SD Girls HS BB Championship Previews - Mitchell, Harrisburg, Warner to Prevail

With the South Dakota Girls Basketball Tournaments reaching championship Saturday, this blog will preview the games with picks. Four teams (Sioux Falls Lincoln, Harrisburg, Warner, DeSmet) will be looking to win their first-ever state titles. Good luck to all the teams. It should be a fun-filled evening in the three venues of Rapid City, Watertown and Huron.

 AA Final - Mitchell (22-3) vs. Sioux Falls Lincoln (16-8), Rapid City Rushmore Civic Plaza

Game Preview: Mitchell is the defending champions and will be a big favorite against their finals’ opponent, Sioux Falls Lincoln, which has won a pair of close games to surprisingly advance to the championship. Lincoln features the dominant inside presence of Cera Ledbetter, along with a talented point guard in Darby Hugunin and upcoming scorer in Ellie Brecht. Mitchell is led by a pair of all-state performers in Kerri Young and Marcy Miller, both who will one day play collegiately at SDSU. Miller was the difference in a semifinal win over Sioux Falls Washington and may be the state’s top player. Her ability to penetrate and score is difficult to defend. Lincoln is on fire right now and will give the Kernels problems inside. If Ledbetter stays out of trouble and the Pats can get a few perimeter shots to drop they could pull a surprise. However, my thought is that Macy Miller and Kerri Young are a tough duo to stop. They will get a second title as Miller scores 20 again and Young has double figures. Miller took over the Washington game in the fourth quarter, expect her to do again. Mitchell wins it, 59-51.

Mitchell Notes: #3 Mitchell (22-3), which defeated Rapid City Central, 54-43, and Sioux Falls Washington, 46-37, has returned to the State AA finals in search of its sixth title. The Kernels captured the 2012 crown with a 56-54 win over SF Washington. They also won titles in 2003 (71-40, Aberdeen Central), 1994 (Yankton, 42.32), 1992 (Sioux Falls Roosevelt, 52-43) and 1990 (Yankton, 57-49). In its 23rd state tourney appearance, Mitchell finished second five times with three squads take third. The Kernels, directed by head coach Wes Morgan (74-45), has held 17 opponents to 37 points or less, including SF Washington in the AA semifinals. Overall, the Kernels own a 1,593-to-954 scoring margin or 63.72 ppg. They have allowed 38.16 points per game for a class-best 25.56 ppg victory margin.  Mitchell is led by senior forward and SDSU recruit Kerri Young (17.5 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 2.3 spg), who set the school record for points and has 1,749 for her career. Junior guard Macy Miller (19.6 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 3.0 spg), also a SDSU recruit, has a career total of 1,143. Miller, who dad Alan is DWU’s all-time leader scorer with 2,910 points (most by any collegian in South Dakota history) may be the best player in South Dakota. She has scored 35 points in the two wins, including 21 vs. Sioux Falls Washington, including scoring nearly every time the Warriors made a run at the Kernels in the semifinals. Kristi Sabers (8.8 ppg, 4.1 rpg), a Dakota Wesleyan recruit is another key member of the team and can light it up.  She has 30 points in the two games, second high to Miller’s 35.

Sioux Falls Lincoln Notes: #5 SF Lincoln (16-8), searching for their first-ever championship, will face familiar foe in Mitchell.  Earlier this season, they lost to at Mitchell, 60-46. Sioux Falls Lincoln has won two tournament games by a total of six points with a 41-37 win over Sioux Falls Roosevelt and then a 50-48 decision over top-ranked and #1 seed Aberdeen Central. The Patriots, directed by fifth-year coach Lyle Pearson (68-48 as Lincoln Girl’s Coach and 432-272 in his career, including boys and girls records), are participating at the State AA for the 16th time. They have never won a state title but finished second three times in 1984, 1986 and 1989.  The Pats have a 1,234-to-1,039 scoring differential for a 51.41-to-43.29 margin, and a per game victory total of 8.12. This group is led by seniors Darby Hugunin (Creighton soccer recruit), who averages 12.8 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. Hugunin missed several games due to injury but has 18 points, 14 rebounds, four assists and three steals in two games at the tournament. Senior Cera Ledbetter (13.6 ppg, 5.3 rpg) is a talented and powerful inside presence for the Pats. She has 36 points, 19 rebounds, and nine blocks in two games, emerging as the dominant inside presence in the AA. Ledbetter’s two free throws with 2.9 seconds left provided the winning margin against Aberdeen Central. Ellie Brecht, the daughter of former South Dakota great Amy Mickelson (1st team All-State, 1985, Brookings), has 21 points in the two games, including 15 in the opening round win over Sioux Falls Roosevelt. 

