WINTER SPORTS 2017: PAGE 9A PRESS & DAKOTAN n PLAIN TALK ABOVE: The Dakota Valley bench and coaching staff celebrate after a big three-pointer during the 2017 South Dakota State Class A Boys’ Basketball Tournament. The Panthers pulled off back-to-back upsets, including an overtime win over top-seed Sioux Valley in the state-qualifying game, to advance to state last season. The Panthers graduated seven players from that squad, but will look to build on that finish this season. BELOW: Senior guard Jack McCabe is the top returning player for Dakota Valley, averaging seven points a game last season. Panthers Look For Another Magical Run DV Made Surprise Trip To State In 2017 “Last year was a great season for our program, but we have several key pieces to replace from that team,” said Dakota Valley assistant coach Nate Connelly. “There is a lot of excitement. Our BY BEN HEGGE guys are ready for the challenge.” sports@yankton.net Dakota Valley graduated seven seniors from the 2016-17 season, but the A year ago, the Dakota Valley PanPanthers have a handful of letter winthers went on a post-season run for the ners returning including four seniors. ages. “We have several players from last The Panthers reeled off several year’s rotation back this year with valucome-from-behind victories, includable experience,” said Connelly. “We ing an 85-79 overtime victory over top need to have the mindset that we are seeded Sioux Valley, to qualify them going to get better every time we step in for the 2017 Class A State Tournament, the gym.” where they would finish fifth. One of the returners is senior guard “Last year was pretty wild,” said Jack McCabe, who averaged seven Dakota Valley point guard Jack McCabe. points a game last season. McCabe and “That was the most buzz we have had his fellow seniors not only be expected around the program in a while. Every to carry much of the load on the floor, win was an emotional one.” but they will see an increased role in the The Panthers are hoping the postleadership department. season run a season ago will translate to “We couldn’t be more excited to start more success in the upcoming season. the season,” said McCabe. “Being a seHowever, it will be a new team for nior on this team is a responsibility. We Dakota Valley with several new faces in are all going to try and push each other the rotation. to get better and improve.” The Panthers have a challenging first half of the season as nine of their first 13 games are on the road. With a young and new team, it may take the Panthers some time to gel said Connelly. “There is no doubt we were playing our best basketball of the season at the end of last year,” said Connelly. “We will be challenged early, but our focus is to improve so that we can be playing our best basketball in the post season again this year.” With having so many games on the road earlier in the season, the Panthers will be rewarded with a five-game home stand in February. Just in time for the Panthers to start another end of the season winning streak. The Panthers will have a test on the opening night of the season as they host the defending Class A State Champions, Tea Area, on Friday, Dec. 8. “This is always a fun time of the year,” said McCabe. “There is still a lot of excitement after last year, and we hope to have more success.” Follow @bigheadbenny13 on Twitter. S.D. Boys ASSISTANT: Caleb Preszler VITALS: Class B, Region 5 LAST SEASON: The FROM PAGE 8A Wolves (10-11) lost in the first round of the district tournament. COACH: Mike King RETURNING: Spencer ASSISTANT: Kyle Larsen Schultz (Sr., 6-0, G, 11.4 ppg, VITALS: Class B, Region 5 6.3 apg, 3.4 rpg, Honorable LAST SEASON: The Eagles Mention All-Conference), lost in the region final to Hunter Huber (Sr., 6-0, F), Parker. Trey Bohlmann (Jr., 6-3, G/F, RETURNING: Trey King 10 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 2.3 rpg), (Jr., 6-1, G, 18 ppg, 5 apg, 5 Kyle Munkvold (Jr., 6-7. C, 6.6 spg, All-Conference), Tate ppg, 5.9 rpg, 1 BPG), Logan Gale (Sr., 5-10, G, 16 ppg, 3 Klaudt (Jr., 5-10, G), Conner apg, All-Conference), Dallas Edelman (Jr., 5-10, G), Justin Lee (Sr., 6-0, G, 6 ppg, 3 rpg, Edelman (Jr., 6-0, F), Dylan 2 spg, Honorable Mention Lammers (Jr., 5-11, G/F), All-Conference), Brendan