Digital Z South Dakota POY:
Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda, Washington
An elite national prospect, Ndjakalenga finished her career at Washington on a high-note. The 34th rated player in the nation (ESPN), Mwenentanda lead the Warriors this season with 18.7 ppg and 8.3 rpg. She also helped lead the Warriors to a #1 ranking coming into the playoffs, and performed well in the state tournament, scoring 51 points to go with 28 total rebounds in just three games.
Mwenentanda is regarded as one of the top players to ever play in the 605, and will be taking her talents to Texas next season.
Brandon Valley (18-6)
The Lynx started the season as good or better than any other team in the state, going 12-1 through the first two months of the season. Brandon Valley had a tough 3-game losing streak in early February, but battled back to finish with 6 straight ways before the state semifinals.
Hilary Behrens was one of the top scorers in the state, averaging 16.3 ppg. Kylie Foss was just as dominate at all levels of the game, averaging 9.3/6.0/3.6 in her final campaign.
The Lynx lose Foss, Sydney Thue (7.2 ppg, 4.7 rpg) and Tessa Bowar (6.8 ppg), among others, so look for Behrens to have an even bigger role in the offense next season.
PTS: Hilary Behrens 16.3 | REB: Kylie Foss 6.0 | AST: Kylie Foss 3.6
Harrisburg (10-14)
Senior Emilee Boyer had a great final season for the Tigers averaging 14.0 ppg, and 10.0 rpg to go along with 24 blocks. That is frankly just a ridiculous stat line. She was joined by junior guard Jaylee Hofer (9.3 ppg), who will look to replace many of the shots Boyer took this season.
Hannah Eide (7.6 ppg) and reserve Abby Flanagan (6.0 ppg) will also step into bigger roles for Harrisburg this next season, as young this 2022 team, will now have veteran varsity experience.
PTS: Emilee Boyer 14.0 | REB: Emilee Boyer 10.0 | AST: Jaylee Hofe, Emilee Boyer 2.0
Mitchell (9-12)
Sophomore Sawyer Stoebner had one of the top lines in the state (15.5/9.5/3.5), and looks to be a major threat to opposing game plans for the next 2 years. After her, senior Sarah Sebert was second on the scoring with 8.8 ppg, while fellow graduate Kaitlyn Christensen pulled down 5.7 rpg.
Mitchell had some underclassmen get solid varsity minutes this season, and will look for Stoebner to lead the young squad in the future.
PTS: Sawyer Stoebner 15.5 | REB: Sawyer Stoebner 9.5 | AST: Sawyer Stoebner 3.5
Pierre (10-11)
Another program with a ton of upside, Pierre narrowly missed out on the state tournament this season. Junior Remington Price lead the team in scoring, averaging 12.5 ppg, while classmate Ayvrie Kaiser scored 9.4 ppg.
Reese Terwillnger matcher Kaiser, finishing with a great statline of 9.4/6.8/1.5, while both Lennix Dupris (3.1) and Ryann Barry (3.0) averaged over 3 assists a game this season.
Nearly all of the Govs’ production is returning next season, and we could see some really good seasons in the capital city for the foreseeable future.
PTS: Remington Price 12.5 | REB: Reese Terwilliger 6.8 | AST: Lennix Dupris 3.1
Stevens (19-5)
The Raiders had a season to remember, with 2 huge wins in the playoffs over rival RC Central and newcomer Jefferson. That run wouldn’t have happened without Jayda McNabb, who absolutely dominated this season. The senior guard nearly averaged a double-double, scoring 11.5 ppg and grabbing 7.7 rpg.
Freshman Taaliyah Porter showed the future is bright for this program, averaging 9.8 ppg in her rookie campaign. Bailee Sobczak (8.7 ppg, 8.2 rpg) was also a key piece for Stevens, but played in just 13 games.
The Raiders are going to lose another big rebounder in Jaden Matkins (5.9 rpg) to graduation, so look for players like Porter to step into a bigger role.
