The girls Class A SoDak 16 games are Thursday across the state. The eight winners qualify for the Class B state girls basketball tournament on March 10-12 in Brookings.

Here’s a look at each Class A SoDak 16 matchup: 

Note: Times are Central

Winner's Ellie Brozik goes up for a rebound at the Hanson Classic. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

No. 1 Wagner (20-1) vs No. 16 Winner (14-8), 7:30 p.m.

MITCHELL — Two teams that faced each other in the first game of the season in early December will now face off at the Corn Palace in Mitchell for a trip to the Class A basketball tournament.

Wagner defeated the Warriors on Dec. 11, 41-34, and have kept on cruising to one of the best seasons in recent memory. The top-seeded and No. 1 ranked Red Raiders average 57.6 points per game and are led by sophomore Macy Koupal and eighth-grader Ashlyn Koupal. Juniors Shalayne Nagel and Emma Yost and freshman Lydia Yost also contribute for the Red Raiders.

Wagner’s lone blemish on the season came against the Hanson Beavers (44-40), but the Red Raiders avenged that loss (48-36) in Region 5A action to reach the SoDak 16. Wagner is seeking its first state tournament appearance since finishing as consolation champions in 2009.

Winner is seeking its fourth straight tournament appearance. The Warriors finished as Class A champions in 2019, qualified in 2020 (canceled due to COVID-19), and finished in third place last season. Seven of Winner’s eight losses this season are to SoDak 16 qualifying teams, either in Class A or Class B. University of Kansas commit Bella Swedlund leads the Warriors and is the 15th all-time leading scorer in South Dakota girls basketball history with 2,238 career points. She’s averaging 22.4 points and 8.1 rebounds per game this season. Jenna Hammerbeck, Ellie Brozik, Kelsey Sachtjen, and Ava Craven also contribute to the Warriors. Winner defeated Stanley County (58-27) and Mobridge-Pollock (68-38) to reach the SoDak 16.

No. 2 West Central (20-2) vs No. 15 Crow Creek (17-5), 6 p.m.

MADISON — West Central and Crow Creek collide in Madison with a spot in the Class A state tournament on the line.

West Central is looking to return to the state tourney for the first time since finishing runner-up in 2019. The Trojans come into the SoDak 16 as the No. 2 seed, and have played their part, with their only losses on the year coming to the No. 1 teams in both Class A (Wagner) and Class B (Aberdeen Roncalli). West Central is led by seniors Rylee Haldeman, Tabor Teel, Addy Kramer, Josslin Jarding, and junior Tessa VanOverbeke. The Trojans defeated Dell Rapids (69-16) and Tri-Valley (68-39) in Region 3A to advance to the SoDak 16.

Crow Creek began the season 3-4, but has since won 14 of its last 15 games. The Chieftains defeated McLaughlin (77-18) and Dupree (65-48) in Region 6A to reach the SoDak 16. Crow Creek’s last, and only, state tournament appearance was in 2018, in which the Chieftains finished in eighth place.

No. 3 Hamlin (20-2) vs No. 14 Belle Fourche (15-7), 6 p.m.

GETTYSBURG — Hamlin and Belle Fourche, which met in the state-tourney opener last season, will battle in Gettysburg for a ticket to Brookings. 

Hamlin defeated Belle Fourche, 53-36, in last year’s opener on its way to a Class A state runner-up finish. The Chargers are after their third straight appearance and their fifth since 2016. Hamlin enters the contest on a 17-game winning streak, including Region 2A wins over Flandreau Indian (71-26) and Sioux Valley (55-32). During the season, Hamlin picked up wins over fellow SoDak 16 qualifiers in Castlewood, De Smet, Aberdeen Roncalli, Dakota Valley, Sully Buttes and Florence-Henry. It dropped a 57-56 decision against SoDak 16 qualifier, Flandreau, in the season opener. Hamlin’s Kami Wadsworth powered the Chargers with 18 points against Flandreau Indian, while she scored 21 points in the win over Sioux Valley. 

