Class B Standout Performers - Region 5

South Dakota’s Region 5 in Class B basketball has a number of quality prospects including a ton of young names to watch. The region is paced by the talented Viborg-Hurley Cougars sitting at number 1 and the up and coming Centerville Tornadoes in the 2 seed. The Freeman Flyers round out the top 3 and the 4 and 5 seeds belong to the Gayville-Volin Raiders and the Scotland Highlanders. The remaining seeds belong to the Irene-Wakonda Eagles, Alcester-Hudson Cubs, Menno Wolves, and Freeman Academy-Marion Bearcats. Standout Seniors The senior class standouts include Irene Wakonda’s [player_tooltip player_id="179058" first="Nora" last="O’Malley"] and [player_tooltip player_id="179062" first="Katie" last="Knodel"], Viborg-Hurley’s [player_tooltip player_id="99785" first="Delana" last="Mach"], Gayville-Volin’s [player_tooltip player_id="99783" first="Molly" last="Larson"], and Scotland’s Delanie VanDriel. [player_tooltip player_id="179058" first="Nora" last="O’Malley"] is no stranger to basketball. Her family has lived and breathed it, and she has been a player to watch from a young age. She possesses a high basketball IQ knowing when and where to attack, and a killer instinct to go along with it. The talented guard went over 1,000 points early in her junior year of high school and became the 6th member of her FAMILY to eclipse that mark. Earlier this year, on December 11th against Ponca, NE Nora led the game in scoring with 30. Fellow Eagle [player_tooltip player_id="179062" first="Katie" last="Knodel"] has paved her way to relevance as an aggressive guard who attacks the rim well and pressures the ball defensively. She may not be the volume scorer like her teammate but does just enough of everything to help her team succeed. She grabbed 9 rebounds in the Ponca game earlier this year showing off her aggressive nature as a guard. Viborg-Hurley’s [player_tooltip player_id="99785" first="Delana" last="Mach"] is a talented post player who can score from the paint as well as stretch out and shoot the deep ball. Starting all six games she has averaged 7.6 points per game and shoots 35% from three. She also brings down close to 6 rebounds per game and turns the ball over barely over 1 time per outing. Mach is an experienced post who is poised to help her team from all over the floor on both ends. She pulled down 11 rebounds recently in a 48-44 comeback victory against Gregory at the Sanford Pentagon. Gayville-Volin’s [player_tooltip player_id="99783" first="Molly" last="Larson"] is another high IQ guard with a knack for finding ways to score. Another 1,000 point scorer for her team this kid has a great shot from the perimeter and a keen sense for finding gaps to attack in the defense. She has been a staple in the Raider offense from a young age and has grown her game year by year. She dropped 20 points in Gayville-Volin’s most recent game against Bon Homme December 30th. Scotland’s Delanie VanDriel may be one of the few true posts left in Class B. She can bury opponents deep in the paint and position herself to score at the rim. She plays the post physically and is a presence on both ends. VanDriel posted a double-double in one of her first outings earlier this season putting up 12 points, 14 rebounds, and 2 blocks. Standout Juniors Junior class standouts thus far include two more Viborg-Hurley Cougars [player_tooltip player_id="166689" first="Coral" last="Mason"] and [player_tooltip player_id="100500" first="Denae" last="Mach"], Centerville’s Bailey Hansen, and a pair of Freeman Flyer’s Kate Miller and Erin Uecker. Viborg-Hurley is led by their duo of standout Juniors [player_tooltip player_id="166689" first="Coral" last="Mason"] and [player_tooltip player_id="100500" first="Denae" last="Mach"]. Mason is pacing her team with 18.0 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 3.6 APG, 3.2 SPG, and 2.2 BPG. Operating their offense and the ball going through her on most possessions she only averages an impressive 2.6 turnovers per outing as well. She is an efficient shooter with a FG% of 48 % and shoots it 32% from beyond the arc. She is automatic from the FT line with an outstanding 86% mark thus far. She needs a stat sheet to herself in most outings. Fellow Cougar [player_tooltip player_id="100500" first="Denae" last="Mach"] is a dynamic scorer as well adding 11.5 PPG and turning the ball over less than twice per game. She has great shot selection shooting 32% from beyond the arch and 79% from the FT line. She recently led the Cougars to a comeback victory 48-44 against Gregory on December 30th as she led the team with 15 points. Centerville’s Bailey Hansen has come on strong for her team early in the year. She worked her way into the starting lineup late last season and has made vast improvements in the past year. This kid is a STRONG player on the boards and is a physical specimen athletically. She can guard people’s best, 1-5 with a physical presence you can tell she embraces the defensive side of the basketball. She leads the 5-1 Tornadoes with over 9 rebounds per game including over 5 on the offensive end alone. Surrounded by shooters this bodes well for her squad as she gains her team a valuable number of possessions with her work-horse mentality on both ends. Freeman is another Region 5B team led by a pair of standouts from the 2023 class. Kate Miller is one of the better players in the paint you can find. She has a great mid-range jump shot and attacks it well. Her skilled footwork in the paint mixed with her high-level energy makes for a dangerous scorer game in and game out. She leads her squad in scoring putting up a double-double average of 16.5 PPG and 12 RPG. She also adds an assist, a steal, and a block per night. Kate Miller is a definite riser in the 2023 class. Her teammate Erin Uecker is another name that should be climbing this class’ board averaging a solid 11.4 PPG and 6.0 RPG. Uecker shoots 37% from beyond the arc thus far and has a nice variation of moves to attack the rim to go with it. Standout Sophomores The sophomore class standouts include a pair of Cubs Alexis Gray and Elly Doering from Alcester-Hudson, another