BROOKINGS — The Class A state girls basketball tournament features four returners and four newbies.

Sisseton, Mahpiya Luta, Sioux Falls Christian and Flandreau are all back after qualifying in 2023. Mount Vernon/Plankinton, Vermillion, Hanson and Tea Area round out the field.

The action starts Thursday and continues until Saturday in Brookings.

Here’s a look at all eight teams in the field: 

2024 Class A Girls Basketball Tournament Capsules 

Sisseton 

Record: 21-1 

Coach: Sara Lincoln  

Key players: Krista Langager (20.5 ppg, 8.8 rpg), Hannah Leverson (11.3 ppg, 4.8 apg, 3 rpg), Chloe Langager (9.3 ppg, 7 rpg), Emmalee Nielsen (9.2 ppg, 5 rpg, 4.2 apg), Alexia Quinn (6.2 ppg). 

Notes: No. 1 Sisseton will play No. 8 Mount Vernon/Plankinton at noon CT in the opener. … A 5-foot-5 senior guard, Hannah Leverson will play college basketball at Minnesota State University-Mankato. … Krista Langager, a 6-foot-2 junior forward, was a third-team all-stater last season. … The Redmen placed third at last season’s state tournament. They are making their 14 state tournament appearance. … Sisseton’s lone loss was against fellow Class A qualifier Sioux Falls Christian, 70-62. 

Mount Vernon/Plankinton 

Record: 18-5 

Coach: Preston Kristensen  

Key players: Emilee Fox (21.3 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 3.7 apg, 52 steals, 14 blocked shots), Reagan Rus (17.1 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 2.8 apg), Kyia Schmidt (8.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg), Vanessa Hoffman (4.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 28 steals), Berkeley Engelland (4.3 rpg, 27 steals). 

Notes: No. 8 Mount Vernon/Plankinton will play No. 1 Sisseton at noon CT in the opener. … Emilee Fox, a 5-foot-8 senior guard, will play college basketball at South Dakota State University. Fox has scored 2,206 career points, 20th on the state's all-time girls basketball scoring list. … Berkeley Engelland, a multi-time state track and field champ, will run collegiately at the University of South Dakota. … A 5-foot-9 junior guard, Rus has received interest from regional NCAA Division II and NAIA women’s basketball programs. … The Titans dropped games against state tournament qualifiers Vermillion, Sioux Falls Christian and Ethan. MVP defeated Class A qualifier Hanson. 

Vermillion 

Record: 19-4 

Coach: Jon Brooks 

Key players: Brooke Jensen (12 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 21 blocked shots), Chandler Cleveland (11.2 ppg, 4.7 rpg), Taylor Reuvers (11 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 61 steals), Brooklyn Voss (7 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 43 steals), Jenaya Cleveland (7 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 75 steals), Kasey Hanson (6.7 ppg).

Notes: No. 4 Vermillion will play No. 5 Mahpiya Luta at 1:45 p.m. CT in the opener. … Brooke Jensen, 6-foot-1 junior, has committed to play college basketball at Augustana University. Jensen is the daughter of 1991 South Dakota Miss Basketball Becky (Flynn) Jensen, a former Wakonda and Creighton University standout. … Vermillion dropped a 51-42 decision against Class A qualifier Tea Area earlier this season. 

Mahpiya Luta celebrates winning the Lakota Nation Invitational earlier this season. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

Mahpiya Luta

Record: 22-0 

Coach: Matt Rama 

Key players: Ashlan Blount (17.7 ppg, 6 apg, 5.5 rpg, 4.8 spg), Jodene Hunter (17 ppg, 3.4 spg, 2.6 apg, 2.5 rpg), Kennedy Fridia (9 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.8 spg), Taleah Lunderman (8.1 ppg, 5.6 rpg), Mya Mills (8 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.7 spg), Essence Tobacco (5 ppg). 

Notes: No. 5 Mahpiya Luta will play No. 4 Vermillion at 1:45 p.m. CT in the opener. … Ashlan Blount, a 6-foot sophomore, was a third-team all-stater last season. … Jodene Hunter scored her 1,000th career point earlier this season. … The Crusaders won their third straight Lakota Nation Invitational championship in December. … Mahpiya Luta and Flandreau are the lone undefeated teams in Class A. … Mahpiya Luta officially changed its name from Red Cloud in 2023. 

Sioux Falls Christian

Record: 20-2 

Coach: Dan DeJong  

Key players: Avery Reitz (11.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg), Jaxsyn Swift (8.6 ppg), Aubree Van Beek (8.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg), Maya Nelson (8.5 ppg), Katie VanderLeest (7.4 ppg, 3.5 rpg).   

Notes: No. 2 Sioux Falls Christian will play No. 7 Hanson at 6 p.m. Thursday in the opener. … Sioux Falls Christian lost to Class A qualifier Vermillion, 43-39. The Chargers defeated Class A entrant Tea Area (82-73), Sisseton (70-62) and Mount Vernon/Plankinton (41-30). … The Chargers are playing in their fourth straight state tournament. Sioux Falls Christian placed fifth last season. 

Hanson 

Record: 17-5 

Coach: Jim Bridge 

Key players: Alyssa Moschell (14.6 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 56 assists, 56 steals), Taziah Hawkins (12.8 ppg, 81 assists, 32 steals), Eliza Oltmanns (12.4 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 64 steals, 57 assists), Kylie Haiar (11 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 47 assists, 30 steals). 

Notes: No. 7 Hanson will play No. 2 Hanson at 6 p.m. Thursday in the opener. … Hanson’s coach Jim Bridge became the state’s all-time winningest girls basketball coach this season and currently has 636 coaching wins. … Hanson lost to Class A qualifier Mount Vernon/Plankinton this season, while it defeated Class B entrant Ethan. … A long-time Class B team, Hanson is playing in its first-ever Class A state tournament. The Beavers last qualified for a state tournament in 2021. 

Flandreau 

Record: 23-0 

Coach: Megan Severtson  

Key players: Lily Klein (14.8 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 71 assists), Claire Sheppard (13.9 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 118 assists, 45 blocked shots), Lizzie Pavlis (13.2 ppg, 6.1 rpg), Sadie Iott (8.4 ppg), Morgan Sheppard (5.6 ppg, 15 blocked shots).  

Notes: No. 3 Flandreau will play No. 6 Tea Area at 7:45 p.m. CT in the opener. … Flandreau and Mahpiya Luta are the lone undefeated teams in Class A. … Flandreau has three players — Claire Sheppard (South Dakota State University), Lily Klein (Northern State University) and Lizzie Pavlis (Dakota Wesleyan University) — that will play college basketball next season. … The Fliers have beaten three Class B qualifiers in Arlington, Centerville and Lyman. … Flandreau is making its second straight state tournament appearance. 

Tea Area

Record: 19-4 

Coach: Adam Schorzmann  

Key players (individual stats unavailable): Katie Vasecka, Mara Grant, Ellie Clayberg, Haidyn West, Miah Weber, Jaycie Babb.