9
8. Vermillion 5-2 70 10
9. Cheyenne-Eagle Butte 7-1 44 RV
10. Lennox 3-3 28 6
Receiving votes: Dakota Valley 24, Madison 22, Stanley County 8, Flandreau 1.
Class B
1. Viborg-Hurley (20) 8-0 226 1
2. De Smet (3) 7-0 205 2
3. Castlewood 6-1 180 3
4. Sully Buttes 5-1 139 4
5. Aberdeen Christian 5-1 128 5
6. Wessington Springs 6-2 102 6
7. Wall 6-3 94 7
8. Freeman 5-2 77 9
9. Deubrook Area 6-1 39 10
10. Estelline-Hendricks 7-1 26 RV
Receiving votes: Parkston 22, Lyman 14, Marty 10, St. Mary’s 2, Bridgewater-Emery 1.
Girls
Class AA
1. Brandon Valley (23) 6-0 115 1
2. O’Gorman 5-1 86 2
3. Washington 7-0 72 3
4. Aberdeen Central 6-1 47 4
5. Tea Area 6-2 13 5
Receiving votes: Rapid City Stevens 12.
Class A
1. Mahpiya Luta (22) 8-0 229 1
2. Lennox (1) 9-0 207 2
3. Hamlin 6-0 180 3
4. Sioux Valley 6-0 159 4
T-5. SF Christian 6-2 119 6
T-5. Wagner 6-1 119 7
7. Dakota Valley 5-2 89 5
8. West Central 6-1 63 8
9. Roncalli 7-1 52 9
10. Mobridge-Pollock 5-2 24 10
Receiving votes: Clark/Willow Lake 12, Lakota Tech 12.
Class B
1. Lyman (13) 5-0 214 2
2. Parkston (4) 8-0 200 3
3. Bennett County (5) 4-2 179 4
4. Ethan 7-1 129 5
5. Centerville (1) 7-2 126 1
6. Harding County 9-0 115 6
7. Colman-Egan 7-0 108 7
8. Chester 8-1 63 9
9. Sanborn Central/Woonsocket 5-1 61 8
10. Gayville-Volin 7-1 27 NR
Receiving votes: Corsica-Stickney 22, Highmore-Harrold 11, Lemmon 9, Waubay-Summit 1.