Argus Leader First/Second Five: Meet South Dakota's best girls high school basketball players
More than 40 years ago, a tradition was born to honor the top high school basketball players in South Dakota, regardless of class: the Argus Leader First and Second Five.
Here are the 2023-24 First and Second Five teams for girls basketball, which celebrate those athletes who made individual impacts and lifted their teams to new heights.
Read more about the Argus Leader Player of the Year, O'Gorman’s Mahli Abdouch, here.
Mahli Abdouch
O'Gorman | 5-8 | Sr. | G
After a disappointing fifth-place finish in her junior season, Mahli Abdouch and the entirety of the O'Gorman girls basketball team entered the 2023-24 season with added motivation.
"It certainly provided an edge to us in the offseason and a necessary motivator to drive us or keep pushing us along," O'Gorman girls basketball coach Kent Kolsrud said.
The Knights and Abdouch responded with a perfect season, steamrolling their competition en route to a 24-0 record and a state championship. The South Dakota State commit was at the heart of everything O'Gorman did on both ends. On offense she was their primary playmaker and go-to scorer; on defense, her speed and IQ were a significant part of the Knights' chaotic press.
Abdouch averaged 16.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game.
"We as a coaching staff are very fortunate and blessed to have had the opportunity to coach somebody of her ability for four years," Kolsrud said.
Emilee Fox
Mount-Vernon Plankinton | 5-8 | Sr. | G
Emilee Fox may not have been driven by stats and accolades, but she's sure accumulated a lot of them in her six-year high school basketball career.
Without a doubt the most decorated Titan of all-time, Fox ends her career as Mount-Vernon Plankton's leader in points (2,261), rebounds (752), assists,(543) and 3-pointers made (404). She made 131 3s this season, which was an All-Class record. She was a five-time All-State recipient after starting her varsity career in seventh grade.
This year Fox averaged 21.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game, and she led the Titans to the Class A state tournament for the second time in her career.
"Emilee is a competitor and has always been driven by team success," Mount Vernon girls basketball coach Preston Kristensen said. "She is a great teammate and made other players around her better every year she stepped onto the court. She’s cemented her legacy as a Titan and has inspired the next generation of basketball players in our communities."
Ava Lingemann
Ethan | 5-6 | Sr. | G
During Ethan’s 22-3 run to the girls state basketball third-place game, Lingemann was an offensive dynamo for the Rustlers. She shot 46% from 3-point range – Lingemann even scored 12 3s vs Tripp Delmont/Armour on Feb. 15 in the Corn Palace – and averaged 19 points and 7.4 assists per game – helping the Rustlers to a third-place finish in the Class B state tournament. Lingemann ends her high school career with 1,811 points, 347 3s, and 445 assists.
“Ava has had an incredible basketball career at Ethan High School playing a vital role in 5 varsity seasons including 5 State Tournament appearances,” Ethan girls basketball coach Tom Young said. “She has amassed some amazing statistics, awards, and accolades but most importantly she is a very humble, kind, thoughtful person who has developed into a leader on and off the court. As a result, she has had great impact with her teammates, with the younger students, her coaches, and the whole community of Ethan.”
Claire Sheppard
Flandreau | 6-2 | Sr. | G
The South Dakota State women’s basketball commit propelled Flandreau to a 25-1 record and a consolation championship in 2023-24. The Fliers' lone loss of the season came in the first round of the state championship tournament against her future SDSU teammate Katie Vasecka and the Tea Area Titans.
Sheppard was Flandreau’s do-everything player throughout her career. She averaged 14 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5 assists in her senior season. Sheppard ends her career as Flandreau’s all-time leading scorer with 1,666 points, second in career assists with 302, and fourth in rebounding with 732.
“Claire's passion for the game is unmatched. The number of hours she has committed to the sport goes far beyond the typical high school student,” Flandreau girls basketball coach Megan Severtson said. “She has been one of the leaders for Flandreau Girls Basketball since her freshman year, and her decorated career will always be remembered alongside the historic seasons of her team. She made the players around her better, and moving her to the point guard position this year allowed her to create for others - which is her favorite part of the game.”
Katie Vasecka
Tea | 6-1 | Sr. | G
It's safe to say few expected this deep a run in their first state title appearance, but Katie Vasecka and the six-seeded Tea Area Titans nearly won the Class A state championship. They upset three-seeded Flandreau and Sioux Falls Christian to match up with Vermillion for the state title.
