Q&A: Central McLean & Sargent Central

Prep Girls Hoops Dakotas has two Team Previews in this article, they are coming at you via Q&A!   We are highlighting Central McLean and Sargent Central. Both squads went to State last year and plan on making it again this spring! The expectations and excitement are extremely high for both programs.   On Monday 12/2/24, the North Dakota Associated Press Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association (NDAPSSA) released the first B Girls Basketball state polls. It just so happens that Central McLean and Sargent Central are both ranked in the Top10! Central McLean came in ranked #1 and Sargent Central is ranked #5.   Let's just say that we are looking at two of the elite squads in Class B girl's basketball!   Central McLean Cougars - Preview   Program: Central McLean   Mascot: Cougars   Head Coach: Ethan Vaagene   Class: B   Region: 4   District: 8   2023-24 Record: 26-3 (5th at State)   <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 Coach Vaagene   PGHD: How would you sum up last season?   "Last season was very successful. We finished the season 26-3.  We got to the State Tournament for the first time in the history of the program and placed 5th. It was a huge milestone for our program and a huge hurdle the girls overcame after coming up short the previous two seasons."   PGHD: Does your program/team have any non-negotiables?   "Playing hard at all times and making defense a priority. No drama is tolerated."   PGHD: What will your defense "hang its hat on"?   "Our defensive philosophy will continue to be our pressure style of defense both in the full court and half court."   PGHD: Who will be your primary ballhandler this year?   "[player_tooltip player_id='935277' first='Morgan' last='Snyder'] will be our point guard again this year. She has tremendous quickness and ballhandling abilities and sees the floor very well. She is our floor general. [player_tooltip player_id='1095938' first='Reagan' last='Kjelstrup'] will also be able to run the point guard spot if teams double team to take Morgan away."   PGHD: How did the offseason go for your team/program?   "We had a good offseason. We played a lot of good competition from both in-state and out-of-state. We also improved our team strength. One of our main improvements was our ability to score one-on-one and in the half-court. We also were able to develop some younger players to improve our team depth."   PGHD: Who are a few of your top players?   "[player_tooltip player_id='935277' first='Morgan' last='Snyder'] (16.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='935268' first='Adlyn' last='Eng'] (12.8 ppg, 7rpg), and [player_tooltip player_id='1095938' first='Reagan' last='Kjelstrup'] (10.8 ppg, 5 rpg)."   PGHD: Who do you think will be your best rebounders?   "[player_tooltip player_id='935268' first='Adlyn' last='Eng'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1095938' first='Reagan' last='Kjelstrup']. Both have a physical presence and do a very good job crashing boards both on offense and defense."   PGHD: What are your team goals this year?   "Go undefeated"   "Make the State Tournament"   "Win the State Tournament"   PGHD: Who will be your hardest worker?   "[player_tooltip player_id='935277' first='Morgan' last='Snyder']. She has an endless motor and a desire to be the best player in the state."   PGHD: Who are some of the top teams & players in your Region?   "Top Teams: Bowman County, Grant-County/Mott-Regent, Washburn. In that order."   "Top Players: [player_tooltip player_id='935277' first='Morgan' last='Snyder'], [player_tooltip player_id='935268' first='Adlyn' last='Eng'], [player_tooltip player_id='1095938' first='Reagan' last='Kjelstrup'] - CMC; Sophia Hedley and Reagan Honeyman - Bowman; Layla Jensen - Hettinger Scranton; Cara Schleer -Garrison"   PGHD: Any last comments about the upcoming season?   "We look to have a great season. We return our top three players from last year and all three are All-State caliber players. All (3) also have the chance to go over 1,000 points this season which is pretty amazing to have (3) players with that accomplishment! [player_tooltip player_id='935277' first='Morgan' last='Snyder'] and [player_tooltip player_id='935268' first='Adlyn' last='Eng'] for sure will go over 1,000 points this season. Our goal is to win our District, win our Region, and win State. If we execute and perform we have all the tangibles to complete these goals."   GOOD LUCK COUGERS!!   Sargent Central Bulldogs - Preview   Program: Sargent County   Mascot: Bulldog   Head Coach: Randy Syrstad   Class: B   Region: 1    District: 1   2023-24 Record: 24-4 (3rd at State)   <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:268px;height:auto" /></figure>   With Coach Syrstad   PGHD: Could you write a couple of sentences summing up last season?   "Last season was one that will be remembered for a while with both the boys and girls programs making it to the State Tournament. The girls started out 12-0 before being handed their first loss to eventual State Champion May-Port CG. Some tough losses towards the end of regular season play molded the team into a run through the District and Regional Tournaments taking both against teams we lost to for each Championship Game."   PGHD: Does your program/team have any non-negotiables?   "The girls have really taken the term "team" to a whole new level but I usually end each of my pregame talks with above all........and the girls say attitude and effort, meaning give max effort and carry your attitude well at all times. They have added the t for together and m to create the acronym TEAM. The girls developed this and run with it leading by example."   PHD: What will your defense "hang its hat on"?   "Working hard and outworking other teams on the defensive side of the ball creates our best offense in transition. Our half-court and ¾ court traps and pressures work better than our man-to-man full-court. We enjoy switching throughout the games to confuse our opponents and the girls take hold of whatever we run and do well working together."   PGHD: Who will be your primary ballhandler this year?   "[player_tooltip player_id='935272' first='Emma' last='Bixby']-#2 Senior captain was our primary leader facilitating the last couple of seasons already. She does everything well and sees the floor well while knowing when to score at times. She would rather get 10 assists than score 10 points. You notice when she's not on the court on both sides of the ball but especially on offense reading other team's defense and setting our own offense up."   PGHD: How did the offseason go for your team/program?   "A group of girls were in the weight room at "boot camp" while attending separate workouts, player camps and the team went to 5 team camps and one-day tourneys around the region. Open gyms were done with most attending by the captains/seniors at times too."   PGHD: Who are a few of your top players to look out for?   "[player_tooltip player_id='889645' first='Karleigh' last='Kadoun']#22-JR forward-Led us in scoring last season but will need to take a different role as a facilitator more as teams will double her so she needs to recognize the floor more while rebounding and on the defensive side of the ball harder."   "[player_tooltip player_id='935272' first='Emma' last='Bixby']-#2 SR-Guard-Led us the last two seasons in steals and assists while her hard work on the defensive side of the ball pressuring other teams guards."   "[player_tooltip player_id='1096041' first='Lillianna' last='Lee']-#14-SR Forward-Can hit the three and post up well with her size. She will need to look to score more in order for us to do well and take more of a leadership role on both sides of the ball and rebounding."   [player_tooltip player_id='1096038' first='Sadie' last='Neustel']-#35 SR-G/F-Sadie would run through a wall if I told her to. Her tenacity and hard work at all times is seen by doing the little things fundamentally sound while her shooting can be a great asset of hers; just need her to want to shoot more.   PHD: Who are a couple of up-and-comers to look out for?   "[player_tooltip player_id='1096043' first='Ashlynn' last='Sundquist']-SR-F/C-She sat out her Junior season and has great ability to take a large presence inside on both sides of the ball. Her strength is something that not many girls have at this age and level so she can be a big piece inside with abilities to also shoot outside."   "[player_tooltip player_id='1096044' first='Mallory' last='Bogart']-#3 FR Guard-She has taken a big leap coming up to the HS level as a 7th grader. Her ability to finish and attack while hitting the outside shot will only get better as she matures."   PGHD: Who do you think will be your best rebounder?   "[player_tooltip player_id='1096043' first='Ashlynn' last='Sundquist'] was tied as a sophomore rebounding but bigger numbers will be seen by [player_tooltip player_id='1096041' first='Lillianna' last='Lee'], [player_tooltip player_id='1096038' first='Sadie' last='Neustel'], and [player_tooltip player_id='889645' first='Karleigh' last='Kadoun']."   PGHD: What are your team goals this year?   "Now that the girls have some taste of the State Tournament level, this is a big goal to make it back but also get to the championship game after a semifinal loss to the State Champion in the season prior."   PGHD: Who will be your hardest worker?   "We kind of have two, but as stated earlier, [player_tooltip player_id='1096038' first='Sadie' last='Neustel'] and [player_tooltip player_id='935272' first='Emma' last='Bixby'] do everything I ask of them and more!"   PGHD: Who are some of the top players in your Region?   "Maple River - [player_tooltip player_id='245109' first='Adyson' last='Hannig'], [player_tooltip player_id='1048745' first='Violet' last='Richman'] | Wyndmere/Lidgerwood - [player_tooltip player_id='359056' first='Emerson' last='Johnson'] | Enderlin - Aspen Schlecht | Richland - Alayna Schmidt | Tri-State - Laurence | Oakes -Brianna Schmitz | Linton - [player_tooltip player_id='1097250' first='Jersey' last='Vogel'] | EKM - [player_tooltip player_id='457914' first='Libby' last='Mathern'] | Kidder County - [player_tooltip player_id='415685' first='Taylor' last='Zimmerman'] | South Border - Macy Monson | Lamoure - Nora Delebarre"   PGHD: Any last comments about the upcoming season?   "We looked forward to last season's group but even more to this season's start. This group of Seniors have been playing with a couple younger girls since they were in second grade and love to just play. They want it bad and a Championship appearance or bust kind of season so the pressure is there but these girls are capable to handle quite a bit!"   GOOD LUCK BULLDOGS!!   <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 Team Previews in this article, they are coming at you via Q&A!