Belle Fourche topped Lead-Deadwood (52-18) and edged Rapid City Christian (50-49) in Region 8A action to earn the SoDak16 berth. Against Rapid City Christian, Belle Fourche overcame a 12-point third-quarter deficit and Mataya Ward’s three throws with two seconds left sealed the comeback win. Ward and Kaylin Garza led the Broncs with 12 points apiece. 

No. 4 Lakota Tech (19-1) vs No. 13 Flandreau (16-3), 6 p.m.

KADOKA — Lakota Tech is one step away from history.

The Tatanka, who are in their second season of existence, can earn their first-ever state berth with a win over the Fliers. Lakota Tech is on a 14-game winning streak, including a Region 7A win over Pine Ridge (84-33). Lakota Tech’s lone defeat was against Red Cloud, 72-65, in the Lakota Nation Invitational title game. However, the Tatanka avenged the defeat in early January, defeating the Crusaders by a 79-60 margin. Lakota Tech’s season also included wins over Class AA Pierre (65-60) and fellow Class A SoDak 16 qualifier Florence/Henry (43-41). Tech is paced by Tobi Carlow, Melina Shangreaux, Tawney Rodriguez, Moriah Morisette and Shayla Bravo. Bravo scored her 1,000th career point earlier this season. 

Flandreau last qualified for state in 2020 (canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic). The Fliers are riding a five-game winning streak, including Region 2A wins over Elkton-Lake Benton (67-32) and Deubrook Area (50-42). Two of Flandreau’s three losses were against Class B SoDak 16 qualifiers in Corsica-Stickney (58-47) and De Smet (76-67). It defeated SoDak 16 qualifiers in Class A Hamlin (57-56) and Class B Castlewood (50-32). 

The Fliers are powered by three double-digit scorers in Claire Sheppard (15.8), Lizzie Pavlis (12) and Maria Parsley (11.8). Bella Pavlis scores 9.5 points per game. Sheppard, a 6-foot-1 sophomore garnering Division I college basketball interest, also averages 8.6 rebounds per game. 

No. 5 St. Thomas More (18-3) vs No. 12 Vermillion (17-5), 6:15 p.m.

PIERRE — St. Thomas More is one win away from its ninth-straight state tournament berth. 

The Cavaliers, who finished fourth last season, are in the midst of a nine-game winning streak. STM advanced to the SoDak 16 with a 54-37 Region 8A win over Hill City.

During the regular season, the Cavaliers defeated SoDak 16 qualifiers Belle Fourche, Bridgewater-Emery, Winner, Red Cloud and Viborg-Hurley. St. Thomas More also dropped a 64-42 decision against Class A No. 2 seed West Central. Against Hill City, Reese Ross finished with 17 points and Jada Mollman added 16 points. 

Vermillion last qualified for state in 2018. The Tanagers are on a four-game winning streak, including Region 4A wins over Beresford (52-29) and Elk Point-Jefferson (38-30). During the regular season, Vermillion dropped games against fellow Class A SoDak 16 qualifiers West Central (56-44), Sioux Falls Christian (46-33) and Dakota Valley (61-41). 

Against EPJ, Kasey Hanson paced the Tanagers with 11 points. Brooke Jensen added 13 rebounds and four blocked shots.

No. 6 Sioux Falls Christian (19-3) vs No. 11 Sisseton (18-4), 7 p.m.

VOLGA — Sioux Falls Christian can make it back-to-back state tournament appearances, while Sisseton is looking for its first trip since 2012. 

The Chargers, who placed fifth last season, are riding a 10-game winning streak and picked up Region 3A wins over Baltic (71-40) and Garretson (49-32). Two of Sioux Falls Christian’s were against Class A No. 1 seed (Wagner) and No. 2 seed (West Central). Christian’s season also included wins over Class A SoDak 16 qualifiers Dakota Valley, Vermillion, Belle Fourche and Mount Vernon/Plankinton, along with wins over Class AA teams Watertown and Yankton. 

