Washburn Cardinals-Season Review

Time to take a look at a dark horse for next year in Class B. They do not have a ton of size but they have some talented backcourt players. Washburn will lose a few seniors but they bring back all of their firepower.   [player_tooltip player_id='1326981' first='Alex' last='Retterath'] is a talented offensive player and an excellent rebounder for a guard. He will certainly be a Stock Riser in our next 2024 Rankings Update. The Cardinals have another big Stock Riser with freshman [player_tooltip player_id='1632628' first='Parker' last='Jacobson']. The youngster is now in the Record Books after making 101 triples this season and he also shot a scalding-hot 50% from beyond the arc. That is CRAZY when you realize that the best 3-point shooter in North Dakota was a 9th grader!   Washburn is led by Josh Sharp, this was his first year as the head coach at Washburn. If the Cardinals can build off this season's success and improve over the summer, I think Washburn can be a scary squad in 2023-24.   In the 2023-24 season, it looks like high school basketball in North Dakota will have 3 classes. Washburn will be in the smallest class (B). The Cards will be in District 6 and Region 3 next season.   School: Washburn   Mascot: Cardinals   Enrollment: 85   Head Coach: Josh Sharp   Class: B   Record: 11-12   Wins Against: Central McLean, White Shield, Center-Stanton, Solen, Max, Flasher, Kidder County, Hettinger-Scranton, Richardton-Taylor, New Salem-Almont, Wilton-Wing.   See below for stats, team comments, and Q&A with coach Josh Sharp.   <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>   Team Comments from Coach Josh Sharp   "I really feel we progressed as a team over the year. We talked each day about not being the same team at the end of the year as we were at the beginning. My only requirement was that we get better each day. It does not matter by how much. We just need to get better. I really feel the team bought into this. [player_tooltip player_id='1326981' first='Alex' last='Retterath'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1632628' first='Parker' last='Jacobson'] took huge steps in doing what we needed to improve as a team. They play well off of each other. [player_tooltip player_id='1892735' first='Jack' last='Retterath'] does a great job getting us started with what we need to do. Dylan Eckel was wonderful in knowing what he needed to do each game to help the team win. This changed game by game. Carter Knutson was voted the most improved by the team and it really helped to have a guy like him that could bang around with some of the bigs we saw in our league. [player_tooltip player_id='1542352' first='Ethan' last='Retterath'] became one of our best defenders. He would be our main chaser. Owen Patterson did a great job coming off the bench for us."   <figure class="wp-block-image size-medium is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/parkerjacobson.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/parkerjacobson.jpg?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-1892009" width="250" height="225" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Washburn High School</figcaption></figure>   Stat Leaders   [player_tooltip player_id='1326981' first='Alex' last='Retterath'] (2024) |6'1 G| - 18.9 ppg, 9 rpg, 2.7 apg, 2.4 spg, 28 3FG%, 81 FT%   [player_tooltip player_id='1632628' first='Parker' last='Jacobson'] (2026) |6'1 G| - 15 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 1.7 apg, .9 spg, 50 3FG%, 75 FT%   Dylan Eckel (2023) |5'11 G| - 9.6 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.2 apg, .5 spg, 44 2FG%, 73 FT%   [player_tooltip player_id='1892735' first='Jack' last='Retterath'] (2025) |5'10 G| - 5.4 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 3.9 apg, 1.2 spg   [player_tooltip player_id='1542352' first='Ethan' last='Retterath'] (2027) |5'11 F| - 2.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.3 apg, .7 spg, 76 FT%   Owen Patterson (2023) |5'9 G| - 2.4 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 1.3 apg, .6 spg, 52 2FG%, 67 FT%   Carter Knutson (2024) |6'1 G| - .9 ppg, 1.3 rpg, .6 apg, .5 spg   Q&A with coach Josh Sharp   PHD: How would you sum up the season for your squad?   Coach Sharp: "I think we exceeded a lot of people's expectations. I would sum it up as a success. It was great watching the kids develop and never quit working."   PHD: What were some of the highlights that stick out?   Coach Sharp: "We set two pre-season goals and were able to accomplish those and we had pretty nice individual highlights as well. The team goals were to not have a play-in game and make it to the second night of regionals. We were able to accomplish both of those goals. Our two individual goals were [player_tooltip player_id='1632628' first='Parker' last='Jacobson'] setting the single-season school record for 3's and [player_tooltip player_id='1326981' first='Alex' last='Retterath'] going over 1,000 career points."   PHD: How did your team overcome adversity?   Coach Sharp: "We lost a 2-year senior starter after Christmas to medical issues. He was the leading rebounder at the time and our tallest player. This was a huge hole that needed to be filled. It did require others on the team to pick up in some areas and they did just that. It also forced me to change the development plan that I had for a few younger guys. We had to start playing them heavy varsity minutes sooner than planned but they responded."   PHD: What are a few things your team improved on over the course of the season?   Coach Sharp: "We really improved our defense, shot selection, and ability to execute a game plan."   PHD: Who are a couple of role players that stood out to you?   Coach Sharp: "[player_tooltip player_id='1542352' first='Ethan' last='Retterath'] and Carter Knutson. Ethan became the main guy we put on the team's best player. He stepped up to this challenge and did great. Carter was a great teammate and made sacrifices for the betterment of the team. He was also the main guy that we used to bang with the other big guys in our league."   PHD: Can you talk about your seniors and what will be missed?   Coach Sharp: "Our seniors were the embodiment of our culture. Work hard, never quit, and team first. They helped to start what we want to be as a team."   PHD: Who are some up-and-comers to look out for in the future?   Coach Sharp: "[player_tooltip player_id='1542352' first='Ethan' last='Retterath'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1632628' first='Parker' last='Jacobson']. Ethan was only an 8th grader this year and ended up starting our final game of the season. I put Parker as well because he is only a freshman. He has a lot to show that people are not aware of what he can do. So, I will keep this a little secret."   PHD: I know it's early, but what are the plans for the offseason?   Coach Sharp: "At our end-of-the-year meeting, we really talked about, "what is next". I told the guys we are not going to sneak up on anybody. We have to work even harder to get better. We do summer training and I have an off-season skill workout that I ask the guys to do at least twice a week."   PHD: Did any of your players review postseason awards?   Coach Sharp: "[player_tooltip player_id='1326981' first='Alex' last='Retterath'] All-Region[player_tooltip player_id='1632628' first='Parker' last='Jacobson'] All-Region"   <figure class="wp-block-image size-medium is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/3shooters.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/3shooters.jpg?w=250" alt="" class="wp-image-1892035" width="315" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Washburn High School</figcaption></figure>

Time to take a look at a dark horse for next year in Class B. They do not have a ton of size but they have some talented backcourt players. Washburn will lose a few seniors but they bring back all of their firepower.