Last season, Centerville completed its ascension atop the Class B ranks.

The Tornadoes, who were without a high school girls basketball team in 2016-17, took the class by storm and won their first-ever Class B state championship. Centerville’s state championship culminated with a 62-44 win over Arlington, finishing the season with a 24-2 record. 

The cupboard is not bare in Centerville, which includes a pair of all-staters in Althea Gust and Emma Marshall. 

The Tornadoes will begin the season atop the preseason rankings, but a host of familiar contenders and fresh faces will emerge in the state’s smallest class.  

Five storylines to watch

• Centerville eyes repeat: The Tornadoes emerged from a crowded Class B pack last season, winning their first-ever state championship. Centerville won’t sneak up on anybody this season, and will wear the favorite label throughout much of the season. The Tornadoes will be tested this season, including a matchup against 2024 Class A champ Vermillion and contests at the Hanson Classic and Heritage Classic. 
• Ethan eyes another state tourney: Ethan has been to nine state tournaments since 2015 and the Rustlers will likely be a Class B contender again this year. Ethan finished third last season. The Rustlers will face a tough schedule, with matchups against Class A contenders Hamlin and Wagner, along with contests against Sanborn Central/Woonsocket and games at the Hanson Classic and DWU Classic.  
• Sanborn Central/Woonsocket enters the mix: The Blackhawks landed James Valley Christian all-state transfers Kaylie Robinson and Alexa Goertz, who are both closing in on 1,000 career points. SCW will also face a tough slate, including contests against formidable foes Ethan, Parkston, and Wagner. 
• Parkston moves into Class B: The Trojans were in a tough Region 5A last season, and after dropping down to Class B, will be among the teams expected to emerge in Class B this season. The Trojans, who finished 16-6 last season, are in Region 4B and face a mix of Class A and Class B teams this year. 
• Who else will emerge?: There’s always a host of teams that unexpectedly emerge from the field, making surprise postseason runs and rounding out the Class B field. Look out for teams like Arlington, Andes Central/Dakota Christian, Kadoka Area, Harding County and Lemmon to be sleepers in Class B. 

Players to watch

Note: These are players recognized on last year’s all-state basketball teams. 

Althea Gust, Centerville: Gust paced the Tornadoes to their first-ever Class B girls basketball championship last season. A 5-foot-10 senior guard/forward, Gust was a first-team all-stater last season, averaging 13.4 points and 3.5 assists per game. Gust scored her 1,000th career point last season. 

Makalee Scott, Lyman: A season ago, Scott helped Lyman reach its first Class B girls basketball tournament since 2014. Scott, who is committed to Augustana University, was a second-team all-stater last season. A 6-foot junior forward, Scott averaged 17.3 points, 4.4 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game last season. Last season, Scott scored her 1,000th career point, erupted for a school-record 40 points in a game and is program’s career blocks leader. 

Kaylie Robinson, Sanborn Central/Woonsocket: Robinson was a second-team all-stater last season for James Valley Christian. A 5-foot-6 senior guard, Robinson averaged 16.2 points, 9.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game last season. Robinson has tallied 909 points and 612 rebounds entering her senior season. She tossed in a career-high 31 points in a game last season, while she also grabbed a career-high 15 rebounds in another contest. 

Emma Marshall, Centerville: A 5-foot-10 senior forward, Marshall was a key cog in Centerville’s state championship run last season. A second-team all-stater, Marshall averaged 12.7 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. 

Jaelyn Huntimer, Arlington: A 5-foot-8 junior guard, Huntimer was a key contributor to Arlington’s runner-up finish last season. A third-team all-stater, Huntimer averaged 14.3 points and 4.5 rebounds per game last season. 

Josie Brouwer, Andes Central/Dakota Christian: Brouwer was a third-team all-stater last season, averaging 17 points and seven rebounds per game. Brouwer is a 5-foot-8 senior guard. 

Alexa Goertz, Sanborn Central/Woonsocket: A 5-foot-9 senior guard, Goertz was an all-state honorable mention selection last season. She averaged 15.8 points and 3.5 rebounds per game during her junior season at James Valley Christian. Goertz is 13 points shy of the 1,000-point milestone. 

Hazel Luethmers, De Smet: A 6-foot junior guard/forward, Luethmers was an honorable mention all-stater last season. Luethmers averaged 19.3 points and seven rebounds per game during her sophomore campaign.