The Spearfish Lady Spartans will travel east this Friday for a Class AA SoDak 16 showdown against the Mitchell Lady Kernels, with a state tournament berth on the line. The two teams met earlier this season, where the Spartans overcame a 20-point deficit to upset the Kernels 61-55 in Spearfish. Friday’s match is the fourth time these two teams have met in the past two seasons, with Spearfish winning the two regular-season matchups, but Mitchell has won when these two teams meet in the postseason.
Spearfish enters the SoDak 16 following one of its strongest regular seasons in more than a decade. The Spartans have relied on a balanced lineup, strong perimeter defense, and consistent scoring from their guard play to climb the AA standings. Spearfish’s defensive pressure has been a key factor throughout the season, holding opponents well below their scoring averages and generating transition opportunities.
Mitchell counters with one of the most disciplined half‑court offenses in Class AA. The Kernels have been effective in controlling tempo, limiting turnovers, and using their size to create mismatches in the paint. Their inside‑out approach has produced steady scoring and allowed Mitchell to close out tight games throughout the year.
Finley Bouman from Spearfish went off for the Spartans in the regular season bout this season, exploding for 14 points in her first varsity major varsity action, catching the Kernels off guard. The Kernels shot cold in the second half of the game as well, but a home-court familiarity and a wild home crowd looking for revenge could be the difference.
Saturday’s winner advances to the Class AA Girls State Tournament, while the season ends for the losing team. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. Fans can follow live coverage on KDSJ-TV on YouTube and on KDSJ’s Facebook Live.
Watch LIVE: https://www.youtube.com/live/8LlA_BQdVcw?si=nTILMyAPhEaheaAY
