No. 1 Brandon Valley girls basketball pulls away from Mitchell in second half

Lynx senior Alyvia Padgett becomes school's all-time scoring leader in 54-34 win

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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The No. 1 ranked Brandon Valley Lynx girls basketball team pulled away from Mitchell in the second half, winning 54-34 on Tuesday night. Brandon Valley senior Alyvia Padgett scored 25 points, becoming the school's all-time leading scorer with 1,477 points, passing Heidi Hoff's previous record of 1,470 points.

Why it matters

The Lynx remain undefeated on the season at 19-0, showcasing their depth and ability to wear down opponents. This win highlights Brandon Valley's dominance in the Eastern South Dakota Conference and their status as a top contender for the state championship.

The details

After Mitchell got within three points early in the second half, Brandon Valley went on a 15-3 run to close the third quarter and then scored the first eight points of the fourth quarter to pull away. The Lynx's depth, with nine players seeing regular minutes, was a key factor in wearing down the Kernels. Padgett scored 14 of Brandon Valley's 16 points during the decisive stretch.

  • The game was played on Tuesday, February 24, 2026.
  • Brandon Valley will close the regular season by hosting Huron on Friday, February 27.

The players

Alyvia Padgett

A senior standout for Brandon Valley who became the school's all-time leading scorer with 1,477 points, passing Heidi Hoff's previous record of 1,470 points.

Mike Zerr

The head coach of the Brandon Valley Lynx girls basketball team.

Dave Brooks

The head coach of the Mitchell Kernels girls basketball team.

CeCe Morgan

An eighth-grader who led Mitchell with 12 points and 9 rebounds.

Addie Siemsen

A senior for Mitchell who averaged 19.2 points per game but was held to 0-for-11 shooting and 7 points in the game.

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What they’re saying

“I was really proud of our resolve and especially how we came out of the second half. Sometimes that depth advantage doesn't show up until you get later in the game. I'm really proud of our kids for, you know, kind of keeping their resolve and finishing it the way we want to.”

— Mike Zerr, Brandon Valley head coach (siouxfallslive.com)

“She was patient enough to understand what the game was giving her. I thought she did a great job deferring early and, you know, getting her teammates involved, sharing it. When (Mitchell) went zone, you know, she's worked so hard on her game, you know, and that will be her legacy as an individual player, just as a competitor, and as somebody who loves to work.”

— Mike Zerr, Brandon Valley head coach (siouxfallslive.com)

“We played well in the third quarter, and then I don't know if we got tired or what. (Brandon Valley) is a good team, Padgett rattled off a bunch of points in row, and we just didn't have an answer for her or offensively on our side. That's where it got away from us.”

— Dave Brooks, Mitchell head coach (siouxfallslive.com)

What’s next

The Kernels wrap up the regular season on Thursday at O'Gorman in Sioux Falls. Brandon Valley will close the regular season by hosting Huron on Friday, February 27.

The takeaway

This game showcases Brandon Valley's depth, defensive intensity, and the scoring prowess of senior Alyvia Padgett, who has cemented her legacy as one of the top players in school history. Mitchell's inability to slow down the Lynx offense and Padgett's second-half surge highlights the gap between the top-ranked Lynx and the rest of the Eastern South Dakota Conference.