Sioux Valley: Season Rewind

Volga, SD - The Cossacks from Sioux Valley are coached by legendary Bill Vincent and it was no surprise to anyone when the Cossacks made a trip back to the State Tournament. The Cossack took second place in the State Tournament for the 2nd year in a row. Sioux Valley is a decorated program that has success every year. This is not by coincidence. SV’s coaching staff, players, and the community live and breathe basketball. The Cossacks had an epic season and they overcame plenty of adversity to get to the coveted State Championship game. The amazing thing about Sioux Valley is that they are never satisfied. They had a great season and they will miss their graduating seniors dearly but they are already preparing for next year. They will have big shoes to fill with the veterans leaving. However, Sioux Valley does not rebuild, they reload! Congrats to Sioux Valley on another phenomenal season! The seniors will be missed and they have left their fingerprint on this program that will never be forgotten. The Cossacks from Sioux Valley are a first-class program with great coaches, hardworking players, and they are surrounded by an awesome community. <h5>Big East All-Conference Players</h5> [player_tooltip player_id="963744" first="Oliver" last="Vincent"] (2023) |6-1 G| - First Team [player_tooltip player_id="812212" first="Hayden" last="Ruesink"] (2022) |6-5 F| - First Team [player_tooltip player_id="1266223" first="Alec" last="Squires"] (2024) |6-10 C| - Second Team [player_tooltip player_id="968190" first="Parker" last="Puetz"] (2022) |6-4 SG| - Third Team Damien Danzeisen (2022) |6-1 G| - Honorable Mention <h5>Lake Central All-Conference Players</h5> <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/olivervincent24-crop-3024x1986-1640202936.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1351904" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/olivervincent24-crop-3024x1986-1640202936-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a>[player_tooltip player_id="963744" first="Oliver" last="Vincent"] (2023) |6-1 G| - First Team <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1417900" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/haydenrues-crop-3024x1986-1648776498-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" />[player_tooltip player_id="812212" first="Hayden" last="Ruesink"] (2022) |6-5 F| - First Team <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/alecsquires35-crop-3024x1986-1640203250.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1351910" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/alecsquires35-crop-3024x1986-1640203250-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a>[player_tooltip player_id="1266223" first="Alec" last="Squires"] (2024) |6-10 C| - First Team <h5>All-State and All-State Tournament Team</h5> [player_tooltip player_id="963744" first="Oliver" last="Vincent"] (2023) |6-1 G| <ul> <li>First Team & All-State Tournament Team</li> <li>17.5 ppg, 4 rpg, 6.8 apg, 1.5 spg, 44 FG%, 42 3FG%, 82.6 FT%</li> </ul> [player_tooltip player_id="812212" first="Hayden" last="Ruesink"] (2022) |6-5 F| <ul> <li>Third Team & All-State Tournament Team</li> <li>14 ppg, 8 rpg, 2 rpg, 1 spg, 50.5 FG%, 32 3FG%, 74.5 FT%</li> </ul> <h4>Cossack Talk with coach Bill Vincent</h4> PHD: What were some of the highlights of the season? Coach Vincent: "Many great highlights from the season culminating with our post-season run that included wins over GPL, Hamlin, Hanson, Winner, & STM. Before falling short in the State Championship game to undefeated Dakota Valley. We also had a fun win on Senior night vs. Garretson. We closed out our home schedule with a big win over Lower Brule. We had a great midseason win at the Hanson Classic at the Corn Palace over Tea. Won the Big East with a 7-0 record." PHD: Who was your "go-to" player when you needed a basket? Bill Vincent: "We had multiple people we could go to when a basket was needed depending on what we were looking to take advantage of from our opponent and the situation. When we needed to get a tough bucket we looked to [player_tooltip player_id="963744" first="Oliver" last="Vincent"]. Oliver moved over from the shooting guard spot to the point this season and saw his assist totals skyrocket with the move, becoming one of the state leaders in assists. Oliver also made over 60 three pointers and was nearly automatic from the foul line. This guy has now qualified for three straight state A Tournaments since entering high school. This dude is a winner, willing to do whatever is needed in the situations of possession, clock, and score to help the team win. Now has nearly 1400 points after junior season and in top five career assists at SV." PHD: Which players improved the most for you this season and what did they improve on? Coach Vincent: "[player_tooltip player_id="1266223" first="Alec" last="Squires"] was our most improved player. He was coming off of missing his entire season last year as a freshman and was new to the Varsity so we weren’t sure what to expect. He accepted all challenges and improved game to game, culminating with an outstanding post-season run for the Cossacks. As a first-year varsity player, he averaged a double-double with 10pts, 11rebs and had 17 dunks. His FG% was at a school-record pace in the 68%. Squires was a game-changer