Team Warwick 16U Pankonen: Hoops Profile

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Girls Hoops Dakotas has a team preview for you to read!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontStyle":"normal","fontWeight":"200"}},"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size" style="font-style:normal;font-weight:200">We are looking at Team Warick 16U Pankonen. They are off to a hot start! <span style="text-decoration: underline">16U Pankonen is 4-0</span> on the season, they won their first tournament in St. Cloud (Comets Shootout). Warwick is back on the hardwood this weekend. They will be hooping in Sioux Falls, best of luck!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"18px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:18px"><strong>In St. Cloud, 16U Pankonen looked great and they played together like a veteran team. Everyone was scoring the rock and found a way to contribute. Before the Comets Shootout, the group had only practiced a handful of times, yet it looked like they had been playing together for a full season!</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">See below for 16U Pankonen's schedule, roster, player comments, and a Q&amp;A session with coach <em>Nicole Pankonen</em></span>!</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":903168,"width":"287px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/05/teamwarwicklogo.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-903168" style="width:287px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":813158,"width":"286px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/11/PGHTeamPreview-crop-658x432-1701105104.jpg?w=657" alt="" class="wp-image-813158" style="width:286px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"30px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:30px"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">SCHEDULE</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":905960,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/05/image_ea3828.png?w=699" alt="" class="wp-image-905960" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"25px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:25px"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">[program_tooltip program_id='747557' first='Team' last='Warwick'] 16U Pankonen ROSTER</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":905961,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/05/image_53939b.png" alt="" class="wp-image-905961" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":905962,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/05/image_5d5ad7.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-905962" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"30px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:30px"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Player Comments from Coach <em>Pankonen</em></span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='488325' first='Ava' last='Kellenberger'] -</strong> "<em>A versatile guard who can score in many different ways. Good around the rim with both hands and can shoot the 3. Long lengthy defender.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='488327' first='Aubrie' last='Van Beek'] - </strong>"<em>Good athlete who moves well without the ball. Can knock down open shots. Aggressive defender who can guard multiple positions.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='441998' first='Brynlee' last='Landis'] -</strong> "<em>A great athlete and extremely hard worker. She Does all the little things on the court and can help score as well.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='488317' first='Emmerson' last='Eppard'] -</strong> "<em>A good athlete who can score on all 3 levels and defend at a high level. Can also knock down open 3s.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='488324' first='Jaelyn' last='Huntimer'] -</strong> "<em>An athletic lefty who is crafty around the rim. Also a good shooter from 3.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='616252' first='Amari' last='Ward'] -</strong> "<em>A good athlete who plays bigger than she is. Makes hustle plays on both ends of the court.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='488319' first='Abby' last='Horner'] -</strong> "<em>A forward who can guard bigger players, and rebounds well. Smart player who is always in the right spot.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='884038' first='Gracie' last='Salter'] -</strong> "<em>A good athlete with solid size. A great role player who helps her teammates succeed.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Karly Davis -</strong> "<em>An unreal shooter who cannot be left open. She is always in the gym working on her game and loves to compete.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"30px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:30px"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Q&amp;A with <em>Nicole Pankonen</em></span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PGHD: Can you tell us a little about your coaching background?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>I have been coaching since I graduated high school back in 2010. I absolutely love coaching. My coaching career started off in my hometown of Dell Rapids where I coached JV girls for 7 years and then I moved to Sioux Falls and helped start the girl's program at Sioux Falls Luthern. I am currently the head girls' basketball coach in my hometown Dell Rapids. I have also coached for AAU programs for about 7 years now too.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PGHD: Why are you excited to coach this group?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>I am super excited to coach this group of girls because they play like I coach. High intensity and love to run up and down the court. We are going to have a fun summer.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PGHD: What style of basketball will you play?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Our speed and basketball smarts will be our big strengths this summer.</em> <em>We plan to press a bunch every game and really get up and down the floor on both offense and defense!</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PGHD: What will your team "hang your hat on"?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>I would say that we will hang our hat on our “never quit” attitude. It will help us in close games and put us out in front of a lot of teams.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PGHD: Who do you predict will be your top defender?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>I think we have a very well-rounded defensive team but I expect <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='488325' first='Ava' last='Kellenberger']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='488327' first='Aubrie' last='Van Beek']</strong> to be our lockdown defenders on the ball.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PGHD: What event/tournament are you looking forward to the most?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>I am excited for every tourney this summer as I think it will be fun to play different teams every tournament.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PGHD: Do you see your team play man, zone, or a mix of both?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>We will play a mix of both man and zone because I like to switch it up so the offense has to decide what they are going to run.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PGHD: Will your team get together and practice?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Yes, we currently practice once or twice a week and they have been very productive.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PGHD: What are your goals for this AAU/grassroots season?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>I expect us to be very competitive in every game and grow as individuals and as a group.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PGHD: Who are some of the top shooters?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>We can really shoot the 3-point shot. Everyone on our team can step out and hit it but <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='488324' first='Jaelyn' last='Huntimer']</strong> is a great left-handed shooter who is ready to pull the trigger at all times.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"30px","fontStyle":"italic","fontWeight":"800"}}} --> <p style="font-size:30px;font-style:italic;font-weight:800"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Best of luck to [program_tooltip program_id='747557' first='Team' last='Warwick'] this summer!</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true,"start":2} --> <ol start="2"></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:image {"id":903168,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/05/teamwarwicklogo.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-903168" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->