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605 Sports
White River girls looking to reload following championship season
Maleighya Estes returns following a spectacular junior season
South Dakota Public Broadcasting

White River girls looking to reload following championship season

Dec 2, 2021
  

This is one of a continuing series of featuring teams participating in the 2021 Lakota Nation Invitational

By Rich Winter

The 2020/2021 season was one to remember for the White River girls. 

Jared Bouman, in his first year as head coach, led the Tigers to a 25-1 record and the Class B state championship. The Tigers have three starters to replace: Caelyn Valandra-Prue (USD), Remedy Morrison (Mount Marty) and Nicole Yackley. 

 “The Lady Tigers are looking forward to competing this season,” Bouman said. “Our schedule will be challenging as we will compete in the Lakota Nation Invitational and several classics.”

 Bouman lists seniors Maleighya Estes, Kelsey Morrison and Karlie Cameron, along with juniors Lilly Krogman and Tana Bear Heels among his key returners. 

 Estes returns following a Class B second-team all-state season in which she averaged 20.6 points, six rebounds and two assists while shooting 50 percent from the field. 


 Morrison started last year with Cameron coming off the bench. The Tigers do have some height with juniors Krogman and Bear Heels both listed at 5-foot-10.

Jared Bouman returns for his second season as White River girls coach

 Bouman lists his key newcomers as: 

Chaela O’Leary, sophomore forward, Laquita Baldock-Bottger, junior forward, Riley Lunderman, sophomore guard, Rhea Tucker, sophomore guard and Maleena Brave, freshman guard. 

 While the Tigers have owned Region 7B and the Western Great Plains Conference for the last three years, Bouman said he expects the conference race to be much tighter this year. 

 “The Western Great Plains Conference will be competitively balanced this year and it should make for some great games within the conference schedule,” he said. 

 Ten days into practice, Bouman said the senior leadership has been great to start the year. White River opens their season Dec. 9 at home against Class A Belle Fourche. 

 White River opens the 2021 Lakota Nation Invitation with a rivalry game against St. Francis on Wednesday, Dec. 15. The Tigers earned the No. 4 overall seed at Lakota Nation and play Crow Creek on Thursday when bracket play begins.