Full Court Press: A look at some high school basketball teams to watch for 2024

Dec. 21—MITCHELL — For the inaugural Full Court Press of the 2023-24 season, the Mitchell Republic sports staff took a shot at identifying some sleeper teams that could make their mark come postseason time.

For this exercise, five girls teams and five boys teams were chosen. To qualify for the list, the program could not have made a state tournament or have been a top-eight seed in the SoDak 16 round of the postseason in 2022-23.

Here's our analysis of teams poised to take the next step this season.

(Note: The following list was split into girls and boys and then put in alphabetical order. All season records referenced are as of Dec. 20.)

Avon

Last year's record: 10-11

Postseason performance: Lost to eventual SoDak 16 qualifier Corsica-Stickney in the Region 5B quarterfinals

Outlook for 2023-24: With seven upperclassmen, Avon is anchored by the upperclassmen leadership of Courtney Sees, McKenna Kocmich and Lila Vanderlei along with emerging playmakers such as Rilyn Thury. Despite an up-and-down 2022-23 season, the Pirates have received votes in all three editions of the media polls to date, including 10 votes to start the season and own a 3-2 record to date.

Centerville

Last year's record: 17-6

Postseason performance: No. 9 seed in Class B SoDak 16, lost to eventual state sixth-place finisher Jones County

Outlook for 2023-24: Centerville has been knocking on the doorstep of a state tournament berth for a while now, and with a veteran core that includes Lillie Eide, MaKayla Heesch and Thea Gust, among others, this could well be the year the Tornadoes break through. Already 5-0 on the young season and ranked No. 2 in Class B, expectations are as high as at any point in the Tornadoes' recent rise, as Centerville is well on its way to being in the mix again this season.

Lyman

Last year's record: 14-8

Postseason performance: No. 14 seed in Class B SoDak 16, lost to eventual repeat state champion Viborg-Hurley

Outlook for 2023-24: There's a reason Lyman, which wasn't a Class B state tournament team last season, started the season at No. 3 in the South Dakota Prep Media poll and climbed to No. 2 before playing their first game this season. The Raiders return one of the more formidable duos in the state in senior guard Skyler Volmer, a University of North Dakota commit, and sophomore forward Mak Scott. Surrounding Volmer and Scott is a veteran group with four additional seniors and two juniors, a much different roster makeup compared to the past two seasons, which had just one senior each year.

Mount Vernon/Plankinton

Last year's record: 14-8

Postseason performance: Lost to eventual state runner-up Wagner in Region 5A semifinals

Outlook for 2023-24: Region 5A is always a crucible that creates more than its fair share of state tournament-caliber squads and this season should be no exception. Headlined by the guard trio of South Dakota State commit Emilee Fox, Dakota State commit Kyia Schmidt and junior Reagan Rus, who has offers from a number of area NAIA programs, the Titans can't be counted out as a contender. MVP isn't yet receiving votes in the media poll but is out to a 3-0 start, having beaten three other Class A teams by a combined margin of 103 points.

Tea Area

Last year's record: 13-10

Postseason performance: No. 15 seed in Class A SoDak 16, lost to eventual state runner-up Wagner

Outlook for 2023-24: With South Dakota State commit Katie Vasecka, one of the most talented scorers in the state, leading the way, Tea Area's roster features seven upperclassmen, the Titans are set up to make a run at the program's first-ever state tournament berth. This season, the Titans are out to a 4-0 start with an average margin of victory of 33 points per game and are ranked No. 3 in the Class A media poll.

Canistota

Last year's record: 11-10

Postseason performance: Lost to Dell Rapids St. Mary in the Region 3B quarterfinals

Outlook for 2023-24: Canistota figures to be one of several teams vying for the coveted SoDak 16 berths out of Region 3B. The Hawks are led by the return of third-team all-state guard Tage Ortman, a Dakota State basketball commit, and with Brandon Kjetland manning the middle in the frontcourt, Canistota has the size to match up with anyone in Class B. So far, the Hawks are out to a 3-0 start (game on Dec. 21)

Dell Rapids St. Mary

Last year's record: 15-6

Postseason performance: Lost to eventual state tournament qualifier Ethan in the Region 3B semifinals

Outlook for 2023-24: Dell Rapids St. Mary got the attention of the South Dakota basketball community with a 60-56 victory over three-time defending champion and No. 1-ranked De Smet, becoming the first Class B program to defeat the Bulldogs in nearly four years — since Feb. 15, 2020 — snapping De Smet's streak of 62 straight wins against Class B programs. With talents such as Trevon Beckman, Maverick LeBrun, and Nic Gaspar leading the way, the Cardinals should be back in state tournament contention.

