Castlewood Warriors – Team Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There is a rich history of basketball in Castlewood. They added to that history last season as they went to another Class B State Tournament. The Warriors will bring back a very talented team and they will be one of the heavy favorites to get back to the Big Dance! Castlewood is a Class B team from Region 3. Read below for a deep dive into the Warriors!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1638799,"width":153,"height":193,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/10/castlewood-2.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/10/castlewood-2-813x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1638799" width="153" height="193"/></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last season, Castlewood end the year with an 18-8 record and a 6th-place finish at State. In the opening round of the State Tournamnet, they lost a thrilling overtime game to Lower Brule who went on to finish 2nd. The Warriors will have a new head coach this season, <strong><em>Paul Raasch</em></strong>. He is a seasoned veteran, Raasch has been a head coach for 37 years! Coach Raasch spent 16 of those years in Langford. The Castlewood coaching staff will be rounded out with <strong><em>Jeff Sikkink</em></strong>, <strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1548634' first='Ryder' last='Johnson']</em></strong>, and <strong><em>Mike Thyen</em></strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1634111,"width":321,"height":200,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/10/TeamPreview.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/10/TeamPreview.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1634111" width="321" height="200"/></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"25px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:25px"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Off-Season</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Warriors had as good of an offseason as you could hope for. Castlewood had to adjust to having a new head coach. Do not forget about the gym being unusable because of last spring's Tornado. The Warriors had to travel for summer practices/workouts, which obviously is not ideal. They also had to play without one of their key guys due to an injury. However, he is back and ready to roar! With all of the adversity they dealt with, the Warriors will still be primed for a big season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"25px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:25px"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Key Returning Players</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='963785' first='Carson' last='Kirwan'] (2023) 6'4”</strong> – Versatile &amp; athletic player, coming off a knee injury from last season. Expect a huge season!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Booker Schooley</strong> <strong>(2023) 6'0”</strong> – He is a very good defender and Booker does a lot of things well. He is a high-energy guy!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1625205' first='Lane' last='Tvedt']</strong> <strong>(2024) 6'1”</strong> – His 3^rd year starting, has good skills as a combo guard. Tvedt is a potent offensive threat!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1327459' first='Bryon' last='Laue']</strong> <strong>(2025) 6'8”</strong> – Runs the floor well. A force on the blocks. Laue is the #2 ranked prospect in the 2025 class!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1638961' first='Jackson' last='Schofield']</strong> <strong>(2024) 6'3”</strong> – A solid forward. Schofield moved into the starting lineup last year. Had a great summer! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Joe Decker</strong> <strong>(2023) 5'10”</strong> – A great shooter and solid defender. Decker contributed very well off the bench last year!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"25px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:25px"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Up-and-Coming Warriors</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1421603' first='Quincy' last='Thu']</strong> <strong>(2024) 6'1”</strong> – A scrappy forward who can shoot. He plays bigger than his size.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1558285' first='Bowen' last='Ryan']</strong> <strong>(2024) 6'0”</strong> – A combo guard who plays very hard. He will add depth to the rotation.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1558248' first='Jamison' last='Keszler']</strong> <strong>(2025) 6'0” </strong>– He has good instincts at the guard position and can really shoot it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jyler Tharaldsen (2024) 6'2”</strong> – He has good strength and rebounds well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kabren Jackson</strong> <strong>(2024) 6'0”</strong> – A smart player who will add depth to the front line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center","style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"25px"}}} --> <p class="has-text-align-center" style="font-size:25px"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Coach <em>Paul Raasch</em> comments on the Warriors style of basketball</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center","fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">"<em>We will play as fast as possible but will also look to exploit mismatches in the half-court with our overall size. Defensively we will play a variety of defenses designed for pressure both full and half-court.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center","style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"25px"}}} --> <p class="has-text-align-center" style="font-size:25px"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Coach <em>Raasch </em>talks about the Warrior Schedule</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center","fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">"<em>We have a loaded schedule with several Class A opponents and quality B opponents…….De Smet, Hamlin, Sioux Valley, Clark-Willow Lake, Waubay-Summit, Madison, and Deuel are maybe a few of the bigger games that stand out on our schedule.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center","style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"25px"}}} --> <p class="has-text-align-center" style="font-size:25px"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Coach <em>Raasch </em>comments on Region 3</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center","fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">"<em>De Smet is a two-time defending State B champ and returns some key players.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center","fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">"<em>Wolsey-Wessington historically has good athletes and plays an aggressive schedule.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1399487,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/03/SD-1.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/03/SD-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1399487"/></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->