Washington headlines South Dakota Class AA high school girls basketball in field dominated by guards
Until proven otherwise, Washington is the girls team to beat in Class AA basketball. The defending Class AA champions were led by dominant then-Louisville bound senior Sydney Schetnan en route to a 20-2 record and a sweep of the state tournament field.
Schetnan has graduated now, yet the Warriors haven't lost much. They return eight players from last season, including star senior guard and forward Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda, who signed to play basketball at Texas prior to the season. Mwenentanda averaged 14.8 points per game, 7.1 rebounds per game and 1.7 steals per game last season, and is in line for an even bigger role in 2021-22.
But the Warriors’ biggest asset is the size Mwenentanda has around her. Juniors Brooklyn and Hannah Harpe both stand at 6-feet and form a strong nucleus of size around the 6-foot-2 Mwenentanda, whose stature and guard-like skills allow a versatile look to the Warriors offense that will be difficult to counter.
O’Gorman likely will have the best chance looking ahead at the season. The rest of class AA is dominated by guard play and the Knights have two of the strongest in the class. Senior Hannah Ronsiek and sophomore Mahli Abouch are both coming off accomplished seasons. Abouch will handle the point guard duties for O’Gorman, a spot where she averaged 7.3 points per game.
Ronsiek will be one of the best scorers in Class AA this year, averaging 13.5 points per game and needing to score more with the losses of guard and South Dakota Miss Basketball finalist Izzy Moore.
Brandon Valley has some star power, too. Junior forward Hilary Behrens averaged 16.7 points per game last year and fellow-forward, senior Sidney Thue, will look to build upon a 12 points per game average throughout the state tournament last year.
The rest of the field is occupied by teams who will likely benefit from a year of experience to build upon their 2020-21 seasons. Harrisburg lost several strong guards from a season ago and will be anchored by senior forward Emilee Boyer, who averaged just over 10 points per game last season.
Rapid City Stevens is fresh off a run to the state tournament final, where they entered the SoDak 16 as a No. 6 seed. New head coach Adam Dannenbring will have senior guard Jayda McNabb (12 points per game) and senior forward/center Bailee Sobczak (11 points per game) to lead the Raiders into a new season.
Aberdeen Central
Coach: Mikayla Arechigo
2020-21: 19-5
Top returners: Abby Berry, Sr., F; Kyra Griese, Sr., PG; Taryn Hettich, Jr., G; Kiana Mounga, Sr., P; Karly Wellman, Sr., F
Coach quote: "After graduating four starters who all played most of the game, we will be looking to fill new positions and roles, gain varsity experience, and improve throughout the season."
More: Class A Girls Basketball: Roncalli's move to Class B opens door for Winner, other title contenders
Brandon Valley
Coach: Mike Zerr
2020-21: 17-7
Top returners: Hilary Behrens, Jr, F; Kylie Foss, Sr, G; Sidney Thue, Sr, F; Taylor Stemen, Sr, F; Tessa Bowar, Sr, G
Coach quote: "Every year is about growth through each section of the season – identifying roles early on, developing in those roles through the regular season, and then excelling and accelerating at the end of the year in February and March."
Brookings
Coach: Mitch McLagan
2020-21: 2-17
Top returners: Ainsley Shelsta, Sr., F; Landree Wilson, Jr., F; Claire Burns, Sr., F
Coach quote: "We have to do a better job competing this year and we have the girls that are willing to fight and compete. A big goal for us is to keep games tight and give ourselves a chance in the fourth quarter."
Douglas
Coach: Michael Clark
2020-21: 1-19
Top returners: Lamara Castaneda, Sr., G/F; Keana Walton, Jr., G; Talyiah Green, Sr., F; Savannah Gray, Sr., F; Angell Arredondo, Sr., G; Madison Archer, Sr., G/F
Coach quote: "We return all starters from last season and look to compete this season. Every year we continue to add more AA schools to our schedule, which in the big picture will make us better."
More: Class B Girls Basketball: Newcomer Roncalli, defending A champ, among preseason favorites
Harrisburg
Coach: Nick Mayer
2020-21: 21-3
Top returners: Emilee Boyer, Sr., F; Sydney Hybertson, Sr., SG; Hannah Eide, Jr., SG; Jaylee Hofer, So., G
Coach quote: "We expect to be very competitive this season. We have a really nice nucleus of veteran leadership and youthful enthusiasm."
