Madison Bulldogs: Team Preview

<p><strong>Madison, SD</strong> - First of all congratulations to the Bulldog football team on the perfect season and a State Championship!</p> <p>The Bulldogs are going to be a tough team in Region 3A, they will also compete in the difficult Dakota XII Conference. Madison has a very good program in place with an excellent head coach. The Bulldogs return experienced players, they will be athletic, and they have size. I will not be surprised if they are one of the best in 3A. They certainly know how to win, they proved that this fall. Read below for comments from coach Larson, information on the Bulldog players, and Madison's schedule. </p> <p><img class="size-medium wp-image-1331897 aligncenter" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/madison-crop-1125x739-1637464942-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></p> <h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Bulldog Strengths from Coach <em>Jeff Larsen</em></strong></span>:</h3> <h5 style="text-align: center;"><em>-Athleticism</em></h5> <h5 style="text-align: center;"><em>-Strength</em></h5> <h5 style="text-align: center;"><em>-Grit</em></h5> <h5 style="text-align: center;"><em>-Toughness</em></h5> <h5 style="text-align: center;"><em>-I feel we will play extremely hard every night and outwork people</em></h5> <h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Coach <em>Larsen</em> on Expectations and Goals</strong></span>:</h3> <p style="text-align: center;">"<em>Our goal every year is to make and win the State A tournament and become better people in the process of doing so. We hope to be playing our best basketball by the season’s end and be top of the Dakota XII Conference by the end of the season. We feel we will be very competitive with everyone on the schedule.</em>"</p> <h3><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Top Bulldogs Players</strong></span></h3> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1276565" first="Aspen" last="Dahl"] (2022) |5-11 G|</strong></p> <p>Last season stats: 9.5 ppg, 6.3 rpg. He will be the point guard for Madison. Aspen plays bigger than his 5’11" height. He is a competitor and wants to win. Dahl put in a ton of time in the weight room in the last year. He has built up his strength and Aspen has also improved his perimeter shooting. Dahl will be a returning team captain. Aspen knows what it takes to win the big game. He won a baseball State Title this summer with Renner Post 307. Expect a big season from Dahl.  </p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1204807" first="Aiden" last="Jensen"] (2023) |6-8 F|</strong></p> <p>Last season stats: 4.3 ppg, 3 rpg. This big man is primed for a huge junior season. Aiden played for the Pentagon Schoolers this past spring/summer and he has improved his overall game. Jensen has also added muscle and strength since last hoops season. Aiden is a very coachable player that loves the game of basketball. Look for Jensen to contribute heavily to the success that the Bulldogs have this season.</p> <p><strong>Nate Ricke (2022) |6-3 F|</strong></p> <p>Last season stats: 4.8 ppg, 4.7 rpg. He is fresh off from leading the football team to a State Championship! Nate rebounds extremely well and he had multiple double-digit rebounding nights last season. Ricke loves to see his teammates succeed and he is ready for another successful sports season. </p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Mickale Dohrer (2023) |5-11 G|</strong></p> <p>Last season stats: 4 ppg, 3.7 rpg. He is a great athlete that started 10 games as a junior. Mickale has a very high basketball IQ and he can play any position 1-4 on the court. Dohrer is a good defender who is also a very committed young man.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Trey Smith (2022) |6-0 G|</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">He was the Class 11A Football Player of the year. Trey will return to the court this season. Smith did not play his junior season because of an injury. </p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Players To Keep Tabs On</strong></span>: <strong>Peyton Wolf, [player_tooltip player_id="1263162" first="Ben" last="Brooks"], Cody Klein</strong>. These guys will all compete for playing time. </p> <h3><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Coach <em>Larsen</em> on the excitement heading into the season</strong></span>:</h3> <p>"<em>I love coaching basketball, this is a great group we have this season, and we are all excited about the upcoming season.</em>"</p> <h3><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>BULLDOG SCHEDULE</strong></span></h3> <p>December 11 (home) vs. <strong>Elk Point-Jefferson</strong></p> <p>December 14 (home) vs. <strong>Tri-Valley</strong></p> <p>December 16 @ <strong>Lennox</strong></p> <p>December 21 (home) vs. <strong>Deubrook Area</strong></p> <p>December 31 <strong>Entringer Classic </strong>vs. <strong>Elkton-Lake Benton</strong> @ Brookings</p> <p>January 7 (home) vs. <strong>Tea Area</strong></p> <p>January 8 <strong>Sacred Hoops Classic </strong>vs. <strong>TBD </strong>@ Corn Palace</p> <p>January 13 (home) vs.<strong> Flandreau</strong></p> <p>January 20 @ <strong>Dell Rapids</strong></p> <p>January 21 (home) vs. <strong>Sioux Falls Christian</strong></p> <p>January 25 @ <strong>Chamberlain</strong></p> <p>January 29 (home) <strong>DAK XII/NEC Clash</strong> vs. TBD</p> <p>February 3 @ <strong>Beresford</strong></p> <p>February 8 @ <strong>McCook Central Montrose</strong></p> <p>February 11 @ <strong>West Central</strong></p> <p>February 12 @ <strong>Canton</strong></p> <p>February 14 @ <strong>Vermillion</strong></p> <p>February 18 @ <strong>Dakota Valley </strong></p> <p>February 21 (home) vs. <strong>Milbank</strong></p> <p>February 25 (home) vs. <strong>Viborg-Hurley</strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/madison-crop-1125x739-1637464942.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1331897" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/madison-crop-1125x739-1637464942-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p>