- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 391,436
- Reaction score
- 43
Mar. 28—FORESTBURG, S.D. — En route to Sanborn Central/Woonsocket's appearance in the Class B state girls basketball championship game, Liz Boschee made her presence felt in the Blackhawks' starting lineup.
It netted her several accolades at season's end.
Boschee, a junior, was named the Class B girls player of the year to headline the all-state first-team squad after leading the Blackhawks to a 22-3 record and a second-place finish at the state tournament, as voted on by the South Dakota Basketball Coaches Association. She was also named to the all-tournament team.
The achievements come following a quiet season a year ago when SCW was in Class A, all part of an effort to make herself known to potential colleges while keeping the team's goals a priority on the court.
"I like the recognition," Boschee said. "I played summer basketball, and it really showed me that I need to play like this. I need to be better and put myself out there so that other people can see what motivated me."
Boschee led the team in scoring at 20.3 points per game while shooting 47% from the field, also averaging 5.7 rebounds, 3.5 steals and 1.9 assists per game. At the state tournament, she turned in a 23-point, 11-rebound double-double in SCW's quarterfinal victory over Lyman.
Part of her own motivation to perform at a high level came from senior teammates and James Valley Christian transfers Alexa Goertz and Kaylie Robinson, having brought valuable experience and strong leadership from previous state tournaments, helping Boschee step up into a similar role on the floor while feeling more relaxed in games.
"It really boosted her knowing that she wasn't gonna have to shoulder all of the scoring," Blackhawks head coach Rob Baruth said. "(Liz) had some great players coming in to surround her with and build around them, and that really helped her feel more comfortable on the floor knowing that they were there too."
The Blackhawks knew there was the potential to make a strong run towards the state tournament back at the beginning of summer camp. As the team worked on building chemistry while going through tough early-season stretches, Boschee began adding a variety of shots to her repertoire once teams began throwing double teams her way in the post.
"After a while, the defender will learn your moves, and I was like, 'I'm just going work on my outside range so then they'll have to come out,'" Boschee said. "You can go a long way from learning new things and putting it all together. It just helps your game out a lot more."
While SCW came up one game short of winning the Class B state championship, Boschee noted how hard work, the ability to adapt and coming together as one unit can influence the direction of the team, leading to favorable results. Having laid out a path to make it to the title game, the goal next season will be to follow it again.
"Your goals can be reached by working together and getting there," Baruth said. "Our girls that will be returning and our younger girls are like, 'Hey, I want to do this again.' They have a roadmap and an idea of what it's going to take to do that."
Joining Boschee on the Class B all-state first team were Lyman junior Mak Scott, Centerville seniors Althea Gust and Emma Marshall, Dell Rapids St. Mary senior Madala Hanson and Arlington junior Jaelyn Huntimer.
Scott, a 2024 all-state second-team player and one of six repeat all-state selections from last season, finished as the runner-up for Class B player of the year averaging 18.7 points, seven rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. An Augustana University commit, Scott garnered all-tournament recognition for averaging a double-double in Lyman's three games, as the Raiders finished in sixth place.
Gust, the Class B Spirit of Su award recipient, was the lone first-team repeat selection from a season ago, having helped Centerville to start the year 24-0 and finish in third place at the state tournament. Committed to South Dakota State University, Gust averaged 12.2 points, four assists and 3.5 rebounds per game.
Marshall, Gust's teammate on the Tornadoes, averaged 15.8 points and eight rebounds per game. A 2024 all-state second team pick, Marshall is committed to Dakota State University for basketball and track and field.
Fellow DSU commit Hanson tallied 17.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 68 total steals for the Cardinals, who finished in fourth place at the Class B state tournament. Huntimer, who was selected to the Class B third-team a year ago, averaged 23.6 points, six rebounds and three assists while guiding Arlington to a Region 2B semifinal appearance.
Parkston sophomore Berkley Ziebart highlights Class B all-state second-team selections. The Trojans' leader in scoring, Ziebart finished the season averaging 15.8 points and 3.4 rebounds while collecting 68 total steals and helping Parkston to a fifth-place finish in its first state tournament appearance since 2012.
"She knows how to be physical, and she knows how to get her shots," Parkston head coach Cole Knippling said. "I think she's good enough to score on all three levels. She can get to the rim, she can shoot the three and when she gets hot, she can really get going."
Centerville freshman Izzie Eide, Colman-Egan junior Brynlee Landis, Bennett County freshman Reagan O'Neill and eighth-grader Peyson O'Neill, and De Smet junior Hazel Luethmers join Ziebart on the second team.
Ethan junior Marissa Storm was named to the Class B all-state third team. Averaging 14.9 points, 4.5 assists and 2.5 rebounds on a balanced roster, Storm was part of the Rustlers' run to the top seed in the Region 4B tournament and their presence in the Class B prep media polls throughout the season.
"She plays hard offensively and defensively, and that's what she leads by," Ethan head coach Tom Young said. "She did amazingly well, and I'm happy with the way she played and the way she blends in with what we try to do."
Harding County senior Bailey Verhulst, Wilmot sophomore Addison Heinje, Kadoka Area senior Bella Williamson, Chester sophomore Jacy Wolf and Sully Buttes senior Payge Bakker were also named to the third team alongside Storm.
Corsica-Stickney sophomore Braylee Bordewyk, Ethan senior Ella Pollreisz, Freeman sophomore Rylee Peters and Sanborn Central/Woonsocket senior Alexa Goertz garnered all-state honorable mention recognition.
