Six different schools are represented on the 2021 All-Register Girls’ Basketball Team.
Flandreau freshman Claire Sheppard is the Player of the Year.
The Fliers finished with a 14-7 record.
The No. 3 seed in Region 2A, they beat Deuel 69-35 and No. 2 Florence/Henry 52-46.
In the SoDak 16, 12th-seeded Flandreau dropped a 52-51 heartbreaker to No. 5 Sioux Falls Christian.
Arlington junior Hadley Carlson is an All-Register selection for the second year in a row.
The Cardinals ended the season 11-12.
Arlington, the No. 7 seed in the Region 3B tournament, beat Iroquois/Doland 65-37 and upended second-seeded Deubrook Area 48-36. The Cardinals fell 37-29 to De Smet in the semifinals.
Completing the All-Register squad are Sioux Valley eighth-grader Isabelle Bloker, Deubrook Area senior Baylee Holmlund, Colman-Egan sophomore Josie Mousel and Brookings junior Ainsley Shelsta.
The Cossacks compiled a record of 12-10.
They were the No. 4 seed in Region 2A, opening with a 52-36 defeat of Clark/Willow Lake before falling 63-36 to No. 1 Hamlin.
The Dolphins ended up 16-5.
The Hawks finished 13-9. As the third seed in Region 4B, they dropped Sanborn Central/Woonsocket 62-41 in the quarterfinals but lost 48-43 to second-seeded Ethan in the semifinals.
The Bobcats had a 2-18 record. They fell 63-30 to No. 1 Sioux Falls Washington in the SoDak 16.
No nominations were received from Elkton-Lake Benton or Oldham-Ramona/Rutland.
Isabelle Bloker – G
Sioux Valley
5-5, 8th
Bloker led the upstart Cossacks with 13.3 points per game, adding three rebounds and a pair of assist.
She connected a 34% clip from 3-point range, knocking down 57 treys.
“Isabelle has two distinctive qualities that are separators at our level: Work ethic and commitment. She leads our program in time spent and the results follow. She loves to be in the gym. I’m grateful we get her for another four years,” said coach Jamie Granum.
Bloker made the All-LCC squad and was a second-team All-BEC selection.
Hadley Carlson – G/F
Arlington
5-10, Jr.
Carlson had another standout season for the Cardinals and is on the All-Register team for a second year in a row.
She averaged a double-double of 14.5 points and 10 rebounds.
Carlson shot 40.5% from the field and added 3.5 steals per contest.
“Hadley continues to lead our team in many areas on the floor. Even with many of our opponents’ defenses keying in on her, she led our team in several statistical categories. If Hadley played well, our team was often successful. Hadley’s work ethic along with the energy and emotion she plays with is something our other players feed off. We are excited to have Hadley back to lead our team again for her senior season!” said coach Tara King.
Hadley scored a season-high 29 points versus Milbank and logged a personal-best 17 rebounds against Deubrook.
She is a two-time All-DVC first-team selection.
Carlson has 931 career points.
Baylee Holmlund – G
Deubrook Area
5-9, Sr.
Holmlund capped a solid career by putting up 16 points, 4.7 rebounds and two steals per game. She shot 78% at the free-throw line.
“Baylee has had a major role in the success of our program over her four years as a member of the varsity team. She is a very explosive scorer that has the ability to put up points in a hurry. Baylee dedicated herself to be a better rebounder this season and it showed as she was second on the team in rebounds. I have been blessed to get to coach Baylee the last four years and she has definitely left her mark on our program and will be missed next year,” said coach Brad DeBeer.
She was All-DVC first team.
The three-year starter finished with 858 points, 265 rebounds and 200 steals. The Dolphins went 63-22 in her four years at the varsity level.
Josie Mousel – G
Colman-Egan
5-10, So.
Mousel continued the fast start to her high school career by putting up 16.4 points per outing.
She added 6.6 rebounds and two steals per game.
“Josie is an extremely athletic basketball player that can impact a game in a multitude of ways. She can guard the other team’s best player, disrupt shots at the rim and rebound and is a very gifted offensive player at the rim. Josie has a very bright future in the game of basketball and we are excited to see where she takes her game to next,” said coach Tyler Husby.
Mousel was an All-DVC first-team pick.
Ainsley Shelsta – F
Brookings
6-5, Jr.
Shelsta was a force down low for the Bobcats.
She posted a double-double of 14.7 points and 11.8 rebounds per game, shooting 53% from the floor.
“Ainsley had a great season for us. She has turned into quite a force down low. It just feels like she is almost an automatic double-double every night she steps on the floor. Ainsley had a new career high in scoring this season, scoring 28 points against Sioux Falls Lincoln. Not only did Ainsley lead us in scoring but what she did for us defensively was huge. She has the ability to take away opponents’ shots in the paint, which makes everyone else’s job that much easier. We are extremely excited to get Ainsley back for another year!” said coach Mitch McLagan.
She was an All-ESD honorable mention.
Claire Sheppard – G/F
Flandreau
6-1, Fr.
The Class A All-State third-team pick is the Register Player of the Year.
She averaged 17.5 points and 7.4 rebounds, shooting 40% from the floor while helping lead the Fliers to the brink of a state tourney berth.
Sheppard was All-BEC first team and All-LCC.
