Beresford Watchdogs: Season Rewind

In this season review article, we are checking in on the Watchdogs from Beresford. The Watchdogs have a well-respected and emerging young coach in Ben Short. Beresford competes in Region 4 which is hands down the toughest Region in South Dakota. Beresford finished the regular season with a 15-5 record and they were still the #5 seed, that's crazy!   Beresford loses their All-State senior [player_tooltip player_id='1265477' first='Tate' last='VanOtterloo'] to graduation but they have some intriguing talent coming back next season. Coach Short has the Watchdogs headed in the right direction. The Beresford program is on the rise!   Keep reading for more info on the Watchdogs!   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/WatchDog-2.0-crop-1080x710-1681330120.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/WatchDog-2.0-crop-1080x710-1681330120.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1908702" /></a></figure>   Team: Beresford   Mascot: Watchdog   Head Coach: Ben Short   Class: A   Region: 4   Conference: Big East   All-Conference Players: [player_tooltip player_id='1265477' first='Tate' last='VanOtterloo'] (1st Team) [player_tooltip player_id='1351868' first='Andrew' last='Atwood'] (2nd Team), Jake Goblirsch & [player_tooltip player_id='1407010' first='Aidan' last='Hamm'] (Honorable Mention)   All-State: [player_tooltip player_id='1265477' first='Tate' last='VanOtterloo'] (3rd Team)   Record: 15-6   Playoffs: Lost to Tea Area in Region 4 Quarterfinals 72-47   Wins Against: Baltic, Parker, Chester Area (2x), McCook Central-Montrose (2x), Tri-Valley, Canton, Irene-Wakonda, Flandreau, Vermillion, Madison, Alcester-Hudson, Garretson, Wagner.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/SeaonReview-.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/SeaonReview-.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-1842251" /></a></figure>   Stat Leaders   <figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>PLAYER</td><td>GP</td><td>PPG</td><td>RPG</td><td>APG</td><td>SPG</td><td>FG%</td><td>3FG%</td><td>3FGM</td><td>FT%</td><td>FTM</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1265477' first='Tate' last='VanOtterloo']</td><td>20</td><td>19.1</td><td>6</td><td>3.4</td><td>3.1</td><td>39.6</td><td>26.4</td><td>48</td><td>59.1</td><td>39</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1351868' first='Andrew' last='Atwood']</td><td>20</td><td>10</td><td>5.1</td><td>2.5</td><td>1.1</td><td>32.6</td><td>18.4</td><td>23</td><td>58.1</td><td>25</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1407010' first='Aidan' last='Hamm']</td><td>21</td><td>9.5</td><td>3.8</td><td>1.5</td><td>1.5</td><td>34.6</td><td>32</td><td>31</td><td>58.5</td><td>24</td></tr><tr><td>Jake Goblirsch</td><td>21</td><td>6.9</td><td>8</td><td>1.5</td><td>1.8</td><td>56.3</td><td>NA</td><td>NA</td><td>50</td><td>19</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1641198' first='Malachi' last='James']</td><td>21</td><td>5.1</td><td>3.7</td><td>1</td><td>.7</td><td>37.4</td><td>15.6</td><td>5</td><td>60.7</td><td>17</td></tr><tr><td>Seth James</td><td>14</td><td>2.4</td><td>2.8</td><td>NA</td><td>.1</td><td>38.9</td><td>NA</td><td>NA</td><td>71.4</td><td>5</td></tr><tr><td>Mason Heiberger</td><td>16</td><td>2.2</td><td>2.8</td><td>1.2</td><td>.8</td><td>44.1</td><td>NA</td><td>NA</td><td>45.5</td><td>5</td></tr><tr><td>Jon DeLay</td><td>20</td><td>1.8</td><td>1.7</td><td>.8</td><td>.1</td><td>23.8</td><td>28.1</td><td>9</td><td>60</td><td>6</td></tr><tr><td>Michael Shregrud</td><td>15</td><td>1.7</td><td>1.1</td><td>.3</td><td>.5</td><td>40</td><td>18.2</td><td>2</td><td>NA</td><td>NA</td></tr><tr><td>Jestin Wurth</td><td>14</td><td>1.7</td><td>2.2</td><td>.4</td><td>.2</td><td>50</td><td>NA</td><td>NA</td><td>66.7</td><td>4</td></tr><tr><td>Ryne Klungseth</td><td>9</td><td>.6</td><td>.6</td><td>.7</td><td>NA</td><td>25</td><td>33.3</td><td>1</td><td>NA</td><td>NA</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/watchdog-crop-1125x739-1681331156.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/watchdog-crop-1125x739-1681331156.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1908733" /></a></figure>   Q&A with coach Ben Short   PHD: How would you sum up the season for your squad?   Coach Short: "Overall, we had an amazing season, finishing 15-6. The best overall record the Watchdogs have had in over 20+ years. Deep down we knew we had a special group of guys, just the time & commitment they put into their offseason camps & open gyms, the high attendance rates during our summer workouts, their love of the game of basketball led us to believe everything was trending towards a big year."   PHD: What were some of the highlights that stick out?   Coach Short: "Team highlights for us this season were some of the teams we defeated. We beat a tough team in Madison that ended up making a run to the Dak 16. They had beaten us 17 straight games prior. We beat our bitter rivals in Canton by 35+ points. The senior class had never beaten Vermillion at the varsity level until this season. A lot of firsts! The first time a Beresford Watchdog team went on a 10-game winning streak in 20+ years as well."   "Individual highlights, we had a really fun and athletic team, so there are too many to mention. We had several alley-oops, two by [player_tooltip player_id='1351868' first='Andrew' last='Atwood'] and one by [player_tooltip player_id='1265477' first='Tate' last='VanOtterloo']. [player_tooltip player_id='1407010' first='Aidan' last='Hamm'] broke our individual game 3pt record against Garretson, going 7 for 12. In that same game, [player_tooltip player_id='1351868' first='Andrew' last='Atwood'] blocked 7 shots to send our Seniors with a victory on Senior Night. [player_tooltip player_id='1265477' first='Tate' last='VanOtterloo'] finished his career as one of the Beresford greats. He ended up in the top ten all-time in scoring, steals, and 3-pointers made. Scoring his 1,000th point on a breakaway dunk in Wagner."   