The Class A girls basketball SoDak 16 contests are March 5, with the eight winners qualifying for the Class A state tournament on March 12-14 in Watertown. 

Here’s a look at all eight of the SoDak 16 games, which are at neutral sites scattered throughout the state. 

No. 1 Hamlin (20-1) vs. No. 16 Sisseton (11-10)

WATERTOWN — Two Northeast Conference teams will square off for one spot in the Class A girls basketball tournament. 

No. 1 Hamlin plays No. 16 Sisseton at 7 p.m. CT at the Watertown Civic Arena, in a rematch from Hamlin’s 69-39 regular-season victory. The Chargers also won both meetings last season, including a 55-47 victory in the SoDak 16. 

The Chargers are gunning for their fifth Class A qualification since 2020. Hamlin’s lone defeat was a 54-48 setback against Class A No. 4 Wagner. The Chargers own wins over SoDak 16 qualifiers Deubrook Area (61-38), Mobridge-Pollock (51-47), Sioux Valley (51-32), De Smet (71-47), Lennox (59-57, 45-42) and Sioux Falls Christian (74-68). 

The Chargers are powered by all-stater Addison Neuendorf, a 5-foot-6 guard headed to Division II Northern State University. Issie Steffensen, Addelyn Jensen and Paxton Neuendorf are also key contributors for the Chargers. 

Sisseton is seeking its first state tournament berth since back-to-back third-place finishes in 2023 and ‘24. The Redmen began the season with five straight losses, but enter the SoDak 16 round on a five-game winning streak. 

Sisseton topped Webster Area (70-35) and No. 8 Aberdeen Roncalli (45-36) in the Region 1A tournament to advance to the SoDak 16. The Redmen avenged a 37-28 loss against Roncalli from the regular season. Saylor Langager (14 points) and Elliot Hortness (11 points) scored in double figures in the victory over Roncalli. 

No. 2 Mahpiya Luta (20-0) vs. No. 15 McCook Central/Montrose (15-7)

MISSION — Mahpiya Luta’s bid for a fifth consecutive Class A state tourney berth starts at 6 p.m. CT in Mission. 

Mahpiya Luta, which finished at last season’s Class A runner-ups, is the last undefeated Class A girls basketball team. Mahpiya Luta’s season has included a fifth consecutive Lakota Nation Invitational championship, the longest streak in tournament history. 

Mahpiya Luta owns wins over SoDak 16 qualifiers Lakota Tech (65-34, 76-62), Bennett County (80-35), Lennox (66-56), Spearfish (43-18), Rapid City Christian (54-34) and St. Thomas More (64-25). 

Mahpiya Luta is led by all-stater Ashlan Carlow-Blount, a 6-foot guard headed to play at Division I South Dakota. Carlow-Blount averages 17 points, eight rebounds, 5.5 assists and 5.3 steals per game. Shania Ferguson, an all-state guard, averages 14.4 points per game. 

MCM earned Region 5A wins over Parker-Marion (53-35) and Hanson (53-39) to secure a spot in the SoDak 16. 

The Fighting Cougars are led by juniors Ella DeKnikker and Mya Morrison. MCM is looking for its first state tourney berth since 2021. 

No. 3 Wagner (18-2) vs. No. 14 Dell Rapids (15-7)

IRENE — Wagner is gunning for its fourth state tourney berth since 2022. 

The Red Raiders will play Dell Rapids at 7 p.m. CT in Irene for a trip to the Class A girls basketball tournament. 

Wagner’s lone defeats were against Class A No. 3 Lennox (56-38) and Elk Point-Jefferson (48-46). The Red Raiders own wins over SoDak 16 qualifiers Ethan (59-50), Parkston (48-37), Hamlin (54-48), Miller (58-36) and Corsica-Stickney (59-29). 

Wagner is powered by all-stater Ashlyn Koupal, a 6-foot-3 guard/forward headed to Division I Nebraska. Koupal has scored 2,502 career points, 10th most in South Dakota girls basketball history. Koupal was recently selected as a McDonald’s All-American, the only girls basketball player in South Dakota history chosen for the prestigious game. 

