RAPID CITY - The Red Cloud boys basketball team set its sights high at the beginning of the season, ending a decade-long state tournament apperance drought.

Red Cloud avenged Region 8A defeats at the hands of St. Thomas More in 2006 and 2007 earlier this month to earn its first Class A state tournament since 1997.

"It's kind of a been a long time coming getting back to state," Red Cloud head coach Matthew Roma said. "It's been a long time coming since I've been here. So for people who have been here, ending the long hiatus is a positive for the campus and community."

The top-seeded Crusaders (22-1 overall) open state play today against eighth-seeded Chamberlain (14-9) at noon MDT at the Sioux Falls Arena. Other first-round games include No. 4 Platte-Geddes (20-3) facing No. 5 Sioux Valley (19-4), second-seeded Lennox against No. 7 Madison (17-6) and third-seeded Tri-Valley (20-3) against Sisseton (16-5). All 12 Class A games will be televised on South Dakota Public Television.

Red Cloud - unbeaten by any South Dakota team with its lone loss in 23 tries coming to Chadron, Neb. - last won a state title in 1995. Overall, the 1990's produced six state tournament appearances for Red Cloud.

"It is always the expectation every year to be at state," Rama said. "We approached this summer and fall and asked (the team) if they want to be a state title team. We've been close to going the last two years. But the kids have done what it took to get us to this point. They worked hard, practiced hard and played hard."

Rama said the opportunity to earn that elusive state tournament berth was made even sweeter with the win over St. Thomas More.

"It's been tough the last couple of years. (St. Thomas More) is a great program with a great coach," Rama said. "We didn't expect anyone else to be in the region title game but them. It felt like to get state, we had to go through them."

Three seniors lead the way for the Crusaders. Christian McGhee, a 5-foot-10 senior, is Red Cloud's leading scorer, averaging more than 16 points a game. Billy Scott (12.4) and Lester Gotheridge (11.3) also average in double figures. Gotheridge is the team's leading rebounder, pulling down nearly nine a game.

Chamberlain head coach Allan Bertram said Red Cloud is deserving of its top seed.

"Red Cloud is definitely the favorite, they've not been beaten by any South Dakota team," Bertram said. "They are very athletic and very balanced."

However, the Crusaders have a tall order ahead of them in Sioux Falls. Seven other talented teams await them in what many are seeing as a great tournament field with lots of balance.

"Lennox has a great player, Madison has two great kids and Chamberlain has been to state three years and is a very good program," Rama said. "It's a very deep tournament field. It will be a battle to get the state title."

Half of the tournament field - Lennox, Madison, Sioux Valley and Chamberlain - are back from last year's tournament. Lennox is making its fourth-straight trip to state. But a couple of teams are in the same boat as Red Cloud, returning to the state stage after long absences. Tri-Valley returns for the first time since 1993, while Sisseton is making just its third trip since 1991.

"I feel this tournament is fairly even from top-to-bottom," Bertram said. "There are some very good teams."

Sisseton has just two seniors, 6-foot-7 post Tyler Mendenwald and 6-foot-2 forward Kaden Peterson.

Chamberlain returns for the third consecutive season but experience, or rather a lack of it, could be a factor.

"First of all this is a brand new group of kids," Bertram said. We graduated six seniors from last year's team. So this is a whole new team. It has been a rewarding season. Lots of people have really stepped up and helped get us back."

Chamberlain was dealt a setback long before it took the court for its first game. Josh Miranda, the team's returning leading scorer from last year, tore his anterior cruciate ligament during the team's first practice of the season.

"He was an all-conference kid from last year," Bertram said. "But the kids really responded and stepped up their play."

Red Cloud's victory over St. Thomas More in the Region 8A title game, assured there will be a new state champion crowned. But Rama isn't worried about that just yet.

"We are trying to take it one-at-a-time. We've got to be focused on Chamberlain," Rama said. We can't worry about any other team We have to stay focused on Chamberlain and see what happens."