The Class A girls basketball SoDak 16 contests are March 6, with the eight winners qualifying for the Class A state tournament on March 13-15 in Spearfish. 

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

No. 1 Sioux Falls Christian (20-1) vs. No. 16 Rapid City Christian (13-9)

CHAMBERLAIN — Top-seeded Sioux Falls Christian looks to make it five consecutive trips to the Class A state tournament.

The Chargers have qualified for the state tournament every year since 2021, and will take on Rapid City Christian, a team looking to net its second trip in the past three seasons, in a rematch Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at Chamberlain High School.

Class A No. 2 Sioux Falls Christian goes into Thursday’s SoDak 16 matchup with just one loss to its name against Vermillion on Feb. 6 (53-38), and has picked up big wins over Class A No. 4 Dakota Valley (60-48), Class A No. 5 Hamlin (58-47) and Class B No. 2 Lyman (64-45). The Chargers average 60 points per game while giving up just 40 points per contest this season, and are led by senior Avery Reitz, junior Aubrie VanBeek, senior Maya Nelson and sophomore Lezlei Setzer. 

Rapid City Christian comes into the SoDak 16 averaging 52 points per game, allowing 43 points per contest. The Comets have played tough competition throughout the season, including two losses to Class A No. 1 Mahpiya Luta (62-31, 71-42), Sioux Falls Christian (65-34), Class AA No. 4 Rapid City Stevens (64-49) and Class AA No. 5 Spearfish (58-51). The Comets are led by senior Lydia Williams, junior Sadie Marshall and freshman Nora Kieffer.

No. 2 Dakota Valley (20-2) vs. No. 15 West Central (14-8)

TEA — It’s a Dak-XII showdown for a spot in the Class A state tournament.

The Class A No. 4 Dakota Valley Panthers take on West Central in Tea Thursday at 7 p.m. for a trip to Spearfish on the line.

The Panthers haven’t had too much trouble racking up a 20-win season, with its only losses coming against Class A No. 2 Sioux Falls Christian (60-48) and Class A No. 3 Vermillion (71-63). Dakota Valley avenged that loss to Vermillion by ending its season in the SoDak 16 qualifying round on Feb. 27. The Panthers boast the second-highest scoring offense (65.6 points per game) in Class A girls basketball while allowing 52 points per contest as well. Dakota Valley is led by seniors Camryn Sommervold and Emerson Mead as well as freshman Ella Otten and Aubree Worden.

West Central has had a tale of two halves in girls basketball this season. After starting 3-8, the Trojans ripped 11 straight, including wins over Elk Point-Jefferson (62-56), Flandreau (58-48), and Canton (57-49). West Central enters Thursday’s matchup averaging 53 points per game while surrendering 43 points a contest. The Trojans are led by senior Rayna Goehring, junior Abbi Thornton, freshman Kacey Jaton, and eighth-grader Ellie Knight.

Hamlin Chargers guard Addison Neuendorf (3) drives to the hoop during the first half of the Hoop City Classic Monday, Dec. 30, 2024 at the Corn Palace in Mitchell. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

No. 3 Hamlin (18-3) vs. No. 14 Sisseton (15-7), 7:15 p.m., CT

WATERTOWN — Two northeast teams with state tournament experience will battle in Watertown.

Class A No. 5 Hamlin looks to make it back to the State A tournament after a one-year hiatus, while Sisseton attempts to make its third straight trip after back-to-back third place finishes.

Hamlin has proven all season long it can hang with some of the best in the state, picking up wins against Sioux Valley (62-59), Sisseton (71-58) and Dell Rapids St. Mary (61-50), while falling short against Class B No. 4 Ethan (49-46), Class A No. 2 Sioux Falls Christian (58-47) and Class No. 4 Dakota Valley (63-55). The Chargers are not far removed from its 2023 state championship, with plenty of playoff experience from Northern State commit Addison Neuendorf and sisters Addie, Issie and Jo Steffensen.

