PAGE 16 PLAIN TALK • PRESS & DAKOTAN ? WINTER SPORTS 2015 Neb. Boys Crofton Warriors: The Next Wave Hixson (So., 6-2, C) Wausa FROM PAGE 15 COACH: Chip Bartos VITALS: Class D2 LAST YEAR: The Vikings finished with a 8-16 record. COACH: Adam Poulosky ROSTER: Ryan Kumm (Sr., ASSISTANTS: Mike Brandt, 6-0, F, 4.3 ppg), Aiden KleinTrevor Wright VITALS: Class C2, Lewis & schmit (Sr., 5-10, SG, 2.5 ppg), Gaige Hegge (Jr., 6-0, SF), Clark Conference John Rosberg (So., 5-8, PF), LAST YEAR: The Indians Travis Gillilan (Sr., 6-0, SG), (8-14) lost to Crofton in subDrew Munter (Fr., 5-10, SF), districts. RETURNING: Logan Kings- Tyson Kaiser (Fr., 5-8, PG), Ghaitlin Hegge (Fr., 5-10, SG) bury (So., 6-2, 16.5 ppg, first team All-Conference), Hunter Schweers (Jr., 6-3, F, 7 ppg), Derrek Touney (Jr., 6-2, G, 7 COACH: Lee Heimes ppg), Connor Day (So., 6-0, ASSISTANT: Steve Heimes G), Max Masin (So., 6-3, F), VITALS: Class D2, Lewis & Justin Carmonn (Jr., 5-10, F), Jack Charlson (Jr., 6-3, F), An- Clark Conference LAST YEAR: The Blue drew Lamprecht (Jr., 5-9, G) Devils (17-8) lost in sub-disNEWCOMERS: Dalton Tremayne (So., 5-10, G), Ryan tricts to Bancroft-Rosalie. ROSTER: Austin Lange Bentz (Jr., 6-0, F), Russell (Sr., 6-2, C), Cody Stratman McLean (Jr., 5-11, F) (Sr., 5-10, PG), Jalen Wieseler (Jr., 5-10, SG), Nate Wieseler (Fr., 5-9, PG), Landon Wieseler (Fr., 5-7, PG), Trevor COACH: Mark Anderson Gartner (Sr., 5-10, SG), Aydon ASSISTANT: Jim Hixon VITALS: Class D1, Lewis & Tramp (Fr., 5-11, F), Ethan Hochstein (Fr., 5-10, C), Jake Clark Conference Wieseler (Fr., 5-9, SG), DawLAST YEAR: The Carson Sudbeck (Jr., 5-9, PG), dinals finished with a 15-7 Jarrett Bruening (Sr., 6-0, F), record. Justin Lange (So., 6-0, F), Cole RETURNING: Landyn The Crofton girls’ basketball team hoists the state championship trophy after the 2015 C2 title game. This year’s squad Anderson (6-4, G, 8 ppg, 3.7 Schumacher (Jr., 5-9, SG), Jusis looking to build on a legacy that has seen the program win four straight titles and take a 53-game winning streak into rpg), Logan Nordhues (6-4, tin Koch (Jr., 5-9, SG), Ethan the 2015-16 season. Lange (So., 6-4, C), Kevin BruF, 13.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg), Denton Kuhl (6-0, F, 5.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg), ening (So., 6-3, C), Joe Merkel (Jr., 5-9, C), Wes Noecker (So., Connor Bloomquist (6-1, 5-9, SG), Ben Hite (So., 5-9, G, 6.6 ppg, 3.8 rpg), Mason SG), Cael Sudbeck (Jr., 5-10, Stubbs (6-2, G, 3.1 ppg) SG), Cody Linder (Jr., 6-2, C) NEWCOMERS: Andrew Schnoor (Jr., 5-9, G), Judson Ponca Wynot Randolph New Group Of Leaders Works To Add To Program’s Four Straight Titles BY JEREMY HOECK jeremy.hoeck@yankton.net CROFTON, Neb. – A new wave of leaders is ready for the challenge in this small, northeast Nebraska town. Their goal? Maintain – and help extend – the Crofton High School girls’ basketball tradition. It’s a tradition that has seen seven state championships in 11 seasons, including the last four, and a 53-game winning streak entering the season. It’s a task the trio of Breanna Allen, Monica Arens and Kelsey Sanger, among others, is embracing. “We always want to continue what the girls before us did,” said Allen, one of seven seniors on a team that graduated four key players from a 29-0 championship squad “We’ve watched that since we were kids,” Allen added. “For me as a senior, in my fourth year, I want to go out with a bang.” To get to that point again, however, the Warriors are going to have to replace the production – not to mention leadership – of a departed senior class that won 105 games and four state titles. It was a challenge that was issued right away to the current group. “Especially this summer, it was definitely made clear that we lost some big players,” junior Kelsey Sanger said. “But we always push through, and we all know our role. “We know what we have to do.” Head coach