The Chargers are powered by Kylah vanDonkersgoed, Peyton Poppema, Ellie Lems and Jaxsyn Swift. 

Sisseton is riding a seven-game winning streak, including Region 1A wins over Clark/Willow Lake (69-49) and Groton Area (56-39). During the regular season, Sisseton lost to Class B No. 1 Aberdeen Roncalli (53-51), along with Class A SoDak 16 qualifiers Vermillion (52-43) and Hamlin (65-55). During Sisseton’s seven-game winning streak, it defeated Class A SoDak 16 qualifiers Dakota Valley (65-62) and Florence-Henry (53-46). 

No. 7 Dakota Valley (18-4) vs No. 10 Mount Vernon/Plankinton (17-5), 7 p.m.

TEA — It’s the second time they’ve met, but the stakes are higher this time around. 

Dakota Valley defeated Mount Vernon/Plankinton, 51-43, on Jan. 29 in Sioux Falls. Dakota Valley is after its second consecutive state tournament berth, while MVP last qualified in 2019. 

The contest is headlined by a pair of all-staters and future college basketball players, too.

Dakota Valley is powered by Rylee Rosenquist, who will play basketball next season at Dakota Wesleyan University. Rosenquist is averaging 22.9 points, 10.1 rebounds and 5 assists per game. Peyton Tritz is averaging 10.8 points per game. 

Dakota Valley began the season on a nine-game winning streak, including a 67-66 win over Class B power Corsica-Stickney. Dakota Valley’s four losses were all against Class A SoDak 16 qualifiers West Central (64-53), Sioux Falls Christian (60-54), Hamlin (58-44) and Sisseton (65-62). In addition to MVP and Corsica-Stickney, it defeated SoDak 16 qualifiers Viborg-Hurley (71-55) and Vermillion (61-41). 

MVP is led by all-state guard Emilee Fox, who is committed to play basketball at South Dakota State University. The sophomore guard became MVP’s all-time leading scorer earlier this season and has more than 1,300 career points. The Titans are also led by Reagan Rus and Maria Baker. MVP picked up Region 5A wins over Andes Central/Dakota Christian (57-48) and Parkston (44-25) to earn a SoDak 16 berth. Four of MVP’s five losses were against Class A SoDak 16 qualifiers West Central (51-42), Wagner (48-40), Dakota Valley (51-43) and Sioux Falls Christian (58-47).  

No. 8 Red Cloud (19-2) vs No. 9 Florence/Henry (17-4), 5:30 p.m.

FORT PIERRE — Red Cloud and Florence/Henry are both after their elusive trips to the state tournament. 

Red Cloud last qualified in 2020, but it was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its season was canceled last season. Florence/Henry, meanwhile, is after its first-ever trip as a co-op. Henry qualified in 1987, while Florence has never advanced to the state tourney.

Red Cloud’s two losses were against fellow Class A SoDak 16 qualifiers Lakota Tech (79-60) and St. Thomas More (51-48). The Crusaders did defeat Lakota Tech (72-65) for the Lakota Nation Invitational championship. Red Cloud also picked up wins over SoDak 16 qualifiers White River (71-53) and Belle Fourche (68-59). 

Florence/Henry dropped its final three games of the regular season against SoDak 16 qualifiers Aberdeen Roncalli (52-38), Hamlin (47-44) and Sisseton (53-46). The Falcons picked up Region 1A wins over Tiospa Zina (70-28) and Webster Area (59-40) to earn a SoDak 16 berth. Florence/Henry also dropped a 43-41 decision against SoDak 16 qualifier Lakota Tech in its other defeat on Jan. 15. The Falcons defeated SoDak 16 qualifiers Winner (48-43) and Castlewood (44-42). 

Florence/Henry is powered by Carlie Moe, Trinity Watson and Caylin Kelly. Moe logged 25 points and six rebounds in the Region 1A win over Webster Area. Watson scored her 1,000th career point against Tiospa Zina, while she finished with 17 points and six rebounds. Kelly finished with 15 points, 10 rebounds, five steals and five assists against Webster Area.