SIOUX FALLS — That was the Colonels' dream this season.
And it could be a nightmare come true for the rest of Class AA boys basketball.
Through two games in the state tournament, the Mitchell High School boys basketball team has won its first two opponents by a combined 29 points, most recently defeating Sioux Falls Washington 72-51 in the state semifinals Friday night.
The Colonels have now won 16 straight games (22-1) and have a chance to avenge their loss in the 2023 state title game on Saturday night against No. 3 Brandon Valley in Sioux Falls. .
“We wanted to get another shot. Our goal was to get back Saturday night,” Mitchell coach Riker Creutzfeldt said. “I don't want to play them on Saturday night right now because they're locked in.”
On Friday, the Colonels surprised Washington from the get-go, going on a 16-1 run in the first quarter and rallying with an 11-3 run in the second to take a lead by as many as 22 points. With an avalanche of 3-pointers and drives to the basket, the Warriors never had a chance to pull off the upset.
Right now, the Colonels are making it look simple and playing like favorites. They are playing like a No. 1 seed and a state championship team.
Adam Souley / Mitchell Republic
“It feels exactly like last year, but this time we know what we need to do to get it done,” sophomore forward Kolton Smith said. “This is unfinished business and it means a lot to us.”
Marcus Talley added: “I'm excited. I'm ready and I know what's going to happen.” “We've been waiting for this moment.”
So the Colonels are back in the championship game. This was the situation 364 days ago when they played against rival Yankton in Rapid City. Mitchell rallied from a 15-point deficit in the first half and took the lead in the final 2 1/2 minutes, but it was close, but Yankton pulled away and won 65-61.
The history at stake for the kernel is worth mentioning. Since 2005, the Colonels have appeared in his four title games, finishing in second place each time. A win would give Mitchell the eighth Class AA championship in school history and the 17th state title since 1930.
For this group of players and coaches, this season is everything. They are motivated and focused on the award they narrowly missed out on last season.
“We had a really good celebration last year, as we should have,” Creutzfeldt said after Friday's postgame locker room scene. “But now it's like, 'Okay, let's play, let's get ready for Saturday night.'” The state championship game is special, so we let them enjoy the moment, but after about five minutes found that they are ready for the next match. ”
Things may not go smoothly in the state championship game. Things often don't go as planned. But this group of Colonels showed determination this season and demonstrated that there are different ways to attack and defend.
“They feel good, but they're not satisfied,” Creutzfeldt said.
Bring it on Saturday night.
Marcus Traxler is deputy editor and sports editor at The Mitchell Republic. A past recipient of the state's Outstanding Young Journalist Award and the 2023 South Dakota Sportswriter of the Year Award, he has been with the newspaper since 2014, reporting on a wide range of topics. Traxler, a Minnesota native, can be reached at mtraxler@mitchellrepublic.com.
