From dominant point guards to pure scorers to unstoppable forces in the paint, the region is full of difference makers in girls’ basketball this season.

A half dozen players who gained all-state recognition a year ago are back again this season.

That delegation is led by Hamlin standout Addison Neuendorf. The Northern State commit does not have to score a single point to impact a game. Neuendorf helped lead the Chargers to a third-place finish at the State A tourney a year ago. Hamlin, currently rated third, will be among the elite teams in the state once again.

Mobridge-Pollock, which also competed in the State A Tournament last season, will be led all-state selection Blake Thompson and Tegan Konold. The eighth-rated Tigers will be a handful for any foe.

Few players score more often than Addison Heinje. The all-state junior transferred from Wilmot to Waubay-Summit this year and made an immediate impact. She scored 23 points (including six in overtime) and grabbed 18 rebounds in her season opener last week.

North Central’s Amree Vander Vorst is also off to a fast start. The all-state junior has games of 23 and 30 points to her credit already this season.

Aberdeen Central will once again rely on the one-two punch of all-state honorees Taryn Hermansen and Lauryn Burckhard down low.

Of course, it’s not always about how much you score. Sometimes it’s how little you give up. Aberdeen Roncalli will be a challenge for many teams to try and figure out this year.

Clark-Willow Lake, Groton, Herreid-Selby Area, and Warner each have culture and quality athletes, and all four are coming off of strong volleyball campaigns, so the athletes should be used to big-game environments.