The 2024-2025 Thunder girls’ basketball season tips off on December 14th at 6:30 p.m. at Dakota Christian against Platte/ Geddes. The coaching staff for this year’s team are Head Coach Shane Niewenhuisa long with Assistant Coaches Ben Kroese and Allison Ekroth. This season the Thunder are returning five seniors Gabriella Olson, Josie Brouwer, Nadia Van Zuidem, Leah Brown and Mahpiya Irving. Juniors on the team are Halle Olson, Rory Kiyukan and Adaya Arrow. The final member of the Thunder is sophomore, Audrey Dehaan.

The team attended three team camps in their offseason including the Cornbelt, Black Hills State University and Mount Marty. The team went 12-1 during their offseason play, only losing to the Mitchell Kernels. Highlights of last season include the team reaching the SoDak 16 where the girls played an incredible game against Ethan, but came up short three points. This year the team’s goal is to go even further by earning a spot to play at the Class B State Tournament.

The team and coaches will be looking to the seniors and returning starters for leadership this season. The schedule for the Lady Thunder will be a competitive one and will include what is expected to be intense games against Centerville, Wagner, Ethan, Gayville and Burke.

What Coach Niewenhuis is most looking forward to this season is watching the upperclassmen and seeing what they can do as a team this season. His philosophy of building a successful team/program is that it all starts with teamwork. If the team can work together, support each other and play like the family they know they are, then no matter what the team will be successful.

Best of luck on the upcoming season Lady Thunder!