Previewing the Class B State Tournament

The Class B State Girl's Basketball tournament is set for March 9-11 in Huron. There are 8 quality teams that will fight for the chance to be crowned the state champs for the 2022-23 season. Each of these 8 teams is loaded with prospects we've covered and more that we are continuing to learn about. Here's a breakdown of all of the matchups and leaders for each squad. This tournament has the makings of a fun one and will undoubtedly leave the Class B basketball world with memories to cap off the season!   Game 1 - 12 PM CT - # 1 Wolsey-Wessington vs. # 8 Jones County   Wolsey-Wessington Warbirds   The Warbirds are led by head coach Josh McGillvrey and senior athletes [player_tooltip player_id='100472' first='Mallory' last='Miller'], [player_tooltip player_id='342174' first='Leah' last='Williams'], and [player_tooltip player_id='594216' first='Mya' last='Boomsma']. Miller, the Arizona State commit, is a 6'4" center who can extend well beyond the three and knock down shots. She has the capability of taking over games so it will be fun to see what she can do to help her squad try and make a run for the title game. Her shot-blocking ability on defense will have an impact on a Jones County squad that relies on being able to get the ball in the paint and score. Williams is an all-around guard who plays really well off the dribble, can finish at the rim, and is a tough-nosed defender and rebounder. Boomsma, another dribble-drive type of G/F has great length at 5'9" and could be an X-factor on both ends in this one.   Jones County Coyotes   The Coyotes are led by head Coach Scott Mathews and a rare starting lineup of five seniors [player_tooltip player_id='246177' first='Mallory' last='Valburg'], [player_tooltip player_id='246223' first='Jadyn' last='Jensen'], Jolie Dugan, Emma Hunt, and [player_tooltip player_id='388645' first='Peyton' last='Rankin']. Valburg is a dynamic post player who is all of 6'0" tall and athletic, and capable of knocking down the mid-range jump shot. She may not be the outside shooter or shot blocker that Wolsey-Wessington has on the other side, but she will be the most physical presence in the paint and may be the best finisher around the basket in the tournament. She is averaging 19.2 points per contest. Jensen, averaging 17.3 points per game, is an all-around talented guard in a 5'10" forward's body. She can knock down the three, pull up in the mid-range, and get all the way to the rack and finish. The other three seniors for Jones County are very capable role players who understand what they can do to help their team win. This is a very experienced group of kids who have been getting varsity minutes since junior high.   Don't sleep on the Coyotes as the eighth seed and the elephant in the room has to be the memory of the 8 seed Viborg-Hurley Cougars making a run all the way to a state title last year. The Warbirds will no doubt do what they can to make sure the "Cinderella story" doesn't happen this year. This will be a great game to kick off the tournament with!   Game 2 - 1:45 PM CT - # 4 Sully Buttes vs. # 5 Wall   Sully Buttes Chargers   The Chargers are led by head coach Susie Rilling and loaded with talent, all starting with the Wittlers. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='100496' first='Allyson' last='Wittler'] has a competitive drive on both ends, great range from beyond the three, and an aggressive, attacking mindset on the offensive end. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='235513' first='Stevie' last='Wittler'] has one of the quickest first steps to the basket in the state and is one of the most explosive scoring off-the-dribble players you can find. Senior center [player_tooltip player_id='235512' first='Lydia' last='Hill'] and Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='594213' first='Calleigh' last='Chicoine'] will bring leadership and productivity to this squad as well. Hill is a 6'0" post player who can score around the paint and grabs a ton of rebounds. Chicoine handles it well and is another scoring option from the perimeter for Sully Buttes. The Chargers are an aggressive squad at both ends and have a plethora of big-game experience designed to win tournament-style games.   Wall Eagles   Wall is led by head coach John Hess and a variety of talented athletes that includes a very talented junior class in forward [player_tooltip player_id='403792' first='Paige' last='Kjerstad'], guard/forward [player_tooltip player_id='363192' first='Rhea' last='Tucker'], guard Alexis Stephan, and guard [player_tooltip player_id='317408' first='Nora' last='Dinger']. Senior center April Schulz adds a physical presence in the paint to a talented Wall squad. Kjerstad shows up in every statistical night in and night out as a physical forward who has the fundamental skill and ball-handling skills to go along with a strong 5'10" physique. She's averaging 16 points and 11 rebounds per contest making her one of the most talented double-double type athletes in the tournament. Tucker is a long guard who can attack the rim and score (averaging around 13 points per game) and is a talented defender who snags around 2 steals per contest and can match up with a variety of players. Dinger pours in around 13 points per night and is an above 30% three-point shooter.   Game 2 will undoubtedly feature and up-tempo style with a lot of aggressive attacks to the basket off of spacing and ball movement. These teams seem to match up really well and could make for a nail-biter of a contest!   