DeSmet Bulldogs – Any Pixie Dust Left?
State ‘B’ Champion DeSmet has challenges ahead to earn a tournament berth, given the SD 16 format, but here’s an early forecast of this year’s Elite Eight for March 12-14, 2020, at BHSU in Spearfish DeSmet – The champs graduated…
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Continue ReadingState ‘B’ Champion DeSmet has challenges ahead to earn a tournament berth, given the SD 16 format, but here’s an early forecast of this year’s Elite Eight for March 12-14, 2020, at BHSU in Spearfish
DeSmet – The champs graduated four whose leadership, energy, and scoring will be missed. However, three returning starters averaged 31-ppg in 2019, featuring 2022 Kennadi Buchholz (12-ppg- 6’1′), a dynamic paint presence with length, athleticism, and game awareness. Surrounding her are seniors Grace Albrecht, Reyna Beck (6-ppg), Autumn Wilkinson (13 ppg), and Emily Martens at the point. Coach Doug Osthus (178-53) always prepares and executes at high efficiency with good talent; this year’s group has all the fixings assembled – just needs that elusive pixie dust called teamwork..
Warner – Five seniors departed and no juniors were on 2019’s roster. However, Warner is far from dead; they simply re-loaded. Scorers return en masse:3 juniors, 2 sophomores, 2 frosh, and an impact 8th grader – all together these 8 averaged 34-ppg last season. Stewart Bohle thinks his young guns will gell by February. Why argue with his career coaching record of 172-26? Watch for 2024 Ava Nilsson, the 2023 Anderson twins (Kendyl & Kamryn), plus sophomores Peyton Fischer and Jennifer Aman in energetic rotations with athletic juniors: Holli Jark, Savannah Green and Summer Scepaniak. A mad dash in the playoffs is Warner’s 2020 plan.
Corsica/Stickney – Lost Courtney Menning to the college ranks, but returns a strong core group of Rachel Gerlach (2022), Raven Barse (2021), and budding star Avery Broughton (2023/18ppg/10rpg). All with good size at 5’10” which means another State tourney run is expected. The team played its best against quality competitors like Avon & Hanson. Front line depth increases if Morgan DeLange (2021 – 5’10”) recovers from injury. Wearing down foes with a strong bench should feature Payton DeLange, Morgan Clites, Paige Wright, Alexis Tilton, Jenna Bamberg, & Lauren Bruinsma. C/S has enormous talents and will dominate if everyone sells out to execute relentlessly.
White River – The Tigers have one senior in 2020; three left off last year’s 16-6 squad. Late season, they built momentum in late February to sweep thru the SD 16, to the promised land in Huron. Unfortunately, DeSmet exposed defensive lapses, leading to a 6th place finish. 2020’s young supporting cast around all-state guard CVP (Caelyn Valandra-Prue – 2021 – 23-ppg) learned and grew thru summer ball. Remedy Morrison, Trinity White Hat, Quincy Piper, and Nicole Yackley are veterans. Not big nor tall as a team, quickness and floor sense will earn White River another trip to March Madness in Spearfish. What is their secret sauce? Most likely, Coach Barnhart’s in-game adjustments and Coach Morrison’s motivating elocution.
Ethan – Coach Tom Young scoffs at success in the 2020 campaign, claiming “…a rebuilding year…” lies ahead. Ha – Ha !! His career GBB record is 117-12; do not ever believe an Ethan down year arrives. Tradition and bloodlines mark his roster. True, no Karly Gustafson means returning starters Camryn Logan (2021-10-ppg), Maddie Miller (2020-10-ppg) and Jessica Bartscher (2020-9-ppg) must all step up. They may have an unfinished business attitude in this year’s edition, having lost but once in the final game against DeSmet. Fun possibility: three Bartscher ‘s on the floor at the same time – 2022 Hannah & 2024 Maddie complete the trio – #ProudParents. Serious minutes are anticipated from veterans: 2021 Lexi Lingemann, 2020 Erica Storm, 2020 Shawn Hohn, & 2020 Regan Gerlach.
Castlewood – 2021 Alayna Benike just getting started as an All-State headliner, with 21-ppg and 10-rpg for a double-double average. Darah DeKam (2021-6’0″), reportedly recovered from an ACL, brings matchup nightmares. Completing an awesome rebounding corps are 2023 Maddie Horn (8-ppg/3-rpg/5’11”) and 2020 Cala Hunter (10-ppg/7-rpg). Sierra Schofield (2020/2-ppg/2-rpg) makes everyone better, with ball-hawking and running the floor. Young guards have great experience: 2023 MacKenzie Everson (6-ppg/3-rpg), 2022 Kennedy Gallisath, 2022 Addyson Wittnebel, and 2023 Rachel Boyd. Change nickname to Castlewood Contenders ??
Faith – Longhorns must replace strong leaders from last year’s 21-2 group which lost in the SD 16 sub-state….un-expectedly. Many current hoopsters “dug, set & hit” for their deep VB run at state, renewing confidence for similar success in GBB. Sydnie Schauer (2020/14-ppg), Alyna Byrd (2021/11-ppg/7-rpg), and Kaycee Groves (2022/9-ppg/6-rpg) form the core to build upon. Ariah Engel (2021) and Cassidy Scheulke (2022) begin the season as major contributors in a deep bench rotation. Three freshmen will compete hard for floor time: Tristan Kennedy, Jaysee Jones, and Mia Hermes. Do expect to see Faith at the Young Center in March.
Bridgewater/Emery – The Huskies also won their way to state VB this fall. And, their GBB roster nearly duplicates the VB program – something to do with school enrollment.? BE sports talent is hitting a peak period in both boys’ and girls’ athletics, competing at high levels and winning titles in BBB and football. Tougher GBB scheduling, summer ball, and emphasis on practice time make this choice possible. Two Webers’ and a Schultz form the base core: Kennedee Weber (2020/5-ppg/3-rpg), Julia Weber (2022/16-ppg/4-rpg), and Kerrigan Schultz (2021/12-ppg/7-rpg). Added strength comes from Chloe Schmitt (2022/3-ppg/3-rpg), Sophia Potter (2020) and Cara Meyers (2022). 18-4 in 2019 – ??? in 2020.
Apologies to Philip, Avon, Gregory, Hanson, Faulkton, Ipswitch, Freeman, and Chester. The above predictions are the teams/poisons of choice.