Watertown boys basketball team had best season since 2008; tougher season for girls

WATERTOWN — It was a banner season for the Watertown High School and boys basketball team in 2025-26. Not the same for the girls, however. A relative-young Arrow girls basketball team, also limited in size, compiled a 4-16 (1-8 in the Eastern South Dakota Conference) record and failed to qualify for a SoDak 16 state-qualifying game.

Watertown's boys, with three senior starters, enjoyed their winningest season (18-6 overall, 6-3 in the ESD) since capturing the state Class AA championship in 2008. The girls season ended Feb. 28 with a home win over Pierre in the regular season and the boys wrapped up their year by winning the consolation championship in the state Class AA tourney on Saturday, March 21 at Rapid City.

"I think when you look at it, we had a great year. We just did," Retiring Watertown boys coach Pat McClemans said. "We did a lot of great things and to finish 18-6 and win two games in the state tournament is just outstanding.

" A season to remember for Watertown's boys The Arrow boys concluded a 6-14 season in 2024-25 with a home victory over Pierre in the regular-season finale and did not qualify for a SoDak 16 state-qualifying game. Although Watertown did welcome back some players with experience, it wouldn't have been easy for anybody to predict such a huge turnaround. Jackson McClemans, a 6-foot-5 senior guard and coach's son, returned after leading the team in scoring (13.