Defending champions Aberdeen Central, More, Sully Buttes among favorites, along with Lincoln and Harrisburg in the South Dakota girls basketball #MaxPrepsFab5.
Video: Haylee Mork's highlights vs. Mitchell
See the Aberdeen Central player in action.2016-17 South Dakota preseason girls basketball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard
1. Aberdeen Central
Head coach: Dawn Seiler
2015-16 record: 24-1
The Golden Eagles breezed to a Class AA state championship, beating Washington (Sioux Falls) 75-64 in the championship game. Aberdeen Central loses all-state selection Brianna Kusler, but junior All-State pick
Paiton Burckhard returns. The 6-foot forward averaged 17 points and nine rebounds per game for Aberdeen Central, which won its first state title in school history last year.
See the South Dakota girls basketball computer rankings, presented by the Army National Guard
2. More (Rapid City)
Head coach: Brandon Kandolin
2015-16 record: 20-3
The Cavaliers dominated the Class A state tournament, winning their three playoff games by no less than 17 points. More will miss State Player of the Year Ciarra Duffy, but third team All-State guard
Dru Gylten returns for her senior year. More also has tradition on its side, winning three straight state titles and four in the last five years.
See the MaxPreps South Dakota girls basketball stat leaders3. Lincoln (Sioux Falls)
Head coach: Lyle Pearson
2015-16 record: 16-7
Lincoln did not reach the state tournament last season, but the Patriots return one of the top players in the state in forward
Anna Brecht. The state's leading scorer, Brecht averaged 23.5 points per game. She has committed to play at Wisconsin-Green Bay next year.
See the MaxPreps national girls basketball photos4. Sully Buttes (Onida)
Head coach: Mark Sentfter
2015-16 record: 26-0
Sully Buttes cruised to an undefeated season, beating Ethan 33-25 in the Class B state championship game. A pair of Sully Buttes seniors earned All-State honors last year as juniors:
Chloe Lamb and
Racquel Wientjes. Lamb earned first team honors for a third-straight year while averaging 17 points per game. Wientjes, meanwhile, averaged 19 points and has already scored over 1,000 points in her career.
See the MaxPreps South Dakota girls basketball playoff brackets5. Harrisburg
Head coach: Marcus Leloux
2015-16 record: 14-9
Harrisburg won the Class AA volleyball state title this year and the basketball team has a pair of players who were key members of that state championship team.
Sam Slaughter, a 6-1 senior, was a second team All-State basketball player last year while
Carlie Fikse, a 6-4 center, returns for her junior year.