Sisseton is another team with more than enough playoff experience, placing third in each of the last two state tournaments. The Redmen enter Thursday’s matchup averaging 59 points per game, allowing just 43 points a contest. Sisseton has scored wins over some big opponents, including Sioux Valley (77-64), Great Plains Lutheran (46-26) and Groton Area (52-44). The Redmen are powered by 6-foot-1 senior and future University of Sioux Falls post Krista Langager, 6-foot junior Elliot Hortness, senior Ruby Rice and sophomore Saylor Langager as well.

Mahpiya Luta guard Ashlan Carlow-Blount (1) reacts to action on the court during the first half of the Lakota Nation Invitational girls championship game Saturday Dec. 21, 2024 in Rapid City. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

No. 4 Mahpiya Luta (21-0) vs. No. 13 Flandreau (15-6), 7 p.m., Jones County High School

MURDO — Mahpiya Luta puts its undefeated season on the line with a trip to the State A tournament in the ballot.

Mahpiya Luta is the only undefeated Class A girls basketball team remaining as it takes on Flandreau in a rematch of last season’s state consolation championship, at 7 p.m. in Murdo.

The Crusaders have lost just two games in the past two seasons, with both coming in last season’s state tournament against Vermillion (41-37) and Thursday’s opponent, Flandreau (56-41). Mahpiya Luta enters the SoDak 16 with the best scoring offense and scoring defense across all three South Dakota girls basketball classes, scoring 71.3 points per game while allowing just 30.1 points per game as well. The Crusaders have picked up big wins over Class A No. 3 Vermillion (56-34), Class AA No. 5 Spearfish (59-49), and Lakota Tech (77-51). Mahpiya Luta is powered by junior Ashlan Carlow-Blount and senior Jodene Big Crow-Hunter.

Flandreau heads west looking to earn its third consecutive trip to the State A tournament. The Fliers enter the SoDak 16 averaging 48 points per game, allowing 40 points defensively. Flandreau has picked up big wins over Lakota Tech (45-42) and De Smet (64-41), but will have an uphill battle against West River’s best. The Fliers are led by senior Sadie Iott and 6-foot-2 freshman Morgan Sheppard.

No. 5 Mobridge-Pollock (17-3) vs. No. 12 St. Thomas More (15-6)

FAITH — Two unfamiliar foes Mobridge-Pollock and St. Thomas More will clash at 7 p.m., MT in the SoDak 16 round. 

Mobridge-Pollock, which is in the north central part of South Dakota, and St. Thomas More, which is located in Rapid City, has not played in recent history. They will play with a Class A state tourney berth on the line. 

Mobridge-Pollock is seeking its first state tourney berth since 2011, when it finished as the consolation champion. The Tigers average 63.1 points per game, and allow 40.2 points per game on defense. Two of Mobridge-Pollock’s three losses were against teams still alive in the postseason: Centerville and Lakota Tech. 

Mobridge-Pollock earned a spot in the SoDak 16 with an 84-41 win over Crow Creek in Region 6A action. The Tigers are powered by lone senior Charley Henderson, along with a host of juniors in Tegan Konold, Jayda Thompson, Blake Thompson, Jacy Netterville, Faith Heil and sophomore Brooke Bain. 

St. Thomas More last qualified for state in 2022, when it won the Class A state championship. STM’s last defeat was a 43-40 setback against Class A No. 1 Mahpiya Luta, but has won three straight wins entering the SoDak 16 round. The Cavaliers defeated Hill City in Region 8A action to earn the SoDak 16 berth. 

The Cavaliers are powered by junior Rachael Hyde, senior Sloane Keszler and sophomore Leighton Scherr. 

