Sioux Valley Cossacks: Program Preview

Volga, SD - Sioux Valley Public School is in the town of Volga, which is 10 miles directly west of Brookings, SD. Sioux Valley has an enrollment of around 200 9-12 students. The Cossacks from Sioux Valley play in the Lake Central Conference, Big East Conference, and Region 2A. Sioux Valley has one of the best basketball programs in South Dakota, and they have an excellent coaching staff. The amount of talent that they have on this year’s team is eye-opening. In early September, I put Sioux Valley at #2 in the SD Class A Power Rankings. From what I have heard and seen the Cossacks are very deserving of the #2 Ranking, if not the #1 spot. Get ready for some spectacular basketball from the Cossacks this winter. The first practice of the season is Monday, November 29th. Read below for information about Sioux Valley, their players, and the Cossack schedule. [caption id="attachment_1327266" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/SV-crop-854x561-1636829794.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1327266 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/SV-crop-854x561-1636829794-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> State A Runner-up (2020-2021)[/caption] <h3>SIOUX VALLEY COSSACKS</h3> Conference: Lake Central Conference & Big East Region: 2A Last Season: 23-2. Big East Champs, LCC Champs, State Runner-up. (Two losses came from Dakota Valley & Sioux Falls Christian) Sioux Valley beat Wagner in the Sweet 16 and they took down Chamberlain and Dakota Valley in the State Tournament. Head Coach: Bill Vincent (25th season, 411-133 for 75.%) Assitant Coach: Buster Vincent (5th season) Players Lost: Kelton Vincent, Jaxton Schiller, Colby Gatzke Returning Players SENIORS [player_tooltip player_id="968190" first="Parker" last="Puetz"] |6-4 G/F| - [player_tooltip player_id="812212" first="Hayden" last="Ruesink"] |6-5 F| - Damian Danzeisen |6-1 G| - Carson Christopherson |6-1 G| - Dylen Milton |5-9 G| - Layson Lucas |6-2 F| JUNIORS [player_tooltip player_id="963744" first="Oliver" last="Vincent"] |6-2 G| - [player_tooltip player_id="1280262" first="Patrick" last="Carey"] |5-11 G| - Connor Gross |6-1 G| - Kyler Bezdichek |5-10 G| SOPHOMORES [player_tooltip player_id="1266229" first="Hudsyn" last="Ruesink"] |6-1 G| [player_tooltip player_id="1266223" first="Alec" last="Squires"] |6-10 PF| Newcomers: A nice amount of juniors and sophomores are coming off a very competitive JV season. SV coaches expect this group to compete at a high level and to fill the remaining roster spots. <h3>PLAYER NOTES</h3> <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1327314" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/parkerp-crop-1125x739-1636835517-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> [player_tooltip player_id="968190" first="Parker" last="Puetz"] (2022) |6-4 G/F| A Divison 1 athlete, Puetz has committed to NDSU for baseball. He has a pretty-looking 3-point stroke. Parker has a soft release and he gets good elevation on his jump shot. He can also put the ball on the floor and athletically slash to the rim. Puetz is a physical player that can finish through contact. For a wing, he can do serious work on the glass. Look for Parker to go out with a bang in his senior season. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1327312" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/haydenR-crop-1125x739-1636835426-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> [player_tooltip player_id="812212" first="Hayden" last="Ruesink"] (2022) |6-5 F| Expect him to be a double-double guy every night this season. He had a nice off-season and he worked hard on his game. I love the way he sprints the floor. Hayden will constantly be putting pressure on the opposing team's transition defense. He is a workhorse on the offensive glass that will get him many points and SV extra possessions. Ruesink is patient on the block and he does not seem to force. His physicality will be huge for the Cossacks in the paint. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1327322" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/olivevshot-crop-1125x739-1636835774-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> [player_tooltip player_id="963744" first="Oliver" last="Vincent"] (2023) |6-2 G| He is only a junior but Oliver is a seasoned veteran with all of his experience. Vincent is ultra-skilled, one of the best in all of the Dakotas. He is also a top-notch athlete with a phenomenal vertical. I had no idea this kid can get up and play above the rim. Oliver is not just an athlete. He is a student of hoops and a gym rat. Oli has a great feel for the game and he can create his own shot as few players can. He can score from all levels and he is crafty. His footwork is unreal and his timing is always spot on. Vincent can also create for teammates and drop dimes for easy baskets. Get ready for a memorable season for Oli and the Cossacks. