Wagner Red Raiders: Season Synopsis

The Class A Girls' Basketball season is in the rearview mirror. To help put a bow on the season, Prep Girls Hoops Dakotas will be publishing a series of Season Reviews.   Today, we are looking at one of the Class A State Tournament participants, the Wagner Red Raiders!   Head Coach: Michael Koupal   Class: A   Region: 5   Record: 18-7 (7th Place at State Tournament)   See below for stats, player comments, and an interesting Q&A session.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/03/image_09699e.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1222998" style="width:266px;height:auto" /></figure>   WAGNER RED RAIDERS   Player Stats   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/03/image_c0568f.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1222999" style="width:1166px;height:auto" /></figure>   Player Comments from Coach Koupal   [player_tooltip player_id='304527' first='Lydia' last='Yost'] (2025) |5'9"| - "Played at a high clip both offensively and defensively for us. She scored 877 points in her career, 359 rebounds, 261 assists, and 160 steals. She handled the point and guarded the best player most of the time."   Genesis Patterson (2025) |5'9"| - "Brought valuable minutes in the post."   Hayden Knudsen (2027) |5'7"| - "Is a great passer as she played both guard and post. She started to find her rhythm from the outside later in the year."   [player_tooltip player_id='731178' first='Braxton' last='Nedved'] (2027) |5'7"| - "Became a consistent scorer and a very good defender."   [player_tooltip player_id='731179' first='Ravyn' last='Medricky'] (2027) |6'3"| - "Used her 6'3" frame to be a presence both offensively and defensively this year."   [player_tooltip player_id='377192' first='Ashlyn' last='Koupal'] (2026) |6'3"| - "Continued to show everyone why she is an elite player on both ends of the floor.  After her junior season, she as accumulated 1939 points, 860 rebounds, 364 assists, 287 blocks, and 189 steals."   <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:286px;height:auto" /></figure>   With Michael Koupal   PGHD: How would you sum up the season for your squad?   "We are very pleased with what we got accomplished this year as a team. We won both our conferences that we are part of. We advanced to the State Tournament which is now 3 of the last 4 years.   We were knocked out last year in our Region finals."    PGHD: Do you have any fun memories you want to share with us?   "Our team really came together this year and were there for each other. We saw a lot of togetherness and not just individuals."   PGHD: How did your team overcome adversity?   "We had to combat against a lot of junk defense early in the season. Our underclassmen and role players had to figure out how to handle that game in and game out. We also went through a stretch mid-season where we lost 4 of 6 games, where 2 of those games we probably shouldn't have lost."   PGHD: What are a few things your team improved on throughout the season?   "After those 4 losses, we really need to get back to the basics, play more sound defense, and take advantage of what they were going to give us offensively."   PGHD: Who are some role players that stood out to you?   "[player_tooltip player_id='731178' first='Braxton' last='Nedved'] was our 3rd leading scorer, and she started knocking down perimeter shots on a consistent basis. That opened up more inside presence and put pressure on the defense. She was also heavily involved on defense, guarding either the opposing team's best guard or second-best guard. Hayden Knudsen isn't going to fill the scoring column, but she stated to figure out how to set great screens for our girls getting chased and then putting herself in position offensively after her screens to take high-quality shots that made opposing teams guard her. [player_tooltip player_id='731179' first='Ravyn' last='Medricky'] played a huge role defensively, being 6'3", she averaged over 7 rebounds a game, and on the offensive end, she became a better passer and scored at the rim later in the season. Mateya Bruguier really came along in the last third of the season. She was confident in her perimeter shooting, and she just played fast on both ends of the court."   pghd: Can you talk about your seniors and what will be missed?   "We graduate 3 seniors! They will ALL be missed as they were great leaders on and off the court for our young girls. Lydia was our point guard this year after being a shooting guard her first 3 years with us. Genesis Patterson gave us valuable minutes off the bench early in the season and then was a starter for the last month. Steph Atencio showed all the younger girls what the meaning of a team player was. She didn't see the floor hardly at all, but was a huge part of our scout teams in practice and knew exactly what we needed to do or see from our scout team."   PGHD: Who are some up-and-comers to look out for in the future?   "Our Sophomore crew from this year is going to be fun, with hopefully a great off-season coming. [player_tooltip player_id='731178' first='Braxton' last='Nedved'] and Hayden Knudsen just finished their second year of starting. Next year they will be asked upon to be primary scorers night in and night out. [player_tooltip player_id='731179' first='Ravyn' last='Medricky'] has come into her own. She is improving by the day. She is a great volleyball player, but her size can't be coached on the court. She can rebound with the best, and her offense is coming along. She will be an important piece in next year's lineup. Mateya Bruguier had a terrific end to this season. She primarily played the 1 in JV, which isn't her position, but she is a shooter that can knock down shots.  Defensively, she is a taller guard who can move laterally with smaller, quicker guards. Hannah Holzbauer 5'9 freshman who didn't see a minute of varsity time this year due to a broken fibula in the very first JV game of the year. She was going to vie for the final starting spot. She was cleared to play but not full contact as of last week, so she is eager to get back at it. She's one of those hybrid players who can play inside and outside."   PGHD: Who was your best defensive player?   "Our best on the ball defender was [player_tooltip player_id='304527' first='Lydia' last='Yost']. She usually drew the straw of guarding the opposing team's best player who wouldn't go into the post. Lydia is probably in the best shape of her life right now as she is planning to enter the military. She never had to come out of the game, and we never had to give her a break from guarding unless in foul situations."   PGHD: Who was your interior player & what makes them effective?   "[player_tooltip player_id='377192' first='Ashlyn' last='Koupal'] was our go-to player. She is 6'3 and as versatile as they will come. She started on the perimeter, and our offense struggled to find ways to score with her being chased and then double-teamed out there. Ashlyn then moved to inside where she was still double and triple-teamed but yet found a way to shoot 67% from inside the arc.  She played with physicality and just relentless effort possession after possession while playing as calmly as can be while defenders were draped all over her. She averaged 23 ppg, 10 rbg, 3.5 bpg, 4.5 aspg, and 2 spg.  She recorded 1 quadruple-double this season, 19 points, 19 boards, 11 blocks, and 10 assists in our Region final game. She also had 2 triple-doubles this season and then 11 double-doubles. She scored in double figures in all 25 games. She shot 85% from the free throw line and only shot 51 free throws in the 20 regular season games, being chased and double and triple-teamed.  She would shoot 56 free throws in the final 5 games of the season in the playoffs and at state!"      PGHD: Any last comments/thoughts on the season?   "We were very pleased at what our girls accomplished this season and that just brings all the more excitement for next year. Nothing is guaranteed as we know it will take some work to get back to where we were."   BEST OF LUCK TO THE RED RAIDERS THIS OFFSEASON!!   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/03/wagnerGBBB-crop-686x450-1743085436.jpg?w=685" alt="" class="wp-image-1222995" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Wager Red Raiders</figcaption></figure>

The Class A Girls' Basketball season is in the rearview mirror. To help put a bow on the season, Prep Girls Hoops Dakotas will be publishing a series of Season Reviews.