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Argus Leader First/Second Five: South Dakota’s best girls high school basketball players

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Argus Leader First/Second Five: South Dakota’s best girls high school basketball players


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More than 40 years ago, a tradition was born to honor the top high school basketball players in South Dakota, regardless of class: the Argus Leader First and Second Five.

Here are the 2025-26 First and Second Five teams for girls basketball, which celebrate those athletes who made individual impacts and lifted their teams to new heights.

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First Five

Alyvia Padgett

Brandon Valley | 5-7 | Sr. | G

Padgett broke the Brandon Valley career scoring record this season after averaging 26.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists on 60.0% shooting from the field and 44.0% shooting from beyond the arc. The Class AA Spirit of Su winner led her Brandon Valley team to an unbeaten regular season thanks to a 40-point outing against O’Gorman in the season opener. The Lynx lost in the Class AA state championship game.

“She loves the work and it has loved her back,” Brandon Valley head coach Mike Zerr said. “She just always continues to find a way to level up her game each year. She has worked hard to become a three-level scorer, is at her best in transition offensively or defensively and has a tremendous vision for the game.

“Liv is not someone who craves the spotlight but has handled it all with grace. Those things will continue to stay with her in life on her next steps and continue to make her a tremendous player and person.”

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Sydney Terveen

O’Gorman | 5-11 | Sr. | G

Terveen became the eighth O’Gorman girls basketball player to hit 1,000 career points, hitting that mark in her final regular season game. Then scored 33 points in her final high school game to help the Knights win their third Class AA state title in a row. The Omaha commit averaged 18.4 points on 50.4% from the field and 35.6% from three, 4.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.

“Sydney is a tremendous basketball player and she is at her best when the lights are shining the brightest,” O’Gorman head coach Kent Kolsrud said. “She is such a versatile player that makes huge plays and is a great leader. She can score at all three levels, is great in transition and so active in our presses. She has meant a tremendous amount to our basketball program for the last four years.”

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Ashlyn Koupal

Wagner | 6-3 | Sr. | G/F

Koupal was the first South Dakotan girl named to the McDonald’s All-American Game this year, and the Nebraska commit rewarded the selection committee by going for 28.3 points, 14.0 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game while shooting 58.8% from the field and 48.4% from deep. She also recorded 60 steals and 82 blocks. Wagner went 19-5 and finished eighth in the Class A state tournament.

“Just knowing her personality and who she is, she’s a team-oriented kid who looks out for the team first,” Wagner head coach Mike Koupal said. “All the accolades she’s gotten over the years mean really nothing to her, because in the long run it’s what did she accomplish with her teammates at Wagner.

“Skill-wise, she’s a three-headed monster because she can score with her back to the basket, she can score off the dribble and she can score from the perimeter. In South Dakota the last couple years, we didn’t really get to see a lot of that because she’s picked up 90 feet with people hanging all over her. It’s hard to see what she’s really capable of.”

Ashlan Carlow-Blount

Maȟpíya Lúta | 6-0 | Sr. | G

Carlow-Blount may not have won a Class A state championship at Maȟpíya Lúta, but her teams went 80-4 over the last three years and finished as runners-up the last two seasons after going unbeaten heading into the state title game. The South Dakota commit averaged 17.2 points on 46.0% from the field and 40.0% from deep, 7.9 rebounds and 5.5 assists to go with 99 steals. Carlow-Blount also won the Class A Spirit of Su award.

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Jaelyn Huntimer

Arlington | 5-9 | Sr. | G

Huntimer was Arlington’s do-it-all guard, averaging 28.8 points per game, 10.3 rebounds per game and 2.5 assists per night at 5-foot-9. Her nightly heroics weren’t enough for a SoDak 16 appearance, as Arlington finished 15-7 and lost in the Class B Region 2 semifinals as the top seed.

“Jaelyn has been part of our varsity program since seventh grade, and watching her grow into the player and person she is today has been truly special,” Arlington head coach Tara King said. “The time, heart and dedication she’s poured into this game is something you don’t always see, and it shows in everything she does. She has a special ability to take over a game, even when all the attention is on her. But what stands out most isn’t just her talent, it’s her heart. She’s faced a lot throughout her career and has lead with strength and resilience through it all. Jaelyn isn’t just a great basketball player, she’s someone who left a lasting impression on our basketball program, school and community, and we have been so blessed to watch her compete as a Cardinal.”

