Belle Pauli Named 2026 South Dakota All-State Player

Belle Pauli, a sophomore at MHS and a 5-foot-10 forward for the Lady Bulldogs has been named to the 2026 South Dakota Class A All-State teams for girls basketball. The South Dakota Basketball Coaches Association announced the honorees on March 25.

This is a big accomplishment for Belle, commented Milbank Head Coach Tony Howard. “I am so happy for her.”

“Belle is a physical player who can work  both sides of the ball,” Howard said. “She cares only about helping her team to win in any way she can.” If you’ve watched her play, you know she carries a full toolbox. “On offense, Belle can score by turning off either shoulder in the paint. She has also worked hard on her outside shot and gained more confidence shooting 3s,” Howard noted. “Belle racked up an amazing double-double with 28 points and 23 rebounds in our victory over Florence-Henry in February.”

Howard said besides being a dominant presence inside the paint for the Lady Bulldogs and an excellent rebounder, Belle is also a great teammate. “She played a major role in our 17 wins this season.” Her stats confirm this: She averaged 15 points and two assists per game along with 10 rebounds. Belle scored on  61 percent of her two-point field goals and 44 percent of her 3-pointers. She downed 62 percent from the free throw line.

First Team
Ashlyn Koupal – Wagner:  (Senior – 6-3 G-F)  28.3 ppg, 14 rpg, 4.4 apg, 82 blocks  Named Gatorade South Dakota Class A Player of the Year. Awarded South Dakota Class A Player of the Year for the second consecutive year. Koupal has signed to play for the University of Nebraska next year.
Ashlan Carlow – Mahpiya Luta  (Senior 6-0 G)  17.2 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 5.5 apg, 99 steals
Addison Neuendorf –  Hamlin (Senior 5-6 G)  16.6 ppg, 4 rpg, 5.6 apg
Taylor Reuvers – Vermillion (Soph. 5-5 G)  27.8 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 4.7 apg, 114 steals
Lezlei Setzer – Sioux Falls Christian (Jr  6-2 C) 17.9 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 49 blocks
Blake Thompson, Mobridge-Pollock (Senior 5-8 G)  20.2 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 66 steals

Second Team
Kacey Jaton – West Central – (Soph. 5-10 F-G) 18.3 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 57 steals
Kailey Cradduck – Sioux Valley  (Jr. 5-11 G) 15.5 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 2.7 apg
Ella Merriman – Beresford  (Senior 5-6 G)  28.7 ppg, 8 rpg, 2.6 apg, 86 steals
Amelia Shangreaux – Lakota Tech (8th Gr  5-5 G) 21.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 4 apg, 101 steals
Morgan Sheppard – Flandreau (Soph.  6-2 G) 17.4 ppg, 9 rpg, 2.8 apg
Rorie Thoreson –  Dell Rapids – (Soph. 5-8 G) 18 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3.4 apg, 63 steals

Third Team
Lizzie Robinson – Lakota Tech (Soph.  5-9 G-F) 19.5 ppg, 8 rpg, 4.2 apg, 85 steals
Aubree Worden –  Dakota Valley (Soph. 5-10 G) 15 ppg, 9 rpg, 3 apg, 53 steals
Issie Steffensen –  Hamlin (Jr.  5-8 G) 16.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.3 apg
Andie Peters –  Lennox ( Senior 5-3 G) 10.7 ppg, 2 rpg
Shania Ferguson – Mahpiya Luta  (Senior 5-7 G) 14.1 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 45 steals
Belle Pauli – Milbank (Soph. 5-10 F) 15 ppg, 10 rpg, 2 apg

Honorable Mention
Bergan Musser –  Lennox ( Freshman 5-11 F)  9 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.6 apg
Mya Anderson –  Canton (8th Gr 5-10 G) 17.1 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 59 steals
Suni Bowman-  Cheyenne-Eagle Butte (Jr.  5-10 F) 14.2 ppg, 11.1 rpg, 42 steals
Ashlynn Vavruska – Florence-Henry (Soph. 5-4 G) 15.1 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 6.8 apg
Isabella Shangreaux – Lakota Tech (Soph. 5-7 G-F)  11.3 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 3 apg, 60 steals
Mya Mills – Mahpiya Luta (Freshman 5-11 F) 8.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 50 steals