Hoops Q&A: Grand Forks Central & Williston

The AA season is wrapped up, but Prep Girls Hoops Dakotas (PGHD) still wants to talk about/highlight the teams & players. We have info on a pair of AA squads, one from the EDC and one from the WDA.   This is PGHD's spin on Season Review articles. We are cutting right to the chase and getting to the meat! See below for Question & Answer sessions with Coach Braaten and Mathison.   Enough small talk, let's look at the Knights & Coyotes!   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/03/image_6b9336.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1223130" style="width:208px;height:auto" /></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/03/image_8c3049.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1223144" style="width:534px;height:auto" /></figure>   Grand Forks Central   Head Coach: Michael Mathison   Class: AA   Region: EDC   Record: 4-19   <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:216px;height:auto" /></figure>   With Coach Mathison   PGHD: How would you sum up the season for your squad?   "With a new coaching staff this year, we had a great year of growth, accountability, and growth with our confidence as basketball players. We battled every night we hit the court and never gave in to who we were playing. A lot of great things came from this season."   PGHD: Do you have any fun memories you want to share with us from the season?   "1 more win from the previous season. Didn't have to play in a play-in game for the EDC Tourney. Had to EDC All Conference Selections."   PGHD: How did your team overcome adversity?   "By not giving up. We worked and continued to learn every single day of practice. Despite any loss, we fought through the adversity any season brings and really did a nice job of responding to tough moments throughout the season."   PGHD: What are a few things your team improved on throughout the season?   "Self-confidence was the biggest thing. The effort and discipline it takes to compete at this level increased every game we played."   PGHD: Who are some role players that stood out to you?   "[player_tooltip player_id='469462' first='Jacie' last='Reardon'], our post, who had huge strides from the previous season and was one of the top post players in the EDC. Lauren Malott, our freshman point guard who facilitated our offense. Her stat lines may not have shown it, but what she was able to provide to our team was a huge impact on our success this season."   PGHD: Can you talk about your seniors and what will be missed?   "[player_tooltip player_id='385163' first='Lauren' last='Reardon'] was a five-year varsity player. She was under 100 points away from hitting the 2000-point scoring mark. Her attitude, leadership, and experience will be missed."    PGHD: Who are some up-and-comers to look out for in the future?   "[player_tooltip player_id='1130899' first='Jayla' last='Wald'] - logged great varsity minutes this year as a sophomore and looking forward to her work she puts in this off-season heading into next year. [player_tooltip player_id='1130893' first='Taylor' last='Olson'], a starting sophomore for us with a great defensive presence and good shot.  Along with Jayla, we are looking forward to her growth over the summer."   PGHD: Who was your best defensive player?   "[player_tooltip player_id='1130893' first='Taylor' last='Olson']. She has a quick first step on defense, very fast and disciplined."   PGHD: Who was your interior player?   "[player_tooltip player_id='469462' first='Jacie' last='Reardon'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1130898' first='Makena' last='Roche']. Both were a presence for us inside with their height, their touch around the rim, and their ability to go get a rebound."   PGHD: Any last comments/thoughts on the season?   "Overall, we are satisfied as first-year coaches at Central High School. Looking forward to the offseason with these girls and can't wait for the 25-26 campaign to start!"   BEST OF LUCK TO THE KNIGHTS THIS OFFSEASON!!   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/03/image_3ac956.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1223251" style="width:205px;height:auto" /></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/03/williston-GBB-crop-1036x680-1743095818.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1223119" style="width:419px;height:auto" /></figure>   Williston Coyotes   Head Coach: Jacob Braaten   Class: AA   Region: WDA   Record: 10-12   <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:202px;height:auto" /></figure>   With Coach Braaten   PGHD: Can you give us some opening comments on the Coyotes?   "The Williston girls' team is a fun team! We started 3 freshmen and 2 sophomores, with that we had freshmen and sophomores coming off the bench. We came up with some big wins against teams like Century, Jamestown, and Minot North. Played tough against most teams, lost to St Mary on a last-second buzzer-beater."   PGHD: Can you give us comments on a few of your players?   "We are led by [player_tooltip player_id='886322' first='Averi' last='Austreim']. She's a freshman who averaged around 17ppg and 8 rebounds. Averi has a very high IQ for the game. I expect next year will be a year that a lot of state finds out who she is."   "Averi has a twin sister [player_tooltip player_id='1154050' first='Alex' last='Austreim'] who played the pg role for us this year. She is about 5'10", which makes her such a difficult matchup for teams. Alex may have the most potential on this team."   "Rylee Irgen is another freshman starter for us. She became a starter about halfway through the year. Once seeing increased minutes, she ended up being 3rd in the WDA for steals and also one of the top assist players."   "[player_tooltip player_id='1220781' first='Mekiah' last='Klumker'], is my sophomore. Her and Averi both were All-WDA players this year. Mekiah “plays like a dude” she is physical and athletic. Against Century, she put up 27 points. Still very raw, but an exciting future!"   PGHD: How would you some up the season?   "To sum up the season, it was a season of growth, learning, and realizing. We see the potential we have, but potential will only be potential until it's acted on and improved. The girls have a hunger to let the state know Williston is back."   PGHD: Can you share a highlight of the season?   "Beating Century was a highlight. First time since 2002 that WHS has beat them."   PGHD: Can you tell us about some of the adversity you faced this season?   "After losing to St. Mary's, being up by 2 and Messer hitting a 3 at the buzzer, it was a crusher, but it motivated the girls to get better and better."   PGHD: What did you improve on this season?   "We improved in just knowing our roles on defense and offense. Playing together as a team."   PGHD: Can you tell us about your seniors?   "Grace Johnson was our senior. She was a quiet leader. Came out and put work in every day, never complained, just always came ready to do her job. No drama!"   PGHD: Who was your best defensive player?   "Rylee Irgens and Jove Zander both freshmen, had the defensive tenacity and IQ. Very smart in reading the offensive player's next move."   PGHD: Who was your interior player?   "[player_tooltip player_id='886322' first='Averi' last='Austreim'] was our interior player and also one of our best 3-point shooters. She has a very nice touch around the rim. Seems to score very unconventionally around the hoop."   PGHD: Any last comments?   "This season made us hungry. If we take the hunger into the offseason, next year could become special!"   BEST OF LUCK TO THE COYOTES THIS OFFSEASON!!   <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>

The AA season is wrapped up, but Prep Girls Hoops Dakotas (PGHD) still wants to talk about/highlight the teams & players. We have info on a pair of AA squads, one from the EDC and one from the WDA.