Continue reading...
It netted her several accolades at season's end.
Boschee, a junior, was named the Class B girls player of the year to headline the all-state first-team squad after leading the Blackhawks to a 22-3 record and a second-place finish at the state tournament, as voted on by the South Dakota Basketball Coaches Association. She was also named to the all-tournament team.
The achievements come following a quiet season a year ago when SCW was in Class A, all part of an effort to make herself known to potential colleges while keeping the team's goals a priority on the court.
"I like the recognition," Boschee said. "I played summer basketball, and it really showed me that I need to play like this. I need to be better and put myself out there so that other people can see what motivated me."
Boschee led the team in scoring at 20.3 points per game while shooting 47% from the field, also averaging 5.7 rebounds, 3.5 steals and 1.9 assists per game. At the state tournament, she turned in a 23-point, 11-rebound double-double in SCW's quarterfinal victory over Lyman.
Part of her own motivation to perform at a high level came from senior teammates and James Valley Christian transfers Alexa Goertz and Kaylie Robinson, having brought valuable experience and strong leadership from previous state tournaments, helping Boschee step up into a similar role on the floor while feeling more relaxed in games.
"It really boosted her knowing that she wasn't gonna have to shoulder all of the scoring," Blackhawks head coach Rob Baruth said. "(Liz) had some great players coming in to surround her with and build around them, and that really helped her feel more comfortable on the floor knowing that they were there too."
The Blackhawks knew there was the potential to make a strong run towards the state tournament back at the beginning of summer camp. As the team worked on building chemistry while going through tough early-season stretches, Boschee began adding a variety of shots to her repertoire once teams began throwing double teams her way in the post.
"After a while, the defender will learn your moves, and I was like, 'I'm just going work on my outside range so then they'll have to come out,'" Boschee said. "You can go a long way from learning new things and putting it all together. It just helps your game out a lot more."
While SCW came up one game short of winning the Class B state championship, Boschee noted how hard work, the ability to adapt and coming together as one unit can influence the direction of the team, leading to favorable results. Having laid out a path to make it to the title game, the goal next season will be to follow it again.
"Your goals can be reached by working together and getting there," Baruth said. "Our girls that will be returning and our younger girls are like, 'Hey, I want to do this again.' They have a roadmap and an idea of what it's going to take to do that."
Joining Boschee on the Class B all-state first team were Lyman junior Mak Scott, Centerville seniors Althea Gust and Emma Marshall, Dell Rapids St. Mary senior Madala Hanson and Arlington junior Jaelyn Huntimer.
Scott, a 2024 all-state second-team player and one of six repeat all-state selections from last season, finished as the runner-up for Class B player of the year averaging 18.7 points, seven rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. An Augustana University commit, Scott garnered all-tournament recognition for averaging a double-double in Lyman's three games, as the Raiders finished in sixth place.
Gust, the Class B Spirit of Su award recipient, was the lone first-team repeat selection from a season ago, having helped Centerville to start the year 24-0 and finish in third place at the state tournament. Committed to South Dakota State University, Gust averaged 12.2 points, four assists and 3.5 rebounds per game.
Marshall, Gust's teammate on the Tornadoes, averaged 15.8 points and eight rebounds per game. A 2024 all-state second team pick, Marshall is committed to Dakota State University for basketball and track and field.
Fellow DSU commit Hanson tallied 17.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 68 total steals for the Cardinals, who finished in fourth place at the Class B state tournament. Huntimer, who was selected to the Class B third-team a year ago, averaged 23.6 points, six rebounds and three assists while guiding Arlington to a Region 2B semifinal appearance.
Parkston sophomore Berkley Ziebart highlights Class B all-state second-team selections. The Trojans' leader in scoring, Ziebart finished the season averaging 15.8 points and 3.4 rebounds while collecting 68 total steals and helping Parkston to a fifth-place finish in its first state tournament appearance since 2012.
"She knows how to be physical, and she knows how to get her shots," Parkston head coach Cole Knippling said. "I think she's good enough to score on all three levels. She can get to the rim, she can shoot the three and when she gets hot, she can really get going."
Centerville freshman Izzie Eide, Colman-Egan junior Brynlee Landis, Bennett County freshman Reagan O'Neill and eighth-grader Peyson O'Neill, and De Smet junior Hazel Luethmers join Ziebart on the second team.
Ethan junior Marissa Storm was named to the Class B all-state third team. Averaging 14.9 points, 4.5 assists and 2.5 rebounds on a balanced roster, Storm was part of the Rustlers' run to the top seed in the Region 4B tournament and their presence in the Class B prep media polls throughout the season.
"She plays hard offensively and defensively, and that's what she leads by," Ethan head coach Tom Young said. "She did amazingly well, and I'm happy with the way she played and the way she blends in with what we try to do."
Harding County senior Bailey Verhulst, Wilmot sophomore Addison Heinje, Kadoka Area senior Bella Williamson, Chester sophomore Jacy Wolf and Sully Buttes senior Payge Bakker were also named to the third team alongside Storm.
Corsica-Stickney sophomore Braylee Bordewyk, Ethan senior Ella Pollreisz, Freeman sophomore Rylee Peters and Sanborn Central/Woonsocket senior Alexa Goertz garnered all-state honorable mention recognition.
Continue reading...
