Garretson Blue Dragons

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Today we are checking out a Class A team from Region 3, the Blue Dragons from Garretson! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Blue Dragons, led by fourth-year head coach <em>Tad Heitkamp</em>, finished last season with a respectable 9-12 record. This will be a "new look" team from last year. The Dragons graduated 3 seniors with 2 of them being departing starters and they lost 3 others (2 starters and the “sixth man”) due to transferring out of the school district.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size">Read below for more in in the "new look" team....</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":"30px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:30px"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Team Comments from coach <em>Tad Heitkamp</em></span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"25px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:25px">“<em>We came out last year with a mindset of working hard and being competitive in every game we played. We did just that and had a chance to win 75% of our games but we just could not get the job done in some of those games. Our guys will need to learn how to play together as a unit as we have a couple of new faces on the team along with guys that will need to be pushed in order to take the next step needed to have success at the next level. From what we have seen in open gyms during the fall, this year's team will be a tight unit, and will all play together all year long, we will just have to learn how to find the right mesh of players on the floor at the same time. We will not be big in the paint, but what we lack in this area, we will hopefully shine through at the other skilled positions this year.</em>” </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"30px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:30px"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Dragons to Watch</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sam Schleuter (2023) |6'1 G| (6.1 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 1.8 SPG) </strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He is an all-around versatile player. Sam can drive to the hoop at any time as well as hit an open-range jumper when needed. His length, along with his hounding defense is always his greatest strength. Schleuter will be looked at as the court leader and will be counted on to help keep the Dragons together during the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ramsey Schweitzer (2024) |6'2 G|</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He is a newcomer that transferred to Garretson from Harrisburg this year. Ramsey is a total team player from the first time he stepped into the gym. Ramsey is smooth off the dribble and can hit from anywhere on the court. Schweitzer will also be looked at as one of the Dragon leaders as already the team has started to buy into his unselfishness while playing pickup games during open gyms.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1563208' first='Ian' last='Buettner'] (2025) |6'0 G| </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He will be stepping into a starting role this upcoming season while working and earning a varsity spot last season. Although Ian didn't see much varsity time last year due to a talented older group of players. When he did get his chance, Ian didn't disappoint. Buetner was the leading rebounder (8.1 rpg) and scorer (12.8 ppg) on the JV squad last year and has proven that he can shoot the ball from anywhere on the court. Buettner has a “basketball IQ” and knows the game of hoops. He does the small things like knowing where and when to be in the right spot at the right time. Everything comes naturally to Buettner on the hardwood. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dylan Jessen (2023) |6'2 F|</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He is a solid post player that doesn't mind being physical whenever he is on the floor. The toughness that Dylan brings to his team is a huge asset. He brings everthing to the table each day.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Blaine Trower (2023) |6'3 G/F|</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He will make a strong push to become a varsity starter this year. Blaine has grown in confidence over the basketball offseason. The Dragons will look for Trower to continue to make strides as a playmaker. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Matthew Gilbert (2023) |5'11 G| </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He will be in the mix to increase his playing time this year as a senior. Matthew has the ability to do great things. He just needs the confidence to prove it. After getting after it in the fall season, the Dragons belive that Gilbert will perform well in hoops.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1679236' first='Brecken' last='Weir'] (2026) |5'9 G| </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He is another fresh face to the Blue Dragon program. Brecken is a kid who, from day one, fit right into the system. The team concept both on and off the court comes easily for Weir. He sees the floor extremely well and he will be counted on to give the Dragons some big minutes during the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tyler Edmondson (2024) |6'1 F|</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He will also be looking to jump into the Dragons rotation this year. Tyler has really filled out over the last year and will be looked upon to the Dragons some big post minutes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Q&amp;A with <em>Tad Heitkamp</em></span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">PHD: What can you tell us about the Garretson program</span>?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Coach Heitkamp</span>: </strong>"<em>Over the past 3 years, we have preached on how if we come into every contest ready to compete and ready to play good things will happen. We have a great group of kids that work well together, push each other, and pick each other up when they are down. We have been on the cusp of winning the past<br>couple of years and they have started believing that they can win. We are very excited about this upcoming season as the desire to be a team and the hunger to come together as one that this group of young men has shown is second to none. We cannot wait to see how far that this team and their desire to win for each other can take us this year.</em>” </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">PHD: What style of basketball will the Dragons play</span>?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Coach Heitkamp</span>: </strong>"<em>Because of our size and quickness, we will be playing more of an up and down style of basketball with more motion type of an offense.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">PHD: Who is a big rival for your program</span>?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Coach Heitkamp</span></strong>: "<em>One of our biggest rivals is always Baltic just because of closeness in proximity and the two schools have never gotten along for various reasons. This year I am sure that there will be a little added to the game as we had a player transfer into Baltic.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Another rival will be Dell Rapids. Another closeness in proximity and this is also another school where our “big man” from last year ended up transferring to.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">PHD: Who will be the best in your area of SD hoops</span>?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Coach Heitkamp</span></strong>: "<em>Some of the top teams in our area will be Dell Rapids, Sioux Valley, and Dell Rapids St. Mary's</em>."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontStyle":"italic","fontWeight":"800","fontSize":"55px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:55px;font-style:italic;font-weight:800">Best of Luck Blue Dragons!</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 -->