Travis Kriens/KORN News Radio Sports Director
The Mitchell Kernels are right where they’ve made a habit of being lately, rolling through the heart of the season with momentum, confidence and suffocating defense.
Mitchell girls basketball stretched its winning streak to nine games with a 60-55 victory over Sioux Falls Jefferson on Tuesday night, Feb. 3. The Kernels were sharp from the perimeter, knocking down 8-of-10 three-point attempts, and showcased balanced scoring with three players in double figures.
Addie Siemsen and Londyn Hajek led the way with 15 points apiece, while Nia Talley added a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. With the win, Mitchell improved to 10-3 on the season and will look to keep the streak alive on the road Friday night at Sturgis, followed by a Saturday matchup at Spearfish.
This surge is nothing new for the Kernels. Over the last three January’s, Mitchell is an eye-popping 19-1, continuing a trend of midseason success that has defined the program in recent years.
Recent Mitchell Girls Basketball Winning Streaks
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2025-26: 9-game winning streak (Dec. 31 – Feb. 3, active)
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2024-25: 8-game winning streak (Jan. 10 – Feb. 7)
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2023-24: Opened the season 15-0
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2021-22: 8-game winning streak (Jan. 14 – Feb. 8)
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2020-21: 10-game winning streak (Jan. 2 – Feb. 6)
Defense has been the common thread. Mitchell is holding opponents to just 39 points per game, fifth-best in Class AA, and recently put together a stretch of five straight games allowing no more than 40 points. The last time the Kernels managed that kind of defensive consistency was January and February of 2013, when they held nine consecutive opponents to 40 points or fewer.
The defensive effort was on full display against Sioux Falls Lincoln on Friday, Jan. 30, when the Kernels limited the Patriots to just seven points total, only two made field goals, and didn’t allow a single point in the second or third quarters.
Head coach Dave Brooks credits the team’s growth to staying hungry as the schedule ramps up.
“With the way the schedule is, we get a chance to get a little better each game,” Brooks said. “We don’t think we’ve plateaued yet. It’s nice to string some of those wins together because February is when we find out what we’re made of.”
That identity starts on the defensive end.
“You have to trust your teammates,” Brooks said. “Get up and guard, and if you get beat, there should be a sea of white or black uniforms behind you that has your back. That’s a big part of what we do.”
Mitchell still has the top four teams in Class AA on the schedule in the month of February. It starts at No. 4 Aberdeen Central on Feb. 10, followed by a home game vs. No. 3 Sioux Falls Washington on Feb. 17. The Kernels end the season vs. No. 1 Brandon Valley on Feb. 24 and at No. 2 O’Gorman on Feb. 26.
As as new month begins, Mitchell once again find themselves peaking at the right time and proving that these midseason runs are no coincidence.