KIPI Sports | 2023-2024 CRST High School Basketball Pre-Season | Tiospaye Topa Lady Thunder Hawks
LaPlant, SD | South Dakota Region 8B | 10-11 (last year overall record)
HEAD COACH: Clint LeCompte
There’s a bit of a buzz and excitement surrounding the Lady Thunder Hawks this upcoming season. They return 3 starters but mainly their “double-double” machine and anchor in the middle Lei’lani (Lou) Bowker. Her sophomore averages of 18.3ppg, 14.7rpg and 1.9bpg have her primed for a huge junior campaign. K’launa Buffalo returns with her sophomore averages of 8.5ppg, 3.1rpg, 2apg and 1.8spg. This junior combo guard will be looked upon to take on more of a leadership role with her relentless defense and high motor. The 3rd returning starter and the 2022-23 KIPI “Freshman of the Year” is Sophomore Pamela Meeter. Pamela’s averages of 6ppg, 2.9rpg, 1.9apg and 2.9spg see her as a bit of a stat sheet stuffer, and with the departure of senior point guard Kaylynn Holy Bear, Meeter will take the role as starting point guard for Coach LeCompte’s 2023-24 Lady Thunder Hawks. All three of these players have gained major experience over the spring/summer traveling team circuit. The high scoring Lady Heat travelling team have solidified themselves by making their way to the championship game in almost every tournament they played at over the off-season, and with an abundance of experience expect great things from Tiospaye Topa Girls Basketball. An “X” factor for this season could be freshman point guard Madison Jeffries. She also played a role with the Lady Heat over the summer. Madison has tremendous game potential on both ends of the floor. Topa could make a serious run with 4 players capable of scoring in double figures, and it doesn’t hurt that these young ladies played together over the last five months. Angel Benson and Azlyn Swan could also help this talented Lady Thunder Hawks team, who were able to secure the 1 seed at the upcoming Lakota Nation Invitational. (He Sapa bracket) Kris Meeter brought excitement back to Tiospaye Topa, but these Lady Thunder Hawks could sustain the hype over the next few years.
-W. Meeter-Head Coach “Lady Heat”