PHD: How did your team overcome adversity?   Coach Short: "We battled injuries and illnesses this season. At the beginning of the year, we were without [player_tooltip player_id='1351868' first='Andrew' last='Atwood'] against Dakota Valley and Sioux Valley, which we all know you need to be at 100% when facing those two teams. [player_tooltip player_id='1265477' first='Tate' last='VanOtterloo'] missed the conference tournament for us due to illness as well. We also had guys have to step up when Mason Heiberger, our starting center, went down with a torn hip flexor. This forced him to miss the final month of the season."   "We didn't lose a game this season when we had a completely healthy starting 5."   PHD: Who were some of your hardest workers and what did they do?   Coach Short: "Tone setter for us was Jake Goblirsch. His presence for us on defense, his athleticism, and his tenaciousness allowed us to be flexible on defense in how we guarded certain teams. Jake almost averaged a double-double, allowing our outside guys to reap the reward of Jake's hard work by getting wide-open second-chance opportunities."   "Another energizer bunny for us was [player_tooltip player_id='1407010' first='Aidan' last='Hamm']. Aidan is one that doesn't allow a turnover or a mistake ruin his confidence. He has that next-play mentality. Which allowed him to be a menace to the opponents that he was guarding. He came into the season well-conditioned, and it allowed him to play most of the minutes at a very high level."   PHD: Who are a couple of role players that stood out to you?   Coach Short: "Mason Heiberger. His name doesn't get brought up enough for our team. I could argue that he was one of the best post defenders in the state this season. He didn't have the gaudy stat lines that get the recognition, but he would wear down other post players and truly frustrate them into committing silly fouls. Mason was truly missed down the stretch for us against tough teams that we came up short against."   "[player_tooltip player_id='1641198' first='Malachi' last='James']. As a freshman, he played such a huge role for us. Our top defender on our team, he was our 6th man, first player off the bench behind [player_tooltip player_id='1265477' first='Tate' last='VanOtterloo']. His ability to guard the 1-5 positions at an elite level gave us an advantage because the level of play didn't drop when we started to sub in our rotation."   PHD: Can you talk about your seniors and what will be missed?   Coach Short: "[player_tooltip player_id='1265477' first='Tate' last='VanOtterloo']. Will go down as one of the best Beresford basketball players of all time. I am sure every other team that we face in the future will be glad he is finally graduating. As stated before, he is a 1,000-point scorer, finished in the top ten in scoring, steals, and 3-pointers made. Tate was one of the players that when push came to shove, and you needed a stop or a bucket you just had to give him the nod and he knew what he needed to do. More times than not he came through for us time after time. Tate will be playing at the next level, playing basketball at Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa."   PHD: Who are some up-and-comers to look out for in the future?   Coach Short: "[player_tooltip player_id='1641198' first='Malachi' last='James'] is only a freshman this year. Has a very bright future. Freak athlete and even a freakier work ethic for his age. He has high ambitions and goals for his athletic career and the sky's the limit! Malachi will be playing all over the country this summer; he made it on the National 15U Team at the Sanford Pentagon Basketball Academy."   "[player_tooltip player_id='1407010' first='Aidan' last='Hamm'], is only a sophomore. Made the All-conference team as an Honorable Mention. Aidan has a great work ethic as well, an unbelievable leader on and off the court for our program. Has the potential to have a huge season for us as he will have more opportunities with upperclassmen graduating."   "[player_tooltip player_id='1641212' first='Tiegen' last='Nyhaug'], a freshman. The best shooter in the state that nobody has heard about. Tiegen played up for us last season as an 8th grader and has really grown and matured as a player. Tiegen is a gym rat I don't have to worry about if he will put in the time or not. He is still developing but could be a dark horse for us next season, a surprise role player at the varsity level."   PHD: What are your plans for the offseason?   Coach Short: "Put in that necessary grind! The players and I had so much fun this season, we didn't want it to end. Saying that, the guys at all levels had higher expectations for our postseason. Losing in the first round left a sour taste in our mouths. They have tasted the in-season success and now I feel that they know that a deep playoff run is in reach. The plan is to continue working with Rozy this off-season in the weight room. We'll be at Summer Jam in the Pentagon playing against the best teams in our area. To build that in-game experience and team comradery we will be going to team camps that will allow us to continue to grow as a program."   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/TAATE-1.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/TAATE-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1908734" /></a></figure>

In this season review article, we are checking in on the Watchdogs from Beresford. The Watchdogs have a well-respected and emerging young coach in Ben Short. Beresford competes in Region 4 which is hands down the toughest Region in South Dakota. Beresford finished the regular season with a 15-5 record and they were still the #5 seed, that's crazy!