Preseason Previews: Class AA - Teams in the West

Class AA girls basketball fans get ready for a fun season! This class is packed with Division I talent in terms of players and teams with great depth and experienced coaching. Last season saw the Sioux Falls O'Gorman Lady Knights take home the state championship after a Quarter-Finals win 55-35 over Sioux Falls Lincoln, a Semi-Finals win 50-37 over Brandon Valley, and a championship game win over Rapid City Stevens 49-42. Will the Lady Knights repeat or will we see a new champion in 2023? The talent in this group of teams is deep and this article will dive in to cover the teams West of the Missouri as well as the State Capital, while spotlighting some of the top prospects of the field.   Douglas Patriots   Head Coach - Michael Clark Career Coaching Record - 3-16   Assistant Coaches - Tony Keen, Brook Clark, Tori Nielsen   2021-22 Record - 3-16   Returning Contributors -   Keana Walton - Class of 2023   [player_tooltip player_id='519860' first='Bailey' last='Clark'] - Class of 2024   Bailey is a physical player who can play multiple positions in the offense. She shows off nice range and can step out and hit the three. Players will Bailey who return with some varsity experience will be vital for this team's success in the 2022-23.   [player_tooltip player_id='537929' first='Rayna' last='Johnson'] - Class of 2025   Rayna has great length and is disruptive defending the perimeter. She plays with great energy and can run the floor to aid in the primary scoring game on offense.   Top Breakout Candidate   Olivia Harris   Colee Kruse   This Patriot team will have a new look this season as they have a lot of holes to fill created due to graduation. Look for players like Walton, Clark, and Johnson to lead this squad early and look for others to step up and fill out the lineup around them. Breakout candidates Olivia Harris and Colee Kruse will be key pieces who will look to develop to fill out a competitive roster in Douglas.   Pierre T.F. Riggs Governors   Head Coach - Kirk Beebout Career Coaching Record - 102-93   Assistant Coaches - Terry Becker, Jeff Schlekeway, Charis Blanchette   2021-22 Record - 10-11, Postseason Finish - SODAK 16   Returning Contributors -   Remi Price - Class of 2023 - Guard - PPG - 12.5   Remi has been contributing on the varsity team since she was in 8th grade and is on pace to go over the 1,000-point milestone this season and become the all-time 3-point leader in Pierre Girls Basketball History. A smooth shot from deep, high IQ play and a tough competitive mindset make this young lady a quality prospect and a great leader for the Governors. She is a great leader and has dedicated herself to improving Pierre Girls Basketball. This young lady knows what it means to dedicate herself to the sport and it is paying off for both her own prospects as well as her community.   [player_tooltip player_id='236329' first='Ayvrie' last='Kaiser'] - Class of 2023 - Forward - PPG - 10.0, RPG - 6.0   Kaiser is a true stretch forward and can play on the perimeter as well as in the paint. She has a high level of pure athleticism and will look to contribute at a high level on both ends of the floor again this year.   [player_tooltip player_id='470686' first='Reese' last='Terwilliger'] - Class of 2024 - Forward/Center - PPG - 10.0, RPG - 6.0   We saw Reese at the Top 250 Expo and she stood out! She is a very skilled post player who plays with a high motor, has a fantastic work ethic, and is a force in and around the paint.   [player_tooltip player_id='236331' first='Ryann' last='Barry'] - Class of 2024 - Guard - PPG - 7.0, RPG - 3.0, APG - 3.0   Ryann plays with relentless energy and is one of the better perimeter defenders you will find. She gives fantastic effort, loves defense, and plays very unselfishly. Huge "glue player" here for the Governors!   [player_tooltip player_id='377639' first='Lennix' last='DuPris'] - Class of 2025 - Guard - PPG - 5.0, RPG - 4.0, APG - 3.0   Lennix is a stock riser! She is underrated and looks to be a very talented player with a high ceiling. She plays the point guard position for her team and is a prospect to keep your eye on as she just continues to get better.   More Contributors   May Shorter - Class of 2023   Makenna Schlekeway - Class of 2023   Aleise Christopherson - Class of 2024   Top Breakout Candidate   [player_tooltip player_id='377639' first='Lennix' last='DuPris'] - There are plenty of candidates to sift through here but I'm going with the youngest returning starter, [player_tooltip player_id='377639' first='Lennix' last='DuPris']. She is steadily adding to her game and appears to be a player we should all have on our radars as a stock riser!   