MOBRIDGE — The path to 1,000 career points for Mobridge-Pollock’s Blake Thompson was paved with late nights in the gym, a basketball in hand and her sister TyRel pushing her every step of the way.

Thompson scored her 1,000th career point on Jan. 15, a milestone she has worked tirelessly to achieve while leaving her imprint on the Mobridge-Pollock Tiger basketball program.

“Ever since I was little I’ve always just wanted to be such a big role model for others, and I think that hitting the 1,000 proved to myself that I am a very big leader and that I can do things like that,” Thompson said. “Because you can honestly do anything you put your mind to.”

Thompson has also competed in volleyball, softball and track and field. But basketball is Thompson’s best and favorite sport. She’s a regular in the gym, developing her jumper and sharpening her skills, which has propelled her to all-state status 

“I don’t get a break,” Thompson said. “But honestly I love it that much that I just don’t care if I have a break or not.”

Much of Thompson’s passion for basketball can be traced back to her older sister, TyRel. Blake highlighted TyRel — a former all-conference player for the Tigers — as a driving force behind Thompson’s basketball success.

“We would always be in the gym, and she would never take it easy on me,” Thompson said. “But I guess that’s good for me because look at where I am now.” 

Mobridge-Pollock's Blake Thompson, right, puts up a shot against Lyman on Jan. 17 at the Hanson Classic in Mitchell. (Ryan Deal / 605 Sports)

Thompson, who earned Class A all-state third-team honors in 2025, averaged 16.6 points during her junior campaign. She helped the Tigers place sixth at the state tournament, and earned all-tourney honors. 

This season, the 5-foot-8 senior guard has continued to pile up points for the Tigers. She’s averaging 21.5 points per game, has scored 20 or more points in six games and tossed in 29 points in a loss against Class B No. 1 Lyman on Jan. 17 at the Hanson Classic in Mitchell. 

“She obviously has got a great ability to score,” Mobridge-Pollock coach Stephen Hettick said. “But as you saw in today’s game (vs. Lyman) she does just as well passing the ball at times and she’s stepped up in the leadership this year and she’s really done a lot of great things for us.”

Mobridge-Pollock’s state tournament appearance last season was its first since 2011, and Thompson said returning to state is again the goal this year. But she’s also focused on enjoying her final games as a Tiger. 

“Right now I am just focusing on just having fun, honestly,” Thompson said. “Basketball is a fun sport and some people take the fun out of it. So I just want to keep the fun going with it.” 

Next season, Thompson will play college basketball at Division II Black Hills State University in Spearfish. She and the Tigers competed in last season’s state tournament on the BHSU campus, giving Thompson an early glimpse of her future college home.

Thompson fell in love with the school, campus and jumped at the chance to be a Yellow Jacket.

“I was sitting down with my mom (Deirdre) and she was like ‘Say basketball wasn’t in the picture, what college would you go to?’ ” Thompson said. “I was like ‘I actually really love Black Hills State. It’s such a beautiful campus, such beautiful people there,’ and not even kidding you, 15 minutes later I got a call from coach (Kelly) Kruger giving me an offer. So I was like this is fate. This is everything I wanted. So I was like I need to commit on the spot.” 

Thompson has developed relationships with current BHSU women’s basketball players, and said she’s excited for the next chapter of her basketball career. 

And Hettick said Thompson will continue to thrive at the next level.

“I think she is going to do a great job,” Hettick said. “Any school would be very fortunate to have her. That was the one she wanted. So we were super proud of her and happy for her that she ended up there, and excited to watch her play at that level as well.” 

The Class A No. 10 Tigers (6-3) will play at Cheyenne-Eagle Butte (7-3) on Jan. 20.