Howard Tigers: Team Deep Dive

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In today's team preview, we are heading southwest of Brookings, SD to Howard, the home of the TIGERS! Howard is a Class B team that will have a very good chance at making a deep postseason run!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Tiger football team is off to a 7-0 start and is currently the #1 team in 9AA. They obviously have some athletes at that school! Look below for all things on Howard hoops.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1096180,"width":191,"height":125,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/12/Preview-2.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/12/Preview-2.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1096180" width="191" height="125"/></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last season, Howard finished the year with a 17-5 record. The Tigers were the #1 seed in their region but lost to Chester by 1 point in the Region Championship game. They lost a couple of seniors (<strong>Jace Sifore</strong> &amp; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1318828' first='Brayden' last='Hinker']</strong>) from last year's team but they return many nice players and major contributors. Howard will be a serious team in 2022-2023!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Tigers had a good summer of hoops. Howard is a small school and most of their guys play multiple sports. However, they did find opportunities for open gyms and team camps. The Tigers hit up 3 team camps (Cornbelt Camp, Webster Camp, DSU Camp). They had success at all 3 events, those camps paired well with Howard's weekly open gyms. Look for the Tigers to build off that summer success early in the season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"25px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:25px"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Tiger Roster Examination</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1623385' first='Ryder' last='Erickson'] (2023) |5'9 G|</strong> - He has been the starting point guard for Howard since his 8th-grade year. Erickson averaged 6.5 ppg and 3.1 apg last season. Ryder will be a leader for the Tigers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kade Shumaker (2023) |6'0 G| </strong>- He will be the only other senior on the roster for Howard. Shumaker will also take on the role of a leader for the Tigers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1318807' first='Kolt' last='Koepsell'] (2024) |6'8 PF|</strong> - An All-conference player last season. Averaged 14.1 ppg and 7.8 rpg. Kolt has the potential &amp; talent to be an All-State type player. His size will be a major factor for the Tigers. Kolt will be looked upon to carry a major load for Howard.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1503843' first='Luke' last='Koepsell'] (2025) |6'3 PF| </strong>- An All-Conference player last season. Averaged 10 ppg, 4.5 rpg, and 2.5 apg last year. Luke also has all the tools, size, and skill to be in the conversation of being an All-State type player. Koepsell will have a very good season fo the Tigers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Other players that will be major contributors: 6'2" (jr) <strong>Taiden Hoyer</strong>, 5'11" (jr) <strong>Colby Claussen</strong>, 5'10" (jr) <strong>Will Maier</strong>, and 5'11" (jr) <strong>Logan Mentele</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Team comments from coach <em>Nick Koepsell</em></span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>We will look to play through our posts again this year. [player_tooltip player_id='1318807' first='Kolt' last='Koepsell'] &amp; [player_tooltip player_id='1503843' first='Luke' last='Koepsell'] can both put up big numbers in the paint. We should be a better shooting team this year &amp; will be able to go 10 deep in the rotation if we need to.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Coach Koepsell talks about rivalry game for the Tigers</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Our Cornbelt Conference games are typically some of our bigger "rivalry" games. Hanson, Canistota, &amp; Bridgewater-Emery will all be big conference games this season.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Coach Koepsell talks about Region 4</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Our Region will be extremely tough again. I could see as many as 5 or 6 teams with a chance to win the Region. Bridgewater-Emery, Canistota, &amp; Dell Rapids St Mary along with ourselves, look to be the early favorites.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"25px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:25px"><strong>Get ready for a fun season of basketball with the Howard Tigers!</strong></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 -->