MITCHELL — There’s still much to be decided in the race toward the South Dakota girls basketball postseason, but as February nears, the postseason picture is beginning to come into view.

From crowded regions with several teams in the top 20 of their respective classes to regions boasting programs that have separated themselves from the rest, the push toward the postseason features a bit of everything.

Here’s a look at the regions containing Mitchell-area programs and where the races stand entering the final weeks of the regular season.

Note: All records and seed points included in this story are current through contests on Monday, Jan. 29.

The undisputed top program in Region 3A, Sioux Falls Christian (12-1) owns a cushion of more than four seed points over second-place Garretson (8-6), the lone other team in the region with a winning record.

In the overall Class A seed points standings, the Chargers, with a resume that includes wins over top-20 Class A programs in Lennox, Elk Point-Jefferson, Hamlin, Parkston, Tea Area and Dakota Valley, is No. 2 while Garretson is No. 34. The Chargers have Vermillion, Sisseton, Mount Vernon/Plankinton and Class AA Yankton still on the schedule.

Behind Garretson is a trio of teams with similar records jockeying for position, including Tri-Valley (5-7), West Central (4-8) and McCook Central/Montrose (5-9). Rounding out the region standings are Dell Rapids (2-14), Madison (1-10) and Baltic (1-12).

Perhaps the most competitive region from top to bottom in all of South Dakota high school basketball this season, eight of the nine teams in Region 5A currently own records above .500.

Based on seed points standings, Wagner (10-3) leads the way as the No. 3 overall team in Class A, followed closely by No. 5 Mount Vernon/Plankinton (8-2), No. 7 Hanson (11-1) and No. 8 Parkston (9-4). Of course, due to the postseason format, at least two from that group won’t make it as far as the SoDak 16.

At the front of the chase group and just outside the Class A top 20 is Bon Homme (9-3), along with Chamberlain (7-6), Sanborn Central/Woonsocket (8-6) and Kimball/White Lake (8-6). Platte-Geddes (5-7) is currently the lone team in the region below .500 but still ranks above 19 other Class A teams.

A product of the quality of the region and creating a challenging schedule, six of the nine teams rank inside the top 20 of Class A for strength of schedule (based on opponent win percentage), including Parkston at No. 1 and Wagner at No. 2.

Hanson features in a pair of key contests at the top of the standings this week, welcoming Wagner on Tuesday night ahead of a road meeting with Mount Vernon/Plankinton on Thursday. Still remaining on MVP’s schedule are dates on the road at Ethan and Bon Homme, against St. Thomas More in the DWU Classic and hosting Sioux Falls Christian and Parkston. Parkston also faces off with Tea Area in the Dak XII/NEC Clash and visits SCW.

Behind an unbeaten start, Red Cloud (14-0) created a healthy edge at the top of Region 7A, where Winner (10-3) and Little Wound (7-7) are the only challengers at or above .500.

Of note, Red Cloud’s strength of schedule (.392) ranks 64th of 65 Class A teams, but the Crusaders own strong wins over Hill City, Wall and Belle Fourche, in addition to Class AA programs Spearfish and Sturgis.

Red Cloud ranks No. 4 overall in the Class A seed points standings, while Winner is No. 14. The Crusaders own two wins (by a combined 110 points) over Little Wound but do not play Winner on the regular season schedule.

Starting with Little Wound, the bottom six teams in the region standings, which also includes Bennett County (4-7), Lakota Tech (3-9), Todd County (4-9), Pine Ridge (2-9) and St. Francis (1-8) all check in at No. 42 or below overall in Class A.

Winning teams from other Class A regions
Region 1A: Sisseton (12-0), Aberdeen Roncalli (11-2), Groton Area (10-4), Milbank (9-5), Waubay/Summit (8-5)
Region 2A: Flandreau (13-0), Florence/Henry (12-3), Hamlin (9-5), Sioux Valley (10-4), Great Plains Lutheran (10-4), Elkton-Lake Benton (8-4), Estelline/Hendricks (7-6)
Region 4A: Vermillion (9-3), Tea Area (10-2), Lennox (10-3), Elk Point-Jefferson (11-2), Dakota Valley (10-4), Canton (6-5), Beresford (9-4)
Region 6A: Mobridge-Pollock (10-3), Miller (8-5), McLaughlin (10-4), Crow Creek (7-6)
Region 8A: Hill City (12-3), Belle Fourche (8-4), St. Thomas More (8-4), Rapid City Christian (7-5)

Class A SoDak 16 pairings if the postseason started today
Based on the top two teams in each region through action on Jan. 29
No. 1 Sisseton (12-0) vs. No. 16 Garretson (8-6)
No. 2 Sioux Falls Christian (12-1) vs. No. 15 Belle Fourche (8-4)
No. 3 Wagner (10-3) vs. No. 14 Miller (8-5)
No. 4 Red Cloud (14-0) vs. No. 13 Tea Area (10-2)
No. 5 Mount Vernon/Plankinton (8-2) vs. No. 12 Winner (10-3)
No. 6 Flandreau (13-0) vs. No. 11 Hill City (12-3)
No. 7 Vermillion (9-3) vs. No. 10 Mobridge-Pollock (10-3)
No. 8 Florence/Henry (12-3) vs. No. 9 Aberdeen Roncalli (11-2)

At No. 3 overall in Class B, Ethan (13-1) is the clear-cut frontrunner in Region 3B, having opened up a cushion of more than 3.25 seed points on Colman-Egan (9-5) in the second position.

