Region 1B – The Summer Breakdown (21-22)

<p>We begin looking at the 2021-22 South Dakota basketball season with our Summer Breakdown.  Looking back at regions, and what the teams in those regions will look like next year.  Top players, top teams, etc. </p> <p><strong>Region 1 Predictions</strong></p> <ol> <li>Aberdeen Christian</li> <li>Waubay-Summit</li> <li>Warner</li> <li>Waverly-South Shore</li> <li>Great Plains Lutheran</li> <li>Northwestern</li> <li>Langford Area</li> <li>Leola/Frederick Area</li> <li>Wilmot</li> <li>Briton-Hecla</li> </ol> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Preseason All Region First Team</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">[player_tooltip player_id="963783" first="Malek" last="Wieker"] (Jr) of Aberdeen Christian</span></p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="963760" first="Jackson" last="Isakson"] (Jr) of Aberdeen Christian</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="963813" first="Damon" last="Opdahl"] (Jr) of Waubay-Summit</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="968210" first="Sam" last="Hansen"] (Sr) of Great Plains Lutheran</p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">[player_tooltip player_id="963765" first="Ethan" last="Russell"] (Jr) of Aberdeen Christian</span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Preseason All Region Second Team</strong></p> <p>Hunter Cramer (Soph) of Warner</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="963784" first="Jonathan" last="Johnston"] (Jr) of Waubay-Summit</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="968160" first="Carter" last="Comes"] (Sr) of Waverly-South Shore</p> <p>Chase Neiber (Jr) of Northwestern</p> <p>Quintin Fischbach (Jr) of Northwestern </p> <p>Trey Jurgens (Sr) of Wilmot</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Summary</strong></p> <p>Aberdeen Christian finished second in state and they have two first team all conference players (Wieker and Isakson) back as well as [player_tooltip player_id="963765" first="Ethan" last="Russell"] in the frontcourt.  This core of players pushed the team to the state title game and a 20 win season so the Knights are surely thinking about a title run.  Aberdeen Christian will enter the season as one of the elite teams. </p> <p>A team ready for a top ten spot and the state tournament seems to be Waubay-Summit.  The Mustangs were 16-6 last year and two of their best players were underclassmen.  [player_tooltip player_id="963813" first="Damon" last="Opdahl"] is the name to watch.  The junior guard had an all league first team season and should grow into one of the better players in his class at the Class B level.  </p> <p>Warner went 14-5 a season ago but graduated a lot of talented seniors.  They won’t fall far as this is a very good program, but it’s now Hunter Cramer’s team.  Warner’s junior class was small a year ago so expect a lot of juniors and sophomores in the Monarch line-up. Then you have Waverly-South Shore.  Joe Dalton is a heck of a coach and 6-foot-7 big [player_tooltip player_id="968160" first="Carter" last="Comes"] returns to anchor the middle.  But most of the roster has to be reshaped after graduation took away league player of the year Austin Appelhof and much of the rotation.  They will still be tough. </p> <p>Speaking of losing a lot from the rotation, Langford Area will be switching from a senior dominated club to a big group of juniors (among others of course).  The Lion rotation was all seniors this past winter so you will be looking at a completely new rotation. </p> <p>Northwestern really struggled with the top teams in the league losing several games by big margins but it could of been a "take your lumps to gain experience season" because the Wildcats bring a lot back from an 8-11 team.  It’s taking a leap of faith to pick them over some of the more traditional squads but we are going to lean on experience and say this team takes a jump forward. </p> <p>Leola/Frederick Area is going to be quite young.  They won eight games with a couple seniors leading the way. Colton Spitzer will be the senior leader while sophomore Brayden Sumption becomes the playmaker.  Great Plains Lutheran should be in a good spot after an interesting year.  They missed a handful of games this year and then when they played, GPL played some really good teams close.  [player_tooltip player_id="968210" first="Sam" last="Hansen"] is a first team all league senior.</p> <p>Britton-Hecla won only one game last year and lost their best two players.  Winless Wilmot should be better as senior-to-be Trey Jurgens is tough to compete against. </p>