for us defensively as a rim protector and he led the team in blocked shots." "Another of our most improved players was Damian Danzeisen. Damian took the opportunity to move into a starting role this season and got more and more comfortable with that role as the season went on, saving his best for last. This included 16 points in the State Championship game. He also fell into a huge defensive role for the Cossacks, filling the void left by the graduation of All-Stater Kelton Vincent. Damian used his long arms to pester ball handlers and chase top offensive players from other teams. Damian hit a huge amount of three-point shots for the Cosssacks this season and shot 80 some percent from the foul line." PHD: Who were a few of your hardest workers and what did they do well? Coach Vincent: "We had a hard-working team, with many players that fit into hardest worker, but [player_tooltip player_id="812212" first="Hayden" last="Ruesink"]’s engine was always running. He has a great motor and averaged around 15 ppg and 8 rebounds for us. He was an All-Conference and All-State Player. He was also named to the State All-Tourney team for a second consecutive year a couple of weekends ago in Rapid City. Hayden will finish his career with over 700 career points and 500 career rebounds. Hayden will be taking his skills to DWU to play for coach Wilber." PHD: Can you talk about a time when you and the team overcame adversity? Coach Vincent: "All basketball games and seasons are full of adversity. Our guys did a great job of balancing the highs and lows that sports can send your way. We had a good group of Captains that allowed us to talk, set goals, and improve where needed. Our seniors will pass the leadership responsibilities onto our underclassmen as we start to reload for next season." PHD: Who was your best practice player and why? Coach Vincent: "[player_tooltip player_id="968190" first="Parker" last="Puetz"] was a great practice player for us because he is an extension of your coaching staff on the floor. He had an outstanding career for us making the Varsity as an 8th grader and becoming the first Cossack to qualify for 4 State Tournaments. 8th grade 21-4 (4th place), 10th grade 21-1 (COVID), 11th grade 23-2 (runner -up), 12th grade 20-6 (runner-up). Many times we let practice become player led to help grow the team and Parker was the guy that knew where to direct everyone on the sets and actions of the offense and defense. Parker had an outstanding career and will leave SV with over 700 career points, 500 career rebounds, and will be in our top five all-time in made three-pointers." PHD: Who were some of your key bench players? Coach Vincent: "Seniors: Dylen Milton and Carson Christopherson were our key players off the bench. Dylen was in rotation with our guards and shot the three-ball extremely well this season after missing last season to a knee injury. He got banged up heading into the State Tournament but was still able to give us some key minutes en route to the finals. Carson was in rotation with our post players. A bit undersized at the post but a competitor willing to do anything for his team and his teammates. With two starters fouled out of the State semi-final game, Carson was ready and came in to be one of the heroes in the closing moments. These two teamed with Senior Layson Lucas gave us great team chemistry because of their willingness to accept their roles and do anything for the team and their classmates. Great dudes!!" PHD: Can you make a few comments about the seniors that you are losing? Coach Vincent: "We are losing 7 seniors. [player_tooltip player_id="968190" first="Parker" last="Puetz"], [player_tooltip player_id="812212" first="Hayden" last="Ruesink"], Layson Lucas, Damian Danzeisen, Dylen Milton, Carson Christopherson, and Cameron Thomas. Crazy good guys. They have done nothing but win while at SV. They will be missed greatly. I am eager to see where life takes this group of winners." PHD: Who are some of your top players that will be back next season? Coach Vinvent: "Starter [player_tooltip player_id="963744" first="Oliver" last="Vincent"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1266223" first="Alec" last="Squires"]. We also hope for the return of sharp-shooter [player_tooltip player_id="1280262" first="Patrick" last="Carey"] who missed the season due to injury. My assistant Buster Vincent had a 19-1 JV team and many of those players were varsity players off the bench this season that will step up and help next year. Some of those guys are Connor Gross, Kyler Bezdichek, [player_tooltip player_id="1266229" first="Hudsyn" last="Ruesink"], [player_tooltip player_id="1263164" first="Maverick" last="Nelson"], Jace Christensen, and Boden Schiller." <h4>Cossack Scores & Schedule (20-6)</h4> Clark-Willow Lake W 67-49 Beresford W 77-61 Baltic W 71-33 De Smet L 47-55 Baltic W 71-27 Chester Area W 62-39 Flandreau L 40-70 Hamlin W 59-52 Chester Area W 67-51 Deubrook Area W 79-56 Tea Area W 63-47 McCook Central-Montrose W 69-59 Flandreau W 55-47 White River L 62-64 Deuel W 64-35 Parker W 62-56 Castlewood L 52-59 Garretson W 67-36 Sioux Falls Christian L 59-60 Lower Brule W 70-69 Great Plains Lutheran W 60-40 Hamlin W 71-52 Hanson W 64-34 (SODAK 16) Winner W 58-54 (State) St. Thomas More W 54-46 (State) Dakota Valley L 65-82 (State Championship)