#4 Sioux Valley vs. Sioux Falls Christian: Top Players

Sioux Falls, SD - This game was a repeat of last year’s Class A State Championship. There are some new names for both teams and there were some familiar faces as well. The Cossacks were not able to get revenge for last year’s loss in the ship. Sioux Valley led for 97% of the game and SFC stayed close all night, fought, clawed, and somehow came away with the win. These are two very tough teams and they both have a good chance to get back into the State Tournament later this year. Read below to see who the Top Players were in this heavyweight Class A matchup. Scores 1Q - SV 15 SFC 8 2Q - SV 37 SFC 36 3Q - SV 53 SFC 47 4Q (final) - SV 59 SFC 60 <h4>Top Cossacks</h4> [player_tooltip player_id="963744" first="Oliver" last="Vincent"] (2023) |6-1 G| 15 points, 2-2 ft’s, three 3-pointers. He had a beautiful drive and dish to Squires last night in the first half. Oli drove through the lane and threw a no-look 1-handed pass back over his head to an open Squires. That one will definitely be added to his highlight film. Vincent is very good at keeping his defender off balance by changing up his speeds with multiple dribble moves. Vincent is uber-skilled with all the moves and passing skills that you could ask for. He is also a gifted shot-maker. Throughout the game, Oli had multiple impressive and tough finishes/shots in traffic with a hand in his face. His pull-up jumper is graceful and spot-on. His off-balance and leaning jumpers are a thing of beauty. Vincent showed his shooting range with a beyond college depth 3-pointer. He hit another pull-up 3-ball from the top of the key that was deep. His last 3-pointer came with a sick step-back triple at the end of the 3rd quarter. On defense, Oli took a charge and he created TO's with tips in the zone defense. Damian Danzeisen (2022) |6-1 G| 12 points, 3-3 ft’s, three 3-pointers. He is a sneaky defender that gets his hands on balls and picks of passes. Damian hit two 3-pointers from very deep, out in NBA range. Danzeisen was fouled after a missed 3-pointer, the senior stepped up and cashed in all three of them. He moves the ball on offense and looks to create for others. Damian had a big 12 points in this one. [player_tooltip player_id="812212" first="Hayden" last="Ruesink"] (2022) |6-5 F| 9 points, 4-5 ft’s. Hayden scored the first basket of the game. He scored 8 of his 9 points in the first half. Ruesink showed a sweet shot fake, attacked off the dribble, and some fancy footwork at the basket for a tough shot with two defenders on him. Hayden had a couple of other nice baskets against the Charger zone defense. He hit an interior shot with two defenders and he scored again off the dribble. Ruesink showed some fine passing skills with a dime to spotting up Danzeisen. On defense, Hayden blocked a shot and provided strength around the basket. I like how he grabs rebounds with authority and hits the outlets very quickly. [player_tooltip player_id="968190" first="Parker" last="Puetz"] (2022) |6-4 SG| 9 points, one 3-pointer. I really like the looks of his shooting stroke, he only had one last night but he had a couple of others halfway in the basket but didn't drop. He spots up with great timing, feet, and hands. I love the way he sprints back on defense. He also stood out to me when fighting for rebounds even though he did not have a favorable position. Late in the game, Puetz had a big basket off a BLOB that took the lead back for Sioux Valley. Parker also had a big steal late in the 4th to keep the game within reach. SV may not have won, but Parker is primed for a big game in the postseason. [player_tooltip player_id="1266223" first="Alec" last="Squires"] (2024) |6-10 C| 8 points (all in the first half). He was facing foul trouble last night, so SV could not keep him in the game as much as they would have liked. I liked his anticipation on defense which led to multiple tip steals and TO's. Squires is a great rebounder on offense and defense. In the first half, Alec scored with an O-board putback and in the 4th quarter, he grabbed a big O-board to give the Cossacks an extra possession. Alec