Dell Rapids topped Madison (77-40) and Flandreau (43-35) in Region 3A tourney action to secure a spot in the SoDak 16. The Quarriers lost to SoDak 16 qualifiers Lennox (74-56), McCook Central/Montrose (59-55), Sioux Falls Christian (70-40), West Central (69-47), Mobridge-Pollock (65-41) and Sioux Valley (67-52) during the season. Dell Rapids owns a 63-60 win over SoDak 16 qualifier Lakota Tech. Against Flandreau, Rorie Thoreson totaled 18 points, four rebounds and three assists. Josie Price added seven points and 11 rebounds, while Jersi Schultz had seven points and nine rebounds. 

No. 4 Sioux Valley (20-2) vs. No. 13 St. Thomas More (16-5) 

CHAMBERLAIN — Sioux Valley is looking for back-to-back state tourney bids, while St. Thomas More is seeking its first trip since 2022. 

The Cossacks and Cavaliers will play at 5:30 p.m. CT at Chamberlain in the SoDak 16. 

Sioux Valley, which finished as last season’s consolation champ, is riding a nine-game winning streak. Sioux Valley’s two losses were against SoDak 16 qualifiers Hamlin (51-32) and Sioux Falls Christian (55-46). 

The Cossacks defeated Deuel (72-22) and Clark/Willow Lake (55-32) in Region 2A action to secure a spot in the SoDak 16. 

The Cossacks are led by Kailey Cradduck, a 5-foot-11 junior committed to Division I South Dakota, along with junior Liberty Trygstad and senior Talya Vincent. Vincent will play college basketball at Dakota State University. 

The Cavaliers defeated Lead-Deadwood (68-15) and Hill City (47-14) in Region 8A action to secure a SoDak 16 berth. St. Thomas More lost two games against SoDak 16 qualifiers Mahpiya Luta (64-25) and West Central (51-36). The Cavaliers defeated SoDak 16 qualifiers Spearfish (50-40) and Rapid City Christian (54-43). 

STM is led by Rachael Hyde, Leighton Scherr, Amity Strand, Enna Henry and Ella Schirber.

No. 5 Lennox (18-3) vs. No. 12 Miller (17-5)

MADISON — Lennox and Miller will both look to snap state tourney droughts in the SoDak 16. 

Lennox hasn’t qualified for state since 2020 (canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic) and Miller is looking for its first trip since 2012. The Orioles and Rustlers will play at 5:30 p.m. CT at Madison High School. 

The Orioles’ three losses were against Mahpiya Luta (66-56) and Hamlin (59-57, 45-42). Lennox owns wins over SoDak 16 qualifiers Sioux Falls Christian (48-34), Dell Rapids (74-56), Wagner (56-38), Huron (43-28) and Groton Area (46-22).

The Orioles are led by Andie Peters, Teagen Sturm and Libby Kranz. 

Three of Miller’s five losses were against SoDak 16 qualifiers Mobridge-Pollock (49-43), Wagner (58-36) and Parkston (57-40). The Rustlers defeated Stanley County (63-22) and Cheyenne-Eagle Butte (57-34) in Region 6A action to advance to the SoDak 16. Miller is led by seniors Kate Lichty, Jayce Pugh, Gracen Werdel, Jolie Palmer, Kaihlyn Anderberg and Paige Werdel. 

No. 6 Sioux Falls Christian (18-4) vs. No. 11 Groton Area (16-6)

MADISON — Sioux Falls Christian, last season’s Class A state champs, is one win away from another state tourney berth. 

The Chargers will play Groton Area at 7 p.m. CT at Madison High School in the SoDak 16 round. 

Three of Sioux Falls Christian’s four losses were against SoDak 16 qualifiers Lennox (48-34), Rapid City Christian (55-54) and Hamlin (74-68). The Chargers own wins over SoDak 16 qualifiers West Central (57-34), Dell Rapids (70-40), Sioux Valley (55-46) and Yankton (62-23). 

