South Dakota Season Opener: December 8th

The South Dakota high school girls basketball season is underway and PGH has been hitting the film room to give you a handle on how the prospects around the state are performing. I was able to catch two of the games on the Tuesday, December 8th slate. There were 10 games total that night. Ipswich and Sully Buttes squared off and so did McCook Central/Montrose and Mt. Vernon/Plankinton. Ipswich featured Northern State University commit Halle Heinz Halle Heinz 5'5" | PG Ipswich | 2021 State SD and Sully Buttes 2024 prospect Stevie Wittler Stevie Wittler 5'7" | CG Sully Buttes | 2024 State SD had a coming out party. McCook Central/Montrose is highlighted by 2021 Madisen Koepsell Madisen Koepsell 6'0" | PF McCook/Montrose Central | 2021 State SD and breakout candidate Ashtyn Wobig Ashtyn Wobig 5'10" | PG McCook Central/Montrose | 2022 State SD . Mt. Vernon/Plankinton features the ultra-skilled Division 1 prospect, Emilee Fox Emilee Fox 5'8" | CG Mt.Vernon/Plankinton | 2024 State SD . Let’s breakdown the games and see the prospects’ skills/traits that stood out most.

Ipswich – 52

Sully Buttes – 47

McCook Central/Montrose – 57

Mt. Vernon/Plankinton – 44

Allyson Wittler Allyson Wittler 5'7" | CG Sully Buttes | 2023 State SD — Sully Buttes — (5’7/PG/2023) — A great athlete with good speed and quickness. Started for Sully Buttes last season as a Freshman. Has a good outside game from three. She can finish off-the-dribble but sometimes she can go too fast and put up a wild shot.

Halle Heinz Halle Heinz 5'5" | PG Ipswich | 2021 State SD — Ipswich — (5’5/CG/2021) — Halle was the leading scorer in this contest with 23 points. She made some strong, quick drives from the top into a finish for two. Showed her lightning-quick release from three that makes her tough to defend if she gains any space at all. Hit some tough floaters with defense there. She’s off to play D2 ball next year and it’s because of her three point ability and how she might have the quickest release in the state.

Stevie Wittler Stevie Wittler 5'7" | CG Sully Buttes | 2024 State SD — Sully Buttes — (5’6/CG/2024) — Stevie was the most surprising and stood out as a 2024 prospect to know. She was very impressive, scoring 14 points. She can play the point and a wing. Matched up very well with Heinz, chasing her all over the court and making her earn everything. She was denying and pressuring Heinz with confidence. Started the game by hitting floaters in the lane. Was very persistent on trying to go off-the-dribble and into the lane. Showed a solid crossover to go by the defense all game. Exceptional quickness and speed, especially translating to on-ball defense and drives to the hoop. Will easily blow past the initial defender. Stevie is a future college player.

Lindsey Grabowska  — Ipswich — (5’8/PF/2021) — An undersized post for Ipswich, Lindsey is a tough, get after it prospect. She is the heartbeat for Ipswich in the lane and doesn’t shy away from contact. Fights and boxes out hard and shows good strength by ripping away rebounds from her opponents.

Lydia Hill Lydia Hill 6'0" | C Sully Buttes | 2023 State SD — Sully Buttes — (6’0/C/2023) — Lydia contributed 17 points. She has good lateral feet on the defensive side of the ball. Can hit close range jump shots and has a soft touch. 

Hailey Bierman Hailey Bierman 5'8" | SG Ipswich | 2021 State SD — Ipswich — (5’8/SF/2021) — Showed good length and movement — moves with ease and fluidity. 

Katie Bierman Katie Bierman 5'9" | SG Ipswich | 2023 State SD — Ipswich — (5’8/SG/2023) —  A lefty that can knock down an open three, Katie finished the game with 12 points. An active defender in the zone with her above average length.

Madisen Koepsell Madisen Koepsell 6'0" | PF McCook/Montrose Central | 2021 State SD — McCook Central/Montrose — (6’0/PF-C/2021) — Madisen is a relentless inside player. Battles hard all game long for positioning and loose balls and rebounds. She had an all-around game and finished with a game high 24 points. Her best skill is simply her ability to make inside moves and finish at a very high rate.

Ashtyn Wobig Ashtyn Wobig 5'10" | PG McCook Central/Montrose | 2022 State SD — McCook Central/Montrose — (5’9/CG/2022) — Played the lead guard role for McCook Central/Montrose, starting at the point. Started the game off with some jumpers that were near misses that looked like they should have dropped. Showed very steady and sound defense on the ball — sits in a near perfect defensive stance. Very controlled with the ball on the offensive side of the ball. She’ll examine the defense, then make her move/pass. Ashtyn missed some shots that she would normally make, so look for her to put up some good scoring numbers as she was aggressive and her misses didn’t rattle her.

Riley Morrison Riley Morrison 5'6" | CG McCook Central/Montrose | 2021 State SD — McCook Central/Montrose — (5’6/SG/2021) — Riley is a sound offensive guard that can hit shots, handle the ball, and make the necessary plays. Fairly smooth and controlled with the ball, and she can handle the ball with some speed up the court as well. Has an effective back-dribble to slow and gather the offense. But overall good movement and quickness.

Emilee Fox Emilee Fox 5'8" | CG Mt.Vernon/Plankinton | 2024 State SD — Mt. Vernon/Plankinton —(5’8/CG/2024) — Emilee showed her swag from the start of the contest. Showed her elite skills with the ball, passing it and handling it. Emilee plays the game with ease. Played the passing lane well early in the game for a steal and a transition layup — showed great straight-line speed. Emilee is one of the top ball-handlers and passers in the state and she’s only a Freshman. I thought she could have been more aggressive trying to look for her shot, but she was an excellent facilitator in this game. Emile is going to be a special player when it’s all said and done.

Hallie Schmidt Hallie Schmidt 5'7" | CG Mt. Vernon/Plankinton | 2022 State SD —  Mt. Vernon/Plankinton — (5’7/CG/2021) — A really solid guard that seems underrated. A smart, heady player that makes the right pass but is also a threat on the offensive side. She takes and makes threes with a smooth and quick release. Didn’t over-dribble the ball versus the McCook Central/Montrose zone defense.

Kyia Schmidt Kyia Schmidt 5'8" | CG Mt. Vernon/Plankinton | 2024 State SD — Mt. Vernon/Plankinton —(5’8/SG/2024) — A good mover and glider on the court. A tenacious on-ball defender that can also shoot the three. A freshman getting playing time on the A school level.

Reagan Rus —  Mt. Vernon/Plankinton — (5’8/SG/2025) — Reagan is an 8th grader that could be an up-and-coming prospect in the state. She’s long and fairly skilled at this point in her career. Using her length very well on defense causing disruption for the passer.  Runs the court well with a long stride. She’s not exactly strong with the ball in her hands quite yet. Reagan will be an interesting prospect to monitor with her already getting varsity experience at such a young age.

Maria Baker Maria Baker 5'11" | SF Mt. Vernon/Plankinton | 2022 State SD  — Mt. Vernon/Plankinton —(5’10/SF/2022) — A small forward type playing inside, Maria led her team in scoring with 16 points in the contest. She’s a flasher at its finest. Not overly skilled but got the job done and scored in a variety of ways in this matchup. Runs the court hard in transition to get a quick bucket. Does most of her scoring in the lane.