A Final - #1 Harrisburg (24-1) vs.  #3 Pine Ridge (23-1), Watertown Civic Arena

Game Preview: Harrisburg, riding an 18-game winning streak, is vying for a first-ever title in a dream season. Unbeaten against Class A opponents this year, Harrisburg had to fight off a game Sioux Falls Christian team in the opening round and then rally from 15 points down against Aberdeen Roncalli to advance to the state title game for the first time in school history. Pine Ridge has been the dominant team in the tourney with a pair of double digit wins. The Thorpes are chasing their third ever title. Both teams have basically rolled over opponents with the top-ranked Tigers owning a 25.08 victory margin and Pine Ridge sitting at 31.29. Harrisburg will have to try and slow down the Thorpes, who have a class-best 71.75 points per game. Harrisburg also averages 66.48 per game. Look for this game to be decided in the fourth quarter with Harrisburg’s defense and size playing a role. Go with Harrisburg, 65-57.

Harrisburg Notes: Harrisburg (24-1), directed by fifth year head coach Marcus Leloux (69-23), are playing out a dream season, making their first-ever title game. Harrisburg has a 242-161 scoring advantage in the post season. At the state tournament, Morgan Beaner’s double-double of 21 points and 11 points lifted Harrisburg to a 60-52 win over Sioux Falls Christian in the opening round. In the semifinals, Harrisburg overcame a difficult first half (trailed 21-9) and rallied from 15 down to defeated Harrisburg, 47-37. Hailey Halling had 21 points and four rebounds, including 17 in the second half when the Tigers outscored the Cavaliers, 39-16. Beaner (11.ppg, 4. rpg, 2.3 spg) has 28 points, 20 rebounds and five steals through two games while Hailey Halling (13.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg,) has 29 points, 11 rebounds and two steals. Guard Morgan Krier (5.0 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 2.8 spg) has also played big with 22 points, eight rebounds and three steals in two games. She had 13 points, including 3-of-4 from 3-point range in the opening round win. The Tigers have a 1,555-to-1,035 points advantage over opponents, which breaks out to a 66.48-to-41.4 ppg edge or a per game victory margin of 25.08. Harrisburg has won 17 games by 16 points or more and 22 by double digits. In the state tournament, Harrisburg’s defense and rebounding have been critical in the two wins as the Tigers have 27 steals (17 vs. Aberdeen Roncalli) and 72 rebounds (43 vs. Chamberlain).

Pine Ridge Notes:  Pine Ridge (23-1), which will play for a third state A title, has only a 1-point loss at Todd County keep them from an unblemished mark heading into the state title game. The Thropes have advanced to the title game with a 55-34 win over Chamberlain and a 63-53 win over West Central for an overall 118-87 edge in points at the state tourney. In the postseason, they have a 237-to-183 edge in four wins (played one district round game). Pine Ridge, which is making its 11th state tournament appearance, has a 1,722-to-971 scoring differential, or a class-best 71.75 ppg while allowing 40.46 ppg for a victory margin of 31.29. The Thorpes won the A title in 1989 (42-40 over Milbank) and 2009 (63-57 over Dell Rapids) while finishing second in 2004 and third in 2010. Pine Ridge has scored at least 65 points in 18 games and has held eight opponents to 34 points or less. Pine Ridge finished the regular season with six games over 85 points and three over 100. Directed by head coach Laura Big Crow (2nd season), Pine Ridge is led by Jolonna Sazue (17.4 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 5.4 apg, 6.2 spg), who has 25 points, nine rebounds and five steals in two games. However, freshman Shaylene Richard (5.4 ppg) has been the big spark for the Thorpes with 26 points (14, 12)  and four rebounds in two games. Santana White Dress (14.2 ppg, 8.2 rpg) has 21 points, 17 rebounds and three steals while sophomore Lynette Bettelyoun  (8.7 ppg) has 15 points and a team-high 19 rebounds. Pine Ridge, which had nine players score in the win