Second Five

Dana Harpe

Sioux Falls Washington | 6-0 | Sr. | G

Harpe provided Washington with a go-to scorer and playmaker with the size of a forward. She contributed 18.2 points a night on 48.7% shooting, 5.9 rebounds per game and 6.8 assists per outing to lead the Warriors to a third-place finish at Class AA.

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“Dana has a motor that doesn’t quit,” Washington head coach Jamie Parish said. “She always plays hard on both sides of the ball and is a great teammate. She will be missed.”

Ruby Moore

O’Gorman | 5-8 | Jr. | G

Moore was in control of O’Gorman’s fast-paced offense all season and frequently had the ball in her hands in big moments. The South Dakota State commit averages 15.3 points and 4.6 assists while shooting 49.5% from the floor and 45.7% from deep. She also got 82 steals.

“Ruby is a very dynamic player that makes huge plays when the game is on the line,” Kolsrud said. “Great basketball IQ, tremendous floor general, can score in so many ways. She has been a huge part of our basketball program for the past three years. Great passer, leader in steals, tremendous shooter, big time player.”

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Brinley Altenburg

Sioux Falls Jefferson | 5-10 | Jr. | G

Altenburg was Jefferson’s top option all season, and she delivered time and time again. The junior has garnered lots of interest from power conference schools like Iowa, Ohio State and Kansas. She paced the Cavaliers with 18.8 points per game on 45.8% shooting and 32.2% from 3-point range.

“Brinley is a huge piece of our offense, and she is our leading scorer this season,” Jefferson head coach Shaunteva Pruett said. “She is super quick and gets our offense going in transition. Brinley has a very fast first step that helps her get by defenders. She is capable of scoring from anywhere on the court, including deep threes. She tends to be the other team’s focus for each game, and she sees a lot of different defenses thrown at her. She has really grown throughout the season on learning how to contribute to the team on other levels besides just scoring. She is long and athletic and is developing a nose for the ball on defensive and offensive rebounds, as well as reading the defense for steals. Brinley is an extremely hard worker who is the definition of a gym rat.”

Taylor Reuvers

Vermillion | 5-5 | So. | G

Reuvers has an extremely quick release and good feel for getting to the rim with the ability to finish in a variety of different ways for Vermillion. The sophomore guard went for 27.8 points per night, 6.8 rebounds per game, 4.7 assists per game with 114 steals on 41.0% from the field and 37.0% from beyond the arc. The Tanagers lost in the Class A Region semifinals to cap a 13-9 season.

“Taylor is a true point guard who can do everything on the floor,” Vermillion head coach Jon Brooks said. “Her ability to shoot from distance along with her quickness getting to the hoop makes her very difficult to defend. She is very unselfish and always seems to make the correct play. Her basketball IQ is as high as any player I have ever been around. Taylor is always a step ahead on the court, which allows her to let things develop around her. With how talented she is, what separates her the most is her competitive drive. It doesn’t matter if it’s a shooting drill in practice or the biggest game of the year, she never wants to lose.”

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Mak Scott

Lyman | 6-0 | Sr. | F

Scott was the Class B Spirit of Su winner and led Lyman to the top seed in the state tournament thanks to her size, positioning and finishing ability by the rim. The 2,000-point scorer averaged 15.2 points, 9.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists as she and her sister Jordyn helped lead the Raiders to a 22-4 season and a fifth-place finish in the Class B state tournament.



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TBD vs. South Dakota Coyotes – Live Score – March 31, 2026

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TBD vs. South Dakota Coyotes – Live Score – March 31, 2026



TBD vs. South Dakota Coyotes – Live Score – March 31, 2026 | FOX Sports


































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SD Lottery Powerball, Lotto America winning numbers for March 28, 2026

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The South Dakota Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at March 28, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from March 28 drawing

11-42-43-59-61, Powerball: 25, Power Play: 4

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

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Winning Lotto America numbers from March 28 drawing

15-29-30-32-35, Star Ball: 09, ASB: 05

Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Dakota Cash numbers from March 28 drawing

04-08-13-31-35

Check Dakota Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from March 28 drawing

12-14-17-22-55, Bonus: 04

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Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize

  • Prizes of $100 or less: Can be claimed at any South Dakota Lottery retailer.
  • Prizes of $101 or more: Must be claimed from the Lottery. By mail, send a claim form and a signed winning ticket to the Lottery at 711 E. Wells Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501.
  • Any jackpot-winning ticket for Dakota Cash or Lotto America, top prize-winning ticket for Lucky for Life, or for the second prizes for Powerball and Mega Millions must be presented in person at a Lottery office. A jackpot-winning Powerball or Mega Millions ticket must be presented in person at the Lottery office in Pierre.

