By Jacob Wuertz

605 Sports

Motivation sometimes comes after experiencing heartbreak. For the Vermillion girls basketball team, the heartbreak it experienced at the end of last season has motivated it to pursue higher goals this season.

The Tanagers 2021-22 season came to an abrupt end last March, losing to St. Thomas More 39-36 in the Class A SoDak 16. The game was a close contest throughout, but the Cavaliers held off the Tanagers for the win and advanced to the state tournament, where they won their seventh state championship.

The loss was hard enough for the Tanagers, but knowing they lost a close game to the eventual state champions made it even harder.

“For our girls to see them (St. Thomas More) go through the state tournament (and) win the state tournament, I think it kind of opened up our eyes of how close we really are,” Vermillion head coach Jon Brooks said.

The loss fueled the motivation entering this season.

“We had a lot of experience coming back,” Brooks said. “Being that close to getting to a state tournament, that’s fueled us early in the season.”

Vermillion has been dominant in its first seven games this season, with its average margin of victory coming in at 20.5 points per game. Four of Vermilion’s seven wins have come by 21 points or more, while closest an opponent has come to the Tanagers is 11 points, which has happened twice this season with wins over West Central and Ponca, Neb. The Tanagers have averaged 56.6 points per game, while giving up 36.1 points per game. The defensive effort has not gone unnoticed this season, and has fueled the success the team has had.

“Our defense has been really good,” Brooks said. “That’s kind of been the key so far early in the year.”

The team started the season with wins over Canton, Worthington, Minn., Tri-Valley, and West Central, but turned the heads of many after defeating then-No. 4 ranked Tea Area in Tea, 62-34, on Jan. 2. The Tanagers also have wins against Ponca, Neb. and Parkston, but the win over Tea Area opened a lot of eyes, in part, due to the performance by Brooke Jensen, who poured in 34 points in the eye-opening win. Jensen, a 6-foot-1 sophomore, has been the key player for the Tanagers this season.

Vermillion's Brooke Jensen attempts a lay-up against Worthington, Minn. at the SCSC Classic on Dec. 17. (Photo courtesy of James Cimburek/Yankton Press & Dakotan)

“Brooke is getting a lot of attention right now, and rightfully so. She’s averaging over 20 points a game and has gone over 30 I think twice this year,” Brooks said. “It’s nice to have that go-to kid that can go get you a bucket when you need it.”   

Jensen, along with 6-foot-1 senior Leah Herbster and 5-foot-11 junior Brooklyn Voss, anchor a tall and athletic frontcourt that causes problems for any opponent. Sophomore Kasey Hanson also provides scoring for a team that has had four different players in double figures in three games this season. Jenaya Cleveland and Chandler Cleveland provide the intensity on the defensive side of the court for the Tanagars.

Vermillion's Jenaya Cleveland goes after a loose ball against Worthington, Minn. at the SCSC Classic on Dec. 17. (Photo courtesy of James Cimburek/Yankton Press & Dakotan)

The road for the Tanagers does not get easier, as the team plays in the always competitive Dak-12 conference and adds a host of other quality opponents to their schedule. Vermillion travels to Dak-12 rival Madison on Tuesday, before hosting another Dak-12 rival Lennox on Thursday. The week ends with a date with Class A No. 2 Wagner at the Hanson Classic on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. It will be a top-five matchup as Vermillion catapulted to No. 4 in this week’s Class A girls basketball poll. 

Coach Brooks noted that every opponent will be looking to give the Tanagers their best shot down the remaining stretch of the season.

“Now that we’ve won some games, we’re going to be one of those teams that has that X on our back, and when teams play us they’re gonna be motivated to play us,” Brooks said. “They’re gonna give us their best shot, and so every time we step on the floor, we have to be ready to go.”