Gregory

Last year's record: 16-7

Postseason performance: No. 10 seed in Class B SoDak 16, lost to eventual state eighth-place finisher Ethan

Outlook for 2023-24: Without a senior on the roster last season, Gregory brings back its entire roster for another go-around this season. Featuring lone senior Daniel Mitchell, a three-time all-state pick and one of the most difficult assignments in Class B at 6-foot-7, alongside a bevvy of talented juniors — there are seven on the roster — the Gorillas have plenty of experience to lean on. Gregory started the season receiving votes in the media poll and owns a record of 3-1, the lone defeat coming to an out-of-state opponent from Nebraska.

Lennox

Last year's record: 17-4

Postseason performance: Lost to Vermillion in the Region 4A quarterfinals

Outlook for 2023-24: Though Lennox graduated four from last season's squad, the Orioles boast a six-man senior class, headlined by University of South Dakota commit Porter Ihnen. Lennox's roster, which features excellent size with nine of 15 players listed at 6-foot-3 or taller, was also bolstered by the addition of junior Boston Katzer, formerly of McCook Central/Montrose. Nothing comes easy in what is typically a loaded Region 4A, and the Orioles are out to a 2-2 start, but Lennox, which was a preseason top-five-ranked team in Class A, should be in the conversation come late February.

Pine Ridge

Last year's record: 18-4

Postseason performance: No. 10 seed in Class A SoDak 16, lost to eventual state eighth-place finisher Mount Vernon/Plankinton

Outlook for 2023-24: No matter the team or opposition, getting four wins in four days is difficult, which underscores the impressive nature of Pine Ridge's triumph at the Lakota Nation Invitational. Sophomore Marvin Richard lll was the breakout star of the LNI for the Thorpes, pouring in 29 points in the title game victory over defending champ Rapid City Christian. Pine Ridge largely bullied its way through Region 8A last season and should be expected to be back in a similar position to make a push for the Class A state tournament for the first time since taking third place in 2019.

Abby Aslesen, Howard, sr., 6-0, F/G

Coming off a second-team Class B all-state honor last season, Howard standout Abby Aslesen has wasted no time in raising her level of play to start the new campaign.

Howard has been one of the busiest teams in the state to date, playing seven games prior to the holiday break, and Aslesen is a huge reason why the Tigers are out to a 4-3 start.

Aslesen recorded a double-double in each of Howard's first six games, averaging 21 points and 14 rebounds per game during that span. She has season-highs of 26 points (Dec. 18) and 20 rebounds (Dec. 15). On Dec. 12 against Chester, Aslesen finished with 25 points, 11 rebounds and seven blocked shots, and on Dec. 18 against Freeman she put up 26 points and 17 rebounds.

For this edition, we went a little further and identified one girls and one boys game from several holiday basketball classics to keep an eye on.

Huron Holiday Classic

Girls: Howard vs. Faulkton Area, 6:30 p.m. Dec. 29 — Both with four wins to their credit, including an unbeaten mark for Faulkton Area, this primetime showdown is an opportunity for an early seed-point-boosting win for both squads.

Boys: Wessington Springs vs. Jones County, 6:30 p.m. Dec. 30 — Currently with one loss apiece, both programs look to carry quick starts into January in an intriguing cross-region clash between two sides likely to challenge for SoDak 16 bids down the line.

Hoop City Classic

Girls: Mitchell vs. Thunder Basin (Wyo.), 3:30 p.m. Dec. 29 — Off to a hot start, the Kernels take their annual crack at Thunder Basin, out of Gillette, which is the reigning Wyoming Class 4A state runner-up. The Bolts have bested Mitchell in all three meetings to date, though twice by single digits. Of note, the Ethan girls basketball team also takes their shot at Thunder Basin, as the Rustlers and Bolts square off at 11 a.m. Dec. 28.

Boys: Mitchell vs. DeLaSalle (Minn.), 8 p.m. Dec. 30 — For the first time since 2019, the No. 2-ranked Kernels will play an out-of-state team that's not from Wyoming, as the DeLaSalle Islanders come to the Corn Palace. DeLaSalle is 16-7 all-time in the event, owning wins over Mitchell in 2010, 2014 and 2016. Prior to the Kernels' clash with the Islanders, the slate also features Class A No. 1 Sioux Falls Christian against DeLaSalle (Minn.) at 2 p.m. Dec. 29.

Entringer Classic

Boys: Dell Rapids St. Mary vs. Sioux Valley, 6 p.m. Dec. 30 — As highlighted above, Dell Rapids St. Mary has already knocked off one traditional power from the Highway 14 corridor, and they'll look to take it up a notch playing Class A No. 4 Sioux Valley in what's essentially a home game for the Cossacks.

(Note: The girls edition of the Entringer Classic took place Dec. 16.)