Lakota Tech's Shania Ferguson (15) drives to the basket as Hot Springs' Olivia LeGrand defends during a game on Jan. 3, 2025 at Case Auditorium in Hot Springs. (Matt Gade / 605 Sports)

No. 6 Wagner (16-5) vs. No. 11 Lakota Tech (16-6)

WINNER — Wagner and Lakota Tech are in the same boat.

The Red Raiders and Tatanka are both looking to get to state after a one-year hiatus. They will clash at 6:30 p.m., CT, in the SoDak 16 round. 

Wagner is on a four-game winning streak, including a Region 5A win over McCook Central/Montrose. Wagner averages 55.4 points per game and allows 40.8 points per game offense. 

The Red Raiders are headlined by all-stater Ashlyn Koupal, a nationally-ranked 6-foot-3 forward in the Class of 2026. Koupal is coming off a 19-point, 19-rebound, 11-block and 10-assist quadruple-double against MCM. Wagner is also led by senior Lydia Yost. 

Lakota Tech lost to Sioux Valley and Flandreau, two SoDak 16 qualifiers, in back-to-back games. But the Tatanka enters the SoDak 16 on a seven-game winning streak, including Region 7A wins over Todd County and Winner. 

Lakota Tech is powered by all-stater Shania Ferguson, a 5-foot-6 junior high-scoring guard. Lakota Tech is also paced by freshman Isabella Shangreaux, junior Layla Janis, senior Angeliyah Big Boy, seventh-grader Amelia Shangreaux and freshman Peyton Knife. 

No. 7 Sioux Valley (18-4) vs. No. 10 Miller (18-4)

MADISON — A pair of 18-4 teams will play at 5:30 p.m., CT, with a Class A girls basketball tourney berth at stake. 

Sioux Valley, which is seeking its first state tourney berth since 2014, is on a seven-game winning streak. The Cossacks defeated Deuel and Great Plains Lutheran to earn a SoDak 16 berth. Sioux Valley averages 62.2 points per game on offense, while it allows 43.5 points per game on defense. 

Sioux Valley’s four losses were against Class A teams still alive in the postseason: Sioux Falls Christian, Dakota Valley, Sisseton and Hamlin. 

Sioux Valley is powered by junior Talya Vincent, sophomore Liberty Trygstad, sophomore Kailey Cradduck and junior Amari Ward. 

Miller is gunning for its first state tourney berth since 2012. The Rustlers average 54.5 points per game and allow 31.1 points per game on defense. 

Miller is riding a five-game winning streak, including Region 6A wins over Stanley County (58-10) and Chamberlain (60-27). Three of Miller’s four losses were against teams still alive in the postseason: Mobridge-Pollock, Parkston and Mount Vernon/Plankinton. 

Miller is powered by senior Morgan Kolda and junior Paige Werdel. 

No. 8 Aberdeen Roncalli (16-5) vs. No. 9 Mount Vernon/Plankinton (18-4) 

REDFIELD — New year, same SoDak 16 matchup. 

For the second straight season, Aberdeen Roncalli and Mount Vernon/Plankinton will collide in the SoDak 16 round. The Titans knocked off the Cavaliers (46-40) on their way to a seventh-place finish at the Class A tourney.

The rematch is at 7 p.m., CT at Redfield High School. 

Aberdeen Roncalli scores 53.3 points per game on offense, while it allows 33.4 points per game on defense. The Cavaliers are on a five-game winning streak, including Region 1A wins over Deuel (58-24) and Milbank (46-16). Roncalli’s win over Milbank avenged a 48-38 loss during the regular season. 

Roncalli is powered by senior Ava Hanson, senior Maddie Huber, junior Claire Crawford, junior Rylee Voeller and freshman Gabby Thomas. 

MVP is riding a four-game winning streak, including a regular-season win over Class B power Parkston (58-48) and Region 5A wins over Parker (50-39) and Scotland-Menno (50-18). The Titans average 46.7 points per game on offense, while they allow 38.1 points per game on defense. 

The Titans are powered by senior Reagan Rus and junior Taryn Hegg.