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The Pipestone Area Schools’ girls basketball team embarks on the new season Thursday at Montevideo.
Varsity tip-off is set for 7:15 p.m. in the Montevideo High School gymnasium.
The Arrows and Thunderhawks played each other in the season opener last year with PAS coming out on top 76-67.
Recent Wayne State College signee Jadyn Kor and Taryn Tuinstra both tallied 20 points and Amyra Mahik added 19 points and 12 rebounds for a double-double. The Arrows were 13-of-19 from the free-throw stripe, and Kenzley Pater also contributed with six offensive boards.
Pipestone Area Schools’ girls basketball player Amyra Mahik (left) dribbles while defended by Windom’s Brita Tjentland during the 2024-25 Section 3AA South subsection playoffs. (Star file photo by Eric Viccaro)
Montevideo will present a challenge with 11 wins in 2024-25.
Jersey Fenicle, Tuinstra and Kor will provide senior leadership for a team coming off a 14-13 season and Section 3AA South subsection victory over Windom, 65-64, in thrilling come-from-behind fashion Friday, Feb. 21.
Forward Emersyn Smidt is the top junior, and several sophomores will make noted contributions in Avery Reinhard, Josie Danks, Mahik and Pater.
Pipestone Area Schools’ Emersyn Smidt (22) rises up to shoot over Windom’s Adison Hogan during a Big South Conference game on Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, at PAS Gymnasium. (Star file photo by Eric Viccaro)
Kor, Mahik and Danks have ‘select level’ playing experience. Kor and Mahik also were named to a Class AA preseason watch list.
This past spring and summer, Kor played for the Minnesota Rise program of Nicolett. Mahik and Danks were on the same Sanford Sports Academy 15-under white team, developing chemistry in another setting.
Third-year PAS head coach Grant Everson said newcomers to watch are Rhaelee Heidebrink, Kenley DeWilde and Isabella Russell.
All of the players participated in a one-day tournament at Luverne in July, which served as a team-bonding experience.
Kor has scored a school-record 1,660 points in her storied career, earning all-Big South Conference honors the past two years. Her game averages were: 24.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 2.5 steals and 2.6 pass deflections.
Pipestone Area Schools’ all-time leading scorer Jadyn Kor will add to that grand total during the 2025-26 season. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
Mahik played hoops on weekends this fall to keep her skills sharp, coming off her first-ever all-conference honorable mention. She averaged 11.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 3.2 steals per contest — with a .371 field-goal percentage and making good on .665 of her free throws.
Pipestone Area Schools’ player Isabella Russell reacts after the Arrows’ playoff win over Windom in February 2025.(Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
Key losses to graduation are Mariah Moeller, a multi-year starter and leader, Kaitlyn Goelz and Addison Rustad.
Pipestone Area Schools’ Mariah Moeller (12) played an instrumental role in the Arrows’ 65-64 victory over Windom last Friday, Feb. 21, in the opening round of the Section 3AA South subdistrict tournament. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
“They will be missed with their presence in practice,” Everson noted.
Everson said this year’s team has several strengths.
“We should have a lot of experience, and be very athletic,” the coach commented. “We should be able to run the floor and play great defense.”
Areas of development will be continued work on perimeter shooting and developing depth.
“The girls will need to be in great shape, and it will be important to both stay healthy and out of foul trouble,” Everson said.
Look for the Big South Conference and Section 3AA South to remain strong.
Redwood Valley and Windom Area both won six of eight league games in 2024-25.
St. James Area was 5-3. PAS will look to improve on a 3-5 Big South mark.
The Arrows will also play Blue Earth Area, Fairmont, Jackson County Central and Worthington among the conference foes.
“A lot of teams graduated key pieces, but will be replacing them with young, exciting talent,” Everson mentioned. “Every night will be a battle in conference.”
It’s a matter of competing every night and for the Arrows to put themselves in position to succeed, Everson said.
A complete season schedule accompanies this story, including information on Minnesota West’s Thanksgiving Classic and the traditional holiday event at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall.
Pipestone Area Schools logo. (Contributed graphic from the PAS school district)
HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS BASKETBALL
Pipestone Area Schools
2025-2026 Schedule
November
20, at Montevideo; 25, LAC QUI PARLE VALLEY; 29, at Thanksgiving Classic vs. Adrian-Ellsworth, Minnesota West Community and Technical College, Worthington
December
2, at Jackson County Central; 5, BLUE EARTH AREA; 8, MURRAY COUNTY CENTRAL; 12, at Redwood Valley; 16, LUVERNE; 19, at Fairmont; 22, at St. James Area; 29, vs. MACCRAY (Clara City) at Southwest Minnesota State University, R/A Facility, Marshall
January
6, at Minneota; 9, WINDOM; 12, EDGERTON; 13, JACKSON COUNTY CENTRAL; 16, at Blue Earth Area; 19, at Southwest Minnesota Christian, Edgerton; 20, ST. JAMES AREA; 23, REDWOOD VALLEY; 27, at Luverne, Classic Gymnasium; 30, FAIRMONT
January
2, SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA CHRISTIAN; 6, at Windom Area; 10, at Worthington; 14, RUSSELL-TYLER-RUTHTON
Playoff Schedule
February
20, Section 3AA South first-round game; 24, Section 3AA South semifinal; 26, Section 3AA South championship; section championship date, N/A
March
11-14, Minnesota State High School League state tournament, Williams Area and Maturi Pavilion, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Gangelhoff Center, Concordia University, St. Paul
Editor’s Note: All home games are listed in ALL CAPS, and played at PAS Gymnasium.