The Governor squad returns all 5 of their starters including the super-talented Remi Price. Price brings a ton of varsity experience and will look to capitalize on all of the hours she has dedicated to her team and community, and take her team to another level. Athletic ability comes in no shortage on this team as Terwilliger, Price, and Dupris all look like next-level basketball players, Barry is one of the best soccer players in SD, Tedrow is one of the better tennis players you will find, and Kaiser is headed to Northern State to play volleyball. This team looks poised to take a step together and have one of the more developed chemistries in their class. Keep your eye on Pierre as a team that could contend for a state-tournament bid and come up with some big wins in the postseason. They lost in the SODAK 16 last season to a really good Sioux Falls Jefferson team, so this team undoubtedly has big goals for late in the year this season.   Rapid City Central Cobblers   Head Coach - Josh Mach   Assistant Coaches - Matt Koch, Melissa Hadorn, Oscar Carcamo   2021-22 Record - 17-7, Postseason Finish - 7th Place State Tournament   Returning Contributors -   Teila Jiron - Class of 2023 - Guard   Ally Davis - Class of 2023 - Forward   Leila Roybal - Class of 2023 - Forward   [player_tooltip player_id='100511' first='Adriana' last='Young'] - Class of 2023 - Forward   Adriana will be a nice guard option for Central. She gets a ton of steals with high-energy defense and hustle. Look for her to continue this and build on her offensive game as well.   [player_tooltip player_id='405177' first='Aaliyah' last='Jones'] - Class of 2024   Aaliyah has great length and will provide a spark for this team on both ends. She can shoot the 3 and plays with high intensity on the defensive end. Look for her to be a big part of their scoring and create turnovers on the other end.   Top Breakout Candidate   [player_tooltip player_id='405177' first='Aaliyah' last='Jones'] - Class of 2024   Jones played significant minutes last year on a state tournament team. She brings back valuable experience and could be a main focal point in the Cobbler offense. A talented scorer who can knock down shots and attack the basket she looks primed for a breakout season!   Coach Mach takes over in his first year and will spend the early part of the year sorting out his roster and filling roles. This team will have a very new-looking starting lineup this year and there are a ton of players poised to have an increased role on this roster. After losing seniors Josie Hill and Sadie Glade to graduation there are a lot of spots to fill on this team. Look for their core group of juniors and seniors (11 total) to utilize their experience to keep this team as contenders in AA.   Rapid City Stevens Raiders   Head Coach - Adam Dannenbring Career Coaching Record - 67-153   Assistant Coaches - Tanner Waage, Quintrell Porter, Sherrie Kafka, Seth Keene   2021-22 Record - 19-5, Postseason Finish - Runner Up in Class AA!   Returning Contributors -   [player_tooltip player_id='324044' first='Taaliyah' last='Porter'] - Class of 2025 - Guard/Forward - PPG - 9.3, RPG - 4.0, APG - 2.0   Taaliyah is one of the most talented players in Class AA right now so look for her to be a player to watch and have a big season for this Raider squad. She will lead her team in many categories this year and is a very complete basketball player. She scores from all over, defends hard on the perimeter, and is an unselfish team player who creates for others as well as herself.   [player_tooltip player_id='403106' first='Macey' last='Wathen'] - Class of 2023 - Guard/Forward - PPG - 7.1, RPG - 2.5   Macey will be a pivotal piece to the success of Rapid City Stevens. She had 18 points in the first round of the state tournament last season which should bode well for her confidence to fill it up consistently on offense this year. She will provide senior leadership to a young team who will lean on her experience throughout the year.   [player_tooltip player_id='417229' first='Brittany' last='Jones'] - Class of 2025 - Guard - PPG - 2.0, RPG - 2.0, APG - 2.0   Jones will be another guard who will look to step up and take on a bigger role on both ends for the Raiders. Look for her to have a nice season of growth and development, and play a big part in the success of her team this year.     Top Breakout Candidate   [player_tooltip player_id='324044' first='Taaliyah' last='Porter'] - This sophomore is primed for a big year in Class AA basketball. She's a high IQ player at a young age and is an explosive athlete. She can hit jump shots, attack the rim, and has a variety of moves to get to the paint and finish once she's there. This is a young lady to keep your sights on for the 2022-23 season!   