The Sioux Falls O’Gorman girls basketball team is back to defend their back-to-back state titles.

The Knights have won each of the last two Class AA girls basketball titles, including three of the last four, and will look for the first three-peat in the state’s largest class since Sioux Falls Roosevelt from 1997-2001 when the Rough Riders won five straight championships.

Storylines to Watch

Can O’Gorman make it three straight?: The Knights have taken the throne of Class AA’s best each of the past two seasons, including back-to-back undefeated seasons. In fact, the last Knights loss came in the first round of the 2023 Class AA state tournament, a 53-41 loss to Harrisburg. Riding a 50-game win streak, will O’Gorman be able to run the table for a third straight year?

Who else will emerge?: While the Knights have run Class AA girls basketball, plenty of talent still remains in Class AA girls basketball. Brandon Valley returns two all-state players to reload for the new season, along with many other teams with future college basketball talent to potentially knock off O’Gorman.

Players to Watch:

Note: These players were all-staters in the 2024-25 season. 

Alyvia Padgett, Brandon Valley: A 5-foot-7 senior guard, Padgett was a first-team all-stater and Class AA Player of the Year last season. Padgett averaged 15.1 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game as a junior. Padgett guided Brandon Valley to the Class AA state championship last year as well. Padgett will play college basketball at Division II Minnesota State University, Mankato. 

Sydney Terveen, O'Gorman: A 5-foot-10 senior guard, Terveen was an all-state first team selection last season. Terveen averaged 15.1 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game last season, helping lead the Knights to a second straight state championship. Terveen will play college basketball at the University of Nebraska-Omaha.

Brinley Altenburg, Sioux Falls Jefferson: A 5-foot-10 junior guard, Altenburg was a first-team all-stater last season. Altenburg collected 17.4 points and 4.4 rebounds per game last season, leading Jefferson to a seventh place finish. Altenburg has multiple Division I basketball scholarships including Oregon, Colorado, Arizona State, Wisconsin and Missouri.

Ruby Moore, O'Gorman: A 5-foot-8 junior guard, Ruby Moore was a first-team all-state selection a season ago. Moore guided O’Gorman to a second straight title last season averaging 14.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 71 total steals last season. Moore will play college basketball at South Dakota State University.

Lauryn Burckhard, Aberdeen Central: A 6-foot-1 junior forward, Lauryn Burckhard was an all-state second team selection last season. Burckhard averaged 15.1 points and 7.8 rebounds last season for the Golden Eagles. Burckhard has committed to play college basketball at South Dakota State University.

Dana Harpe, Sioux Falls Washington: A 5-foot-11 senior guard, Harpe was a second team all-state second selection last season. Harpe averaged 13.2 points, six rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. Harpe will play college basketball at the University of Sioux Falls. 

Gracie Salter, Brandon Valley: A 5-foot-11 senior forward, Gracie Salter was a second team all-state selection last year. Salter averaged 11.2 points and 9.4 rebounds per game last season as well.

Leah Landry, Rapid City Central: A 5-foot-10 junior, Leah Landry was a second team all-state selection last year. Landry averaged 16.3 points and 10 rebounds per game.

Addie Siemsen, Mitchell: A 5-foot-8 senior guard, Addie Siemsen was an all-state honorable mention last season. Siemsen tallied 12.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and two assists per game as a junior. Siemsen will play college basketball at Augustana.

Hylton Heinz, Huron: A 5-foot-8 senior guard, Hylton Heinz was an all-state honorable mention last season. Heinz averaged 16.4 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game as a junior last year.

Eden Wolfgram, Yankton: A 5-foot-5 junior guard, Eden Wolfgram was an all-state honorable mention selection last year. Wolfram collected 16.6 points and four rebounds per game last year as well.

Taryn Hermansen, Aberdeen Central: A 6-foot-2 senior center, Hermansen was an all-state honorable mention last year for the Golden Eagles. Hermansen averaged 12.8 points per game last season.