Devils Lake Firebirds: Team Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>PHD has a feeling that it will be the year of the Firebirds! Devils Lake is loaded!!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Class A starts practice on November 27th. DL should absolutely be ranked #1 headed in the first Preseason Poll. Put the Firebirds high on your watchlist, they are long, athletic, skilled, deep, and they will put on a show every time they are on the hardwood. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Team:</strong> Devils Lake</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mascot:</strong> Firebird</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Head Coach: </strong><em>Dustin Brodina</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Assistant Coaches:</strong> <em>Patrick Thomas</em> &amp; <em>Nic Kreil</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class:</strong> A</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Region:</strong> 2</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Notes From Last Season:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1411320' first='Wylee' last='Delorme'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1750475' first='Parker' last='Brodina'] were All-EDC last season. <em>Dustin Brodina</em>, was voted EDC Coach of the Year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Make sure you take a look at DL's schedule below. With the Firebirds in Class A and not in the EDC, things have changed quite a bit. It will be fun to watch the matchups and see new rivalries form. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2275858,"width":"367px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/11/firebird.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/11/firebird.jpg?w=759" alt="" class="wp-image-2275858" style="width:367px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">2022-23 Team Stats</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Record:</strong> 14-10 <strong>Total Pts:</strong> 1750 <strong>PPG:</strong> 72.9 <strong>RPG: </strong>38.6 <strong>SPG:</strong> 8 <strong>BPG:</strong> 2.4</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FGM:</strong> 620 <strong>FG%:</strong> 40 <strong>3FGM:</strong> 209 <strong>3FG%:</strong> 31 <strong>FTM:</strong> 301 <strong>FT%:</strong> 35 </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Top Statistical Returners</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2275869,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/11/IMG_6505.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/11/IMG_6505.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2275869" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1634111,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><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" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Q&amp;A with coach <em>Dustin Brodina</em></span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: Could you write a couple sentences&nbsp;summing up last season?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Last season&nbsp;was very competitive&nbsp;in the EDC from top to bottom. That competitiveness created some really exciting basketball games and made sure you came to play each night. With a younger team, I felt like we stepped up and battled, earning a 4th place&nbsp;finish in the EDC Regular Season and losing to Red River in the State Qualifier game.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: How did the offseason go for your team/program?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Offseason was very productive, we had several guys who played some extra basketball with different AAU programs and they were able to experience high-level basketball. The main goal for our offseason was to get stronger, faster, and quicker as a team. Our team workout &amp; skills sessions have been good and look forward to seeing the results.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: Who are a few of your top players to look out for?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>[player_tooltip player_id='1411320' first='Wylee' last='Delorme'], [player_tooltip player_id='1161534' first='Drew' last='Hofstad'], [player_tooltip player_id='1918762' first='Beau' last='Brodina'], [player_tooltip player_id='1746515' first='Oliver' last='Wirth'], [player_tooltip player_id='1750475' first='Parker' last='Brodina'], [player_tooltip player_id='1769085' first='Joel' last='Nelson'], are all going to contribute for us this year in many different ways. They are all athletic and can score many different ways from 3-point area to attacking the rim.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: Who are a couple of up-and-comers to look out for in the near future?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>[player_tooltip player_id='1632626' first='Mason' last='Palmer'], [player_tooltip player_id='1632635' first='Max' last='Palmer'], <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1632694' first='Kade' last='Fee']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1951558' first='Bryar' last='Exner']</strong> - all sophomores that again can use their athleticism to get to the rim and can knock down the open shot.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: What style of basketball will your team play?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>"</em></strong><em>Our team will look to push the tempo both offensively and defensively. We will have some length and size and will be able to do many different things to mix it up.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><u>What are a couple of your team goals this year?</u></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Our culture&nbsp;is to be the best version of us that we can be, compete every day and continue to grow and get better. Be the best teammate that you can be and be there for each other. If we are able to do those things the goals these gentlemen set for themselves the first day of practice will fall into place.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: Who are some of the top teams in your Region?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Our Region will be extremely competitive and I don't see any clear favorites from top to bottom.&nbsp;Four Winds will always bring intensity and pressure and try to make you uncomfortable in your game.&nbsp;Grafton will have several athletes who know how to compete and they will never quit.&nbsp;Thompson has a winning mentality with many athletes who have Championships under their belt.&nbsp;HCV has athletes, height, and length that will make it difficult for teams to penetrate and get to the basket.&nbsp;Carrington always finds a way to put a team on the floor that can make it difficult to do want you want</em>."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Firebird Schedule</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2275929,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/11/IMG_6506.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/11/IMG_6506.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2275929" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"30px","fontStyle":"italic","fontWeight":"800"}}} --> <p style="font-size:30px;font-style:italic;font-weight:800"><strong>Best of luck to the Firebirds this season!</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2275858,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/11/firebird.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/11/firebird.jpg?w=759" alt="" class="wp-image-2275858" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->