Jan. 28—MITCHELL — Youth and inexperience are generally frowned upon when it comes to sports.
The Mitchell Kernel girls basketball team has played through it nonetheless early in the season, putting together a 7-3 record through its first 10 games. Mitchell improved on that mark Tuesday with a win in Sioux Falls over Huron, making it seven wins in a row.
"Since the beginning of the year, we've kind of felt that we have a bunch of kids that can really contribute and four kids that can score in double figures for us," Mitchell coach Dave Brooks said. "It's just a process to get there with some of the younger kids, and I think we're seeing that confidence grow every time they're on the court."
Mitchell's win over Tea Area on Jan. 22 was the latest high point for the Kernel girls, who exploded for 27 of its 59 points in the fourth quarter and did most of the work despite a season-low 15 points from senior star guard Addie Siemsen. That was the Kernels' first win this season over a team with a winning record so far.
In that game, sophomore guard Londyn Hajek scored a season-high 19 points, and over the course of the first half of the season, eighth-graders Nia Talley and CeCe Morgan have boosted offensive production, as well.
Morgan is averaging 9.7 points per game for the season and averaging 10.3 points, 10.3 rebounds in her last six games, with three double-doubles, while Talley is checking in at nearly 6 points per game.
All of that is in support of Siemsen, who is among the Class AA girls leaders in scoring at 21.2 points per game and has scored 20 or more points six times this year.
"Our record wasn't great starting out but this is a group that really wants to win," Siemsen said. "We've learned how to play with each other and we believe in each other to get the job done. ... We have a lot of players that are a bit younger and it's been impressive to see them really grow a lot in the last five or six games."
Some of Mitchell's experience and older players are on the bench this season after Matteah Graves and Charleigh Collins suffered knee injuries that wouldn't allow them to play this year. Junior guard Londyn Schroeder recently returned to the court as a speedy and defensive-minded guard after missing the first seven games with an injury.
The Kernels started 1-3 on the season after being swept at home against both Rapid City Central and Rapid City Stevens, plus a loss to Class B No. 1 Lyman in the Hoop City Classic during the holidays. Since then, Mitchell has won six games in a row, led primarily by the defense, which has allowed a mere 35 points per game to opponents.
Mia Larson, a junior guard, said the winning streak started with a simple message of just trying to win the first one.
"We talked about just getting one to start a streak," Larson said. "You've got to win one game to start it. It's been a confidence booster to see that continue to grow, knowing we're here to play and we can win. We can take a game over as a team."
Larson said the Kernel team is full of friends who are working toward a common goal that wants to see each other succeed.
"We share the ball very well," she said. "We pass it, we work our butts off on defense and it's just so rewarding when we see that defense turn into offense. Players have been stepping up."
Hajek, who got extensive playing time last season, is averaging 7.5 points per game. She credited Siemsen as the lone senior for her leadership and helping the team find its way, adding its inspired her to lead the team as well.
"We have a really young team, and I'm just trying to share as much of my experience as I can because we know we have a lot of players that are going to be important for our success both now and in the future," Hajek said.
