Class A Title Contender Series: Dakota Valley

<p>The favorite in Class A basketball?  Some will say Dakota Valley.  Led by D1 talent [player_tooltip player_id="732179" first="Paul" last="Bruns"] and a team that brings back all but two players from a 16-5 team, the Panthers have big dreams. </p> <p><strong>Moving On</strong>:  The graduated players are are guards [player_tooltip player_id="879111" first="Drew" last="Addison"] and Kam Wingert.  Wingert is now playing at Briar Cliff for their JV squad.  The six-foot Addison was a three point weapon that scored eight a game with a couple assists while Wingert was a worker that scored five points a game.  Both Addison and Wingert were starters.  </p> <p><strong>Returning Starters</strong>: Five-foot-7 senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="975570" first="Chayce" last="Montagne"]</strong>, 6-foot-4 senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="732179" first="Paul" last="Bruns"]</strong>, and 6-foot-2 sophomore guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="963742" first="Isaac" last="Bruns"]</strong> are the returning starters.  Chayce is one of the better shot creators in Class A basketball coming off of a six assist per game season.  Montagne shot a high percentage going at the rim to score on 59 percent of his attempts inside the arc.  He averaged eight points a game with those six assists. </p> <p>North Dakota committed [player_tooltip player_id="732179" first="Paul" last="Bruns"] is a guard but was the biggest player on his team plus the best rebounder.  That’s why he collected a ridiculous 12.7 boards a contest as a junior which had to rank with the best in the nation when it comes to guards rebounding.  Paul took 22 shot a game for DV and some will question the amount (and they shouldn’t), there is no questioning the 48 percent shooting on those 22 shots a game while being gameplanned against every night.  Made an impressive 42 percent of the 7-8 threes he took each night. </p> <p>As a freshman Isaac averaged 16.5 points and four rebounds a game shooting 52 percent of the 11 shots he took a game.  Throw in the 86 percent foul shooting and 46 percent shooting at the arc and you have one of the elite second weapons in the state. </p> <p><strong>Reserves Playing a Bigger Role:  </strong>Last year’s 6th Man was <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="975552" first="Alex" last="Zephier"],</strong> now a 6-foot-0 senior who has the ability to step into a starting role.  Zephier is a solid shooter who was also one of the more active defenders on the team.  At times Alex was a defensive playmaker and that’s something any team could use more of.  </p> <p>A player I think the team needs to take a big step forward is <strong>Joey Bryan</strong>.  Joey played in just about every varsity game last year plus JV.  He’s 6-foot-4 and 165 pounds, rebounds well, and could be the perfect person to step in to giving the first five more size.  Also getting varsity team in most games last year was point guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="963787" first="Randy" last="Rosenquist"]</strong>, a 5-foot-10 guard.  Randy is now a sophomore and could be the 6th man or starter, depending on what the staff wants to do scheme wise, and depending on who has improved skill wise and physically.</p> <p><strong>Potentials from the JV:  </strong>Who else could help the varsity squad?  There are several candidates.  Five-foot-10 senior <strong>Noah Steele</strong> played both JV and varsity last season.  He’s the other veteran to keep an eye on.  Then you have sophomores <strong>Ethan Anema</strong> (5-foot-11) and <strong>Sam Faldmo</strong> (6-foot-2).  Both played JV as freshmen.  </p> <p><strong>Final Thoughts</strong>:  Dakota Valley has the state’s most statistically productive player, one of the state’s two D1 committed basketball players, and the state’s best Class A basketball player ([player_tooltip player_id="732179" first="Paul" last="Bruns"]).  They have one of the elite sophomores ([player_tooltip player_id="963742" first="Isaac" last="Bruns"]), they have a bit more size than they had last year, and there is a lot of experienced players that are very skilled and well coached.  </p>