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Class A girls basketball preview - Playmakers, title contenders abound in Class A
Wagner's Macy Koupal, right, attacks the basket against Tea Area last season at the Corn Palace.
(Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

Class A girls basketball preview - Playmakers, title contenders abound in Class A

Nov 30, 2023
  

By Ryan Deal

605 Sports

There’s no shortage of state title contenders and elite players in Class A girls basketball. 

Hamlin, which finished as runner-ups in 2021 and ‘22, captured its elusive Class A state championship last season. 

The Chargers graduated 2023 South Dakota Miss Basketball Kami Wadsworth, but there’s a number of headliners back in Class A. There are 11 returning all-staters from last season, including three first-teamers in Ashlyn Koupal (Wagner), Claire Sheppard (Flandreau) and Katie Vasecka (Tea Area). 

The trio will also help steer their respective teams toward state tournament berths. 


Five storylines to watch

  • Wagner’s 1-2 punch: Sisters Macy and Ashlyn Koupal helped guide Wagner to the past two state tournaments. They will team up one last season on the hardwood, with Macy a senior and Ashlyn a sophomore. Macy will play college basketball at Dordt University, while Ashlyn is a major women’s basketball prospect. They helped the Red Raiders earn a runner-up finish last season and they will have them back in the hunt.

  • Vasecka looks to lead Tea Area state tourney berth: Tea Area knocked on the door of its first-ever state girls basketball tourney berth last season. But Wagner knocked off Tea Area in the SoDak 16. The Titans, who will be led by all-staters Katie Vasecka and Mara Grant, have never qualified for a state tournament. The Titans, however, will be among the state title contenders this season.

  • Vermillion bring back wealth of experience: The Tanagers, who emerged as a formidable foe last season, will bring back a host of playmakers this year. Vermillion returns Brooke Jensen, Kasey Hanson, Brooklyn Voss, Jenaya Cleveland, Chandler Cleveland and Taylor Reuvers, along with Todd County transfer Julise Shaw. The Tanagers, who were eliminated in region action, will be among the top teams this season. 

Vermillion's Taylor Reuvers (11) attacks the basket against Elk Point-Jefferson last season. (Trey Kaul / 605 Sports)

  • Redmen return key players from third-place finish: Sisseton turned some heads last season and secured a third-place finish, its first state tournament trip since 2012. This season, Sisseton will be on people’s radars and it returns key players from last season. Krista Langager, a 6-foot-2 junior forward/center, was a third-team all-stater last year. Hannah Leverson, a 5-foot-5 senior guard, will play college basketball at Division II Minnesota State-Mankato.

  • Who will emerge from West River?: St. Thomas More’s nine-year state tournament streak was snapped last season. Although the Cavaliers graduated Reese Ross, they will again be a solid Class A team. But who else will be contenders from West River? Red Cloud and Lakota Tech were both state tournament teams last season and will get tested early at the Lakota Nation Invitational. 


Players to watch

  • Ashlyn Koupal, Wagner: A 6-foot-2 sophomore, Koupal burst onto the South Dakota basketball scene the past couple seasons. The guard/forward is a major women’s basketball recruit, garnering scholarship offers from Kansas, Iowa State, Miami (Ohio), Indiana, Nebraska, Colorado State and Creighton. She averaged 22 points and 6.8 rebounds per game last season, earning first-team all-state honors. 

  • Claire Sheppard, Flandreau: Sheppard powered Flandreau back to the state tournament last season. The 6-foot-2 guard registered 16.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game last season, earning first-team all-state status. She will play college basketball at SDSU. 

  • Katie Vasecka, Tea Area: A future Jackrabbit, Vasecka was a first-team all-stater last season. The 6-foot-1 guard logged 20.1 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game for the Titans. She’s ranked No. 60 in the Class of 2024, according to ESPN.com. 

  • Emilee Fox, Mount Vernon/Plankinton: Fox has been a key player for the Titans the past few seasons. A 5-foot-8 guard, Fox averaged 14.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game last season. The future Jackrabbit earned Class A all-state second-team honors, her fourth consecutive season with all-state recognition. 

  • Caylin Kelly, Florence-Henry: Kelly earned Class A all-state second-team honors last season. She averaged 15 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game as a junior. The 5-foot-11 forward/center will play at Division II Minnesota State-Moorhead. 

  • Brooke Jensen, Vermillion: Jensen earned all-state second-team honors last season. The 6-foot-1 guard logged 14.7 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. Just a junior, Jensen recently committed to Augustana University.

  • Mara Grant, Tea Area: Grant formed a stellar 1-2 punch for Vasecka last season. Grant, who was a second-team all-stater, logged 18 points and 10.3 rebounds per game last year. Grant, who will play at Dordt University, was a second-team all-stater last season.

  • Krista Langager, Sisseton: A 6-foot-2 post, Langager towered over defenders en route to Class A all-state third-team honors as a sophomore. She averaged 15.8 points and nine rebounds per game for the Redmen. 

  • Ashlan Blount, Red Cloud: Blount paced the Crusaders last season, averaging 15.6 points, five rebounds, five assists and 3.5 steals per game. The 5-foot-10 guard earned third-team all-state honors as a freshman. 

  • Addison Neuendorf, Hamlin: Neuendorf was a key player in Hamlin’s championship run. A 5-foot-5 athletic guard, Neuendorf tallied 11.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game for the Chargers. She earned third-team all-state status as a freshman.

  • Julise Shaw, Vermillion: Shaw, a transfer from Todd County, averaged 21.3 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.5 steals and 2.1 assists per game last season. The 5-foot-7 forward/guard was a third-team all-stater as a sophomore. 

  • Maggie Taylor, Hill City: A 6-foot-2 forward, Taylor averaged 15 points, 11 rebounds and two assists per game last season. An all-conference performer, Taylor will play college basketball at Division I Drake University next season.