If you like parity, then you should enjoy the 2023-24 South Dakota Class B girls basketball season. 

Viborg-Hurley emerged as a Class B powerhouse, winning the past two state championships. But the Cougars graduated a host of seniors, including first-team all-staters Coral Mason and Denae Mach. 

It opens the door for a new crop of contenders, including last season’s runner-up Wall and familiar face Ethan. 

Five storylines to watch

• Wall welcomes back key seniors: Wall made an unlikely run to the state championship, falling to Viborg-Hurley 71-61 in the finals. The target will now be on Wall’s back this season and it will be led by seniors Nora Dinger, Paige Kjerstad, Rhea Tucker and Alexis Stephan. Dinger, Kjerstad and Tucker were Class B all-tourney members last season. The Eagles will be tested right out of the gates, playing in the Lakota Nation Invitational in December. They will also play in the Parkston Classic and DWU/Culver’s Classic in Mitchell. 

Ethan's Ava Lingemann, right, hugs teammate Leah Klock (5) after her go-ahead basket during a game against Castlewood in the first round of the Class B state tournament at the Huron Arena. (Matt Gade / For 605 Sports)

• Ethan eyes another state tourney: Ethan has been to eight state tournaments since 2015 and the Rustlers will likely be a Class B contender again this year. Ethan finished fourth last season. The Rustlers will be tested during the regular season, including a contest with 2023 Class A runner-up Wagner and they’ll also play in the Hanson Classic. 

• Lyman looks to continue its resurgence: Lyman emerged as a Class B contender last season, notching a 14-8 record before falling to eventual champ Viborg-Hurley in the SoDak 16. The Raiders, who graduated just one player from last season, will be led by all-state guard Skyler Volmer and sophomore forward Mak Scott. The Raiders will play in the Hanson Classic and DWU/Culver’s Classic, while they’ll play top-five Wall late in the season. 

• Arlington appears ready to break through: Last season, the Cardinals put together a 17-5 record and lost to Castlewood in their region tournament. Arlington brings back a bulk of its production, having graduated just two players from last season. This season, Harley Johnson is Arlington’s lone senior and the Cardinals will feature a host of underclassmen. 

• Centerville returns an experienced bunch: The Tornadoes posted a 17-6 record last season, falling to Jones County in the SoDak 16 round. Centerville now returns a host of upperclassmen and size (five players 5-foot-10 or taller) as it looks to secure a state tournament berth. 

Players to watch

• Ava Lingemann, Ethan: Lingemann is the lone Class B all-state first-team returner. A 5-foot-6 guard, Lingemann averaged 20.6 points and 6.2 assists per game last season, while converting on nearly 45% of her 3-pointers. She recorded her 1,000th career point last season, in which Ethan finished 21-4 and with a fourth-place finish at the Class B tournament.

• Abby Aslesen, Howard: A 6-foot guard/forward, Aslesen helped the Tigers finish seventh at the Class B state tournament last season. The future Valley City State University Viking averaged 16.4 points and 9.7 rebounds per game on her way to Class B all-state second-team honors. 

• Skyler Volmer, Lyman: An athletic 5-foot-9 guard, Volmer earned Class B all-state third-team honors last season. Volmer averaged 18.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game last season. Volmer, a future University of North Dakota women’s basketball player, scored her 1,000th career point last season and was named the Western Great Plains Conference MVP.