Sioux Falls Christian defeated Elk Point-Jefferson (69-32) and Vermillion (67-39) in Region 4A action to advance to the SoDak 16. 

The Chargers are led by Lezlei Setzer, a 6-foot-2 junior center garnering college basketball interest around the region. Ruth Dvoracek, Emory Lems, Oaklee Hadler, Aubrie VanBeek and Makinli Reitsma are also key contributors.

The Tigers are chasing their first state tourney berth since 1999. Four of Groton’s six losses were against SoDak 16 qualifiers Hamlin (46-21), West Central (49-28), Lennox (46-22) and Mobridge-Pollock (51-47). Groton Area defeated Britton-Hecla (45-19) and Milbank (54-52) in Region 1A action to secure a SoDak 16 berth. 

The Tigers outlasted Milbank in double overtime, and was led in scoring by Jaedyn Penning’s 20 points. Jerica Locke added 12 points, six rebounds and five assists. Kella Tracy had 10 points and 12 rebounds. Rylee Dunker added six points.

No. 7 West Central (17-4) vs. No. 10 Mobridge-Pollock (17-4) 

CHAMBERLAIN — Two 17-4 teams will collide at 7 p.m. CT in Chamberlain, and the winner advances to the Class A girls basketball tournament. 

West Central is gunning for its first state tourney berth since 2022. West Central’s four losses were against SoDak 16 qualifiers Sioux Falls Christian (57-34), Lennox (55-28), Colman-Egan (46-44) and Rapid City Christian (42-40). West Central, which is riding an eight-game winning streak, owns wins over SoDak 16 qualifiers Groton Area (49-28), St. Thomas More (51-36), Dell Rapids (69-47) and McCook Central/Montrose (70-37). 

West Central is led by Kacey Jaton, Ellie Knight and Kaylie Schultz. 

Mobridge-Pollock is seeking back-to-back state tournament berths. The Tigers, who finished sixth last season, lost four games this season all against SoDak 16 qualifiers: Hamlin (51-47), Sioux Valley (62-47), Lyman (62-59) and Lakota Tech (66-49). 

The Tigers own wins over SoDak 16 qualifiers Dell Rapids (65-41) and Groton Area (51-47). Mobridge-Pollock is led by all-stater Blake Thompson, a 5-foot-8 guard headed to play at Division II Black Hills State University. Thompson scored her 1,000th career point earlier this season. 

The Tigers are also led by future University of Mary women’s basketball player Tegan Konold, along with Jacy Netterville, Faith Heil and Brooke Bain.  

No. 8 Rapid City Christian (17-4) vs. No. 9 Lakota Tech (18-4)

WALL — Rapid City Christian and Lakota Tech’s second meeting this season comes in the SoDak 16. 

The Tatanka topped the Comets, 59-49, at the Lakota Nation Invitational this season. The second meeting will be for a state tourney berth. Rapid City Christian plays Lakota Tech at 6 p.m. MT in Wall in the SoDak 16. Both teams last qualified for state in 2023. 

Rapid City Christian’s four losses were against SoDak 16 qualifiers Lakota Tech (59-49), St. Thomas More (54-43), Mahpiya Luta (54-34) and Rapid City Stevens (68-62). 

The Comets topped last season’s Class A state champ Sioux Falls Christian (55-54) during the regular season. Rapid City Christian also defeated SoDak 16 qualifiers Sturgis (55-43), Deubrook Area (56-54), West Central (42-40) and Spearfish (54-38) during the season. 

The Comets are led by Sadie Marshall, Nora Kieffer, Brynn Casey, Miley Johnson and Alex Love and Nia Selfridge. 

Lakota Tech’s four losses were against SoDak 16 qualifiers Mahpiya Luta (65-34, 76-62), Sioux Valley (66-63) and Dell Rapids (63-60). The Tatanka are on an eight-game winning streak, including a win over SoDak 16 qualifier Mobridge-Pollock (66-49). 

Lakota Tech is led by Kate Robinson, Lizzie Robinson, Isabella Shangreaux, Amelia Shangreaux and Addison Goings.