ABERDEEN — With plenty of state tournament experience on its roster, the De Smet boys’ basketball team will be aiming to win a fourth consecutive title during the 2024 Class B State Tournament, which begins Thursday at the Barnett Center in Aberdeen.

The Bulldogs have seven seniors on this year’s roster, including all five starters. Four of those starters have been part of the varsity lineup during the championship runs the past three seasons.

“I think the field is wide open for this year’s tournament. I give the edge to the teams that have been here regularly the past few seasons — White River, Viborg-Hurley, Castlewood and De Smet,” said coach Jeff Gruenhagen, who has guided the Bulldogs to titles the past three seasons. “I think have all played very tough schedules and have experience in Aberdeen in the B tournament.

“We have a good chance at winning it all, but it will take a great effort as all of the teams are loaded with talent and balanced-scoring attacks,” he said.

De Smet, which is 20-3, is the No. 2 seed for this year’s tourney.

The Bulldogs will opend the tournament against seventh-seeded Gregory, which is 19-4, at 6 p.m. Thursday.

In the other opening round matchups, top-seeded White River (21-2) will face No. 8 Viborg-Hurley (18-5) at noon; fourth-seeded Wessington Springs (22-1) will face No. 5 Howard (20-3) at 1:45 p.m.; and third-seeded Castlewood (20-3) will face No. 6 Leola/Frederick Area (22-1) at 7:45 p.m.

George Jensen, a 6-foot-6 forward, has led the Bulldogs in scoring this season.

“He’s a smooth shooting forward with great hops and shot blocking ability,” Gruenwald said of Jensen. “He has great range and can really slash down the paint.”

Joining Jensen in the starting lineup for De Smet are Trace Van Regenmorter, Kadyn Fast, Tom Aughenbaugh and Britt Carlson.

“Trace has had many double-double nights and is relentless on the boards,” he said. “He can also defend a smaller guard or a big post really well.”

Fast is a 6-1 guard.

“He is a very quick guard that can get to the rim,” Gruenhagen said of Fast. “He has a good 3-point jumpshot and is a great defender.”

Aughenbaugh, a 6-0 guard, runs the offense for the Bulldogs.

“He is a great point guard that can see the floor and control the game for us,” Gruenwald said. “He was our sixth man last year and scored 25 in the championship game. He has very good range beyond the arc.”

Carlson is a 6-4 guard for the Bulldogs.

“He is a very physical player with quickness to back it up,” Gruenhagen said of Carlson. “He is a solid perimeter shooter and really hustles on both ends.He is not afraid to get on the floor and fight for the ball.”

Adding depth for De Smet is 6-8 sophomore Grant Wilkinson, along with seniors Edger Wilkinson and Tristan Olson.

“Grant Wilkinson is a big post who has good hands,” Gruenhagen said. “He has improved over the course of the season and really gives us an advantage in the paint.”

Gregory has just one senior on its roster in Daniel Mitchell, a 6-7 forward. However, Gruenhagen knows his team will need to be prepared for a battle during their opening game.

“Daniel Mitchell is very good inside and out. We have to limit his rebounding and keep him from getting close to the rim post touches,” he said. “Gregory has a balanced scoring attack with (Cruz) Klundt and (Noah) Bearshield being able to drive and shoot from deep, along with some physical inside players that pick up a lot of offensive boards. They are very well coached and can defend with several different schemes.”

Gruenhagen pointed to the defensive end of the floor as to the key to the Bulldogs’success in this year’s tournament.

“We will have to bring our best defensive effort and really get up and play hard,” Gruenhagen said. “We pride ourselves on D and contesting every shot all night long.

“We have found the defense and rebounds can really help you on a night when your not shooting well, he said. “Controlling the boards is a very big key this year, as many of the teams are taller than we are or very close to us in height.”

The winners from the opening round will move into the semifinals at 6 and 7:45 p.m. Friday, while the losers will play in the consolation semfinals at noon and 1:45 p.m. Friday.

The seventh-place game is scheduled for noon on Saturday, followed by the conslation championship game at 1:45 p.m.; the third-place game at 6 p.m., and the championship game 7:45 p.m.

The Class B Tournament will be televised on SDPB1.