PTS: Jayda McNabb 11.5 | REB: Bailee Sobczak 8.2 | AST: Jayda McNabb 4.6
Jefferson (13-11)
No team may have made a bigger impact to their culture at the state tournament than the Cavaliers. Jefferson came into the first round game with no fear, and their defensive ability shutdown the Warriors. What impressed me the most was that they never wavered in the big moments, and that toughness is going to resonate within their program for years to come.
Cierra Watkins lead the new program with 12.5 ppg, and grabbed a team-leading 58 steals. Teammate Taliyah Haynes also average double figure points (10.9) and Jaidyn Dunn nearly had double figure rebounds, averaging 9.2 per game. Dunn also blocked a ridiculous 59 shots, and scored 7.6 ppg.
A team with just two seniors in Taliyah Hayers and Morgan Whiting, the Cavaliers are going to return some of the best talent in the state.
PTS: Cierra Watkins 12.5 | REB: Jaidyn Dunn 9.2 | AST: Taliyah Haynes 1.5
Lincoln (10-14)
Mariah Siem put up an impressive junior season, scoring 12.3 ppg to go along with a team-leading 4.6 rpg. She also dished out 62 assists, while teammate Addie Fawcett connected on 76 assists. Fawcett finished with 5.3 ppg and 4.4 rpg.
The Patriots return a lot of talent, but lose Adyson Sand (6.8 ppg) and Alaina Sorensen (6.5 ppg) to graduation. Lincoln finished 8th this year at the tournament, but with the experience returning, they have a chance to make a bigger run next season.
PTS: Mariah Siem 12.3 | REB: Mariah Siem 4.6 | AST: Addie Fawcett 3.2
O’Gorman (21-3)
It felt as though O’Gorman seemed like they were near the top, but never quite the top team in the state throughout the season. The Knights, however, put any doubt to rest in the state tournament, cruising past Lincoln, avenging an opening night loss to Brandon Valley, and performed excellently in the state championship versus Stevens.
Colorado State commit Hannah Ronsiek was dominate, averaging 18.0/5.5/2.3, and securing her status as one of the top players in the state. Teammate Mahli Abdouch also scored 13.1 ppg to go along with 5.4 rpg and earned All-State honors from the Coaches Association.
The Knights lose Ronsiek and Hannah Friedman to graduation, but will still be a threat to repeat next season.
PTS: Hannah Ronsiek 18.0 | REB: Hannah Ronsiek 5.5 | AST: Hannah Ronsiek 2.3
Washington (22-2)
Besides having literally one of the best players (Mwenentanda) in the Midwest, the Warriors had a ton of talent this season. Alexus Motley averaged 8.8 ppg, while Taylor Thompson finished with 6.3 ppg.
The Warriors were rebounding machines as Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda (8.3 pg), Brooklyn Harpe (6.1 pg), and Thompson (5.7 pg) all grabbed over 100 boards this season.
Washington is going to lose a lot of production in Mwenentanda (18.7 ppg), but Thompson, the Harpe’s, and Motley will all return for one final attempt at a state championship.
PTS: Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda 18.7 | REB: Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda 8.3 | AST: Hannah Harpe 2.9
Spearfish (8-13)
This may have very well been a rebuilding year for Spearfish, who will return a ton of varsity playing time for next season. This includes players like sophomore Brylee Grubb, who lead the team in rebounds at 4.9 ppg.
Junior Tayler Duncan finished with 30 assists, while freshmen duo Mya Kochuten (8.6 ppg) and Jozie Dana (7.8 ppg) look to be leaders in the scoring column for the foreseeable future.
Gone to graduation, however, will be points leader Stella Marcus. Also gone will be Hannah Schoon and KyleeJo Symonds, but the trio have helped set this program on the upclimb.
PTS: Stella Marcus 11.0 | REB: Brylee Grubb 4.9 | AST: Tayler Duncan 1.5
