After nearly two weeks without a game, the No. 5‑ranked Spearfish Spartans return to the floor Tuesday night when they host the Hot Springs Bison in a Black Hills Conference matchup at Spearfish High School. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
Spearfish enters at 5–0 and sits third in the BHC standings. The Spartans have won 10 of 16 meetings with Hot Springs since 2012, including back‑to‑back victories and a 75–38 road win last season. Hot Springs, now 4–5, won three straight in the series during 2021–22 but has dropped two of the last three.
Spearfish Spartans (5–0)
Head coach Ben Schultz, now in his fourth season, brings a rested team into the matchup after the Jan. 16 game against Douglas was postponed. Despite battling injuries and illness earlier in the month, the Spartans are healthy and averaging 64 points per game while allowing just 42.
Junior forward Kade Vavruska leads Spearfish in scoring (15 PPG), rebounding (7 RPG), and blocks (1.5 BPG), anchoring a fast‑paced offense built around paint touches and transition opportunities. Junior guard Mason Southern, top‑five in Class AA in assists at 6 per game, is coming off a career‑high 15 points in the win over Hill City.
Spearfish is 5–0 against teams above .500 and 1–0 in conference play. Schultz emphasized the importance of avoiding a slow start against a Hot Springs team still searching for consistency but athletic enough to challenge the Spartans if overlooked.
Keys for Spearfish:
- Maintain pace
- Share the ball
- Dominate the paint
- Avoid underestimating Hot Springs
Hot Springs Bison (4–5)
Head coach Max Jirsa leads a young but athletic Bison squad that is beginning a lengthy road stretch lasting through late February. Hot Springs is coming off a 58–38 win over Faith in the West River Tournament and is 3–2 on the road this season.
The Bison average 43.3 points per game while allowing 48.7, and they remain winless in conference play. A key matchup will be 6‑foot‑8 junior center Ayden Bloom, whose presence in the paint will be crucial against a Spearfish team that thrives around the rim.
Hot Springs will need to keep pace early and limit turnovers to stay within striking distance. The Bison have pulled off upsets in Spearfish before—including a volleyball upset this fall—and will look to replicate that energy on the basketball court.
Keys for Hot Springs:
- Rebounding
- Force turnovers
- Start fast
- Protect the ball
Broadcast Information
Tonight’s game will air on KDSJ 980 AM, 103.5 FM, kdsj980.com, and the KDSJ Sports Mobile App. Fans can also watch live on KDSJ‑TV on YouTube and Facebook.
Watch LIVE: https://www.youtube.com/live/bbYQ2_AzIr4?si=D8niRrvEDf9rBUdg
