2023 Class A Girls Basketball Tournament Capsules 

Hamlin

Record: 22-0

Coach: Tim Koisti

Key players: Kami Wadsworth (22 ppg, 6.3 rpg), Addison Neuendorf (11.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3.6 apg), Ally Abraham (7.9 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 4.1 apg)

Notes: No. 1 Hamlin plays No. 8 Flandreau in the first round at noon. … Hamlin finished as Class A runner-ups in both 2021 and 2022. …This is the 11th time Hamlin has qualified for the state tournament. …Hamlin won state titles in 1996 and 2005. … Hamlin beat Flandreau on Dec. 17, 58-45 at the Entringer Classic at Colman-Egan. 

Flandreau

Record: 19-4

Coach: Megan Severtson

Key players: Claire Sheppard (16.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 3.2 apg), Lizzie Pavlis (11.1 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 3.6 apg), Lily Klein (11.1 ppg, 6 rpg)

Notes: No. 8 Flandreau plays No. 1 Hamlin at noon in the first round at noon. …The 2023 trip to the state tournament marks the 4th time Flandreau has been to state. … Flandreau qualified for the 2020 state tournament, but it was canceled due to COVID-19. … Flandreau coach Megan Severtson played college basketball at Augustana University. … Flandreau lost 3-of-4 to start the season but the Fliers have won 15 games in a row with their last loss coming to St. Thomas More on Jan. 14. Flandreau defeated St. Thomas More in the SoDak 16 to qualify for state. 

Red Cloud

Record: 20-2

Coach: Matt Rama

Key players: Ashlan Carlow-Blount (15.6 ppg, 5 rpg, 3.8 spg), Olowan Carlow (12.1 ppg), Maikole Carlow (9.9 ppg)

Notes: No. 4 Red Cloud plays No. 5 Lakota Tech at 1:45 p.m. in the first round. …The Red Cloud girls finished fifth in the 2022 Class A state tournament. Red Cloud defeated Lakota Tech 45-38 in the finals of the Lakota Nation Invitational on Dec. 17. … The last time Red Cloud played at the state tournament in Watertown (2015) the team was coached by Amanda Carlow, mother of Red Cloud freshman and leading scorer Ashlan Blount-Carlow. Current coach Matt Rama’s daughter Myriam Rama was on that 2015 team. … Red Cloud defeated Lakota Tech twice this season. 

Lakota Tech

Record: 18-4

Coach: Lakota Tech

Key players: Jodene Hunter (15 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 3.9 apg), Tawny Rodriguez (11.5 ppg, 8.2 rpg), Melina Shangreaux (10.5 ppg, 7.9 rpg), Maikole Carlow (9.9 ppg)

Notes: No. 5 Lakota Tech plays No. 4 Red Cloud at 1:45 p.m. in the first round. …Lakota Tech finished eighth at the 2022 Class A state tournament. …Lakota Tech lost three consecutive games from Jan. 9-14 to Red Cloud, Pierre and Crofton, Neb but enter Thursday’s state tournament on a 13-game winning streak. … Lakota Tech lost both meetings against Red Cloud this season. 

Wagner

Record: 21-1

Coach: Michael Koupal

Key players: Ashlyn Koupal (21 ppg, 7 rpg), Emma Yost (15.7 ppg, 10.4 rpg), Shalayne Nagel (11.6 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 5.1 apg), Macy Koupal (8 ppg), Lydia Yost (6.5 ppg).

Notes: No. 2 Wagner plays No. 7 Rapid City Christian at 6:00 p.m. in the first round. …This is the sixth time Wagner has qualified for the state tournament. …The Red Raiders were Class A runner-up in 1996 and won Class A state titles in 1997 and ‘98. …Wagner’s only loss of the season came against Vermillion, 53-52 on Jan. 14 at the Hanson Classic. … Emma Yost and Shalayne Nagel will play college basketball at Dakota Wesleyan University. Ashlyn Koupal, a 6-foot-2 freshman, has received major Division I offers. 

Rapid City Christian

Record: 19-4

Coach: Joe Kieffer

Key players: Olivia Kieffer (25.9 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 3.1 apg), Alexa Ham (11.5 ppg, 8 rpg), Hayden Thorton (8.1 ppg)

Notes: No. 7 Rapid City Christian plays No. 2 Wagner at 6:00 p.m. in the first round. …Rapid City Christian last qualified in 2017. … Olivia Kieffer is the 12th all-time leading scorer in South Dakota girls basketball history with 2,415 career points. She will play college basketball at the University of South Dakota. … Rapid City Christian is riding a four-game winning streak, with its last defeat against fellow tourney team Lakota Tech (62-56) on Feb. 13. 

Sioux Falls Christian

Record: 21-2

Coach: Dan DeJong

Key players: Ellie Lems (16.6 ppg, 6.1 rpg), Peyton Poppema (7.7 ppg, 5.2 rpg), Benna Beyke (6.7 ppg), Maya Nelson (6.1 ppg, 2.9 apg)

Notes: No. 3 Sioux Falls Christian plays No. 6 Sisseton at 7:45 p.m. in the first round. … Sioux Falls Christian defeated Sisseton, 63-54, on Feb. 4. … The Chargers on an eight-game winning streak. They lost to fellow tourney team Wagner, 62-29, on Dec. 29. Christian also lost to Vermillion, 62-55. … The Chargers are making their third straight state tourney berth. 

Sisseton 

Record: 20-2

Coach: Sara Lincoln

Key players: Krista Langager (15.8 ppg, 9 rpg), Hannah Leverson (11.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 4.7 apg) Chloe Langager (9 ppg, 8.4 rpg). 

Notes: No. 6 Sisseton plays No. 3 Sioux Falls Christian at 7:45 p.m. in the first round. … Sisseton lost to Sioux Falls Christian, 63-54, on Feb. 4. … Sisseton is on a seven-game winning streak after its defeat against Sioux Falls Christian. The Redmen also lost to No. 1 seed Hamlin, 52-43, this season. … Sisseton’s first appearance since 2012.