Spartan Girls Wrap Season at 10-12 following 65-49 loss against top seeded Dolphins
After two thrilling post-season appearances in regional play, the Wessington Springs Spartan Girls Basketball team wraps their season with a 10-12 record following a 65-49 loss against the number one seeded Deubrook Area Dolphins in the Region 2B semifinals at the Huron Arena on Thursday, February 27, 2025.
“We knew it would be a very tough game, with Deubrook Area being the No. 1 seed going 15-5 on the year. We also knew they were very athletic and have a lot of different ways to score,” said Girls Basketball Head Coach Jason Kolousek. “We started slow and even though we knew they were athletic, we were caught off guard right away with how quick they were. We were down by 10 in the third but once we settled in, we made a nice run at the half to cut it to three. Just like Tuesday playing Castlewood, we didn’t care about the deficit — we kept playing and chipping away. We gave ourselves a chance going into half time.”
In the locker room during halftime, Kolousek said they talked about adjustments both teams would make, realizing it would be a hard-fought second half.
“The Spartans started the the third with a nice run, when the Dolphins brought a girl off the bench that makes two 3s that hasn’t made three-pointers all year. Then no. 5 and 15 made some big shots. They kept attacking us and finally, we couldn’t overcome that,” said Kolousek.
Although the girls kept fighting throughout the second half, the Dolphins sealed a 65-49 win over Wessington Springs.
“The girls kept fighting and moving on after any mistakes all second half. Their coach told me after the game, ‘you would just not go away,’” shared Kolousek. “I thought they ended their season at their very best as a group.”
Kolousek said he realizes it’s always hard to end, no matter when you end. Especially when it sinks in that the girls aren’t coming back together as this team. But he points to big successes throughout the season, including placing third in the 281 Conference Tournament and big wins such as the round 1 regional victory over Castlewood Tuesday.
“They have a lot to be proud of. Just like the game Tuesday and Thursday, the girls were resilient. Even if we had bad games we came back to practice and worked harder. They stuck with it the whole season,” he said. “The girls had the mentality, no matter what the adversity, we’re going to keep fighting. That’s what I’m most proud of. The last two games of the year were among the better games we’ve played all year.”
Senior leadership
Having to replace 90% of the Spartans scorers from the year before, Kolousek looks to the leadership of seniors Ashlyn Weber and Mariah Messmer as key to this season’s success.
“I couldn’t be more proud of Ashlyn and Mariah. Those two really stepped up and weren’t afraid of the moment. They showed good leadership by example and kept playing no matter what. Last night is a good example — they were our two leading scorers,” Kolousek shared, also adding that their character was a positive influence on the whole team. “They are both so kind and respectful to everyone around them and that was the real leadership they showed the other girls. There were times during the year that it wasn’t easy. They showed up with a positive attitude and led by example. While they will be sorely missed, I’m certain they’ll both be very successful in life. Both of them aren’t afraid to back down, put themselves out there and treat people right.
Looking to the future
Looking back at the season, Kolousek is energized at the improvement he saw from game one to 22 and is optimistic about the future for the Spartans.
“We have a very bright future and a lot of talent. With the leadership from our seniors the entire team has a culture of positivity and a willingness to work hard,” he said. “There are a lot of things we can accomplish. This is a great group to work with and I look forward to continued success and many good years as we go forward.”
Thankful for the depth of support
From the coaches to the parents and the community as a whole, Kolousek said he is appreciative of the support throughout the season.
“Assistant/JV coach Jenna Mikkelson does a very good job, I am appreciative of her efforts. It also goes down to junior high, Liza (Kolousek) does the things we do and that has helped build our program and allow us to have a strong program moving forward,” he said.
A devoted group of fans and dedicated Spartan parents also play a vital role during the season.
“I am appreciative of everyone’s support, even in the off season. We have good set of parents, willing to sacrifice and support whether it is with camps in the off season or all the things we ask of them during the season,” Kolousek stated. “I really want to thank the community for their support. We had a lot of fans there last night and throughout the year. Wessington Springs has a very good reputation of having a lot of people at away games. We even had a lot of people in White Tuesday and that is quite a drive. All of that together plus the girls’ perseverance is what has made this a memorable and successful season.”