The Rustlers have won 13 straight following a narrow season-opening loss to Hanson, taking down Wagner, Avon, Wessington Springs and Arlington along the way. Up next, Ethan faces trio of Region 5A teams — SCW, KWL and MVP — and also wraps up its season with dates against Freeman and Tripp-Delmont/Armour, all of which have winning records.

Right behind Colman-Egan, stands Howard (9-7), which has played the most games of any Class B program to date. In looking to overtake the Hawks, the Tigers will face defending Class A champion Hamlin at the DWU Classic.

Dell Rapids St. Mary (6-6), Canistota (5-7) and Chester (6-9) are in a cluster battling for position, as Bridgewater-Emery (3-9) looks to make up ground over the final weeks.

As the No. 1 team in the current Class B seed points standings, Centerville (11-1) reigns atop Region 4B and is 2.5 seed points up of second-position Freeman (10-2), having already defeated the Flyers handily this season.

A pair of top Class A foes, Flandreau and Elk Point-Jefferson, remain on the slate for Centerville, as does a meeting with an opponent to be determined in the Great Plains Conference Classic. Meanwhile, Freeman must navigate a final stretch that includes Hanson, Wall, Ethan and Gayville-Volin to close the regular season.

Behind Freeman, which ranks No. 14 overall in Class B, Gayville-Volin (9-4) is the lone remaining region representative with a winning record, ranking just inside the top 25. On the strength of a difficult schedule, two-time defending champion Viborg-Hurley (4-8) still ranks in the top half of the class.

Below, Alcester-Hudson (4-8), Irene-Wakonda (2-11), Menno (1-10), Scotland (1-11) and Freeman Academy/Marion (2-11) complete the region standings.

Like its Class A counterpart, Region 5B has more than its fair share of winning programs all with hopes of making to the statewide postseason.

At the top, Wessington Springs (10-3) checks in at No. 10 overall in the Class B seed points standings and has an edge of just over 1.5 seed points on second-position Andes Central/Dakota Christian (7-5). The Spartans own a win over No. 13 James Valley Christian but have fallen in chances against other top opposition such as Ethan and Faulkton Area. Springs still has a rematch with JVC, a home date with Warner and a trip to Tripp-Delmont/Armour remaining on the schedule.

ACDC, which still has contests against Wagner, Marty, Avon and KWL remaining on its slate, paces a group of five teams separated by less than one seed point from top to bottom. Close behind the Thunder are Tripp-Delmont/Armour (8-4), Avon (9-5), Marty (10-3) and Burke (7-7), as all look to improve their position ahead of the region tournament.

Like ACDC, TDA has several games remaining that could swing seeding, including matchups with Gayville-Volin, Marty, Springs, Avon and Ethan. Additionally, much of the region is included in the upcoming Great Plains Conference Classic.

Rounding out the region standings are Corsica-Stickney (4-7), Gregory (1-10) and Colome (0-13).

Continuing its rise up the Class B ranks, Lyman (12-1) stands atop Region 6B as the No. 6 overall team in the class, while Faulkton Area (12-2) isn’t far behind at No. 11 overall.

The Raiders and Trojans do not play one another during the regular season but have separated themselves from the pack, opening up a gap or nearly two full seed points between Faulkton and third-place Harreid/Selby Area (8-4).

Lyman will play HSA at the Highmore Classic and has a trio of Class A opponents remaining on its schedule including Chamberlain, St. Thomas More and a meeting with unbeaten Flandreau at the DWU Classic.

Behind HSA is a group that includes Lower Brule (7-7), Sully Buttes (6-7), Potter County and Highmore-Harrold (6-6). Sunshine Bible Academy (1-9) and Ipswich (1-11) complete the region standings.

Winning teams from other Class B regions
Region 1B: Warner (13-1), Leola/Frederick Area (10-4)
Region 2B: Arlington (12-2), James Valley Christian (9-4), Iroquois/Lake Preston (7-7)
Region 7B: Wall (10-3), White River (10-3), Kadoka Area (10-5), Philip (7-5)
Region 8B: Harding County (12-0), Lemmon (12-1), Faith (12-3), Wakpala (8-5), Tiospaye Topa (7-6)

Class B SoDak 16 pairings if the postseason started today
Based on the top two teams in each region through action on Jan. 29
No. 1 Centerville (11-1) vs. No. 16 Leola/Frederick Area (10-4)
No. 2 Arlington (12-2) vs. No. 15 Andes Central/Dakota Christian (7-5)
No. 3 Ethan (13-1) vs. No. 14 Colman-Egan (9-5)
No. 4 Harding County (12-0) vs. No. 13 Freeman (10-2)
No. 5 Wall (10-3) vs. No. 12 James Valley Christian (9-4)
No. 6 Lyman (11-1) vs. No. 11 White River (10-3)
No. 7 Lemmon (12-1) vs. No. 10 Faulkton Area (12-2)
No. 8 Warner (13-1) vs. No. 9 Wessington Springs (10-3)