had a huge AND1 putback in the 4th but the refs called the foul on the ground which took the basket away. Squires had a very nice pass to Puetz on a BLOB for a big basket. Alec showed his athleticism with a transition basket, he runs like a deer in the open court. In the first half, the Chargers were fronting Squires on the block, a Cossack teammate threw a beautiful lob pass and Alec finished it with a captivating 2-handed WHAM. This BIG is only a sophomore and he is having a monster season. Dylen Milton (2022) |5-10 G| 6 points, two 3-pointers. He came off the bench and helped chip in with some needed scoring. Milton has a good-looking stroke from beyond the arc. <h4>Top Chargers</h4> [player_tooltip player_id="1390310" first="Ethan" last="Bruns"] (2023) |6-6 F| 27 points, 9-13 ft’s. He was the engine that drove and produced all night for the Chargers. Bruns was spectacular! Ethan boarded up all game on both ends of the floor. He had a monster O-board at the end of the game and he was fouled on the way up, which sent him to the FT-line. Ethan made one of the FT’s and this was the shot that got the Chargers to 60 and the win. Bruns showed great hops when going up for rebounds and he tipped in a putback. He hurt the Cossack zone all game long. Bruns scored on the block with a nice turnaround jumper. He hit a deep 2-point corner jumper and a pull-up dagger from 15’. Ethan hit multiple jumpers and runners from 10-feet and in. His floater is ultra-soft and super accurate. Bruns has a shooter’s touch and a butter-smooth release. On defense, Ethan contested shots and helped protect the rim for the Chargers. His biggest and most important play of the game was the O-board with 6.6 seconds left and being fouled on the putback. What a game from Bruns! [player_tooltip player_id="963777" first="Tate" last="Snyder"] (2023) |6-0 G| 9 points, 4-4 ft’s. Early in the game, Tate had an impressive coast-to-coast finger roll finish with a hand in his face. He did a nice job of handling the rock and moving the ball against the Sioux Valley zone D. Snyder looks to be a confident player and shooter. [player_tooltip player_id="1390318" first="Cole" last="Snyder"] (2025) |5-10 G| 9 points, three 3-pointers. This young buck can shoot it! Cole hit 3-pointers in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th quarters and the Chargers needed all of them to get this victory. SFC had a couple of players out and Cole stepped up in a huge way by providing a much-needed scoring punch. On defense, Snyder showed quick hands and toughness by reaching in and tying up the basketball against a senior Cossack player. [player_tooltip player_id="1390319" first="Britton" last="Mulder"] (2025) |6-1 G| 3 points, one 3-pointer. He played vital minutes for the Chargers tonight with a couple of older veteran players missing this game. Mulder held his own and proved that he can play at the varsity level. In the 4th quarter, Britton hit a monster 3-pointer that gave SFC the lead with 3:45 left in the game. Talk about a clutch shot! [player_tooltip player_id="968155" first="Brooks" last="Nelson"] (2022) |6-2 SF| 8 points, 2-2 ft’s, two 3-pointers. He did all his scoring in the 2nd and 3rd quarters. At times, Brooks looked really good shooting the rock from deep. Nelson has a nice-looking jump shot off the dribble. His 3-pointer in the 3rd quarter from the top of the key was vital as it helped keep the Chargers within striking distance. [player_tooltip player_id="812203" first="Nathan" last="Koole"] (2022) |6-9 C| 2 points. Nathan scored the first basket for the Chargers last night. He was in foul trouble, picked up 3 fouls in the first half, and had to sit extended time on the pine throughout the contest. Koole looked good when he grabbed an O-board, kept the ball high, and stuck the ball back in for 2-points. In the first half, Nathan snagged a long offensive rebound and immediately looked for a shooter on the perimeter to set up for a shot. It is rare to find BIG man that is this unselfish. Koole had a nice blocked shot when a Cossack player tried shooting a runner in his face, Nathan quickly erased that shot.