HAYTI – They have been on the doorstep for the past two years and now the Hamlin Chargers would like to kick the door in.

After finishing runner-up in the last two Class A State Girls’ Basketball Tournaments, Hamlin would like to take the last step and win the state championship at this year’s tourney starting today and going through Saturday at the Watertown Civic Arena.

“We’re fortunate to be able to have that opportunity again to try and get to that championship game,” said Chargers coach Tim Koisti. “It’s not an easy task, number one to get there, and number two to get there two years in a row.”

Hamlin enters the event as the top-seeded squad with a 22-0 record. Even so, Koisti knows that each game of the tournament will be a challenge in a field loaded with solid squads.

“We know there are so many good teams in Class A,” Koisti said. “I think we could play this tournament three or four times and I know that we would have different outcomes in every single game.”

The Chargers feature a veteran squad led by senior interior players Kami Wadsworth and Ally Abraham. Wadsworth averages 22 points and 6.3 rebounds per contest, while Abraham checks in at 7.9 points, 6.9 rebounds and 4.1 assists.

Other starters include point-guard Addie Neuendorf (11.8 points per game), Brooklyn Brandriet (8 points and 2.9 steals), and Marissa Bawdon (7.2 points).

Koisti said that his squad just needs to continue to do what has worked all season.

“We just have to kind of do what we do. Teams need to adapt to us. We’re doing what we do pretty well,” he said. “We play good defense. We’re pretty patient on offense. We love to play inside out. Get Kami touches, get Ally touches on the inside. They’re good shooters and my guards are starting to get pretty good at knowing when to shoot and when to get some back door cuts.”

The Chargers face Flandreau in the first game of the opening round at noon today. The Fliers turned heads this postseason with a pair of impressive victories, first with a win at Florence-Henry, followed by a SoDak win over defending state champion St. Thomas More.

“I knew going into the season they were going to be good,” Koisti said.

Hamlin defeated Flandreau 58-45 in mid-December.

The Fliers are led by South Dakota State recruit 6-foot-2 junior guard Claire Sheppard.

On paper it certainly does not appear to be a typical 1 vs. 8 opening round contest.

“It’s not a great matchup for either one of us,” Koisti said. “They’ve got some length and some size and obviously some athletes. We’re going to have to work our butts off to try and win that game.”

Koisti has told his team all season long that each game is a competition and one contest is just as important as another. While that won’t change now, the Chargers are highly motivated to finish the task this time around.

“I don’t have to talk about it,” Koisti said of winning a state championship. “They know that that’s what our ultimate goal is.”