Brandon Valley: Program on the Rise!

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hot take! The BV Lynx will be a top 5 team in AA next year! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Why? Excellent coach, experienced players returning, plenty of size, intriguing PG play, exciting young talent. BV has one of the best head coaches in SD.<em> Craig Nelson </em>is a <em>Don Meyer </em>disciple and he teaches the game the right way. Brandon Valley is on the brink of becoming a powerhouse and everyone in AA should be aware!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>School:</strong> Brandon Valley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mascot: </strong>Lynx</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Head Coach:</strong> Craig Nelson</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class:</strong> AA</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Record:</strong> 13-8</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Playoffs:</strong> Lost to Harrisburg 54-52 in SoDak 16</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Wins Against</span>:</strong> O'Gorman, Brookings, Watertown, Spearfish, Douglas, Marshall, Pierre, Yankton, Rapid City Central, Rapid City Stevens, Tea, Harrisburg, Huron.</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 --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Team Stats</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PPG: </strong>55 <strong>RPG:</strong> 28.8 <strong>ORPG:</strong> 9.2<strong>APG:</strong> 10.6 <strong>SPG: </strong>6.6 <strong>BPG: </strong>1.8 <strong>TOPG: </strong>11.2</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FG%:</strong> 46 <strong>3FGM:</strong> 53 <strong>3FG%:</strong> 26 <strong>FTM:</strong> 149 <strong>FT%:</strong> 62 <strong>Charges Taken:</strong> 15</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Stat Leaders</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1625207' first='Lukas' last='Morgan']</strong> - 14.3 ppg, 5 rpg, 2.3 apg, 48.6 FG%</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1625201' first='Josh' last='Olthoff']</strong> - 9.3 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 2.3 apg, 53.5 FG%</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Nathan VanDeBerg</strong> - 7.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 1.3 apg, 48.9 FG%</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1761714' first='Landon' last='Dulaney'] </strong>- 7.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 2.4 apg, 36.4 FG%</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dylan Langerock </strong>- 6.5 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.6 apg, 45 FG%</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cole Decker</strong> - 5.6 ppg, 3 rpg, .8 apg, 37.5 FG%</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jameson Kreutzfeldt </strong>- 3.9 ppg, 1.6 rpg, .3 apg, 48 FG%</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1641563' first='Briggs' last='Knutson']</strong> - 2.3 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 1.4 apg 23.7 FG%</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Player Comments from coach <em>Nelson</em></span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Nate VandeBerg (2023) |6'3 F|</strong> &amp; <strong>Dylan Langerock (2023) |6'4 G| </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>They were very underrated players for us. Each started every game and brought the team together. Great leaders, great role models, can't ask for better guys.</em>" </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cole Dekker (2023) |6'2 G| &amp; Jameson Kreutzfeldt (2023) |6'4 G|</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Senior guards that came off the bench for us and always gave us a lift. Cole with defense and rebounding and Jameson with knocking down shots.</em>" </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1625207' first='Lukas' last='Morgan'] (2024) |6'7 G/F|</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>He led us in scoring. Has a ton of upside as a 6'7" guard. Shot it around 40% from 3. Could be one of the top couple of players in the state next year.</em>" </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1625201' first='Josh' last='Olthoff'] (2024) |6'8 C| </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Has really good hands and feet. Great offensive post play. Can score it and is even better at passing it out of the post.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1761714' first='Landon' last='Dulaney'] (2025) |6'1 PG|</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>We have asked a lot of Landon over the last 2 years, to run our team as an underclassman. He has now learned how to be a point guard and not just an athletic scoring guard. He is becoming a more vocal and more demanding leader. Has immense upside. I could see him being a very coveted guard for colleges due to his speed and athleticism. Has a chance to be a state champ in the 400 this spring if he stays healthy. Last year missed football with a back injury and missed part of track with hip flexor issues.</em>" </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1641563' first='Briggs' last='Knutson'] (2026) |5'10 PG|</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>He played a ton of good minutes off the bench for us. Could knock down the 1 or 2 open shots a game that he took. Ran our offense unbelievably well for a freshman. He's as tough and hard-nosed as they come, as he led us in varsity charges taken.</em>" </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1883992' first='Hayden' last='Anderson'] (2024) |6'5 F|</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>A backup post, had a great JV season. Can score well down low and just keeps it simple. Plays very physical.</em>" </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Q&amp;A with coach <em>Craig Nelson</em></span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: How would you sum up the season for your squad</span>?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Coach Nelson</span>:</strong> "<em>I thought we were really good at times. Our size could force a lot of mismatches with some teams, but then also limited us vs. other teams. We didn't shoot 3's consistently enough to be great, but that was the only struggle that we had over the long run.</em>"  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: What were some of the highlights that stick out</span>?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Coach Nelson</span>:</strong> "<em>Our home games were just great for our fans. Tip in win vs. then #3 ranked Pierre! 1 point loss to #1 Jefferson where we had the ball with 8 seconds left going down to score. It was just a fun season of such tight AA games. You learn a lot about your team when you're put in those situations over and over again.</em>" </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: How did your team overcome adversity</span>?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Coach Nelson</span>:</strong> "<em>We had seniors that did not get rattled. Had unselfish kids that could rely on each other.</em>" </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: Who were some of your hardest workers</span>?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Coach Nelson</span>:</strong> "<em>Basically described up above in the player profiles. Could add <strong>Cole Dekker</strong> leading us in offensive rebounds as a 6'1" guard off the bench playing 15 minutes a game. Cole is just relentless!</em>"  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: Can you talk about your seniors and what will be missed</span>?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Coach Nelson</span>:</strong> "<em>Never had a bad day, never moody, never without great work ethic. Helped keep things stable no matter what.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontStyle":"italic","fontWeight":"800"}},"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size" style="font-style:italic;font-weight:800">Good luck with the offseason, the Lynx are going to be SCARY next season!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->