Who Is Back in 2021 in Class ‘A’?
Broken Season = Broken Dreams, for fans and hoopsters. Always, both groups look ahead to the next rodeo, and here is an early analysis of the South Dakota State A field for 2021. State A qualifiers lost 23 seniors out…
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Continue ReadingBroken Season = Broken Dreams, for fans and hoopsters. Always, both groups look ahead to the next rodeo, and here is an early analysis of the South Dakota State A field for 2021.
State A qualifiers lost 23 seniors out of 104 rostered players, but 6 teams return their scoring punch, with exception of Lennox & Flandreau.
Winner (20-0) loses only leading rebounder Morgan Hammerbeck to BHSU. 2021’s and 2022’s are nine deep, with a full pipeline of young talent beyond eager for court time. Leading scorer Bella Swedlund, together with Maggie LaCompte, Kelsey Sachtjen, Ellie Brozik and Kalla Bertram, feature excellent skills, strong leadership, and growing confidence. Pre-season practices in Winner might get chippy and physical with 12 vying for spots in the rotation.
Their 46-game win streak appears safe well into 2020-21, even considering schedule softness. Winner’s opponents won 178 of 400 games (44.5%) in 2019-20. By contrast, STM’s foes won 59% in the recent regular season. The strength of schedule is a serious program building tool.
STM (18-2) should again be formidable, having lost 4 seniors but returning 3 starters and 3 experienced 2023’s. POY candidate Haleigh Timmer leads again, at both ends. Sparkplug guard Jenna Jacobson and The Last Duffy (Mairin) should again run, steal, and score as key construction blocks to build towards a championship. As many as six 2023’s provide quality depth for bench rotation and intense ball pressure defense: Scarlet Grimshaw, Jada Mollman, Reese Ross, Melanie Jacobson, Gabbie Robbins, and
Hamlin lost Bryn Alfson to a pre-season injury, or she would have led the Chargers towards an undefeated season. Now, she is off to Northern State. Cami Stevenson also was injured and hobbled through her senior campaign. Today, the cupboard is bare still full of skilled players, primarily 2021’s. Hamlin has to believe a title run is over-due, losing an 2019 upset or jinxed in 2020 with injuries. The Wadsworth’s, The Abraham’s, and the Prouty’s all spark enthusiasm for a challenge against four West River squads.
Lennox loses two all-staters, in Rianna Fillipi and Madysen Vlastuin, in their four seniors. Strong talent cannot be replaced easily, so a rebuilding project awaits coach Adam Quail. The Kuyper sisters’ height inside should hasten the team’s development. Hard to predict Lennox and Flandreau could return to the State A stage.
Flandreau graduates point production and leadership: Hannah Parsley is off to SW Minnesota State and floor general Tishara Hardy’s 3-pt bombs leave, too. Coach Severtson builds solid teams quickly and with relish. Prediction: the Flyer’s return soon. Claire Shepard, Maria Parsley and the Pavlis sisters are solid gamers, with upside potentials.
Aberdeen Roncalli’s 2022’s hold the keys for the Blue Cav’s continued dominance in the Glacial Lakes region. Stalwart graduates Jori Ewart & Mariah Winegar will be missed. This year’s run through the SoDak 16 was a one-two-punch from Madelyn Bragg and Morgan Fiedler. The defense was greatly improved from earlier games, leading to easy buckets in the playoffs. Trap pressure, anticipation, and quick feet did wonders for self-confidence and points scored.
If Red Cloud raised their shooting 5%, few teams would keep pace. Until seen in-person, it’s hard to appreciate the mental stresses resulting from the Crusader’s incessant ball pressure, usually from a double team, anywhere on the court. Turnovers, travels, double-dribbles, and other violations arrive in waves. Stevi Fallis runs the point guard position at 110-mph, always and forever hustles – how effective can their swarming ‘D’ become? The rotation is 10+ all trying to mimic Fallis, except Sharissa Haas. Haas is dominant inside, very energetic as well, and a great finisher at the rim. These two will have Red Cloud back in the tournament hunt.
Hill City became the Rodney Dangerfield nominee in GBB – getting no respect. The Rangers battled Belle Fourche into OT to earn the SoDak 16 berth versus Crow Creek. As a huge underdog! Why? On Feb 15th, Crow Creek spanked Hill City 76-48. OMG ! The re-match in Kadoka surprised most with the two-point HC triumph. Whitney Edwards & Emily Siemonsma locked down the paint and controlled CC’s low block rebounding. Fewer turnovers and mastery of the moment by Kadyn Comer put them over the top into the State ‘A’s” for the first time since the McDonald clan graduated. With only one senior graduating, HC returns 9 experienced veterans, and a 6’1 center comes back from a season lost to injury. Should be fun times again in the Black Hills Conference.
With the remaining two spots open in our mythical 2021 field, these teams have opportunities:
SF Christian & Lexi Unruh
Tri Valley & Tabor Teel
Dakota Valley & the Rosequist sisters
Garrettson & Lizzy Olson
Parkston & Emma Yost
MVP & Emily Fox
Redfield & Addy Rozell
West Central & Rylee Haldemann