#4 Aberdeen Christian: Midseason Update

<p><strong>Aberdeen, SD - </strong>The Knights from Aberdeen Christian had a great season last year with a runner-up finish at the State Tournament. They are off to another great season and the Knights are currently ranked #4 in the State B Polls. The Knights have a very nice group of players and they have been hot as of late. Read below for stats, coach <em>Rohrbach's</em> comments, and the Knight schedule. </p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Team Stats</strong></span></p> <p>61.3 ppg, 34.3 rpg, 16.3 apg, 6.8 spg, 2.4 bpg</p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Player Stats</span></strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/10-Malek-Wieker-crop-2500x1642-1633358306.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1300360" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/10-Malek-Wieker-crop-2500x1642-1633358306-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="963783" first="Malek" last="Wieker"] (2023) |6-0 PG| </strong>- 18.7 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 4.6 apg, 46 3FG%</p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/66-Ethan-Russell-crop-2500x1642-1634790262.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1312316" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/66-Ethan-Russell-crop-2500x1642-1634790262-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="963765" first="Ethan" last="Russell"] (2023) |6-6 F| </strong>- 16.3 ppg, 9 rpg, 1.2 apg, 37 3FG%</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="963760" first="Jackson" last="Isakson"] (2023) |6-3 G|</strong> - 9.8 ppg, 7 rpg, 3 apg, 27 3FG%</p> <p><strong>Kaden Clark (2023) |6-3 F|</strong> - 4.6 ppg, 6 rpg, 4.3 apg</p> <p><strong>Abe Holscher (2023) |6-1 G|</strong> - 4.5 ppg, 1.8 rpg, .3 apg, 32 3FG%</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1288337" first="Andrew" last="Brennan"] (2023) |5-9 G|</strong> - 3.8 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 2.5 apg</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1266233" first="Blake" last="Rich"] (2024) |6-4 F|</strong> - 2.4 ppg, 1.3 rpg, .2 apg</p> <h4><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Q &amp; A with Coach <em>David Rohrbach</em></strong></span></h4> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">What has been the highlight of the season so far?</span> </p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"<em>The highlight of our season so far would have to be the 4 game stretch of Saturday to Saturday in which we played 4 schools (Potter County, Faulkton, Waubay Summit, Platte Geddes) all of which at one point this season had received votes in the media poll. Going 4-0 that week, capping it off with a win at the Hanson Classic against #5 Platte Geddes was really big for us as far as momentum in the heart of the season and getting crucial seed points against quality opponents.</em>"  </p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">What are your goals for the rest of the season?</span> </p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"<em>Our goals are to keep improving and hopefully be playing our best basketball at the end of the year.  We hope to peak at the right time and make a deep playoff run.</em>"  </p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Which players are most improved and why?</span></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"<strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1288337" first="Andrew" last="Brennan"]</strong> and <strong>Kaden Clark</strong> have done so much for us this year filling new starting roles. They have fit their roles really nicely by being great assist guys, excellent defenders, and doing whatever it takes to win, whether that’s getting a timely bucket or a timely rebound. <strong>Abe Holscher</strong> has really improved as a shooter and gives good minutes off the bench, as well as <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1266233" first="Blake" last="Rich"]</strong>, and <strong>Joey Johnson</strong> who give us really good big man minutes off the bench."  </p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Who have been your top players defensively?</span> </p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"<em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="963760" first="Jackson" last="Isakson"]</strong> has been a staple for us defensively for a couple of years now and loves guarding the other team’s best player. A couple of new and great additions to our defense have been <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1288337" first="Andrew" last="Brennan"]</strong> picking up ball handlers full court and pestering them. He is relentless with his energy and ball pressure. <strong>Kaden Clark</strong>, also new to the starting line-up has done an excellent job taking on the opposing team’s best post players. His post defense has really come on strong. Clark also leads our team in assists at 4.5 a game.</em>" </p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">What has been your team’s identity so far or what do you hang your hat on?</span> </p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"<em>Our team’s identity has always been defense. Defense travels and carries you when shots aren’t falling. Offensively we have a lot of shooters, however, we are at our best when we play inside out, get post touches, and our three-pointers come off of inside-out action.  When we share the ball we have a lot of scorers.</em>"  </p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Player Highlights</span></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="963783" first="Malek" last="Wieker"]</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="963765" first="Ethan" last="Russell"]</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="963760" first="Jackson" last="Isakson"]</strong> - our 3 returning starters lead us in scoring, which they have a lot of big-game experience. However, I really like that they also are our 3 leading rebounders as well, which is great to see a commitment out of them to not just score but to contribute in other areas. </p> <h4><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Knight Schedule (11-2)</strong></span></h4> <p><strong>James Valley Christian</strong> - W 57-42</p> <p><strong>Warner</strong> - W 64-40</p> <p><strong>Leola-Frederick Area</strong> - W 71-37</p> <p><strong>Britton-Hecla</strong> - W 66-38</p> <p><strong>White River</strong> - L 48-58</p> <p><strong>FACS, TN</strong> - L 40-56</p> <p><strong>Oakes, ND</strong> - W 78-50</p> <p><strong>Potter County</strong> - W 61-56</p> <p><strong>Faulkton Area</strong> - W 58-54</p> <p><strong>Waubay-Summit</strong> - W 57-50</p> <p><strong>Platte-Geddes</strong> - W 60-49</p> <p><strong>Herreid-Selby Area</strong> - W 76-43</p> <p><strong>Wilmot</strong> - W 61-34</p> <p>February 1 @ <strong>North Central </strong></p> <p>February 3 (home) vs. <strong>Northwestern</strong></p> <p>February 8 @ <strong>Ipswich</strong></p> <p>February 12 @ McCook Central vs. <strong>Howard</strong></p> <p>February 15 @ <strong>Langford Area</strong></p> <p>February 17 (home) vs <strong>Aberdeen Roncalli</strong></p> <p>February 25 (home) vs. <strong>Groton Area</strong></p>