Four Winds-Minnewaukan: Hoops Profile

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Prep Girls Hoops Dakotas (PGHD) is moving to Class A Region 2 for this Team Preview/Hoops Profile. We are focusing on a community that is rich in basketball history. The players, fans, and stakeholders in the area live and breathe basketball. We are focusing on the Indians from Four Winds-Minnewaukan!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is an exciting group because of their young talent, passion for the gave, and they have a top-notch coach. They also have [player_tooltip player_id='1000498' first='Suri' last='Gourd'] who is one of the best young ballers in all of North Dakota.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>See below for player info &amp; stats, plus an in-depth &amp; insightful Q&amp;A with Coach Gourd.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1050686,"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/4/2024/10/4winds.jpg?w=700" alt="" class="wp-image-1050686" 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>Four Winds-Minnewaukan</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"25px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:25px"><strong>2023-24 Team Stats</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>12-12 Record, 4th in Region 2 (Division A), 51.2 ppg, 24.3 rpg, 14.5 spg, 30% 3FG's</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"25px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:25px"><strong>2023-24 Returning Statistical Leaders</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1000498' first='Suri' last='Gourd'] 5'8" CG, (2028) - </strong>17.3 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 121 steals (5.0 spg), 120 assists (5.0 apg), 60-3's</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1050761' first='Ava' last='Gourd'] 5'4" PG, (2025) - </strong>7.2 ppg, 82 assists (3.4 apg)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1050762' first='Cailee' last='Hanson'] 5'11" G/F, (2026) - </strong>9.2 ppg, 44-3's</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1050763' first='Kendra' last='Spotted Wolf'] 5'10" F - (2026) - </strong>7.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1050265,"width":"211px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/10/QA.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-1050265" style="width:211px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"25px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:25px"><strong>With Coach Sean Gourd</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PGHD: Could you write a couple of sentences&nbsp;summing up last&nbsp;season?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Our team finished with a 12-12 record and had a 4th place finish in Region 2 (Division A) last season.&nbsp;Our Region consists of Devils Lake (State Champion), Thompson (#1 most of the season, 24-1), Grafton (always tough &amp; big), Carrington (always a quality, athletic team), and Hillsboro-CV.&nbsp;We had some very good non-conference wins against Wahpeton, Northern Cass, and Rugby but we also played a few very good teams close (Lost to Valley City by 4, lost to Devils Lake by 3, lost to Shiloh by 8).&nbsp;Our youth &amp; inexperience definitely showed at times during the year.&nbsp;We also finished the season with only 14 players (Varsity AND JV) so that's always tough.&nbsp;Considering we only had 1 senior, 1 junior, with some sophomores last season, I think we had a better-than-expected season.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PGHD: How did the offseason go for your team/program?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>We had a good off-season with the extra time some girls have put in with their skill work and gym dedication.&nbsp;We have a good group of experienced juniors now and a talented freshman class that can hopefully come together at the right time.&nbsp;Team Camps and Summer Leagues were very productive for us as we have noticed the girls are starting to grow into their roles and get better as a team.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PGHD: Who are a few of your top players to look out for?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>[player_tooltip player_id='1000498' first='Suri' last='Gourd'] (Freshman) is our returning two-time All-Region player (2023 &amp; 2024) who led us in scoring (17.3 ppg), assists (5.0 apg), steals (5.1 spg), and 3 pointers (60) last season as an 8th grader.&nbsp;Suri has really&nbsp;worked hard to improve her game this offseason and she&nbsp;is looking forward to the&nbsp;challenge of becoming a leader on this team.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>[player_tooltip player_id='1050761' first='Ava' last='Gourd'] (Senior) is our lone senior and we will be looking for some leadership from her this season. She has the potential to be a good point guard (4.4 apg) at the next level because of her speed, scoring, and defensive tenacity.&nbsp;Ava is very unselfish and she'll do what is needed for her team to succeed.&nbsp;We think Ava will have a very good year for us as she has aspirations of playing college ball.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>[player_tooltip player_id='1050762' first='Cailee' last='Hanson'] (Junior) is a tall (5'11") and athletic wing that has tons of potential.&nbsp;She can cause a lot of havoc for opposing teams with her length and hustle on the defensive side of the ball.&nbsp;She has shown that she has the ability to knock down the 3-point shot (44-3's last season) and if she can attack the basket to get to the FT line more this season, her scoring will increase and teams will definitely have to focus on her.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>[player_tooltip player_id='1050763' first='Kendra' last='Spotted Wolf'] (Junior) had become one of our most important players as the season progressed last year.&nbsp;She works hard at every practice/game and does all of the little things that help a team win.&nbsp;Kendra rebounds, defends, is very physical, and scores for us at the post position.&nbsp; She is also very unselfish as she is always willing to make the extra pass to an open teammate (3rd on the team in assists last season).</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PGHD: Who are a couple of up-and-comers to look out for in the near future?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>We have a freshmen class that has a lot&nbsp;of potential but it all really depends on how much work they put in.&nbsp;<strong>Stella Dubois</strong>, <strong>Sophia Alberts</strong>, <strong>Kyra Keo</strong> are all freshmen who can make an impact at the varsity level for us if they really want to.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline"><strong>PGHD: What style of basketball will your team play?</strong></span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Depending on what our numbers will look like this year, we would always prefer to pressure the ball full court and get up and down the court the entire game.&nbsp;That has been our style of play every year.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PGHD: Who do you think will be your top defender?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Our top defender will be either: [player_tooltip player_id='1050761' first='Ava' last='Gourd'], she has the speed and quickness to get into a players game and disrupt their flow.&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1050762' first='Cailee' last='Hanson']</strong> may also be our top defender as she is a long and athletic guard that can cause havoc on a lot of players.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PGHD: <u>What are a couple of your team goals this year?</u></span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>We need to become a better rebounding team and we need our bench to develop more if we want to compete with the top teams in the Region and State.&nbsp;Our ultimate goal every year is to make the State Tournament.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PGHD: <u>Who are a couple of your top shooters?</u></span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>[player_tooltip player_id='1000498' first='Suri' last='Gourd'] (60-3's last season) and [player_tooltip player_id='1050762' first='Cailee' last='Hanson'] (44-3's last season) are our two top shooters.&nbsp;Suri &amp; Cailee both have put in extra work throughout the season and after practices.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PGHD: Who are some of the top teams &amp; players in your Region?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Devils Lake (State Champion) and Thompson (#1 most of last season, 24-1) are definitely the top 2 teams in our region (possibly state) and they will both be bringing back a lot of their players who played big roles for them.&nbsp;[player_tooltip player_id='342171' first='Addison' last='Sage'] (Thompson) will be one of the top players in our Region along with [player_tooltip player_id='933650' first='Tylie' last='Brodina'] (Devils Lake).&nbsp;I believe [player_tooltip player_id='1000498' first='Suri' last='Gourd'] (Four Winds-Minn) will have a very good season and become a top player in our Region this year as well.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PGHD: Any last comments about the upcoming season?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>We have some smart guards and good shooters along the perimeter.&nbsp;Our defensive intensity &amp; hustle have been pretty consistent during this offseason and our post-play has improved also.&nbsp;Our gym dedication this past summer has been very promising as we hope it continues into the season.&nbsp;Hopefully, we will play our best ball at the end of the season and make some noise.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"25px","fontStyle":"italic","fontWeight":"800"}}} --> <p style="font-size:25px;font-style:italic;font-weight:800"><strong>Best of luck this season to 4Winds-Minnewaukan</strong>!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1050686,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/10/4winds.jpg?w=700" alt="" class="wp-image-1050686" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->