Class A Title Contender Series: Sioux Valley

<p>Sioux Valley had the best record in all of South Dakota last winter.  With the talent the Cossacks have returning - three starters - it will be another strong season.  They are, a Class A title contender. </p> <p><strong>Moving On</strong>:  All State guard [player_tooltip player_id="879073" first="Max" last="Nielson"] is at Northern State.  Wing [player_tooltip player_id="732081" first="Ryan" last="Schuster"] is at Dakota State.  Two key players that have moved on to the college level.  [player_tooltip player_id="988893" first="Lane" last="VanderWal"] was the starting five man for the team and he’s graduated as well.  </p> <p><strong>Returning Starters</strong>:  One of the last times we saw now senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="975509" first="Kelton" last="Vincent"]</strong> he was knocking out six threes in March leading Sioux Valley over Hamlin with 25 points.  Vincent is a top 20-25 player in his class and steps into that senior leadership role. He can play both guard spots but will likely do a lot of the ball handling.  Kelton scored 14 plus points a game plus dished out six assists a game.  He’s as close to perfect from the foul line as they come in the state. </p> <p>Sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="963744" first="Oliver" last="Vincent"]</strong> made a big time splash as a 9th grader, and now expectations are really high.  Oliver looks like he can handle the load as he’s one of the top three or four players in his class. The Oliver and Kelton guard tandem should match just about anything they face in Class A.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="968190" first="Parker" last="Puetz"] i</strong>s a 6-foot-3, 205 pound forward out of the junior class.  He plays the four for this program, hits some threes, defends, hard, and rebounds for his spot.  Puetz is also that guy that a coach can trust to compete hard and be where he needs to be.  </p> <p><strong>Reserves Playing a Bigger Role: Jaxton Schiller</strong> is a senior now that stands about 6-foot-2 and a strong frame so expect him to play forward and challenge for a starting spot.  Schiller came off the bench and could be trusted to catch and knock down shots.  <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="812212" first="Hayden" last="Ruesink"]</strong> is another 6-foot-3 forward, and another Cossack that played as an underclassmen last year.  Hayden could also step into a starting role.  </p> <p><strong>Potentials from the JV:  [player_tooltip player_id="975599" first="Colby" last="Gatzke"]</strong> is now a junior point guard that handled the main ball handling job for the junior squad, and played the 9th man role for the varsity.  He will provide guard depth, or even move into the key starting role if Sioux Valley wants to use three six foot or under guards again. Also keep an eye on <strong>Patrick Carey</strong> in the backcourt, a 5-foot-10 point sophomore point guard who is likely ready for a varsity role. </p>