Spearfish Spartans

Prep Girls Hoops Dakotas (PGHD) is going west for a Team Preview on the Spartans from Spearfish.   The teams/players from West River never get enough attention or recognition, lets take a serious look at Coach Johnson's squad. The Spartans made it to the State Tournament last year and they bring back serious talent and experienced ballers. The expectations should be high heading into the season.   Practices tip-off on the 25th of November, the first games can be played on Dec 5th, and the State Tournament is March 13-15 in Rapid City.   See below for the Spartans schedule, stats, player comments, and a Q&A session with Coach Johnson.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/11/image_c3fafc.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1058876" style="width:226px;height:auto" /></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2020/06/Preview-crop-770x506-1715844907-crop-742x487-1715898433.jpg?w=741" alt="" class="wp-image-910079" style="width:188px;height:auto" /></figure>   Spearfish Spartans   Game Schedule   12/13 - at Bell Fourche | 12/20 - home vs. Aberdeen Central | 12/21 - home vs. Pierre   12/28 - home vs. Rapid City Stevens | 1/2 - at Hot Springs | 1/9 - at Hill City   1/17 - home vs. Brandon Valley | 1/18 - home vs. Harrisburg | 1/21 - home vs. Mahpiya Luta   1/28 - home vs. St. Thomas More | 1/30 - at Rapid City Central | 2/4 - at Lead-Deadwood   2/7 - at Huron | 2/8 -at Mitchell | 2/11 - at Sturgis | 2/13 - home vs. Custer   2/18 - at Rapid City Christian | 2/20 - home vs. Douglas | 2/28 - at Yankton   3/1 at Brookings   Key Returners   Comments from coach Johnson   [player_tooltip player_id='527479' first='Mya' last='Kochuten'] (2025) |5'6 G|- 19 gp, 9.9 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 2 apg, 36 FG%, 45.5, eFG%   [player_tooltip player_id='554110' first='Jozie' last='Dana'] (2025) |5'7 G| - 24 gp, 10.6 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 2 apg, 38.1 FG%, 46.3 eFG%   [player_tooltip player_id='347876' first='Kate' last='Scharf'] (2026) |5'7 G| - 24 gp, 8.1 ppg, 2.3 rpg, .8 apg, 41 FG%, 52.5 eFG%   [player_tooltip player_id='888292' first='Adelyn' last='Bouman'] (2026) |5'7 G| - 24 gp, 6.8 ppg, 3 rpg, 2.1 apg, 52.6 FG%, 55.3 eFG%   [player_tooltip player_id='1052232' first='Kali' last='Reiners'] (2026) |5'7 G| - 24 gp, 4.2 ppg, 2.2 rpg, .5 apg, 33.3 FG%, 40.1 eFG%   [player_tooltip player_id='1052231' first='Tiersyn' last='Grubb'] (2026) |5'9 G| - 24 gp, 3 ppg, 4.6 rpg, .5 apg, 34.7 FG%, 34.7 eFG%   "[player_tooltip player_id='527479' first='Mya' last='Kochuten'] & [player_tooltip player_id='554110' first='Jozie' last='Dana'] - (SR guards) both leading scorers & leaders in minutes played. They will be key to our offense again this year. [player_tooltip player_id='347876' first='Kate' last='Scharf'] (JR) knockdown shooter that entered the starting lineup towards the middle of last season, very physical & high basketball IQ guard."   "Our returning juniors are also coming back with a lot of experience - [player_tooltip player_id='888292' first='Adelyn' last='Bouman'] (G), [player_tooltip player_id='1052232' first='Kali' last='Reiners'] (G), & [player_tooltip player_id='1052231' first='Tiersyn' last='Grubb'] (C) are all expected to play key roles for us this year."   <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:262px;height:auto" /></figure>   With Dakota Johnson   PGHD: How would you sum up last season?   "Last season was the culmination of complete buy-in & trust in our program. We spent the first couple of years building that belief and then it finally paid off last year as we were able to host the SoDak 16 & make it to the State Tournament! That group set the standard that we will continue to reach for in the following years."   PGHD: Does your program/team have any non-negotiables?   "Team Motto: WE WILL - be better people, students, & basketball players, in that order. If we say we're going to do something - WE WILL"   "This is how we approach everything on and off the floor & expect all players to buy into it if they want to be a part of our program."   PGHD: What will your defense "hang its hat on"?   "Intensity & physicality. We are going to be significantly undersized in comparison to some of the other teams we go against but we expect all of our players to be able to guard anyone on the floor & do it with intensity & physicality."   PGHD: Who will be your primary ballhandler this year?   "[player_tooltip player_id='527479' first='Mya' last='Kochuten']. She is one of the best ball handlers that I have had the privilege to coach. She has great court awareness and the ability to put teammates in great positions to score. But she also has the ability to score at will when needed."   PHD: How did the offseason go for your team/program?   "We had a great offseason & had great numbers coming to open gyms & team camps consistently. We spent a lot of time building our individual strength to score in different ways. We also focused a lot on being efficient in transition as we expect to be undersized so we are going to be sure we are at least faster."   PGHD: Who are a few of your top players to look out for?   "[player_tooltip player_id='527479' first='Mya' last='Kochuten'] - Great scorer from anywhere & very high basketball IQ."   "[player_tooltip player_id='554110' first='Jozie' last='Dana'] - Also great scorer but probably one of our top defenders. Last year she was able to shut down other teams' top players while still being about to score 10-15 points herself and play a full 32 min."   "[player_tooltip player_id='347876' first='Kate' last='Scharf'] - A nightmare for other teams once she sees one go in. She can shoot from anywhere at a high clip and has been able to make some significant defensive improvements over the summer."   PGHD: Who are a couple of up-and-comers to look out for?   "[player_tooltip player_id='1052136' first='Avery' last='Kirk'] - She is a senior that got a few varsity minutes here and there last year. She was a very key and standout player for a JV team and has been able to use that growth phenomenally. She recognized spots opening up from our graduating seniors and has worked very hard over the summer to fill the gap very well."   "[player_tooltip player_id='888292' first='Adelyn' last='Bouman'], [player_tooltip player_id='1052231' first='Tiersyn' last='Grubb'], & [player_tooltip player_id='1052232' first='Kali' last='Reiners'] - Returning juniors that are expected to provide great minutes for us. Adelyn is a menace on defense & provides a ton of speed for us. Kali brings the juice wherever and whenever she's needed. She is going to be a great backup PG for Mya this year. Tiersyn played a lot of great minutes for us backing up our standout senior post Maria Bouman. She learned a lot from the upperclassmen & experience she got last year & we are excited to see her use that this year."   PGHD: Who do you think will be your best rebounders?   "[player_tooltip player_id='554110' first='Jozie' last='Dana'], [player_tooltip player_id='888292' first='Adelyn' last='Bouman'], [player_tooltip player_id='527479' first='Mya' last='Kochuten'] & [player_tooltip player_id='1052231' first='Tiersyn' last='Grubb']."   "Jozie & Adelyn are very active & hard to box out. Mya often gets forgotten as most teams let the top guard go & she is very smart in recognizing that advantage at the right times to make teams pay. Tiersyn being one of our posts has high expectations to be a rebounder & she has great strength & physicality to do that."   PGHD: What are your team goals this year?   "Maintain. We don't want Spearfish to be the team that gets to State every 10 years. We want to continue to be competitive in every game & give us the chance for hosting the SoDak 16 Game and be consistent in making it to the State Tournament. However, we want to continue to keep raising our standards & expectations to not just go to the State Tournament but also place higher and higher."   PGHD: Who will be your hardest worker?   "We are going to have a tight race with our Top 8 players on who will have that title. This group loves to compete & push each other because they have seen the positives of doing that firsthand."   PGHD: Who are some of the top teams & players in your Region?   "Teams: Red Cloud, RC Christian, RC Central, RC Stevens."   "Players: Lilly Nore, Ashlan Blount, Hayden Thornton, [player_tooltip player_id='1058611' first='Leah' last='Landry'], [player_tooltip player_id='324044' first='Taaliyah' last='Porter']."   PGHD: Any last comments about the upcoming season?   "Excited to get rolling!"   BEST OF LUCK TO THE SPARTANS!!   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/11/image_b083fa.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1058877" /></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/11/image_1eba05.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1058627" /></figure>

Prep Girls Hoops Dakotas (PGHD) is going west for a Team Preview on the Spartans from Spearfish.