RAPID CITY - Madison may be the top-seeded team in state Class A. But to the teams at the state tournament starting Thursday, defending champion Platte-Geddes is the team to beat.

Platte-Geddes will be the hunted at Rushmore Plaza Civic Center. And they received the second seed despite defeating tournament top-seeded Madison earlier in the season.

The Black Panthers (20-2 overall) are led by four seniors, three of which are standouts - 6-foot-3 guard Keith Cutler, 6-foot-5 center Collin Ringling and 6-foot guard Jordan Johnson. All three have started on the team since their freshmen year.

Also, the team has experienced depth. All five of the team's main substitutes are seniors.

"It's a great thing that they are finishing at the state tournament," said head coach Frank Cutler. "They've had a pretty fine career."

The Black Panthers will meet Parkston (17-5) at 6 p.m. in the first night game. When the two teams met earlier this season, they traded the lead several times in the second half before the Black Panthers went on a run late to win by five points.

Cutler also expects a tough game this time around, especially since one of the state's toughest players - David Maxwell, who averages 17 points and nine rebounds a game - plays for Parkston.

"He can do everything for them," Cutler said of Maxwell, who is considered the best Class A post player in the state by several coaches.

"I think he has shown he can take over a game," said Red Cloud coach Matt Rama.

But Maxwell will not be Cutler's only worry. Parkston junior guard Jordan Powell sank five 3-pointers - and back-up freshman forward Chance Roth gave the Black Panthers fits - in their previous game.

Awaiting the winner of the Platte-Geddes and Parkston game will be either No. 3 Red Cloud (18-3) or No. 6 Sisseton (16-5). The two teams will play at 7:45 p.m.

Red Cloud is ready for a challenging game. It is part of the territory.

"Everybody who makes it to state has gone through tough times," said Rama. "It's a challenge, but that's the type of basketball you can expect to play from here on out."

Red Cloud has met Sisseton once this season, an 87-76 win for the Crusaders.

The Redmen are led by senior point guard Trey Fredrick, who averages better than 20 points per game. Sisseton also has some underclassmen that can do some damage, Rama said.

Red Cloud can play with anyone when their outside shooters are hot. Leading the squad will be Carl Swallow, who according to several state tournament coaches may be the best player in the state.

Swallow averages 19 points a game and 6.1 rebounds. Bryer Cottier is also a force for Red Cloud, averaging 18.6 points per game. Both players are part of a lineup that likes to play fast and shoot the ball.

"We need to keep attacking the boards and play like we play - run, run, run," Rama said about his team's preparation.

However, the Crusaders will match the Redmen by doing what they did to get to the state tournament, with few changes.

"We're trying to heal up a bit, and we're not doing anything different (in practice)," Rama said. "We believe we can outwork other teams and other players on the floor.

"At this point we're just ready to play. That's all it is at this point. It's exciting for the kids, exciting for me and exciting for the community."

Red Cloud will have one major advantage over most teams in the field. The Crusaders have played at the state tournament site several times this season, including Lakota Nation Invitational, regular-season and postseason games.

Rama said having the tournament in Rapid City will give Red Cloud fans a short drive and a chance to show up in numbers.

On the other side of the bracket looms another team with plenty of senior leadership.

Michael Ricke, coach of top-seeded Madison, is reluctant to call his squad the team to beat.

"In our minds, (the Black Panthers) are the champions," Ricke said, who was surprised at who Madison drew: McLaughlin. The two teams will play the tournament's first game at noon.

In recent years, Chamberlain had earned the state berth from Region 6A. But, the Cubs this year

were overtaken by a McLaughlin squad that Madison will not take lightly.

"McLaughlin likes to get to the rim," Ricke said, adding that the Midgets have a good dribble-drive offense and a quick defense.

"They are a scary team because they are not known. They've worked hard and earned a trip to state."

McLaughlin (16-5) is led by 6-foot-2 senior forward Julian Defender, who averages 17.7 points a game and is the team's tallest player.

"Defender is tough to guard and a good enough passer to find shooters," Ricke said.

Like Platte-Geddes, Madison (21-2) is led by four senior starters and it will counter the Midgets with size. The team is led by South Dakota State recruits 6-7 forward Chad White and 6-8 center Tony Fiegen. Both players average about 17 points a game.

The winner of the Madison-McLaughlin game will face either Sioux Valley or Lennox, who meet at 1:45 p.m. on Thursday.

No. 4 Sioux Valley (20-3), coached by Bill Vincent, will meet a No. 5 Lennox (19-4) squad that has won 15 consecutive games since Jan. 13, when the team had 4-4 record.

"Lennox comes in as one of the hottest teams," Vincent said.

Vincent said his Cossacks, and the Orioles, are fundamentally sound teams. Each team has three players that stand out.

For Sioux Valley, the players are guard Brooks Knolley, a 6-4 guard, and Ben Miller, who averages 20 points per game. Nate Sudenga is the defense stopper for the all-senior lineup.

Lennox features Austin Harms, Austin Eichacker and Jordan Konda. Harms leads the team with 17.1 points per game.

Vincent said his game should be a challenge in what most state coaches consider one of the best tournament fields in years.

"We're extremely proud to be part of such a talented field," Vincent said. "It has the makings of a classic state tournament."

The balanced and talented field is a fact which does not escape the coaches at this year's tournament.

"I think there's eight very good teams," Cutler said.