Team Warwick 16U Pankonen: Hoops Profile
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Prep Girls Hoops Dakotas has a team preview for you to read! We are looking at Team Warick 16U Pankonen. They are off to a hot start! 16U Pankonen is 4-0 on the season, they won their first tournament in…
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Continue ReadingPrep Girls Hoops Dakotas has a team preview for you to read!
We are looking at Team Warick 16U Pankonen. They are off to a hot start! 16U Pankonen is 4-0 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!
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!
See below for 16U Pankonen’s schedule, roster, player comments, and a Q&A session with coach Nicole Pankonen!
SCHEDULE
Team Warwick 16U Pankonen ROSTER
Player Comments from Coach Pankonen
Ava Kellenberger Ava Kellenberger 5'8" | CG Brandon Valley | 2026 State SD – “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.“
Aubrie Van Beek Aubrie Van Beek 5'8" | CG Sioux Falls Christian | 2024 State SD – “Good athlete who moves well without the ball. Can knock down open shots. Aggressive defender who can guard multiple positions.“
Brynlee Landis Brynlee Landis 5'6" | CG Colman-Egan | 2026 State SD – “A great athlete and extremely hard worker. She Does all the little things on the court and can help score as well.“
Emmerson Eppard Emmerson Eppard 5'8" | SG Chester Area | 2026 State SD – “A good athlete who can score on all 3 levels and defend at a high level. Can also knock down open 3s.“
Jaelyn Huntimer Jaelyn Huntimer 5'8" | SG Arlington | 2026 State SD – “An athletic lefty who is crafty around the rim. Also a good shooter from 3.“
Amari Ward Amari Ward 5'7" | CG Sioux Valley | 2026 State SD – “A good athlete who plays bigger than she is. Makes hustle plays on both ends of the court.“
Abby Horner Abby Horner 5'8" | SF Sioux Falls Jefferson | 2026 State SD – “A forward who can guard bigger players, and rebounds well. Smart player who is always in the right spot.“
Gracie Salter Gracie Salter 5'11" | PF Brandon Valley | 2026 State SD – “A good athlete with solid size. A great role player who helps her teammates succeed.“
Karly Davis – “An unreal shooter who cannot be left open. She is always in the gym working on her game and loves to compete.“
Q&A with Nicole Pankonen
PGHD: Can you tell us a little about your coaching background?
“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.“
PGHD: Why are you excited to coach this group?
“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.“
PGHD: What style of basketball will you play?
“Our speed and basketball smarts will be our big strengths this summer. We plan to press a bunch every game and really get up and down the floor on both offense and defense!“
PGHD: What will your team “hang your hat on”?
“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.“
PGHD: Who do you predict will be your top defender?
“I think we have a very well-rounded defensive team but I expect Ava Kellenberger Ava Kellenberger 5'8" | CG Brandon Valley | 2026 State SD and Aubrie Van Beek Aubrie Van Beek 5'8" | CG Sioux Falls Christian | 2024 State SD to be our lockdown defenders on the ball.“
PGHD: What event/tournament are you looking forward to the most?
“I am excited for every tourney this summer as I think it will be fun to play different teams every tournament.“
PGHD: Do you see your team play man, zone, or a mix of both?
“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.“
PGHD: Will your team get together and practice?
“Yes, we currently practice once or twice a week and they have been very productive.“
PGHD: What are your goals for this AAU/grassroots season?
“I expect us to be very competitive in every game and grow as individuals and as a group.“
PGHD: Who are some of the top shooters?
“We can really shoot the 3-point shot. Everyone on our team can step out and hit it but Jaelyn Huntimer Jaelyn Huntimer 5'8" | SG Arlington | 2026 State SD is a great left-handed shooter who is ready to pull the trigger at all times.“
Best of luck to Team Warwick this summer!