The Spearfish Lady Spartans return to their home floor Thursday night looking to regain momentum as they host the Hill City Rangers in a matchup between two teams searching for stability at the midpoint of the season.
Spearfish enters at 2–2, while Hill City comes in at 3–4 and riding a four‑game losing streak. The Spartans hold an 11–4 series lead since 2006 and have won the last three meetings. Hill City’s last victory in the matchup came on Jan. 6, 2022.
Spearfish Spartans (2–2)
Head Coach: Dakota Johnson (5th season) PPG: 43 | Points Allowed: 44.2 Record vs. teams under .500: 2–0 Record vs. teams over .500: 0–2
Leading Scorers
- #23 Kate Scharf — 14.5 PPG
- #21 Tiersyn Grubb — 8 PPG
- #3 Adelyn Bouman — 7 PPG
Team Shooting
- 22% FG
- 20% from three
- 54.3% FT
Analysis
The Spartans are at a pivotal point early in the season. After a promising start, Spearfish dropped its last outing to Rapid City Stevens—a game it led at halftime before offensive struggles took over.
Head coach Dakota Johnson said practices have intensified since that loss, with players pushing each other harder than at any point this season. Johnson hopes that the added edge will translate into better execution and composure, especially against teams that apply heavy defensive pressure.
Johnson praised Hill City’s athleticism and ability to run the floor, noting that transition defense will be a major focus. Rebounding will also be critical for Spearfish, which wants to avoid a high‑tempo shootout and instead control pace and possessions.
Keys for Spearfish
- Limit transition opportunities
- Control the tempo
- Execute offensively
- Maintain focus under pressure
Hill City Rangers (3–4)
Head Coach: Anna Eckert (3rd season) PPG: 46.2 | Points Allowed: 42.7 Current Streak: Lost 4 straight
Team Shooting
- 31.4% FG
- 35.5% 2‑pt FG
- 25% 3‑pt FG
- 64.8% FT
Team Trends
- 21 turnovers per game
- 12 offensive rebounds per game
- 19.5 defensive rebounds per game
Leading Scorer
- Lillie Ham — 48 points entering Tuesday’s game vs. RC Christian
Analysis
Hill City began the season 3–0 but has since dropped four straight games, all against high-level opponents, including Harding County, St. Thomas More, Mahpiya Luta, and Rapid City Christian. This matchup marks the fourth of five consecutive games against teams that reached the SoDak 16 last season.
The Rangers rely on athleticism and pace. Sophomore forward Lillie Ham (6’0”) leads the team in scoring and presents a size challenge for a smaller Spearfish lineup. Senior forward Demi Schrier adds additional length and defensive versatility.
Guards Alaina Dean and Darli Frandsen are quick, disruptive defenders capable of turning steals into instant points. Ball security will be essential for Spearfish to prevent Hill City from getting out in transition.
Hill City, like Spearfish, is still searching for consistency. After four straight losses, the Rangers are hungry for a breakthrough and believe they match up well with a Spartan team that has struggled offensively and with turnovers.
Keys for Hill City
- Force turnovers
- Establish early momentum
- Maintain defensive intensity
Broadcast Information
Fans can watch tonight’s game live on KDSJ‑TV on YouTube and on Facebook Live at Black Hills Gold Hits KDSJ. Pregame begins at 5:30 p.m., with tipoff at 6:00 p.m. Claysen Davis and Paul James will be on the call from Spearfish.
