WATERTOWN — Familiarity fills this season’s Class A state girls basketball tournament.

Five of the eight squads are returning teams from last season’s state tournament, including Hamlin, Sioux Valley, Mahpiya Luta, Sioux Falls Christian and Wagner.

The eight-team tournament kicks off Thursday at 11 a.m., CT, with No. 1 Hamlin playing No. 8 Lakota Tech followed by No. 4 Sioux Valley taking on No. 5 Lennox at 12:45 p.m. The night session features No. 2 Mahpiya Luta taking on No. 7 West Central at 5 p.m. followed by No. 3 Wagner matching up with No. 6 Sioux Falls Christian at 6:45 p.m.

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

No. 1 Hamlin

Record: 21-1

Coach: Tim Koisti

Key players: Addison Neuendorf (16.6 ppg, 4 rpg, 5.6 apg, 2.5 spg), Issie Steffensen (16.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.2 spg), Addelyn Jensen (10.1 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 2.1 bpg)

Notes: No. 1 Hamlin plays No. 8 Lakota Tech at 11 a.m., CT, in the first round. … Neuendorf, a 5-foot-6 senior guard, will play college basketball at Northern State University. Neuendorf’s mother, Jaimie Neuendorf, is an assistant coach for the Chargers. … Hamlin defeated Sisseton, 60-40, in the SoDak 16. … Hamlin took third place at the state tournament last season.

No. 8 Lakota Tech

Record: 19-4

Coach: Laura Big Crow

Key players: Amelia Shangreaux (21.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 4.6 spg, 4.7 apg) Isabella Shangreaux (11.3 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 2.6 spg, 3 apg), Lizzie Robinson (19.5 ppg, 8 rpg, 3.9 spg, 4.2 apg, 1.5 bpg)

Notes: No. 8 Lakota Tech plays No. 1 Hamlin at 11 a.m., CT, in the first round. … Lakota Tech defeated Rapid City Christian, 72-59, in the SoDak 16. … Lakota Tech is making its third-ever appearance at the state tournament, and first since 2023.

No. 4 Sioux Valley

Record: 21-2

Coach: Jamie Granum

Key players: Kailey Cradduck (15.2 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 2.7 apg, 2 spg, 2 bpg), Talya Vincent (10.7 ppg, 3.9 apg), Amari Ward (7.3 ppg, 4 rpg, 1.6 bpg), Liberty Trygstad (13.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3.6 apg, 2.4 apg), Miley Keating (7.9 ppg, 3.8 rpg)

Notes: No. 4 Sioux Valley plays No. 5 Lennox at 12:45 p.m., CT, in the first round. … Cradduck, a 5-foot-11 junior guard, has verbally committed to play basketball at the University of South Dakota. … Vincent, a 5-foot-6 senior, recently committed to play basketball at Dakota State University next season. … Sioux Valley defeated St. Thomas More, 49-29, in the SoDak 16. … Sioux Valley is making its second-straight state tournament appearance after taking the consolation championship last season.

No. 5 Lennox

Record: 19-3

Coach: Adam Quail

Key players: Karlie Bosma (7.1 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 2. apg, 1.9 spg), Bergan Musser (9.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.7 spg), Andie Peters (10.8 ppg, 2 rpg, 1.6 spg , Tori Gerdes (7.1 ppg, 6 rpg) 

Notes: No. 5 Lennox plays No. 4 Sioux Valley at 12:45 p.m., CT, in the first round. … Lennox defeated Miller, 62-33, in the SoDak 16. … Lennox is making its first state tourney appearance since 2020.

No. 2 Mahpiya Luta

Record: 21-0

Coach: Matt Rama

Key players: Ashlan Carlow-Blount (17.2 ppg, 8 rpg, 5.5 apg, 5.2 spg, 1 bpg), Shania Ferguson (14.5 ppg, 2.4 spg), Mya Mills (8.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 2.5 spg), Jayden Standing Soldier (7.5 ppg, 5.9 rpg), Dorthie Mesteth (6.6 ppg, 2.6 apg, 3.3 spg)

Notes: No. 2 Mahpiya Luta plays No. 7 West Central at 5 p.m., CT, in the first round. … A 6-foot senior guard, Carlow-Blount will play college basketball at Division I South Dakota. She is the Mahpiya Luta girls program leader in points, rebounds, steals, assists and blocked shots. Carlow-Blount’s mother, Amanda, is an assistant coach for Mahpiya Luta. … Mahpiya Luta defeated McCook Central-Montrose, 79-21, in the SoDak 16. … Mahpiya Luta is making a fifth consecutive appearance at the state tournament, taking runner-up last season.

No. 7 West Central

Record: 18-4

Coach: Joe Caffrey

Key players: Kacey Jaton (18.2 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 2.7 spg), Ellie Knight (8.2 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 5.1 apg, 2.3 spg), Mackenzie Skonhovd (8 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.6 spg), Abbi Thornton (7 ppg, 3.2 rpg)

Notes: No. 7 West Central plays No. 2 Mahpiya Luta at 5 p.m., CT, in the first round. … Jaton, a 5-foot-10 sophomore, holds offers from Wayne State College, Black Hills State, and the University of South Dakota. … West Central defeated Mobridge-Pollock, 54-42, in the SoDak 16. … West Central is making its first trip to the state tournament since 2022 when it took third place.

No. 3 Wagner

Record: 19-2

Coach: Mike Koupal

Key players: Ashlyn Koupal (28 ppg, 14 rpg, 4.2 apg, 3 spg, 4.3 bpg), Braxton Nedved (7.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 2.8 apg, 1.5 spg)

Notes: No. 3 Wagner plays No. 6 Sioux Falls Christian at 6:45 p.m., CT, in the first round. … Koupal, a 6-foot-3 senior guard/forward, will play college basketball for the Nebraska Cornhuskers next season. … Koupal is a four-star prospect who was recently selected to the McDonald's All-American Game, becoming the first girls basketball player in South Dakota history to be selected for the all-star game. … Ashlyn is the daughter of head coach Mike Koupal and assistant coach Tera Koupal. … Wagner defeated Dell Rapids, 46-31, in the SoDak 16. … Wagner has made the state tournament in back-to-back seasons, including four trips in the last five seasons.

No. 6 Sioux Falls Christian

Record: 19-4

Coach: Dan DeJong

Key players: Lezlei Setzer (17.1 ppg, 9 rpg, 1.9 bpg, 1.3 spg), Ruth Dvoracek (9.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.6 apg, 2.4 spg), Emory Lems (9.3 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 1.5 apg, 1.4 spg, 1 bpg), Aubrie VanBeek (6.9 ppg, 3 apg, 2.1 spg)