Top Standouts at the Huron Holiday Classic

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Soon after Christmas Day, there were a number of marquee matchups set to take place in South Dakota girls' basketball. Several of these were played at the Huron Holiday Classic which kicked off with Chester upending Mitchell Christian 68-31. Next, Faulkton picked up a 61-37 W over Lower Brule. The third game of the day saw Sanborn Central/Woonsocket handle Elkton-Lake Benton 50-25. The Monarchs from Warner who are receiving votes in Class B got a nice win 52-41 over Burke. Howard who has received votes and is off to a strong 4-1 start in Class B beat Lyman 54-31. A game that featured two teams receiving votes in Class B, James Valley Christian and DeSmet, ended with the Vikings from JVC winning 60-48. The final game of the day saw number 4 in Class B Jones County coast to a 53-30 W over Colman-Egan.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"backgroundColor":"primary"} --> <p class="has-primary-background-color has-background"><strong>Number 1 Standout... Ava Nilsson - Warner - Class of </strong> <strong>2024 - 6' 0" - G</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>16 points, and 20 rebounds, Ava gets the nod as the top standout on the day. Not only was she effective on offense with drives and shots, scoring 16 overall points on an efficient shooting night, but she also grabbed a season-high 20 rebounds, eight of them on the offensive end alone, and worked hard to ensure every loose ball went the Monarch's way hustling all over the floor. Her squad came away with a victory and she was a major reason why. Big day from Ava and I see more to come for this really talented young lady!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='188478' first='Kate' last='Connor'] - Howard - Class of 2023</strong> <strong>- 6' 0 " - F</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>17 points, Connor is one of the top post players in the state. She's physical, hard-working, smart, and skilled. All of this morphs into a player who can score nearly 20 points a game as a great finisher in the paint and high-percentage shooter, a consistent rebounder who limits her opponent to 1 shot, and gains more for her team on offense, and someone who can change the game defensively in the paint and on the boards. 17 points helped her team get a big W over Lyman.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='375561' first='Abby' last='Aslesen'] - Howard - Class of 2024 - 6' 0" - G/F</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>14 points, Aslesen had a steady night and played a big part in the Tigers' lopsided win over Lyman. Aslesen is a guard in a forward's body and can score from all over. She has a diverse offensive game and can find ways to score against virtually any defense. Stock is up on Abby and look for her to contend as one of the top candidates in her class and a lock to play at the next level when her high school career comes to an end.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Liz Boschee - Sanborn Central/Woonsocket - Class of 2026 - 6' 0" - F/C</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>15 points, The 6'0" freshman had a solid game in their 50-25 W over Elkton-Lake Benton. She is a great defender with length, frame, and anticipation. On offense, she uses that same athletic 6'0" frame to put herself in a good position to score and is a solid finisher. Keep your eye on this talented young prospect as there is a lot to work with here!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kamryn Ochsner - Sanborn Central/Woonsocket - Class of 2024 - 6' 0" - G/F</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>15 points, Ochsner contributed to her team's victory as well and was a big part of helping hold their opponent to just 25 points. She was solid on both ends of the floor and at 6'0" she pairs nicely with Boschee to give SCW some of the best overall length in the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kaylie Robinson - James Valley Christian - Class of</strong> <strong>2025 - 5' 9 " - G</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>26 points, 6 rebounds, The really talented [player_tooltip player_id='317858' first='Alexa' last='Goertz'] draws a lot of attention for the Vikings (for good reason) but in this upset win over the then-ranked 4th DeSmet, it was Robinson who shined. She filled it up all day long and was explosive on the offensive end. She is a really solid rebounding guard as well and at 5'9" has great length to match up with multiple positions on defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='403821' first='Hazel' last='Luethmers'] - DeSmet - Class of</strong> <strong>2026 - 6' 0" - G/F</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>24 points, 5 rebounds, Stock is UP on Luethmers. She is scoring a ton of points early on this season and grabs several rebounds per contest as well. She is one of the top young talents in the area and has all the physical tools to project as a player at the next level. Keep your eye on this talented athlete.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='488318' first='Emery' last='Larson'] - Chester - Class of 2026 - 5' 5" - G</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>24 points, Larson put up yet another +20 scoring performance for her young career. She continues to prove to be one of the most efficient young scorers in her class. She's an intense defender that gets up in the basketball and wreaks havoc on the opposing guard, and she's a dynamite scorer that can fill it up any given night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='488317' first='Emmerson' last='Eppard'] - Chester - Class of 2026 - 5' 9" - G</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>16 points, Eppard will be a name to keep your eye on for years to come. She's an all-around talent who can knock down shots from deep, attack the basket and finish, and utilize the attack to set up her teammates. Throw in the fact that she's a tough defender, a willing rebounder, and has a really high IQ, and you have one of the top young players in South Dakota basketball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jacy Wolf - Chester - Class of 2027 - 5' 5" - G</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>16 points, Wolf is a really talented young guard that was highlighted in my prospects to watch section. She is a stock riser already and will certainly be featured when our Class of 2027 rolls out, and she is yet another young, athletic, guard that plays with great intensity on this Flyer squad.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='246719' first='Addison' last='Melius'] - Faulkton - Class of 2024 - 5' 9" - G/F</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>27 points on 12/12 overall shooting, In my prospects to watch section I had focused mainly on Melius' ability to create turnovers on the defensive end and get after her opponent pressuring the ball. In this one, her offense showed up big time as she dropped in a Holiday Classic high of 27 points on a perfect 12/12 from the floor! She was an extremely close second to Nilsson for my number 1 standout of the day.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Adisyn Indahl - Burke - Class of 2023</strong> <strong>- 5' 6" - G</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>14 points, Indahl did what she could to keep her team in a tight battle with Warner at the event. She poured in 14 points and used her length to get in the passing lanes and be disruptive on defense. She has a really nice perimeter shot, can attack the basket, and plays with a really great motor. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='388883' first='Mak' last='Scott'] - Lyman - Class of 2026 - 6' 0" - F/C</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>14 points, 4 rebounds, The young post player had yet another solid night and is proving to be one of the top stock risers in the state. Her team struggled against Howard and came away with a L on the day, but she once again proved she is one of the best up-and-coming young stars in Class B. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kaylee Voelker - Colman-Egan - Class of 2025 - 5' 5" - G</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9 points, 7 rebounds, Voelker a 5'5" guard held her own in her team's loss to number 4 overall Class B Jones County. She posted near double-double numbers and worked hard to keep her team in this one.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='246177' first='Mallory' last='Valburg'] - Jones County - Class of 2023 - 6' 0" - F</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>15 points, Valburg has all the physical tools that bode well in high school girls basketball, height, length, athleticism, and a good head on her shoulders. She put in 17 points in the Coyotes' win over Colman-Egan. Valburg and Jensen are one of the best duos you will find in all of South Dakota girls' basketball right now.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='246223' first='Jadyn' last='Jensen'] - Jones County - Class of</strong> <strong>2023 - 5' 10" - G/F</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>18 points, 9 rebounds, Jensen proved to be one of the best guard/forwards in her class yet again and put up near double-double points. An athletic, long athlete who can attack the rim, hit jump shots, run the floor, and alter shots on defense, she is the total package. her Jones County Coyotes now sit at Number 4 overall in a deep Class B loaded with talent.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->