Huron
Coach: Tim Buddenhagen
2020-21: 10-11
Top returners: Bella Shreeve, Sr., G; Hamtyn Heinz, So., G; Heavan Gainey, Jr., G; Alexis Feenstra, Sr., F; Isabelle Ellwein, Jr., G
Coach quote: "When everyone gets healthy, we will have a good nucleus coming back. We have the potential to put five girls on the floor that can score from anywhere on the perimeter."
Mitchell
Coach: Cole Knippling
2020-21: 16-8
Top returners: Sawyer Stoebner, So., G; Sarah Sebert, Sr., G; Taylor Giblin, Jr., G; Kaitlyn Christensen, Sr., F; Aliyah Howard, Sr., G
Coach quote: "We graduated a lot of talent and experience, but this group has shown that they play well together and look to carry on and build upon the success of last year's team."
More: Preseason South Dakota Prep Media Basketball Poll: A look at top teams ahead of the season
O'Gorman
Coach: Kent Kolsrud
2020-21: 17-6
Top returners: Hannah Ronsiek, Sr., G; Mahli Abouch, So., PG; Bergen Reilly, Jr., F; Kira Mentele, Jr., F; Hannah Friedman, Sr., F
Coach quote: "(We) return five veteran players with varsity experience. (We) have good young players that need varsity experience. We are a team that can be good in transition, (have an) ability to rebound well and must be an excellent defensive team."
Pierre T.F. Riggs
Coach: Kirk Beebout
2020-21: 8-13
Top returners: Remi Price, Jr., G; Ayvrie Kaiser, Jr., G/F
Coach quote: "We will be young and experience the growing pains that come with that, but they are also talented and will only continue to get better and better as they gain experience and grow into their roles."
Rapid City Stevens
Coach: Adam Dannenbring
2020-21: 17-6
Top returners: Jayda McNabb, Sr., G; Bailee Sobczak, Sr., F/C; Jaden Matkins, Sr., F/C; Taaliyah Porter, Fr., G/F; Jill Delzer, Sr., G
Coach quote: "I am expecting that our experience will be a great benefit at the start of the season. Our defense and rebounding will be the keys to our success."
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SF Jefferson*
Coach: Shaunteva Pruett
2020-21: N/A
Top returners: N/A
Coach quote: "We are looking to build our program's culture which will focus around having great attitudes and giving 110% effort."
SF Lincoln
Coach: Matt Daly
2020-21: 4-14
Top returners: Mariah Siem, Jr., G; Alaina Sorensen, Sr. G; Ady Sand, Sr., G; Addie Fawcett, Jr., G; Alicen Honner, Sr., F/C; Kaia Jensen, Sr., F/G
Coach quote: "Hopefully by bringing back more experience from last year's team, we can improve and battle our way to a high seed and get ourselves in a position to win our SoDak 16 game and get back to the state tournament. "
SF Roosevelt
Coach: Christopher Aggen
2020-21: 8-11
Top returners: Kaela Martinez, Sr., G; Katie Spicer, Jr. G
Coach quote: "There is a lot of unknown with this group. A lot of girls are going to get an opportunity to fill a new role."
SF Washington
Coach: Jamie Parish
2020-21: 20-2
Top returners: Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda, Sr., F; Brooklyn Harpe, Jr., F; Alexus Motley, Jr., G; Hannah Harpe, Jr., F
Coach quote: "We have several players that we think can contribute in different ways as we progress through the season. Our task will be coming up with good combinations and chemistry as we figure out what fits this group in the best way."
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Sturgis Brown
Coach: Jordan Proefrock
2020-21: 8-13
Top returners: Kaylee Whatley, Sr., F; Tatum Ligtenberg, Sr., G; Sawyer Dennis, Jr., PG; Lexi Long, Sr., F
Coach quote: "If we continue to improve and develop depth we should be very competitive come the end of the season."
Watertown
Coach: Pat McClemans
2020-21: 6-15
Top returners:
Jaida Young, Jr., G; Maddy Rohde, Jr., G; Kendall Paulson, Jr., G; Grace Ortmeier, Sr., G/F; Kayla Vohlken, Sr., G
Coach quote: "We have a great work ethic and hope to continue to improve as the season progresses."
Yankton
Coach: Trey Krier
2020-21: 2-18
Top returners: Ellie Karolevitz Sr, G; Kate Beeman Sr, F; Claire Tereshinski So., G
Coach quote: "We are excited to see how getting Ellie Karolevitz back from an ACL injury that limited her to five games last year. With that, we had some kids who were forced to step up last year and grew a ton."
Follow Sioux Falls Argus Leader reporter Michael McCleary on Twitter @mikejmccleary.
This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: South Dakota Class AA girls high school basketball preview for 2021-22
