Mt. Vernon/Plankinton Titans

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Titan co-op has been in existence for 11 years and they are going to have a tough squad this year. MVP tips off the season tonight at home vs. Kimball-White Lake. Before that happens, we wanted to get the "Preview" published. Let's jump right into this MVP squad!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1634111,"width":328,"height":205,"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="328" height="205"/></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Head Coach:</strong> Eric Denning</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2021-2022</strong><strong>:</strong> 16-7, lost to Groton in SoDak 16</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Denning's Career Record:</strong> 364-193, 26th year as head coach. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>State Tournament Appearances:</strong> 1998 (5th), 2004 (3rd), 2005 (3rd), 2015 (8th), 2016 (8th), 2017 (8th)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MVP Assistant Coaches:</strong> Monte Fristad and Jason Helling</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Titans to Watch</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='963774' first='Reed' last='Rus'] (2023) |6'4"| </strong>- He is a returning All-Stater and SESD Conference Player of the Year. Reed averaged 20 pph and 9 rpg last year. He is going to be a load for other teams. Rus can score in many ways and is much stronger than he was a year ago. Rus is one of the premier players in the state. Reed should break the All-Time school scoring record! Whenever Rus is on the court, you must be watching!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='963793' first='Jordan' last='Stoltz'] (2023) |6'7”|</strong> - He averaged 12 ppg and 7 rpg last year. Stoltz is a very explosive player at both ends of the floor. He can score in multiple ways but is at his best when attacking the hoop. Jordan will be a problem for opponents at the defensive end of the floor. Stoltz is a prolific shot blocker and dunker.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mason Hetland (2023) |6'0"|</strong> - He is a returning starter that averaged 5.7 ppg and 3.7 rpg. Hetland is a smart player with a good feel for the game. He will do some damage on the inside and knock down outside shots with his smooth shooting stroke.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Zach Baker (2024) |5'10"| </strong>- He is a returning starter that averaged 8.1 ppg last year. Baker is a heady player with impressive shooting range. He loves the game and has a good skill set. Zach is smart, competitive, and gutsy.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Blaine Bohr (2024) |5'11"| </strong>- He is a very versatile athlete and a good defender. Blaine is best at his best when attacking the basket. He is also a serviceable shooter from the perimeter. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Chris Mayer (2023) |5'11”|</strong> - He is a strong, solid athlete with good quickness.  Mayer is a decent perimeter shooter and he had a great off-season. Expect Chris to log many minutes on varsity this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rylan Bush (2023) |6'0"| </strong>- He is a great athlete and a hard worker. Bush is one of the better defensive players for the Titans. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Brady Fox (2025) |5'10"|</strong> - He is a strong player that has a good scoring knack. Fox is solid on both sides of the ball. Brady has could see substantial minutes this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cain Tobin (2024) |5'9"| </strong>- He is one of the better defenders in the MVP program. Tobin is a competitive kid who makes the Titans better.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Isaiah Olson (2025) |5'8"|</strong> - He is a good all-around player with potential.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Trevor Sweet (2024) |5'10"|</strong> - He is a solid all-around player.  Sweet does a lot of things well. He could push for varsity minutes this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Spencer Frost (2024) |5'9”|</strong> - A good young player that spends a lot of time in the gym. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hagan Tlam</strong> <strong>(2025) |5'10"| </strong>- Solid player in all facets of the game.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jack Larsch</strong> - JV player</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tate Hegg</strong> - JV player</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Caden Barnes</strong> - JV player</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Erick Hohn</strong> - JV player</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Trayton Moore</strong> - JV player</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dean Hanson</strong> - JV player</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">MVP's Keys to Success</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Shot Selection</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Defensive Intensity</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Execution</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Creating tempo</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Rebounding</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Coach Denning's Top Players in Class A</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-[player_tooltip player_id='963742' first='Isaac' last='Bruns'] - Dakota Valley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-[player_tooltip player_id='963774' first='Reed' last='Rus'] - MVP</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-[player_tooltip player_id='963824' first='Blake' last='Volmer'] - Winner</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-[player_tooltip player_id='963773' first='Brayden' last='Pankonen'] - Dell Rapids</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Coach Denning's Top Teams in Class A</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1. SF Christian</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2. Sioux Valley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3. Groton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>4. Dakota Valley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5. Dell Rapids</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6. St. Thomas More</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>7. Tea Area</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Coach Denning's SESD Conference Predictions</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1. MVP</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2. Winner</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3. Gregory</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>4. Chamberlain</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5. Parkston</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6. Wagner</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>7. Bon Homme</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Coach Denning's Region 5 Predictions</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1. MVP</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2. Hanson</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3. Parkston</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>4. Chamberlain</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5. Wagner</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6. Sanborn Central-Woonsocket</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>7. BomHomme</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8. ACDC</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9. KWL</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Q&amp;A with coach Eric Denning</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">PHD: What type of offense do you see your team playing</span>?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Coach Denning</span>:</strong> "<em>We will once again be a motion offense team. We will try to create tempo when we can but hope to not force action.</em>" </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">PHD: What type of defense will you play</span>?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Coach Denning</span>: </strong>"<em>Man-to-man will again be our base defense, and we would prefer to guard baseline to baseline, but we will see how that evolves. We are going to concentrate on being good in the halfcourt first and build from there. This is going to be the key factor in our success this season.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">PHD: Do you have anything that you would like to add about your team</span></em>?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Coach Denning</span>:</strong> "<em>We look to take the next step and be in the mix with the elite teams in the state. We will have good size and good athleticism. We have some kids who have improved tremendously this offseason.</em>" </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Eric Denning's Coaching Profile</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Eric Denning is a graduate of Mt. Vernon High School, Northern State University, and the University of South Dakota. He is in his 26th year as the head coach of the Titans.  He served two years as the assistant prior to that and taught and coached for two years in the Huron School District before returning to Mt. Vernon. He serves as the middle school and high school principal for MVHS and also serves as the co-op's Activities Director. His varsity coaching record stands at 364-193. Eric lives in Mt. Vernon with his wife Sherri. Coach Denning has two adult children, Deric and Erin.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"75px","fontStyle":"italic","fontWeight":"800"}}} --> <p style="font-size:75px;font-style:italic;font-weight:800"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Good Luck Titans!</span></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 -->