Lyman girls basketball builds momentum, identity behind unbeaten start

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Jan. 6—PRESHO, S.D. — The Lyman High School girls basketball team could not have scripted a much better opening act to the 2025-26 season.

Through the first four games, the Raiders have combined experience, balance and defensive toughness to establish themselves as one of the top teams in Class B, opening with a 4-0 record and climbing to No. 2 in the South Dakota Prep Media basketball polls on Monday, Jan. 5.

At the heart of Lyman's success is a team identity built on discipline and defense. The Raiders are averaging 59.2 points per game while allowing just 34 points per contest. Lyman head coach Cody Volmer, back at the helm for a third season overall after previously coaching the team in 2022-23 and 2023-24, said that mentality has been a point of emphasis from Day 1.

"We're just tough, hard-nosed defenders," Volmer said. "Mentally, we're pretty tough. We don't make many mental mistakes, and you don't see us complaining about calls on the floor from the referees. We're a really well-balanced team, and we've played in some big games which will help us down the stretch, hopefully."

That added experience is a major reason expectations are high for Lyman this winter.

The Raiders earned fourth place at the Class B state tournament in 2023-24 and returned to the state tournament again last season. With that postseason foundation, the five starters, senior forward Mak Scott, sophomore guards Jordyn Scott and Bree Smart, junior forward Kenzie Wagner, and junior guard Brooke Montgomery, have entered the season with a confidence that has shown in tight moments and challenging environments.

"What we're trying to do is make all five girls on our team a threat when they are on the floor," Volmer said. "That's what we're going to continue to do. In some games, people are going to take away our best offensive options in Mak Scott, Jordyn Scott and Bree Smart, and so we have to build on the girls who maybe aren't our best scorers. You never know who is going to step up for us some nights as the season moves along."

As of Jan. 6, Lyman has three players in double-figure scoring, with Jordyn Scott leading the team at 21.3 points per game, while averaging 4.5 rebounds, three assists, 2.3 steals and a block per contest. Mak Scott is averaging a double-double on the season with 15.5 points and a team-high 11 rebounds per game. She also averages a team-high 4.3 assists and three steals per contest.

Smart has offered 11.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game, while Wagner averages six points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.3 steals per contest. Montgomery provides a defensive presence to round out Lyman's starting five, averaging 2.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game.

After two dominating victories to open the season over Gettysburg and Sully Buttes by an average margin of 42 points, a matchup against Mitchell on Dec. 29 in the Hoop City Classic presented the Raiders' first true challenge. Lyman leaned on their composure and leadership to secure a 60-52 road victory over the Class AA Kernels at the Corn Palace.

Jordyn Scott delivered a standout performance in that game, scoring 27 points on 10-for-15 shooting from the field and knocking down 5-of-8 attempts from 3-point range. Smart contributed 17 points and seven rebounds, while Mak Scott added 11 points as Lyman executed when it mattered most down the stretch.

On Saturday, Jan. 3, the Raiders faced perhaps their toughest test to date against Class B's No. 10-ranked Corsica-Stickney in the Midwest Miracles Classic at the Corn Palace.

Despite shooting under 30% from the field, Lyman found a way to win 44-35 by leaning heavily on defense and rebounding. The Raiders held the Jaguars to their lowest scoring output of the season with 35 points. The performance reinforced Volmer's belief that challenging games to start the season will pay dividends later in the year.

"Playing Mitchell and Corsica-Stickney will only help our depth as the season progresses," Volmer said. "As we go through the season and get into more of these classics and play more top-caliber teams, it just gets us ready for the final three games of the year. That's kind of the mentality we have, to take it one step at a time, and hopefully we can get to the ultimate goal down the road."

That long-term mindset has guided Lyman's approach so far. Even with a perfect record and a lofty ranking early in the year, the Raiders are focused on treating each game with urgency. Lyman is back in action at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 8, with a road matchup at Gregory.

"When we go play Gregory, we need to treat it like a must-win game," Volmer said. "If we can hang a banner for every game we play, and we have that intensity for every game, then we will be good. You want to drive whoever you are playing into the ground, and you want to make them remember who you are. We need to have that mindset throughout the season to get to where we want to be later in the year."

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