The South Dakota State commit posted absurd two-way numbers throughout her senior season, averaging 21.6 points, 9.19 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.8 steals, and 1.8 blocks per game. Vasecka totaled 1,886 points in her high school career.
"Katie has an internal drive to be great and that’s what makes her special," Tea girls basketball coach Adam Schorzmann said. "She’s been amazing to have in our program and the younger girls look up to her. The program will go on but Katie will leave big shoes to fill."
SECOND FIVE
Abby Aslesen
Howard | 6-0 | Sr. | F-G
The Tiger’s leading player was a true two-way difference maker and one of only a few in the state to average a double-double on a team that nearly made it to the SoDak 16.
Aslesen averaged 20.5 points, 12.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.8 blocks per game. She will go down as one of Howard’s most decorated players thanks to former coaches Dan Peed, Harvis Cofield, LaJohn Moon, Charlie Silva, Angie Kristensen, Nicole Pankonen, Tucker Tornberg, and Lillie Brown, who spent hours on hours working with her to perfect her craft. Aslesen ranks first in program history in blocked shots, second in points in a single season, third in all-time points, and fourth in rebounds.
"Abby is one of those players who showed tremendous growth and maturity over her high school career. She is a great example of a young player who did not garner a lot of attention when she was in junior high as she was growing in her development physically, in gameplay, basketball IQ, (but) she stayed hungry and spent massive amounts of time in the gym ... and became a force to deal with,” Howard girls basketball coach Travis Aslesen said. “She is proof that if you want something bad enough, are willing to do the work it takes to earn it, and you don't pay attention to the negativity - good things will happen.”
Paige Kjerstand
Wall | 5-11 | Sr. | G-F
Kjerstad has been an instrumental piece to the Wall girls' basketball program over the past four years.
The senior guard/forward helped lead the Eagles to eighth place in the 2022 state tournament, second place in 2023 and fifth place this year.
Kjerstad averaged 15.4 points, 10 rebounds, 2.7 steals and 1.7. assists a game this season.
"Paige is very hard working and extremely humble. She is extremely hard to fluster and get into her head," Wall girls basketball coach John Hess said. "She focuses on what is in her control and leaves it all on the court. She is one of the most positive players on the team and younger players look up to her."
Krista Langager
Sisseton | 6-2 | Jr. | C
Langager was a force in the paint for Sisseton, the number one seed in the Class A state tournament.
The 6-foot-2 junior center's confidence skyrocketed in her junior season and for good reason. She shot nearly 70% from the field and averaged 20.4 points and nine rebounds per game. Langager is a tremendous athlete but that's not what stands out most about her.
"I don't know how you can have that much fun yet still stay focused and competitive," Sisseton girls basketball coach Sara Lincoln said. "She pumps her teammates up, keeps basketball how it is meant to be played ... We are excited to see how much she grows next season."
The Redmen fell in the semifinals against Vermillion but ended the tournament with a third-place finish.
Taaliyah Porter
Rapid City Stevens | 5-8 | Jr. | G
There is no doubt that Porter is a gifted scorer. She led all of Class AA in scoring, averaging 19.8 points per game, and the scary thing is, as a junior, we still haven't seen the best from her. The junior guard already ranks fourth in school history in scoring with 1,137 points and has a shot at catching Becky Hammon's total next season to become the Raiders' all-time leading scorer.
Porter started and helped lead Rapid City Stevens to a runner-up finish in 2022. Her scoring – plus her 6.1 rebounds per game – is a large part of why Rapid City Stevens shouldn't be overlooked next year.
“Taaliyah's dedication to improving herself each year along with her family's support has made her into the basketball player that she is today,” Rapid City Stevens girls basketball coach Adam Dannnenbring said. “She comes to the gym to put the work in and it is paying off in her high school success.”
Skyler Volmer
Lyman | 5-9 | Sr. | G
The North Dakota women’s basketball signee helped Lyman to a 21-4 record and a fourth-place finish in the state tournament. The Raiders' tremendous season came to a screeching halt in the semifinals against Centerville, the eventual state champions. Then Lyman was defeated by Ethan in the third-place game.
But Volmer showcased her versatility all season, averaging 16.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 4.2 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game in her senior season.
“Skyler has been a pleasure to coach over the last two seasons,” Lyman girls basketball coach Cody Volmer said. “Her continued development has been fun to watch. She will be missed both off and on the floor as a leader in the classroom as well as on the court.”
Jonathan Fernandez covers high school and college sports for the Argus Leader. Contact him at jfernandez1@argusleader.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JFERN31
This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: First 5: Meet the best South Dakota high school girls basketball stars
