For the third year in a row, the Freeman Academy/Marion boys will be playing in the final round of the Region 5B Tournament. But this time they’re the favorite to win. The Bearcats are the region’s top seed and will square off against No. 4 Irene-Wakonda Friday night, March 4 in a game scheduled to tip at 6 p.m. at Freeman Public. Freeman Public is hosting both Region 5B finals on Friday; No. 2 Viborg-Hurley will face No. 3 Centerville in the second game. The winners of Friday’s games will play in the SoDak 16 next Tuesday.

REGION 5B BOYS BASKETBALL Cubs spoil Flyers’ bid for revenge The Freeman Public boys wanted payback against Alcester-Hudson for a 2-point loss during the regular season. Instead, they were dealt an excruciating defeat JEREMY WALTNER  - PUBLISHER

JEREMY WALTNER  - PUBLISHER Riley Tschetter went to state to win, and win he did — not once, not twice, but three teams. The result? Seventh place for an eighth grader who was among the youngest medal-winners there. Competing in his second State Wrestling Tournament at the Denny Sanford Premeir Center in Sioux Falls last Thursday and Friday, Feb. 24 and 25, Tschetter finished 3-2 in the 132 lb. weight class and won key matches en route to his spot on the podium.

JEREMY WALTNER  - PUBLISHER All the big shots, defensive stands and never-give-ups the Flyers could muster weren’t quite enough to score a memorable upset that would have stunned a peppy Centerville team that in no way, shape or form expected to lose.

A game that looked like it might go down to the wire ended up swinging in favor of Freeman late and the Flyers emerged from a physical battle with Scotland claiming a win in the second round of the Region 5B Tournament Tuesday night, Feb. 22.

JEREMY WALTNER - PUBLISHER A Marion freshman will write a new chapter in the Marion/Freeman wrestling book this week.

JEREMY WALTNER  - PUBLISHER As a seventh grader a year ago, Riley Tschetter was probably thrilled just to make it to the State Wrestling Tournament in his rookie season wrestling at the varsity level, never mind that he lost both of his matches in the 106 lb. weight division. This year? “I’m just going out there planning on winning,” he said.

The Menno girls battled but the No. 8-seed Wolves came up short against No. 1 Centerville, falling to the Tornados  35-23 in the second round of the Region 5B Tournament Tuesday night, Feb. 22. Menno finishes the season 5-17 while Centerville will take a 19-2 record into Thursday's third-round game against Freeman Public.

The Courier is making this story available for members and non-members alike. If you appreciate this type of community journalism, please consider signing up by clicking here. Paityn Huber picked the right time to find her touch from the outside.

Freeman eighth grader Riley Tschetter will compete in his second State Wrestling Tournament after finishing second in the 132 lb. division of the Region 2B Wrestling Tournament in Freeman Saturday, Feb. 19.