#2 De Smet Bulldogs – Team Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We are looking at the reigning Class B State CHAMPIONS!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bulldogs are currently the #2 team in Class B and they are 1-0 in the young season. They started the year off with a 70-51 win over Deubrook Area. The next game for De Smet is Monday, December 19th, home vs. Dell Rapids St. Mary. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Bulldog Info</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Head Coach</span>:</strong>&nbsp;<em>Jeff Gruenhagen&nbsp;</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coach Gruenhagen has only been a head coach for six seasons but he is quickly becoming a legend in SD. In those six years, De Smet has won multiple State Championships and <em>Gruenhagen</em> has a wildly impressive record of 105-19. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Assistant Coaches</span>:</strong>&nbsp; <em>Becky Geyer</em> and <em>Dustin Olson</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontStyle":"italic","fontWeight":"800"}}} --> <p style="font-style:italic;font-weight:800"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Last Season</span>:</strong> <span style="text-decoration: underline">25-1 State B Champs!!! 8-0 DVC Champs! 6-0 LCC Champs!</span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Key Players Lost</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rett Osthus</strong> - All-State, 10 ppg, 5 apg, 5 Rpg</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kalen Garry</strong> - All-State, Class B POY, Gatorade POY, 21 ppg, 8 rpg</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tory Holland</strong> - All-Conference, 10 ppg, 6 rpg</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Blake Van Regenmorter</strong> - 5 ppg, 4 rpg</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1634111,"width":272,"height":170,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/10/TeamPreview.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/10/TeamPreview.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-1634111" width="272" height="170" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Returning Bulldog Starters</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["963766"],"_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":"15 ppg 9 rpg 3 blk, All-State, All-DVC, and All-Tourney Team Class B and State. Wilkinson is the best BIG in Class B. He will be a walking double-double and if you don't double him, you will regret it. Damon has long arms, is HULK strong, and super tough. In game #1, Wilkinson led the Bulldogs with 24 points and 13 rebounds.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1266225"],"_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":"5 ppg and 3 rpg last season. Kadyen has quick feet and he is very fast up the court. He is an outstanding defender and he can put up points and an all-around scorer. Expect him to take on a much bigger role this season for the Bulldogs. In the first game of the season, Kadyn really hustled and got to the rim a ton in the second half. Fast efforts helped spark the to away effort for the Bulldogs.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":2,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-639d05d8bc1e2"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Key Bulldogs to Watch</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1552588' first='Gannon' last='Gruenhagen'] (2023) |6-0 PG|</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1552589' first='Kasen' last='Janssen'] (2023) |6-4 G|</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>George Jensen (2024) |6-4 F|</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tom Aughenbaugh (2024) |5-10 G|</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1552592' first='Trace' last='Van Regenmorter'] (2024) |6-3 G|</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Britt Carlson (2024) |6-3 G|</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Coach <em>Gruenhagen's</em> Comments on Game #1</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>I thought we moved the ball well against Deuebrook. I was very happy with the way we played together.&nbsp;We missed a lot of shots in the lane and we need to clean that up. We were disappointed with the way we boxed out and rebounded. We let them stay in the game with second-chance baskets. We got up 69 shots and I think once we start to build some confidence shooting they will settle right in and raise that FG %. We are an inside-to-outside team but we played a great transition game and I liked the way we pushed the ball.</em>" &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Team &amp; Season Comments from coach <em>Jeff Gruenhagen</em></span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>We look to return a very competitive team again this year. We lost 5 great seniors to graduation but we return 8 solid players including 2 starters from last year's 25-1 Championship Season. Our JV has been 40-3 over the last 2 seasons and the younger guys will fill the varsity with size skill and a good level of experience. [player_tooltip player_id='963766' first='Damon' last='Wilkinson'] will be called on to lead us this year. He is coming off a dominating State Tournament performance and he knows he will be the focus of the opponent's defense this season. He is ready for the challenge. Damon works hard and has a great shot, he is very competitive and that will push him to keep getting better and make his teammates better. George Jensen is a lanky 6-4 forward that has great hops. He is a really good shot blocker and rebounder who logged some important minutes for us down the stretch last season. He has good range with the jump shot and is very smooth in the post. [player_tooltip player_id='1552588' first='Gannon' last='Gruenhagen'] 6-0 SR PG is a solid all-around player for us with a good 3pt game and has really improved his strength and game from last season. [player_tooltip player_id='1625203' first='Kadyn' last='Fast'] 6-0 G and returning starter from last season is a great defender and very quick. He proved to be a fierce defender last year and will be called on to raise his offensive game this year and has proven very capable of doing that. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1552589' first='Kasen' last='Janssen']</strong> 6-4 SR G will give us some additional length as well as being a good 3 pt shooter. <strong>Tom Aughenbaugh</strong> 5-10 JR G has great range from the perimeter and a quick step to the basket.&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1552592' first='Trace' last='Van Regenmorter']</strong> 6-3 JR and <strong>Britt Carlson</strong> 6-3 JR are both very athletic G/F that will fill roles for us as well and make us a deep team. It will be fun to see how we develop as the season goes by.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>I expect the Bulldogs to be a deep team again this season and we hope to be at the top of Class B hoops again this year.&nbsp;This group has been a part of 2 state title teams and has developed in practice the past 2 years against great players and I think they will rise to the challenge when the season starts. Our Schedule is again very tough with the DVC and LCC conference</em> mixing in A and B schools along with a non-conference schedule that includes Howard, Canistota, the Hanson Classic, and Pentagon Classic. It will be great preparation for post-season play and give our players great experience as we try to get back to Aberdeen<em> to defend the B Title.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Coach <em>Gruenhagen</em> on the Bulldogs Strengths</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Our team balance and unselfish play will be our strength.&nbsp;We should have a very balanced scoring attack and it will be hard for teams to concentrate on keeping Damon from putting up points.&nbsp;Size will be another advantage and we will try to control the boards and play our style of M2M defense that contests every shot and just keeps the pressure on you as the shot clock runs. I think we can focus on 1 game at a time and just keep working together to become a great team by the end of the regular season.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Coach <em>Gruenhagen</em> on the Bulldogs Weaknesses</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Experience may be our weakness but I think that we will overcome that very quickly as the season moves along. The guys believe in each other and they have been playing together for a long time. They now get to do it on the varsity level. Another tight-knit group of Bulldogs that want to continue that tradition of De Smet Basketball.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">DVC &amp; LCC Outlook from Coach Gruenhagen</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>We hope to win the DVC for the 5th Straight year and it will be a very tough task: Castlewood and&nbsp;DRSM will bring back a lot of talent and push us as they have every year. Deuebrook will be very Athletic and&nbsp;Iroquois Lake-Preston will be looking to make some noise as a new team in the mix.&nbsp; Castlewood, DRSM, EH, I-LP, Elkton, ORR, Arlington, C-E.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>The Lake Central Conference will be up for grabs again this year with De Smet, Sioux Valley, Hamlin,&nbsp;Castlewood, CWL, all bringing back a lot of talent and experience while Deuel and Flandreau are rebuilding a little bit but will not be easy opponents to get past. As the defending champs,</em> we will get tested early as we face SValley on New Years'<em> Eve at the Entringer Classic in Brookings for a conference showdown. Every team returns very talented rosters and going undefeated in LCC this year will be tough.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"75px","fontStyle":"italic","fontWeight":"800"}}} --> <p style="font-size:75px;font-style:italic;font-weight:800">Good Luck Bulldogs!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1399487,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/03/SD-1.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/03/SD-1.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-1399487" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->