Centerville Tornado Lillie Eide, Freeman’s Ashlin Jacobsen, and Menno’s Ashton Massey. Alexis Gray has a nice perimeter game and is near leading her team in scoring many nights thus far. She moves well along the perimeter and spots up well for the deep shot. Gray is developing a game in attacking the rim and continues to improve offensively. In a recent win over Canton on December 21st, she dropped a game-high 18 points. Her teammate Elly Doering posted another double-double in that win with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Doering is a double-double machine and is developing into one of the better post players in the area. Her work ethic and positivity are noticeable on the court and she consistently makes inspiring hustle plays and gives the game of basketball a great name. This kid works hard and continues to develop. She is another stock riser in Class B for sure. At 5’ 11" she has great length to go along with a solid basketball IQ as a sophomore. Centerville’s Lillie Eide has helped the young Tornado squad start the year off 5-1. Eide is a disruptive defender who forces turnovers with her length, speed, and tenacity. This kid is a hustler and is all over the floor. If you watch the ball enough throughout a game on both ends you will see plenty of snapshots of her shooting it or stealing it. Eide averages 14.5 PPG and just over 4 steals per outing. Eide is a name to keep on your radar as she continues to get valuable experience. She came up to the varsity squad as a 7th grader and continues to improve each year. Freeman has yet another standout this year in Ashlin Jacobsen. She has stepped into a larger role for the Flyers this year and is excelling in it. Averaging 8.2 PPG, 4.6 RPG, and chipping in a little over one assist and steal per game she is developing quickly for the Flyer squad. As she continues to get more real-time minutes, look for this 5’ 9" guard to only improve as the season progresses. Menno’s Ashton Massey rounds out this sophomore class. With a 6’ height, impressive length, and a guard skill-set there is loads of potential here. Massey’s squad has struggled early but her individual skill looks to be improving. She had five assists in their first outing of the year and moved the ball well. Standout Freshman The 2025 Class may be the most exciting and prospect-filled group of all. This class is loaded with young talent who play huge roles for their team. This class includes Centerville’s [player_tooltip player_id="329047" first="Thea" last="Gust"] and [player_tooltip player_id="329048" first="Keira" last="Austin"], Irene-Wakonda’s [player_tooltip player_id="329052" first="Emma" last="Marshall"], Viborg-Hurley’s Charley Nelson, and a near-watchlist 8th grader who is too talented to leave out of this review from Gayville-Volin, Taylor Hoxeng. This class is led by a duo of talented freshmen from Centerville. [player_tooltip player_id="329047" first="Thea" last="Gust"] is a name to keep on all radars over the next four years. This young lady is a deadly shooter with impressive range. Gust is averaging 17.0 PPG for the Tornadoes and has an overall FG% of 57%! Breaking down her impressive FG% gets even better as you see a 60.5% three-point percentage and a perfect 100% from the FT line thus far. Gust sets up her teammates well for their own looks averaging close to 4 assists per game and only turns the ball over around 1.5 times per game. This freshman has played big minutes from her 7th-grade year on and has a basketball IQ well above her age bracket. Another high IQ player suits up in the same uniform as Gust each game and that is [player_tooltip player_id="329048" first="Keira" last="Austin"]. Austin runs the point guard spot at a high level as she sees the floor well and creates for others well. Combined with this is a great shot from the outside. She is averaging 8.2 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 2.5 APG, and 2.0 SPG for the Tornadoes. She continues to develop her game in her ability to attack the rim and create havoc on defense. Look for this young PG to be a riser in the 2025 Watchlist class for sure. Speaking of risers, Irene-Wakonda’s [player_tooltip player_id="329052" first="Emma" last="Marshall"] has to be vaulting up people’s board with the impressive outings she has had thus far. If you want to see an athlete built for basketball look no more, 5’ 8" height, impressive length, a vertical that sends her out of the building, and speed sets this young lady up for success on the court. She has been the leading scorer for her team multiple nights and often defends other teams’ best players. Emma has an all-around game and will be a name to keep tabs on over the next four years. Viborg-Hurley’s Charley Nelson is an intriguing prospect who has stepped up for the Cougars this year at a young age to play a nice role. She will be a player to watch rise as she earns higher responsibilities over the next couple of seasons. Nelson comes off the bench and averages 4.5 PPG shooting 35% from beyond the arc. This young guard impresses with her quickness and passion when she steps on the floor. Recently, she hit clutch shots for her team in a comeback win at the Sanford Pentagon where she scored 12 points to aid in the victory. The last player on this list is actually a year away from the watchlist but has stood out too much to not include on this list. Taylor Hoxeng of Gayville-Volin is a name South Dakota girls basketball will enjoy for a while. This young player plays with great intensity on both ends, creating turnovers on defense and knocking down shots from all over on offense. She has great range and is capable from well beyond the arch. A great first step makes her deadly as she can take it to the rim and score off of her outside game as well. She recently scored 18 points in a win over Bon Homme and was electric for her team that night. Watch for this name to be on people’s radar for years to come.   Region 5B South Dakota basketball is loaded with prospects who project to play at the next level. From the youngest to more experienced this class contains high IQ players with the talent to go with it.