Rapid City Stevens returns valuable assets on a team that earned Runner Up Honors in Class AA last season. Look for players with less experience to be given a chance to round out the contributing lineup early in the year and have valuable experience going into their postseason run. With a great group of athletic guards that can score it and get after you defensively this team appears to have the pieces necessary to compete down the stretch in big games. Look for them to be state tournament contenders and no matter where they are seeded they have the experience to take themselves back to the state championship with the development of other athletes around their talented guard group.   Spearfish Spartans   Head Coach - Dakota Johnson   Assistant Coaches - Terry Becker, Jeff Schlekeway, Charis Blanchette   2021-22 Record - 8-13, Postseason Finish - SODAK 16   Returning Contributors -   Brylee Grubb - Class of 2024 - Forward/Center   Brylee will bring physicality on defense as well as gain her team extra possessions with offensive rebounds. Look for her to set an aggressive mentality for the Spartan squad on both ends.   [player_tooltip player_id='527479' first='Mya' last='Kochuten'] - Class of 2026 - Guard   Mya showed out at the Top 250 Expo and is my biggest stock riser of the summer. She looks like a star in the making with a confident yet humble approach to the game and big time skill. Her step back is extremely effective and she is one of the most dangerous players from beyond the arch I have seen. She hits off the pass, off the dribble, and off of screens and can light it up all game. Keep your eye on [player_tooltip player_id='527479' first='Mya' last='Kochuten'] as she leads this team into her sophomore season.   Sofie Guthmiller - Class of 2024 - Guard   Guthmiller has nice handles can hit the three and defends along the perimeter effectively. She will be another talented perimeter player for the Spartans.   Jozie Dana - Class of 2026 - Guard   Jozie can hit the three and will be a nice perimeter piece for the Spartans that returns with some experience.     Top Breakout Candidate   Mya Cochuten is my easiest breakout candidate pick of the season. She flew up my list as players to watch this season when seeing her compete at the Top 250 Expo in Sioux Falls. Look for Cochuten to crack the Top 10 List for the Class of 2026 potentially yet this season. STOCK IS UP on this young lady and I expect a big year for her.   After losing talented guard Stella Marcus the Spearfish Spartans will have big shoes to fill coming into the season. They have some nice athletic prospects to develop and find a lineup with chemistry. Early on look for this team to play a variety of players to sort out a consistent lineup by the time the postseason hits. [player_tooltip player_id='527479' first='Mya' last='Kochuten'] looks like a surprise player in Class AA and I expect a nice step forward from the Spartans with her development and others stepping up around her. If this team can find a paint presence to pair with their talented guards I like them as a group that can pull off some upsets this season. Spearfish looks like a fun young team to watch develop in Class AA!   Sturgis Brown Scoopers   Head Coach - Courtney R Pool   Assistant Coaches - Josie Dirksen, Audrey Matson   2021-22 Record - 5-16   Returning Contributors -   [player_tooltip player_id='189011' first='Sawyer' last='Dennis'] - Class of 2023 - Guard - PPG - 4.5, RPG - 4.8   Sawyer will return with the only varsity experience to a young squad that will lean on her for leadership and guidance. She's a physical guard that can get to the rim and rebounds well from the perimeter. Look for her to have an expanded role this season and take on more of the team's scoring load on offense.   Top Breakout Candidate   Tori Williams - Class of 2026 - Guard   Tori looks primed for a breakout season and should be on your preseason watch list! She has true point guard skills and looks to be one of the most exciting young prospects who can create shots for herself and her teammates. Look for Tori to climb up future rankings in her class!   Sturgis will bank on big development from their talented young point guard Williams and look to build around her and senior [player_tooltip player_id='189011' first='Sawyer' last='Dennis']. Keep an eye on Sturgis to see who else steps up around them to help this program be competitive during the regular season, and be at their best by the end of the season.

Class AA girls basketball fans get ready for a fun season! This class is packed with Division I talent in terms of players and teams with great depth and experienced coaching. Last season saw the Sioux Falls O'Gorman Lady Knights take home the state championship after a Quarter-Finals win 55-35 over Sioux Falls Lincoln, a Semi-Finals win 50-37 over Brandon Valley, and a championship game win over Rapid City Stevens 49-42. Will the Lady Knights repeat or will we see a new champion in 2023? The talent in this group of teams is deep and this article will dive in to cover the teams West of the Missouri as well as the State Capital, while spotlighting some of the top prospects of the field.