Hillsboro-Central Valley Burros

Prep Girls Hoops Dakotas is back with another Hoops Profile!   HCV won 8 games last year, but I have a hunch that the Burros will scare teams this year and make some noise!   Schools: Hillsboro & Central Valley   Mascot: Burro   Head Coach: Duane Connell   Class: A   Region: 2   See below for Burro stats and a boatload of information in the Q&A, Coach Connell did a deep dive!   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/10/image_625744.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1052008" style="width:330px;height:auto" /></figure>   2023-2024 Team Stats   PPG: 43.5 FG%: 43.5 3FG%: 32 3FGM: 116 FT%: 56 FTM: 168 RPG: 31.9 APG: 11.6 SPG: 8.2 BPG: 3.8   Names To Know   [player_tooltip player_id='1052085' first='Kennedy' last='Olsen'] (2025) |5'6 PG| - 4.5 ppg, 22 FG%, 2.3 rpg, 3.9 apg   [player_tooltip player_id='886223' first='Paityn' last='Olson'] (2027) |5'11 PF -8.7 ppg, 41 FG%, 9.3 rpg, 1.3 apg   [player_tooltip player_id='1052083' first='Megan' last='Ensign'] (2025) |5'6 G| - 12.3 ppg, 35 FG%, 5.1 rpg, .5 apg1 38 3FG%, 71 3FGM   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/10/image_fcad61.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1052010" style="width:269px;height:auto" /></figure>   With Coach Duane Connell   PGHD: Could you write a couple of sentences summing up last season?   "It was our first year competing in class A. Our schedule was still a lot of Class B schools with some Class A mixed in. We did this so we could compete throughout the season. As a program, we don't have the numbers like the bigger schools. We had 13 girls for JV and varsity, this year we have about the same. It was my first year as the head coach for HCV. So, making sure that we had a culture change in the program was very important. The main goal last year was to be competitive. 2 years ago, we won 5 games and that was vs. 2 teams. Last year we won 8 games, but all our games were competitive with the exception of maybe 2. We accomplished what we wanted to last year. Change the culture, work hard in practice, and be competitive in all our games."   PGHD: How did the offseason go for your team/program?   "The offseason was great for our girls. We had to revamp the whole off-season program and I felt we accomplished that. We competed in league, 4 team camps, and open gyms twice a week."   PGHD: Who are a few of your top players to look out for?   "[player_tooltip player_id='1052085' first='Kennedy' last='Olsen'], [player_tooltip player_id='886223' first='Paityn' last='Olson'], [player_tooltip player_id='1052083' first='Megan' last='Ensign']"   "[player_tooltip player_id='1052085' first='Kennedy' last='Olsen'] we will be looking for senior leadership from her. She's our captain/leader on the floor. I'm looking at her to be more aggressive at attacking the basket this year and keeping girls in line on the court."   "[player_tooltip player_id='1052083' first='Megan' last='Ensign'] is our other senior that we are looking for leadership from. She's someone that can spread the floor with her 3 pt shooting. She was one of the leaders in the state in 3 pointers made."   "[player_tooltip player_id='886223' first='Paityn' last='Olson'] is a sophomore and our best inside player. She has a good inside shot that is tough to block. She always works hard on the boards. If she can stay out of foul trouble and stay healthy, we are expecting big things from her. As a freshman, she came very close to averaging a double-double last year."   PGHD: Who are a couple of up-and-comers to look out for in the near future?   "McKenzie Ptacek, Hadley Abentroth, Brynley Lessard"   "These girls will be sophomores. They have a sort of fire in them that makes them want to be great. They work hard in practice and games and have all the talent in the world. They will be big contributors this season."   PGHD: What style of basketball will your team play?   "We're going to an up-tempo team. Pressure defense and push the basketball on every offensive possession."   PGHD: Who do you think will be your top defender?   "This team has the potential to have several top defenders. The only thing that keeps them from being shut down defenders game in and game out is consistency. We get that and we will be a great defensive team."   PGHD: What are a couple of your team goals this year?   "Our main goal this year is to play well enough and put ourselves in a position for a play-in game for a chance to go to State."   PGHD: Who are a couple of your top shooters & what makes them good?   "[player_tooltip player_id='1052083' first='Megan' last='Ensign'] and KC Hong"   "Megan has played varsity since the 8th grade. She shoots year-round. She can make shots from anywhere and she has a pretty quick release."   "KC is probably the hardest worker on the team. She has all the talent and is the strongest girl on the team. She can shoot from the outside and inside. I'm looking for her to be more consistent this year and take the kind of step forward everyone expects."   PGHD: In your opinion, who are some of the top teams & players in your Region?   "Thompson ([player_tooltip player_id='342171' first='Addison' last='Sage']) and Devils Lake (Tylee Brodina)."   PGHD: Any last comments about the upcoming season?   "I was the head coach for Lakota/Edmore when we made it to State in back-to-back seasons. Both off seasons we put in a lot of work getting better and making sure we would go to State. This team has put in the work this off-season, time will tell if or how it pays off."   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/10/HoopsProfile.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-1052007" /></figure>

Prep Girls Hoops Dakotas is back with another Hoops Profile!