So- Hunter Haberman (Jr., 5-7, kolowski (Sr., 6-1, F, (5 ppg, 3 G), Levi Bender (Fr., 5-10, G), rpg), Will Buchanan (Sr., 6-1, Brady Fergen (Fr., 5-9, G) C, 3 ppg, 3 rpg), Levi Larsen NEWCOMER: Trey Spen(So., 5-11, G, 7 ppg, 3 apg, 2 cer (So., 6-3, F/C) spg), Matt Roth (Sr., 5-11, F, 2ppg), Jake Jensen (So., 6-3, C 2 ppg, 2rpg), Hunter Hinseth COACH: Lance Friesen (Sr., 5-10, F (1 ppg), Brennan ASSISTANTS: Corey MiMcDonald (Jr., G-0, G, 1ppg, narik, Scott Hyberson 1spg). VITALS: Class A, Region 5 NEWCOMERS: Gavin LAST SEASON: The PheasSpurrell (So., 5-9, G), Garrett ants (16-9) won the Region 5B Logue (Sr., 5-9, F), Kaden crown and went on to finish Mork (Sr., 5-10, G), Spencer fourth at the state tournaNelson (Fr., 5-11, G), Marcus ment. Van Driel (So., 5-9, G). RETURNING: Camden Bialas (Jr., 6-9, C, 11 ppg, 6 rpg, 3 bpg, All-State Tournament), COACH: Alex Lane Chayse McKenney (Sr., 6-1, Platte-Geddes Irene-Wakonda Parker Menno COACH: Frank Cutler ASSISTANT: Darren DeNeui VITALS: Class A, Region 5 LAST SEASON: The Black Panthers (15-11) finished seventh state tournament. They will have new challenges this season as they look to replace four starters and make the jump to Class A. RETURNING: Trevor Sprik (Sr., 5-10, 8.2 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 1.9 apg), Xavier Marshall (Sr., 3.9 COACH: Craig Holbeck ppg, 2.5 rpg), Cloe Nachtigal ASSISTANTS: Steve (Sr., 5-9). Semmler, Dylan Slate, Mark NEWCOMERS: Sawyer De- Gemar Groot (Jr., 6-2), Hayden Stluka VITALS: Class B, Region 6 (Jr., 6-1), Eli DeNeui (So., 6-2), LAST SEASON: The NightKade Starr (So., 6-1). hawks (4-15) lost in the first round of the region tournament. RETURNING: Trevor Lau COACH: Bryan Fuks ASSISTANTS: Alex Esche, (Sr., 6-2, G, 7 ppg, 6 rpg), Daniel Fuoss (Sr., 6-2, F, 6 ppg, Dan Janssen VITALS: Class B, Region 6 6 rpg, 3 spg), Cole NeugeLAST SEASON: The High- bauer (Sr., 6-2, F), Jacob Kriz (Jr., 6-0, F), Cade Gemar (Jr., landers (16-6) reached the 5-10, G), James Love (Jr., 6-1, district final last season. FF), Micah Lau (So., 5-11, G), RETURNING: Travis Tristan Bialas (So., 5-8, G). Skorepa (Sr., 6-5, F, 14.8 ppg, NEWCOMERS: Kasan 8.5 rpg, All-Conference), Bryan Vaughn (Sr., 5-8, G, 5.8 Abedi (Fr., 5-8, G), Dylan VanDerWerff (Fr., 5-11, F), ppg, 2.6 apg), Tanner Van Driel (Sr., 5-10, G, 8.3 ppg, 3.5 Braden Hawley (Fr., 6-1, F). apg), Braden Wolfe (Sr., 5-10, F), Garret Vitek (Sr., 6-4, F), Tristan Friederich (Jr., 6-2, F), Dallas Fuerst (Jr., 5-10, G), S.D. BOYS | PAGE 10A Mason Dennis (So., 6-3, F), Ty Tripp-DelmontArmour Scotland Menno’s Spencer Schultz, 10, drives around Freeman’s Eric Fuhrmann during a game in the 2016-17 season. Both Schultz, an honorable mention all-Cornbelt Conference selection, and Fuhrmann return for their respective teams this season. G, 5 ppg, 4 rpg, 2 spg), Trey Christensen (Jr., 6-3, G, 3 ppg 3 rpg). NEWCOMERS: Nathan Dahl (Sr., 5-10, G), Alex Kasten (Jr., 6-1, G), Jackson Fiegen (Jr., 6-1, F), Dallas Popkes (Jr., 6-4, C), Jaron Pesicka (Jr., 5-11, G), Sam Gillespie (Jr., 5-10, G), Joe Joffer (Jr., 6-5, C), Blake Olson (Jr., 5-11, G). Parkston COACH: Craig Bruening ASSISTANT: Matt Grave VITALS: Class A, Region 5 LAST SEASON: The Trojans (8-13) lost to West Central in the opening round of the region tournament. RETURNING: Brady Albrecht (Sr., 6-0, F, 10 ppg, 5 rpg), Trenton Weber (Sr., 6-3, G, 3 ppg, 4 rpg, 2 apg), Braden Bruening (So., 6-2, F, 2 ppg, 2 rpg), Nathan Boettcher (So., 5-11, G, 2 ppg). NEWCOMERS: Tulsa Janish (Sr., 5-10, G), Rylan Hair AND Beyond Full Service Salon Scotland’s Travis Skorepa puts up a shot in the middle of the Freeman Academy-Marion defense during their matchup in the Tri-Valley Conference boys’ basketball Classic. Skorepa was an all-conference selection last season. Mogck (So., 5-10, G), Carson Sundleaf (So., 5-10, G). NEWCOMERS: Derek Pederson (Sr., 5-11, F), Robbie Willet (Sr., 5-9, F), Lucas Perderson (Jr., 6-0, G), Trent Herrboldt (Fr., 5-9, G), Keenan Souhrada (Fr., 5-9, F), Daniel Lange (Fr., 5-10, F), Zane Hanck (Fr., 6-3, F). 311 Cedar, Yankton 664-HAIR (4247) Carmen, Gerri Leischner (So., 6-2, F), Nate Doering (So., 6-1, F), Brayden Hurley (So., 5-9, G), Tyrese Freiderich (So., 5-11, G), Jon Akre (Fr., 6-0, F), Flynn Aldecoa (Jr., 5-7, G).