When are the South Dakota Lottery drawings held?

  • Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
  • Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
  • Lucky for Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
  • Lotto America: 9:15 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
  • Dakota Cash: 9 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.
  • Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Dakota editor. You can send feedback using this form.



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7 Most Rattlesnake Infested Areas in South Dakota

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7 Most Rattlesnake Infested Areas in South Dakota


There is only one rattlesnake native to South Dakota: the prairie rattlesnake. Also known as the Great Plains rattlesnake, it has the largest range of any rattlesnake in North America, stretching from Canada to Mexico.

In South Dakota, the prairie rattlesnake’s range crosses through the western parts of the state and lands around the Missouri River. The prairies, badlands, rocky outcrops, and river watersheds make ideal places for it to thrive, and these snakes are most often found in areas where that terrain provides them with room to hide and hunt.

These snakes are not aggressive toward humans, but they will defend themselves if threatened. That is why the areas below stand out, as they combine the kinds of habitat where prairie rattlesnakes are most likely to live with places where people also hike, camp, and explore.

Custer State Park

Herd of buffalo in Custer State Park.

Spanning 71,000 acres, Custer State Park is home to granite mountain peaks, lakes, and grasslands. Set in the Black Hills, its most noteworthy trails are up mountains such as Black Elk Peak, but its Wildlife Loop Road runs for 18 miles through open grasslands home to prairie dogs, bison, and other animals. These grasslands are a prairie rattlesnake’s preferred habitat, as they can slither through undetected and feed on prairie dogs, taking over their colonies.

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Prairie rattlesnakes can be found in other places in Custer State Park as well, including in lower-elevation campgrounds. There have been multiple reports of rattlesnakes wandering onto campgrounds. This can be especially dangerous for guests who wander outside without proper footwear. That’s why it’s critical to always wear good shoes or boots while in these parks to avoid a nasty bite if you accidentally step on one of these reptiles.

Badlands National Park

Badlands National Park in South Dakota, USA.
Badlands National Park in South Dakota, USA.

These badlands contain one of the world’s richest fossil beds. The area was once covered by a sea, leaving behind many ancient marine creatures, such as the massive Mosasaurus. Mammal fossils are also common here, such as the Nimravid cat and the Brontothere, which likely grew to 8 to 16 feet tall and closely resembled modern rhinos. The badlands still provide rich habitat for wildlife, including prairie rattlesnakes, which are most often found in the prairies below the Badlands National Park’s iconic sedimentary rock formations.

The prairie rattlesnake feasts on a wide variety of prey in the park, from prairie dogs to burrowing owls and ferrets. It uses its heat-seeking pits to track its prey, while its tongue picks up particles in the air to “smell.” However, these snakes are not the only predators here. Red-tailed hawks and Golden Eagles are known to attack and eat these rattlesnakes, along with badgers.

Prairie rattlesnakes are most active from the spring to fall, but they can also come out in slightly cooler weather to bask in sunlight.

Lake Francis Case

Fishing boats on the eastern shore of Lake Francis Case.
Fishing boats on the eastern shore of Lake Francis Case. Image credit Joseph Kreiss via Shutterstock.

Lake Francis Case was formed by the Fort Randall Dam on the Missouri River in the 1950s. It covers 102,000 acres with a maximum depth of 140 feet. Unfortunately, its creation flooded a Native American settlement and forced the community out. The lake is surrounded by prairies, from which hikers have seen prairie rattlesnakes. The lake is also home to a population of prairie dogs, which are prime prey for prairie rattlesnakes.