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1327310" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/patrickcarey-crop-600x394-1636835084-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> [player_tooltip player_id="1280262" first="Patrick" last="Carey"] (2023) |5-11 G| This kid is a deadeye from deep. Earlier this fall at the Pentagon Schooler Combine, Patrick made 79 out of 100 from beyond the arc. That is a super impressive percentage to be shooting from 3-point land. Carey's ability to hit from the arc will stretch the defense and take some pressure off the other dudes for SV. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/77-Alec-Squires-crop-2500x1642-1632941995.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1296788" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/77-Alec-Squires-crop-2500x1642-1632941995-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="1266223" first="Alec" last="Squires"] (2024) |6-10 PF| He moves amazingly well for his height and youth. Alec can slam it in transition or hammer home a 2-handed dunk off a dime from a teammate. Squires is going to be a beast on the O-boards. He will be a great rim protector for this top-tier Sioux Valley team. I think he has great hands, which every great post needs. The sky is the limit for this big man. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1327318" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/hudsynR-crop-1080x710-1636835673-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> [player_tooltip player_id="1266229" first="Hudsyn" last="Ruesink"] (2024) |6-1 G| He is a young player on the rise. The young Ruesink is a hard worker and a grinder. He is a great teammate and he should fill in perfectly with whatever role he plays this year for the Cossacks. Cossack Strengths: They have many players that have been contributing at the varsity level since a young age. Sioux Valley will be able to put an athletic team on the floor. They will have height, solid defense, and rebounding. Cossack Weakness: They will need to develop their depth. <h3>Coach Bill Vincent’s outlook on the season</h3> "We will be able to compete night in and night out. We play in two very competitive conferences and we play a tough non-conference schedule. The combination of this should make us Tourney Tough. We will string to be in a position to compete with the best in the state by season’s end." <h3>Team Notes from coach Bill Vincent</h3> "The Cossacks have gone 44-3 over the past two seasons. 21-1 in 2020 before Covid canceled the State Tourney and 23-2 in 2021 with a runner-up finish. [player_tooltip player_id="968190" first="Parker" last="Puetz"], [player_tooltip player_id="812212" first="Hayden" last="Ruesink"], and [player_tooltip player_id="963744" first="Oliver" last="Vincent"] are returning starters. [player_tooltip player_id="963744" first="Oliver" last="Vincent"] is a returning All-State and POY finalist who averaged 21 ppg. [player_tooltip player_id="812212" first="Hayden" last="Ruesink"] is a returning All-Conference performer who averaged 11 ppg and 8rpg. [player_tooltip player_id="968190" first="Parker" last="Puetz"] is a returning All-Conference performer who averaged 10 ppg and 6.5 rpg. The two conferences that we compete in look to be balanced this year. Teams like De Smet, Clark-WL, Flandreau, Garretson, Beresford, and Hamlin are all very talented. We will compete in a very strong Region 2A with Flandreau, Hamlin, Elkton, Deubrook, Deul, GPL, and FIS." <h3>COSSACK SCHEDULE</h3> December 11th (home) vs. Clark/Willow Lake December 16th @ Baltic December 21st (home) vs. Beresford December 31st Entringer Classic vs. De Smet @ Brookings High School January 6th Big East Tournament vs. TBD @ Sioux Valley January 7th Big East Tournament vs. TBD @ Sioux Valley January 8th Big East Tournament vs. TBD @ McCook Central January 11th vs. Hamlin @ Sanford Pentagon January 14th @ McCook Central/Montrose January 18th (home) vs. Chester Area January 20th (home) vs. Deubrook January 22nd Hanson Classic vs. TBD @ Corn Palace February 1st @ Flandreau Indian School February 3rd (home) vs. Flandreau February 5th Schooler Classic vs. TDB @ Sandford Pentagon February 8th @ Deuel February 12th @ Parker February 15th @ Castlewood February 17th (home) vs. Garretson February 18th @ Sioux Falls Christian