Q&A: Central Cass & Watford City

Prep Girls Hoops Dakotas has two Class A Team Previews for the basketball fans to take in.   We are looking at the Squirrels from Central Cass and the Wolves from Watford City. These Previews are done Q&A style!   Class A girls basketball starts practice on November 25th and the first games of the season can be played on December 6th. It will be a fun year of hoops in Class A, there is a ton of talent spread throughout the State and many of the teams have aspirations to make the State Tournament.   See below for info on CC and WC...   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/11/cCs.jpg?w=686" alt="" class="wp-image-1057738" style="width:232px;height:auto" /></figure>   <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:233px;height:auto" /></figure>   School: Central Cass   Mascot: Squirrels   Head Coach: Jay Bachman   Class: A   Region: 1   2023-24 Record: 8-14   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/11/QA.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-1057756" style="width:335px;height:auto" /></figure>   With Coach Jay Bachman   PGDH: How would you sum up last season?   "We had a growing season after losing 7 seniors the year prior. We also didn't have a senior on the roster last year, so a building season ended up being a successful season."   PGHD: How did the offseason go for your team/program?   "We had a great offseason. Our team chemistry improved, and we had a few underclassmen earn their stripes at some team camps."   PGHD: Who are a few of your top players to look out for?   [player_tooltip player_id='933462' first='Olivia' last='Siverson'] Jr. 5'10” Forward - 11.5 ppg, 5 rpg, 2.3 apg, 42.1 FG%, 46.1 eFG%   "Dynamic player who affects all facets of the game, her size, strength, and shooting ability make her hard to stop."   [player_tooltip player_id='1057801' first='Avah' last='Cotton'] Sr. 5'9”  Guard - 9.3 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 2.4 apg, 30.5 FG%, 34.9 eFG%   "Great shooter, great Leader, one of the best defenders in the STATE."   [player_tooltip player_id='1057803' first='Emery' last='Holland'] Sr.  5'9” Guard - 10.8 ppg, 2.5 rpg, .8 apg, 27.8 FG%, 35.4 3FG%   "Sharp Shooter from 3. Led team in scoring and 3's last year."   [player_tooltip player_id='1057798' first='Kenley' last='Haug'] 8th 5'5”Guard - 5.8 ppg, 1.8 rpg, .9 apg, 32.9 FG%, 38.9 eFG%   "Dynamic is an understatement, can drive and shoot, best handles in the state."   [player_tooltip player_id='1057804' first='Bekah' last='Kegley'] Sr. 5'7” Forward - 7.1 ppg, 5 rpg, 2.2 apg, 40 FG%, 42.2 eFG%   [player_tooltip player_id='1057827' first='Abby' last='Kobbervig'] Jr. 5'6” Guard - 1.9 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 1.1 apg, 28.3 FG%, 32.6 eFG%   [player_tooltip player_id='1057805' first='Faith' last='Bjerke'] Sr. 6' Center   PGHD: Who are a couple of up-and-comers to look out for?   "[player_tooltip player_id='1057798' first='Kenley' last='Haug'] 8th. Sophie Scherweit So. Jaci Verkhuelen 9th."   PGHD: What style of basketball will your team play?   "Unselfish fast-paced basketball."   PGHD: Who do you think will be your top defender?   "[player_tooltip player_id='1057801' first='Avah' last='Cotton'], as a Sophomore and Junior she was our best defender. She can guard 1-5, often shutting down the other team's best ball handlers."   PGHD: What are a couple of your team goals this year?   "Make the top 3 in the Region."   "Qualify for the State Tournament."   PGHD: Who are a couple of your top shooters?   "[player_tooltip player_id='1057803' first='Emery' last='Holland']- Led team in 3's last year."   "[player_tooltip player_id='1057798' first='Kenley' last='Haug']- Growing and getting stronger, was already a good shooter a year ago."   PGHD: In your opinion, who are some of the top teams in your Region?   "Wahpeton, Central Cass, Oak Grove"   BEST OF LUCK TO THE SQUIRRELS!!   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/11/image_cad092.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1057957" /></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/11/image_2704a9.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1057958" /></figure>   School: Watford City   Mascot: Wolves   Head Coach: Tom Dwyer   Class: A   Region: 4   2023-24 Record: 19-9   Team Stats 2023-24   GP: 28 PPG: 53.6 PPP: .81 RPG: 32.9 ORPG: 11.6 APG: 12.9 FG%: 37.3 eFG%: 41.3 3FG%: 23.9 FT%: 64.3   Players To Watch   [player_tooltip player_id='1057962' first='Adi' last='Schaff'] (2025) - GP: 28 PPG: 8.6 RPG: 7 APG: 1.3 FG%: 31.4   [player_tooltip player_id='379966' first='Bailey' last='Mattson'] (2026) |5'8 G| - GP: 28 PPG: 10.6 RPG: 5 APG: 2.1 FG%: 37.9   [player_tooltip player_id='1057963' first='Fallon' last='Sampsel'] (2025) - GP: 28 PPG: 1.7 RPG: 2.5 APG: .4 FG%: 36.1   [player_tooltip player_id='1057960' first='Amelia' last='Wisness'] (2026) - GP: 28 PPG: 1.1 RPG: 1.7 APG: .8 FG%: 14.3   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/11/image_3b40b9.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1057956" style="width:292px;height:auto" /></figure>   With Coach Tom Dwyer   PGHD: How would you sum up last season?   "Overall, I think we had a great season and were proud of what we did. We ended the regular season in 2nd place in our Region. In the Region Tournament, we were able to win our first two games but lost a very close game to Shiloh in the Region Championship. We played very well in the State Qualifying Game against Turtle Mountain and had a very exciting win. We competed well in the State Tournament but took 8th place. There were certainly some games we wished we would have played better to have a different result. But like I stated earlier, we were proud of how we played and gave it everything we had."   PGHD: How did the offseason go for your team/program?   "The offseason went well. We have some open gyms, camps, and scrimmages. We mostly focused on improving fundamentals and improving specific skills."   PGHD: Who are a few of your top players to look out for?   "We have quite a few returning players coming back so we should have some good varsity experience. [player_tooltip player_id='1057962' first='Adi' last='Schaff'] has continued to get better and better every year. She was a crucial player for us last year and will continue to rely on her for scoring, defense, and rebounding. [player_tooltip player_id='379966' first='Bailey' last='Mattson'] can be a spark for us and has a knack for creating big plays with her shooting and steals. [player_tooltip player_id='1057963' first='Fallon' last='Sampsel'] became one of our better defenders last year with her overall athleticism and her length. [player_tooltip player_id='1057960' first='Amelia' last='Wisness'] is one of the smartest players I have had the privilege to coach. She knows her role, plays great defense, and is one of our most important players when it comes to rebounding. And then we have a lot of exciting players who we are looking to rely more on this upcoming season with Annabell Bohn, Kally Soreson, Lohgan Hanna, and Harlee Jacobson."   PGHD: What style of basketball will your team play?   "We play good defense. That's always our first focus every year. How we accomplish that can vary a little from year to year based on our team's strengths. But we will look to exert a lot of pressure on defense and force a lot of turnovers. Offensively, we continue to focus on sharing the ball, doing a good job of getting the ball to move from one side to the other and back, and making the defense work."   PGHD: Who do you think will be your top defender?   "We have quite a few really good defenders. As mentioned above, [player_tooltip player_id='1057963' first='Fallon' last='Sampsel'] is very athletic, is tall, and has very long arms. Her speed can help her keep with almost anyone and her length gives her some extra steps to make up for if she does get beat. [player_tooltip player_id='1057960' first='Amelia' last='Wisness'] is smart, knows where to be and when, and is one of our best help-side defenders. [player_tooltip player_id='1057962' first='Adi' last='Schaff'] is strong and can battle with any post we face. [player_tooltip player_id='379966' first='Bailey' last='Mattson'] is a great anticipator and gets a lot of steals."   PGHD: What are a couple of your team goals this year?   "Goal 1: Have a good experience; have fun. Goal 2: Improve certain characteristics that will help all of us be successful like working hard, being good teammates, being resilient, etc. Goal 3: We always have another team goal but decide as a team and haven't come up with that goal yet."   PGHD: Who are your top shooters?   "[player_tooltip player_id='1057962' first='Adi' last='Schaff'], [player_tooltip player_id='379966' first='Bailey' last='Mattson'], Lohgan Hanna, Annabelle Bohn, Harlee Jacobson. Consistency, confidence, repetitions."   PGHD: Who are the top teams & players in your Region?   "Shiloh, Dickinson Trinity, and Hazen will all be tough. Killdeer improved a lot last year and I could see them surprising people. Shiloh is returning a couple key players from last year with [player_tooltip player_id='1051216' first='Emma' last='Duffy'], [player_tooltip player_id='465352' first='Payge' last='Schock'], and Betsy Hadlestad. Dickinson Trinity has one of the best shooters in the Region with [player_tooltip player_id='412033' first='Annabel' last='Scheeler'], but they also have good post with [player_tooltip player_id='380066' first='Nevaeh' last='Tormaschy']. Hazen has [player_tooltip player_id='1051389' first='Lauren' last='Doll'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1052973' first='Macey' last='Van Inwagen']. Killdeer has [player_tooltip player_id='1052989' first='Mickellyn' last='Walker']."    PGHD: Any last comments about the upcoming season?   "I'm excited to see how things turn out. We have a chance to be competitive with anyone but will need to be focused on getting better every single day."   BEST OF LUCK TO THE WOLVES!!   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/11/prepGIRLShoopsdakotas.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-1056252" /></figure>

Prep Girls Hoops Dakotas has two Class A Team Previews for the basketball fans to take in.