2023 Class B Girls Basketball Tournament Capsules 

Wolsey-Wessington 

Record: 21-2 

Coach: Josh McGillvrey

Key players: Mallory Miller (17.5 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 2.2 bpg), Leah Williams (16.5 ppg), Mya Boomsma (13.3 ppg, 4.2 rpg).

Notes: No. 1 Wolsey-Wessington will play No. 8 Jones County at noon in the first round. … Wolsey-Wessington is making its first state tournament appearance as a co-op. Wessington’s lone appearance was in 1976, while Wolsey’s only trip was in 1977 when it won the state title. … Mallory Miller, a 6-foot-4 all-state center, has committed to play college basketball at Division I Arizona State. 

Jones County

Record: 18-4

Coach: Scott Matthews

Key players: Mallory Valburg (19.2 ppg, 11.6 rpg, 3.2 spg), Jadyn Jensen (17.4 ppg, 6.4 rpg), Jolie Dugan (4.2 ppg, 5.8 rpg)

Notes: No. 8 Jones County will play No. 1 Wolsey-Wessington at noon in the first round. … Seniors Jadyn Jensen, Mallory Valburg and Jolie Dugan all have GPAs that are above 3.8 and ranked No. 1 - No. 3 in their class. Four of the five Jones County seniors will compete in college sports. Jadyn Jensen will be attending Mount Marty to play basketball. Mallory Valburg will play volleyball at Dakota Wesleyan and Emma Hunt and Jolie Dugan will run collegiately at Northern State University. … Jones County’s first appearance since 2015. … Jones County is on a four-game winning streak. 

Sully Buttes

Record: 20-3

Coach: Susie Rilling

Key players: Lydia Hill (16.1 ppg, 9.8 rpg), Stevie Wittler (14.6 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 3.4 apg), Allyson Wittler (7.9 ppg, 4.2 rpg)

Notes: No. 4 Sully Buttes will play No. 5 Wall at 1:45 p.m. in the first round. … This is Sully Buttes’ first appearance since 2018 and its 14th trip since 2004. … The Chargers are wearing “OBC” bands on their jerseys in honor of former coach Mark Senftner, who passed away in Oct. 2022 after being diagnosed with a brain tumor in Dec. 20. … Sully Buttes is riding a five-game winning streak and its last defeat came against No. 1 seed Wolsey-Wessington (87-81) on Feb. 13. … Stevie Wittler scored her 1,000th career point earlier this season. 

Wall 

Record: 18-5

Coach: John Hess

Key players: Paige Kjerstad (17.9 ppg, 12.3 rpg, 2.3 apg), Nora Dinger (13.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg), Rhea Tucker (10.9 ppg, 7.6 rpg 2.9 spg)

Notes: No. 5 Wall will play No. 4 Sully Buttes at 1:45 p.m. in the first round. … Wall is making its second consecutive state tourney appearance. … The Eagles are currently on a 10-game winning streak and their last defeat came against Class A Custer, 82-77.

Ethan 

Record: 20-2

Coach: Tom Young

Key players: Ava Lingemann (19.6 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 1.8 spg), Marissa Storm (12 ppg), Madeline Bartscher (9.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg).

Notes: No. 2 Ethan plays No. 7 Castlewood at 6:00 p.m. in the first round. … Ethan has qualified for eight state tournaments since 2015. … The Rustlers are on a 15-game winning streak and their two losses were against Class A teams Hanson (75-65) and Wagner (59-36). … Ethan outlasted Corsica-Stickney, 34-31, in its SoDak 16 contest. 

Castlewood

Record: 16-7

Coach: Tyler Snaza

Key players: Mackenzie Everson (16 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 4 apg), Madeline Horn (15.6 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 3 apg), Presley Knecht (8.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg)

Notes: No. 7 Castlewood plays No. 2 Ethan at 6:00 p.m. in the first round. … Castlewood is making its fourth appearance since 2018. The Warriors won the 2018 state championship and finished as runner-ups in 2021. … Castlewood is riding a four-game winning streak. 

Viborg-Hurley 

Record: 20-3

Coach: Molly Mason 

Key players: Coral Mason (18.1 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 3.4 apg, 3.4 spg), Denae Mach (16.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.5 apg), Estelle Lee (8.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg)

Notes: No. 3 Viborg-Hurley will play No. 6 Howard at 7:45 p.m. in the first round. … Last season, Viborg-Hurley became the first No. 8 seed to win the Class B state championship since Baltic in 2001. … Viborg-Hurley defeated Howard, 50-33, on Feb. 16. … Mason and Mach are both 1,000-point scorers. … Viborg-Hurley is on a five-game winning streak and is unbeaten against South Dakota Class B opponents this season. The Cougars lost to Campbell County, Wyoming (56-55), along with Class A teams Wagner (63-41) and Hamlin (63-46). … Viborg-Hurley is making its third consecutive state tournament appearance. 

Howard 

Record: 19-4

Coach: Wade Erickson

Key players: Abby Aslesen (16 ppg, 9.8 rpg), Kate Connor (14.9 ppg, 6.9 apg), Trinity Palmquist (5.4 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 3.7 apg)

Notes: No. 6 Howard plays No. 3 Viborg-Hurley at 7:45 p.m. in the first round. … Howard lost to Viborg-Hurley, 50-33, on Feb. 16. … Palmquist is Howard’s all-time career assists leader. … Howard last qualified for state in 2020 when the tourney was canceled due to COVID-19.