B-Final #1 Warner (24-1) vs.  #2 DeSmet (24-1),  Huron Arena

The Class B final involves the #1 vs. #2 seeds in any of the tournaments. In the matchup, both Warner and DeSmet will try to win a first-ever state championship. Both teams have had dominant runs in the postseason. Both teams are fairly young with few seniors and will be a factor in 2014. Something will have to give in this matchup of teams that like to play defense and rebound. Warner has a victory margin of 24.36 while DeSmet sits at 22.88. Defensively, the Monarchs allow just 29.84 points while DeSmet gives up about 32.24. Both teams averaged a little over 54 points per game. Maybe the first team to 50 wins this game. More like it, we will see a close game, decided in the fourth. Warner wins it, 45-39.

Warner Notes: The Monarchs are the favorite to capture the school’s first ever girl’s basketball title. The Monarchs, an athletic bunch, upset two-time defending champions and top-ranked Summit, 48-44 in the Region 1B final. Warner, which has a 269-184 scoring edge in postseason, had defeated every team besides Summit by double digit margins until Sully Buttes fell 47-38 in the semifinals. Warner won a first-round game with Timber Lake, 63-43. In two state tournament games, Warner has built huge first-half leads, including 36-22 vs. Timber Lake and 27-7 against Sully Buttes for an overall 63-29 edge. Warner, which doesn’t shoot many 3’s (5-12), utilizes its height (four starters over 6-0) and is hitting 40-of-62 from the floor for 64.5%.  In the state tournament, 6-2 junior Miranda Ristau (14.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg) is leading the way with 37 points, 15 rebounds, four blocks and five steals. She had 27 points, nine rebounds and three blocks in the opening round win over Timber Lake. Others with major contributions so far include senior Rachel Rogers (12.0 ppg, 9.0 rpg) with 27 points, 12 rebounds, three blocks and four steals; and standout sophomore Ashley Rozell (14.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 4.0 apg, 3.0 spg), with 32 points, four rebounds and eight assists. She has scored 17 and 15 points in the two games. Also junior Carly Rozell (5.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg) has provided 14 points, 15 rebounds, nine assists and six steals. Second year coach Stewart Bohle (42-4), who guided Warner to a 20-3 campaign a year ago, has a team that has built a 1,355-to-746 scoring differential, which breaks out to 54.2-to-29.84 ppg, or a per game victory margin of 24.36. Warner has compiled 22 double digit wins, including 18 by 20 points or more. The Monarchs have held 15 opponents to 31 points or less and 19 under 40 points. Warner’s only loss was to #1 Summit, 52-41, in Warner. The Monarchs are making their third appearance in the State B, the first since 1996. They were third in 1995.

DeSmet Notes: DeSmet, which has nine straight wins since a regular season loss to Clark-Willow Lake, are making the school’s first-ever appearance in the State B title game. The Bulldogs only other appearance was a third place finish at the 1994 tournament. DeSmet advanced to the title game with double digit wins vs. Parker (52-34) and Hanson (47-36). In fact, in all five postseason games, the Bulldogs own a 280-to-171 overall scoring edge and have yet to allow a team to score more than 44 points. That goes along with their defensive prowess all season, holding 10 opponents to under 30 points. DeSmet has a 1,378-to-806 scoring differential, or a 55.12-to-32.24ppg margin or a 22.88 per game victory total. DeSmet has won 19 games by double digits totals. Head Coach Doug Osthus, who is 61-28 at DeSmet, has a team that exhibits great balance on offense and tenacious defense. In the tournament, the Bulldogs have been led by sophomore Rylie Osthus (8.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg), who has scoring 29 points, grabbed 15 rebounds with a steal. She had 20 points and 10 rebounds in the opening round win over Parker. Senior forward Amanda Poppen (9.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg) has added 23 points, 10 rebounds and three steals, reaching double digits (10, 13) in both games. Junior Grayson Gruenhagen (8.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg) has added 17 points, six rebounds and three steals while junior Taylor Schoenfelder  (6.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 3.0 spg) has totaled 16 points, four rebounds and six assists in the two tourney games. Like Warner, DeSmet doesn’t shoot many 3’s (2-10) but instead do well inside the arch (34-of-74, 45.9%).  They have 56 rebounds and 14 steals, using a common thread of winning teams with defense and board work.