Harding County Ranchers: Season Preview

<p><strong>Buffalo, SD</strong> - Harding County School is in the far northwest corner of South Dakota. The Ranchers play in Region 8B and they are in the LMC Conference. Harding County brings back experienced players and some very nice pieces of the puzzle. The Ranchers have 4 returning players that averaged double digits last season. Very few teams can say that this year. Read on to find information about the Ranchers, see comments from Coach Wammen, and for the Harding County schedule. </p> <h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>RANCHER STRENGTHS From Coach <em>Jay Wammen</em></strong></span><strong>:</strong></h3> <p style="text-align: center;">-<em>Long and athletic</em></p> <p style="text-align: center;">-<em>If we "buy-in" would cold be a great defensive team</em></p> <p style="text-align: center;">-<em>If it all comes together, we could be very dangerous</em></p> <h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Coach <em>Wammen</em> talks about the excitement heading into the season</strong></span><strong>:</strong></h4> <p style="text-align: left;">"<em>We had a very good off-season. We performed well at all of our team camps and more importantly had great turnouts for our off-season open gyms and individual camps.</em>"  </p> <h3><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>TOP PLAYERS</strong></span></h3> <p><strong>Cayden Floyd (2022) |6-3 G/F|</strong></p> <p>Last season stats: 11.7 ppg, 7.3 rpg. He is a versatile player on both ends of the court. Floyd is long and athletic and he will bring in 2 years of varsity experience. Cayden can play multiple positions because of his skills, athleticism, and experience. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="963800" first="Kelby" last="Hett"] (2023) |6-1 G|</strong></p> <p>Last season stats: 11.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 3.4 apg. He is an athletic guard with an impressive mid-range pull-up game. Kelby will be one of the Rancher’s best on-ball defenders. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="963799" first="Keegan" last="Hett"] (2023) |6-1 G|</strong></p> <p>Last season stats: 11.2 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 3.6 spg, 3.0 apg. He is a well-rounded player on both ends of the hardwood. Keegan is very good at getting to the basket. Hett will typically defend the opposing team’s best player. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1227932" first="Dawson" last="Kautzman"] (2023) |6-1 PG|</strong></p> <p>Last season stats: 13.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 3.1 apg. He will run the show for the Ranchers. Dawson put in a ton of time in the summer and it will certainly pay off for him this season. Kautzman is a cool customer, a smart ball-handler, a scorer, and a playmaker.  </p> <p><strong>Gage Gilbert (2023) |6-5 F|</strong></p> <p>Last season stats: 6.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg. He had an excellent off-season and he has really come into his own. The Ranchers will count on Gage to be a leader on both ends of the court. Gilbert can get the job done inside and on the outside. He will be a matchup problem for most teams. </p> <p><strong>Cody Barnett (2022) |6-0 G|</strong></p> <p>Last season stats: 3.7 ppg 2.3 rpg. He is a big-bodied kid who can play physically. Look for Barnett to be the best three-point shooter for Harding County.</p> <p><strong>Braden Routier (2024) |5-9 G|</strong></p> <p>He works extremely hard on both ends of the court. Braden is a high-energy guy and the Ranchers will need him this season.</p> <p><strong>Brennan Glines (2024) |5-11 F|</strong></p> <p>He is an athletic forward. Glines rebounds very well and he plays his role perfectly.  </p> <h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Coach <em>Wammen</em> comments of season expectations</strong></span><strong>:</strong></h4> <p style="text-align: left;">"<em>We return 4 starters and our top 2 reserves this year.  We should be competitive with everyone on our schedule and hopefully look to battle for a conference championship.</em>"</p> <h3><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>RANCHERS SCHEDULE</strong></span></h3> <p>December 10th @ <strong>Newell</strong></p> <p>December 11 (home) vs <strong>Lead-Deadwood</strong></p> <p>December 16 (home) vs <strong>Timber Lake</strong></p> <p>December 21 (home) vs <strong>Grant County/Mott-Regent (ND)</strong></p> <p>December 30 @ <strong>Edgemont</strong></p> <p>January 6 (home) vs <strong>McIntosh</strong></p> <p>January 8 @ <strong>Faith</strong></p> <p>January 11 @ <strong>Dupree</strong></p> <p>January 18 @ <strong>Bowman County (ND)</strong></p> <p>January 20 @<strong> Hettinger/Scranton (ND)</strong></p> <p>January 25 @ <strong>Hulett (WY)</strong></p> <p>January 27 (home) vs <strong>Belle Fourche</strong></p> <p>January 29 (home) vs <strong>New Underwood</strong></p> <p>February 3<strong> LMC Tournament</strong> vs <strong>TBD</strong></p> <p>February 4<strong> LMC Tournament</strong> vs <strong>TBD</strong></p> <p>February 5<strong> LMC Tournament</strong> vs <strong>TBD</strong></p> <p>February 10 (home) vs <strong>Tiospaye Topa</strong></p> <p>February 15 (home) vs <strong>New England (ND)</strong></p> <p>February 18 (home) <strong>Lemmon</strong></p> <p>February 25 @ <strong>Bison</strong></p> <p>February 28 <strong>Region Opening Round</strong> (high seeds host)</p> <p>March 1 <strong>Region Quarterfinals</strong> (high seeds host)</p> <p>March 4 <strong>Region Semifinals </strong></p> <p>March 8 <strong>SoDak 16</strong></p> <p>March 17 <strong>State Tournament </strong>@ Barnett Center (Aberdeen)</p> <p>March 17 <strong>State Tournament </strong>@ Barnett Center (Aberdeen)</p> <p>March 17 <strong>State Tournament </strong>@ Barnett Center (Aberdeen)</p>