Dakota Valley – Elite Squad

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Today we are looking at the reigning Class A STATE CHAMPIONS! The Panthers finished last season with an unblemished and perfect 26-0 record! They are led by <em>Jason Kleis</em>, who is one of the best in the business when it comes to high school basketball coaches. When you watch the Panthers, it is easy to see that they are a well-coached team. The Panthers lost a couple of key role players to graduation, but they bring back all the STUDs and they have a nice group of young players as well. I think that it is fair to say that Dakota Valley is the heavy favorite to win Class A again.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Panthers top 5 players from last year will get a heavy dose of minutes early in the season. However, the Panthers need to develop depth with some combination of the newcomers. DV will go 7-8 deep in their player rotation. If they want to play their style of basketball, DV needs to develop a bench. The Panthers play a hard and fast style of basketball and depth will certainly be a key to their success.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Read below for more info on the DV Panthers!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1662235,"width":405,"height":253,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/11/dakotavalley2022-scaled.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/11/dakotavalley2022-1024x639.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1662235" width="405" height="253"/></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">2021-2022 Team Stats</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PPG</strong>: 69.7 <strong>RPG</strong>: 8.9 <strong>APG</strong>: 14.8 <strong>SPG</strong>: 9.3 <strong>BPG</strong>: 2.8</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FG%</strong>: 49 <strong>3FG%</strong>: 36 <strong>3's made</strong>: 168  <strong>TO's per game</strong>: 9.3</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">2021-2022 Season Comments</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last year was a dream season for Dakota Valley in many ways. Going undefeated and winning the State Title is hard to top and incredibly rare in Class A. The Panther players had great chemistry, unselfishness, and complete team togetherness and toughness…all of that made it a highly enjoyable and a memorable season from start to finish for everyone in that community. Dakota Valley had lost their school's All-Time leader in assists (<strong>Chayce Montagne</strong>). They also lost their All-Time leading scorer, one of SD's best All-Time players (<strong>Paul Bruns</strong>) from the prior season. It was very special how the team pulled together, went undefeated, and won the State Crown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Panther Off-Season</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dakota Valley did pretty much the same as they always do. They do not emphasize winning in the off-season, but instead playing a ton, trying different combinations, and having fun while competing. DV does open gyms twice per week from April until November, they attended several team camps against great competition, and they played in scrimmages set up with area schools. Several of the Panthers also played many events on their travel/AAU teams.   </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Top Panthers</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["963742"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"-Class A Player of The Year and 1st Team All-State last season, a fierce competitor, great shooter with a perfect pull-up J. Tough kid who has a grinding work ethic, and is a great defender. Last season stats: 23.9 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 1.9 apg, and 1.3 spg. Bruns is committed to USD.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["963787"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"-1st Team All-State last season and he had a phenomenal AAU season. A great overall playmaker, quick/fast, tough, great assist u0026amp; steal guy, and Randy makes everyone around him better. Last season stats: 13.2 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 7.2 apg, and 4.7 spg. A top PG in all of SD.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1511595"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"He had a big State Tournament for the Panthers last year. Sam is very versatile, long, a solid defender and glue guy who is capable of scoring. Stats from last season: 5.3 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2 apg, and .8 spg. He is a worker and a winner!","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["1500252"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"He has emerged as a scorer, and an outstanding player who would anchor many other teams. Last season stats: 7.3 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 1.1 apg, and .8 spg. I was really impressed with him in AAU hoops. Hennies stuck out with his court vision, timely playmaking and a clutch shot-maker.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["1270366"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"-u0022Tishu0022 has a big/powerful/strong body, great hands, great feel, is very passionate with his playing style and his love for the game. Last season stats: 10.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg, .4 apg, and .3 spg. Tish will be one of the best BIGs in Class A and a force to be reckoned with.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","anchor":"acf-block-65c58b929f500"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Up-and-Comers</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1625208' first='Luke' last='Bruns'] |6'0 G|  soph</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1406985' first='Logan' last='Collette'] |5'10 G| soph</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2272090' first='Charlie' last='Margeas'] |5'6 G| junior</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Preston Carlson |6'2 F| senior</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sam Kleis |6'5 F| senior</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center","style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"30px"}}} --> <p class="has-text-align-center" style="font-size:30px"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Coach <em>Kleis</em> comments on the Panther style of basketball</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center","style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"25px"}}} --> <p class="has-text-align-center" style="font-size:25px">"<em>As we always have, we will play fast, emphasize solid tough defense, and crisp execution and ball movement. Controlling our controllables, and making ‘the easy play' will again be emphasized.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center","style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"30px"}}} --> <p class="has-text-align-center" style="font-size:30px"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Kleis</em> talks about DV rivals</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center","style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"25px"}}} --> <p class="has-text-align-center" style="font-size:25px">"<em>We have a unique situation being close to Sioux City, but still in South Dakota. We have built in Iowa big school Sioux City rivals who are great teams, and also in South Dakota. Of course, our Dak12 conference is always so difficult. I expect Sioux Falls Christian, Dells, Lennox, and Tea to again be great rivals for us in our league and Class A.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center","style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"30px"}}} --> <p class="has-text-align-center" style="font-size:30px"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Coach <em>Kleis</em> comments on the top teams in Region 4</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center","style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"25px"}}} --> <p class="has-text-align-center" style="font-size:25px">"<em>Our region will again be loaded with DV, Lennox, Tea, very good and improved EPJ and canton, etc. Always difficult to even make it out of our region, the bright side of that is if we do we know we will be battle-tested.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"80px","fontStyle":"italic","fontWeight":"800"}}} --> <p style="font-size:80px;font-style:italic;font-weight:800">Good Luck Panthers!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1634111,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><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"/></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->