Aaron Losing has been through this before, though. His first three seasons at Crofton ended with a state championship. Then came a string of third place, third place, didn’t make state (2010), second, followed by four titles in a row. Losing said the current group of juniors and seniors are no strangers to success. “Obviously they’ve watched us have success FORT RANDALL TELEPHONE CO. 605-563-2863 Crofton’s Bre Allen over the past couple years, but even in their own grade level, they’ve won,” Losing said. “So I’m sure they’ll want to continue to build on the success they’ve had and we’ve had.” Two juniors in particular, Arens and Sanger, will be especially be counted on this season. Arens, a second team All-State selection, averaged 13.3 points last season, while Sanger averaged 8.3 points, 3.9 assists and 3.2 steals. “They’ve been a central part of our team,” Losing said. “We’ll definitely rely on those two to lead the way on offense and defense. “We’ve got a lot of players to go with them, but they’re definitely two talented kids.” During Crofton’s current of four straight state championships, depth has been a central theme. The Warriors, who utilize a full-court transition style, have been able to develop reserves to the point where they can step on the floor and contribute immediately. That will take some time this season, according to Losing – who pointed out that because of another extended volleyball season and two snow days this week, it’s hard to evaluate where the team stands. “We’ve been very lucky the last several years that our depth was there in place,” Losing said. He paused, then added, “This is more of a normal progression for teams, to make sure you work throughout the year on developing kids.” Outside of Arens, Sanger and Allen (5.3 ppg), Crofton will also rely on experienced players like senior Katie Petersen (3.1 ppg), senior Allison Tramp (5.1 ppg), junior Lauren Steffen (3.7 ppg) and senior Brittany Guenther (1.1 ppg). From there, a group of 10 other returning players will GAYVILLE-VOLIN Boys’ Basketball 12/11 .............................................. vs. Baltic 12/15..............................................at Wausa 12/18.............................vs. Alcester-Hudson 12/30....... vs. Faulkton Area (Huron Classic) 1/5............................................. vs. Scotland 1/8..............................at Irene-Wakonda (W) 1/11 .......................................... vs. Canistota 1/14............................... at Viborg-Hurley (V) 1/16..vs. Burke-South Central (TVC Classic) 1/19................................................ at Parker 1/23......................vs. Tripp-Delmont-Armour 1/26.............................................. vs. Menno 1/28........................................ vs. Bloom?eld 2/5.............................. at Bridgewater-Emery 2/9...............................at Freeman Academy 2/12..........................................at Centerville 2/13........................................... at Beresford 2/15................................................. vs. Avon 2/18...........................................vs. Freeman 2/25......................vs. Andes Cent./Dak. Chr. Ma & Pa’s C-Store VIBORG-HURLEY Boys’ Basketball 12/11 ................................... vs. Freeman (V) 12/14...........................................at Scotland 12/18.........................vs. Irene-Wakonda (V) 12/31.........vs. Beresford (Buseman Classic) 1/5....................at Tripp-Delmont-Armour (T) 1/8...............................at Elk Point-Jefferson 1/14..............................vs. Gayville-Volin (V) 1/16... vs. Bridgewater-Emery (TVC Classic) 1/22.................................................. at Baltic 1/23...........................................DSU Classic 1/26......................... vs. Alcester-Hudson (V) 1/28..........................................at Centerville 2/2..............................................at Canistota 2/5...............................at Freeman Academy 2/6.....................................Pentagon Classic 2/9.....................................................at Avon 2/12.........................................vs. Parker (H) 2/15........................ vs. Flandreau Indian (H) 2/16................................................at Menno 2/20..........................................vs. Ethan (H) Girls’ Basketball 12/8..................................... vs. Scotland (V) 12/12...................................... vs. Marion (V) 12/15...................vs. Bridgewater-Emery (V) 12/18.........................vs. Irene-Wakonda (V) 12/19.......................vs. Warner (Sioux Falls) 12/29...........................at Elk Point-Jefferson 1/5....................at Tripp-Delmont-Armour (T) 1/11 .........................vs. Alcester-Hudson (H) 1/14..............................vs. Gayville-Volin (V) 1/16......................................Hanson Classic 1/18.....................................vs. Freeman (H) 1/22.................................................. at Baltic 1/25........................ vs. Corsica-Stickney (H) 1/28..........................................at Centerville 1/30........... vs. Platte-Geddes (TVC Classic) 2/5...............................at Freeman Academy 2/9.....................................................at Avon 2/12.........................................vs. Parker (H) 2/16................................................at Menno 2/18............................................at Canistota 115 N. Main Viborg SD (605) 326-5358 509 Washington St. Gayville, SD (605) 267-3100 Consignment Store Lottery Room Fresh Baked Goodies 267-2386 • Gayville, SD Ma Pa’s C-Store Gerstner Oil Co. E. Hwy. 50 Yankton 665-5568 Keeping Smiles Healthy & Young Crop • Farm • Life Home • Auto • Health Parsons’ Insurance Agency is an equal opportunity provider Girls’ Basketball 12/8.............................................. vs. Menno 12/11 .............................................. vs. Baltic 12/12................................. vs. Dakota Valley 12/15..............................................at Wausa 12/18.............................vs. Alcester-Hudson 12/28.................................. Parkston Classic 1/5............................................. vs. Scotland 1/8..............................at Irene-Wakonda (W) 1/14............................... at Viborg-Hurley (V) 1/19................................................ at Parker 1/21.......................vs. Hartington-Newcastle 1/23......................vs. Tripp-Delmont-Armour 1/28........................................ vs. Bloom?eld 1/30....................... vs. Marion (TVC Classic) 2/5.............................. at Bridgewater-Emery 2/9...............................at Freeman Academy 2/12..........................................at Centerville 2/13........................................... at Beresford 2/15................................................. vs. Avon 2/19.......................................at Bon Homme CROFTON | PAGE 17 1101 Broadway Suite 105, Morgen Square Plaza 665-2448 • www.scott-family-dentistry.com New Patients and Emergencies Welcome! “Protecting what matters to you.” Wagner, SD Crofton’s Tanner Crosley Experience Gentle, Personalized Dental Care For Your Entire Family! FULLY EQUIPPED. FULLY EXPERIENCED. Our Emergency Department is open 24 hours a day — every day — to care for big and small emergencies. Call 911 if needed. Call 605-668-8000 501 Summit St. Yankton, SD 57078 to schedule an appointment. AveraSacredHeart.org 15-ASHH-5261 From obstetrics to geriatrics, surgery to routine exams, Avera Sacred Heart Hospital offers a wide range of services right in the Yankton community. Complemented by our experts and advanced technology, we are your full-service hospital.