Game 3 - 6 PM CT - # 2 Ethan vs. # 7 Castlewood   Ethan Rustlers   The Ethan Rustlers are led by the always successful head coach Tom Young and juniors Madeline Bartscher and [player_tooltip player_id='188213' first='Ava' last='Lingemann']. Bartscher is a physical 5'8" forward that can attack off the dribble, plays with great energy and intensity, and has become a stellar leader for the Rustlers. Lingemann is a talented shooter, handles the ball well, and creates turnovers on defense. Each of these young ladies are talented of putting up plus 20 point scoring nights game in and game out and will look to keep their successful season going at the state tournament. Ethan has the number 1 defense statistically at the tournament and regularly holds their opponents to under 40 points. Bartscher and Lingemann's aggression and intense style of play go a long ways towards making it tough on their opponents. Look for the Rustlers to look to slow down the Warrior offense and find shots on their own end from their talented junior duo.   Castlewood Warriors   The Castlewood Warriors, led by head coach Tyler Snaza, have a dynamic duo of their own leading their squad in seniors Madeline Horn and [player_tooltip player_id='100494' first='Mackenzie' last='Everson']. Horn is a dynamic scoring guard in a 5'11" forward's body. She averaged 17.3 points per game this year and added almost 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and over a steal per game. She's a complete talent that defends hard, distributes the ball to her teammates on offense, and can hit the 3 as well as score effectively off the dribble. Everson averaged 16 points per contest and added 6.5 rebounds and nearly 4 assists per game. She has point guard vision and ability to create open shots for her team. She can hit from deep with ease and create her own shot with the dribble drive as well. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='268772' first='Lyndsey' last='Archer'] and junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='609283' first='Presley' last='Knecht'] add length, scoring, and talent to a really solid Warrior group that looks primed to compete on the big stage. The Warriors play fundamentally sound defense and can put up points on offense.   Game 3 has college-ready type prospects and figures to make for a great game! The matchup between each of these team's dynamic duos figures to be one to watch. Both the Warriors and Rustlers are well coached and this figures to be a game with a lot of runs and a back and forth, exciting atmosphere.   Game 4 - 7:45 PM CT - # 3 Viborg-Hurley vs. # 6 Howard   Viborg-Hurley Cougars   The Cougars are led by head coach Molly Mason, her daughter, senior guard/forward [player_tooltip player_id='166689' first='Coral' last='Mason'], senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='100500' first='Denae' last='Mach'], and senior guards [player_tooltip player_id='594214' first='Estelle' last='Lee'] and Shelby Lyons. Mason is an all-around talent who can score at all levels. She has a variety of moves and an attacking mindset that makes her one of the most effective scorers off the dribble at the tournament. On defense she plays smart, fundamentally sound defense that allows her to pick the pocket of opposing guards and convert turnovers into points for her squad. Mach is a talented scorer with great range and uses her length well to rise up and score in the mid-range and finish near the basket. Lee and Lyons can hit from deep and work hard defensively to get stops. Sophomore guard Charley Nelson, a diverse scorer and aggressive defender, rounds out a very experienced starting five. The Cougars are a high scoring offense that look primed to try and repeat as state champions.   Howard Tigers   The Tigers of Howard are led by experienced and successful head coach Wade Erickson, junior talented forward [player_tooltip player_id='375561' first='Abby' last='Aslesen'], and a core of 4 seniors, forward/center [player_tooltip player_id='188478' first='Kate' last='Connor'], guard/forward [player_tooltip player_id='594217' first='Rylee' last='Rudebusch'], guard/forward [player_tooltip player_id='375559' first='Trinity' last='Palmquist'], and guard [player_tooltip player_id='442023' first='Canyon' last='Kidd']. This is a deep team with lots of playing experience that defends hard and can score from a variety of areas. It all starts in the paint with the physical and fundamentally sound [player_tooltip player_id='188478' first='Kate' last='Connor']. She's a solid defender who alters shots in the paint and can score at will around the rim. Aslesen is one of the most talented players in the tournament, knocking down three's, attacking the rim with great burst and aggression, using her vision to facilitate for others, and swatting shots of her opponent. The inside-out style sets up shots for sharp-shooters like Rudebusch and bodes well for Palmquist and Kidd to get looks on that end as well. The upset-minded Tigers will look to use their balanced attack to advance past day 1 in the bracket.   Game 4 will cap off a fun day of basketball and this rematch between two deep, experienced ball clubs will be a joy to experience. Look for college-ready players like Mason and Mach, and Aslesen and Connor on the other side to have a huge impact on this one and make for some really high quality basketball to round out the 2022-23 season in Huron.

The Class B State Girl's Basketball tournament is set for March 9-11 in Huron. There are 8 quality teams that will fight for the chance to be crowned the state champs for the 2022-23 season. Each of these 8 teams is loaded with prospects we've covered and more that we are continuing to learn about. Here's a breakdown of all of the matchups and leaders for each squad. This tournament has the makings of a fun one and will undoubtedly leave the Class B basketball world with memories to cap off the season!