However, some prairie rattlesnakes can get closer to the shoreline, as Snake Creek Recreation Area is one of the better-known hotspots. They have been spotted hiding in the rocks and bushes by the lake. One trail known as a rattlesnake hotspot is the Shannon Trail, which connects the north and south campgrounds and overlooks Lake Francis Case.

George S. Mickelson Trail

George S. Mickelson Trail in South Dakota
George S. Mickelson Trail in South Dakota. By GeneMJ530, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.

The George S. Mickelson Trail is a 109-mile-long trail along an abandoned rail line across western South Dakota in the Black Hills. It connects to multiple forests, state parks, and privately maintained trails, including areas near Custer State Park. Toward the lower-elevation southern end of the trail, rattlesnakes have been regularly sighted by hikers and South Dakota park authorities.

The southern end of the trail passes through several habitats that support the prairie rattlesnake, such as the lower-elevation Sheep Canyon, where the rattlesnakes can hide among rocks, and the grassy prairies near Custer, South Dakota. Hikers in South Dakota sometimes find these snakes in prairie dog holes, as prairie rattlesnakes occasionally stick their heads out of them.

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Wind Cave National Park

Natural Entrance to Wind Cave, Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota.
Natural Entrance to Wind Cave, Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota.

Wind Cave National Park comprises two distinct ecosystems: a vast cave and an above-ground prairie. The cave was of great importance to the Lakota people because it is central to their emergence story. What makes this park a good environment for rattlesnakes is its mixture of prairies and ponderosa forests. Prairie dogs in particular dig holes known as underground colonies or ‘towns,’ which prairie rattlesnakes often use as ambush sites to hunt prey.

Bison at Wind Cave National Park.
Bison at Wind Cave National Park.

The rattlesnakes can also take refuge in rocky outcrops, both to protect themselves from the elements and to ambush prey. During cooler parts of the year, snakes are more likely to bask in the sun, increasing the chance of human encounters. The Wind Cave National Park is also close to several other rattlesnake hotspots on this list, including Custer State Park.

Missouri River

Historic bridge carrying Interstate 90 over the Missouri River along the Lewis and Clark Trail in South Dakota
Historic bridge carrying Interstate 90 over the Missouri River along the Lewis and Clark Trail in South Dakota.

The Missouri River is the longest river in the United States, flowing for 2,341 miles from the Rocky Mountains of Montana down into the Mississippi River in Missouri. It flows through western and central South Dakota as well, providing water for a large semi-arid watershed. In South Dakota, the drier climate and the rocky bluffs, shorelines, and nearby prairie habitat along the river make this corridor one of the main areas where prairie rattlesnakes are found.

Prairie rattlesnakes are most strongly associated with western South Dakota and the lands around the Missouri River. They are more often found in rocky or grassy areas near the river than in the water itself, though they have been observed swimming and may occasionally enter the water. As a result, people fishing or hiking through the Missouri River valley should stay alert for this snake.

Black Hills National Forest

Black Hills National Forest, South Dakota
Black Hills National Forest, South Dakota. Photo Credit: Mary Key via Shutterstock.

The Black Hills National Forest is a massive area, covering 1.2 million acres of forests and mountains, or 110 miles long by 70 miles wide. It has been called an Island in the Plains, as it rises above the mostly flat landscape of the Great Plains.

The forest contains 1,300 miles of streams, 11 reservoirs, 353 miles of trails, and 30 campgrounds. While exploring this forest, hikers and campers may encounter rattlesnakes, especially in lower-elevation areas or in rocky areas. In hot summer weather, rattlesnakes often retreat from the heat, but during the cooler spring and fall months, they are more likely to bask in the open.

In some cases, hikers may not hear a warning rattle right away, which is one reason caution matters in rocky or brushy areas. These tails don’t provide the support needed for their rattles to make a sound. Wildlife experts believe this is an evolutionary change, since rattlesnakes that make a loud rattle are more likely to be killed by frightened hikers or campers.

Humans are rattlesnakes’ biggest predators

Prairie rattlesnakes face many threats, and encounters with humans are one of them. Rattlesnakes usually try to avoid people when they can, or warn them when someone gets too close. These incidents are often avoidable if you take proper precautions, such as wearing sturdy shoes, staying on trails, and being aware of what lies ahead. These snakes may be intimidating, but they are far more threatened by humans than we are by them.

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