Travis Kriens
KORN News Radio Sports Director
The three South Dakota girls basketball state tournaments delivered plenty of drama over the past week, but the numbers behind the games told an even more fascinating story. From massive turnover totals and extreme free-throw disparities to record-level individual performances and wildly different approaches to the three-point shot, the tournaments in Brookings, Watertown and Rapid City were filled with statistical quirks.
Turnovers and Fouls Dominate Class B Quarterfinal
One of the most unusual stat lines of the week came in the Class B quarterfinal between Bennett County and Harding County at First Bank & Trust Arena.
The two teams combined for 64 turnovers, including 37 by Bennett County and 27 by Harding County. The whistle was just as busy as the defenses, with 50 fouls called in the game.
That led to an extraordinary number of trips to the free throw line. The teams combined for 68 free throws, with Bennett County going 13-of-23 and Harding County finishing 27-of-45.
Just one round later, however, the free throw line was nearly invisible.
A Semifinal With Almost No Free Throws
In the Class B semifinal between Ethan and Corsica-Stickney, the teams were a combined 3-of-4 from the free throw line, a remarkable contrast to the foul-heavy quarterfinal earlier in the tournament.
Instead of free throws, the teams relied heavily on perimeter shooting. The squads combined to shoot 21-of-59 from three-point range, illustrating just how dramatically the pace and style of games could vary from one round to the next.
Ethan’s Three-Point Attack
Ethan embraced the long-range game throughout the tournament on its way to the Class B championship.
The Rustlers attempted 90 three-pointers over their three games, finishing 30-of-90 (33%) from beyond the arc. The willingness to shoot from deep became a defining characteristic of their title run.
All-Tournament Snub Raises Eyebrows
One of the more surprising statistical notes of the week came from Lyman’s Jordyn Scott.
Scott averaged 19.6 points and 9.6 rebounds per game during the tournament but was not named to the Class B all-tournament team, an omission that stood out given her production.
Mitchell’s Defense Stifles the Three in Class AA
At the Class AA tournament at the Summit Arena, the Mitchell Kernels became the tournament’s ultimate three-point disruptor.
Across three games, Mitchell held opponents to just 20-of-83 shooting from three-point range (24%).
The struggles began in the quarterfinals when O’Gorman shot just 6-of-34 from deep.
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Ruby Moore went 4-of-14
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Sydney Terveen finished 0-of-7
The pattern continued throughout the tournament:
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Brinley Altenburg shot 4-of-17 from three in the semifinals
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Sioux Falls Jefferson went 6-of-22 as a team
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Rapid City Stevens finished 8-of-27 in the fifth place game
Young Contributors Step Up for Mitchell
Mitchell also received a significant boost from two eighth graders.
CeCe Morgan averaged 11 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, while Nia Talley averaged 12.6 points and 7.3 rebounds. Talley also scored a career-high 17 points on Friday against Sioux Falls Jefferson.
The Kernels competed in the quarterfinals against O’Gorman, a program that has dominated Class AA in recent years.
Despite committing 30 turnovers, which led directly to 30 O’Gorman points, Mitchell stayed competitive before falling 55-44, largely because the Knights struggled so heavily from three-point range.
Siemsen Finishes Historic Career
Mitchell senior Addie Siemsen closed out her career with 1,315 points (unofficial), ranking fifth in Mitchell girls basketball history.
Contrasting Styles From Deep
Few players in Rapid City fired away from deep like SF Jefferson’s Brinley Altenburg, who finished the tournament 8-of-36 from three-point range (22%).
Her perimeter-heavy approach stood in stark contrast to Alyvia Padgett of Brandon Valley.
Padgett averaged 27 points per game while shooting 29-of-48 (60%) from the field, attempting just five three-pointers all tournament.
Her most dominant outing came in the quarterfinals against Tea Area, when she scored 36 points on 13-of-17 shooting, including 0-of-1 from three.
In an era where many teams rely heavily on the perimeter shot, Padgett’s inside-dominant scoring approach stood out.
Koupal’s Historic Career Ends in Watertown
The Class A tournament in Watertown saw the conclusion of one of the most remarkable careers in state history from Wagner’s Ashlyn Koupal.
In a semifinal loss to West Central, Koupal scored 35 of Wagner’s 38 points, finishing 17 rebounds on 11-of-26 shooting in a 46-38 defeat.
In her final career game against Lakota Tech, Koupal delivered another massive performance with 32 points and 20 rebounds, though Wagner fell 67-64.
A Tournament Full of Three-Point Extremes
Three-point shooting trends varied wildly throughout the Class A tournament.
Mya Mills showcased the modern perimeter-heavy approach, going 6-of-14 from three in a quarterfinal win over West Central and 5-of-17 in the championship game against Lennox Orioles.
Lakota Tech took that philosophy to an extreme, attempting 85 three-pointers during the tournament but converting just 15 (17%).
Ironically, Lennox captured the Class A championship despite limited success from deep. The Orioles made just 10-of-44 three-pointers (22%) for the tournament and hit only two threes in two of their three victories.
A Week Defined by Contrasts
Taken together, the tournaments showcased a fascinating contrast in styles and statistical trends. Some teams relied heavily on the three-point shot, while others dominated inside. Some games featured nearly nonstop whistles, while others saw almost no trips to the free throw line.
From massive turnover totals to record-level individual performances, the numbers told the story of a week where the unexpected became the norm across South Dakota’s biggest girls basketball stage.