Hoop Chat: Milbank, Newell, Roncalli

We are chopping it up with three SoDak coaches in this Season Preview article. PHD bounced a series of questions off the coaches and they gave us back some thought-provoking information. Take some time to read below about the Bulldogs, Irrigators, and the Cavaliers. We have many players below that you will want to hear about and the coaches gave us some interesting basketball material that you need to read.   Team Information   Team: Milbank Class: A Region: 1   Team: Newell Class: B Region: 8   Team: Aberdeen Roncalli Class: A Region: 1   See below for PHD's conversations with Logan Diede (Milbank), Luke Bonefield (Newell), and Dan Gallagher (Aberdeen Roncalli).   <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>   Q&A with coach Logan Diede from Milbank   HD: Could you write a couple sentences summing up last season?   “Last year we grew a lot as a team, and had a couple nice stretches to finish the season strong, finishing the season 14-8. We were an athletic group, that competed every night out. We play a really tough schedule every season, and the boys did a good job navigating it throughout. We will miss our seniors from last year's squad but are excited to go with this year's group as we bring back the bulk of our core.”   PHD: How did the offseason go for your team/program?   “We always put together a strong offseason program. Our guys spent a lot of time in the gym working on skills and shooting in our team workouts, playing on summer teams, and competing through the various team camps we attended as well as the summer league we participated in every Thursday night in Watertown. We bring back 4 primary starters from last year's squad and another who started about half of the games. We will need to shoot the ball better this year. We spent a lot of time this offseason working to improve that!”   PHD: Who are a few of your top players to look out for?   “All of our returners bring something to the table that we will count on this season. [player_tooltip player_id='1266227' first='Garrett' last='Mertens'] - SR, [player_tooltip player_id='1653801' first='Joe' last='Schulte'] - SR, [player_tooltip player_id='1653802' first='Jaxson' last='Wildung'] - SR, [player_tooltip player_id='2047842' first='Graham' last='Lightfield'] - JR, and [player_tooltip player_id='1653800' first='Yohana' last='Ajwanga'] - SR all bring a lot of experience to the group as the seniors started all of our games last year and Graham started half of the games as a sophomore at point guard. Garrett, Joe, Jaxson, and Yohana are strong finishers at the rim with good length and athleticism that we will lean on both ends of the floor. Graham has done a good job running our offense at point guard and facilitating along with [player_tooltip player_id='1266227' first='Garrett' last='Mertens']. Garrett and Joe are our leading scorers from last year's team and any one of the returners can score the ball on a given night. Joe and Jaxson were two of the leading rebounders in our conference last season as well. If we shoot higher percentages this year, we look to take a step forward on that end of the floor. We also have a couple other key returning varsity players from last year's squad who earned their varsity spot midway through the season in Emmett Hanson, [player_tooltip player_id='1959441' first='Braylen' last='Bowsher'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1959434' first='Jack' last='Howard'] who will all be competing for minutes this season. They all had a really good summer, are good athletes, and are coachable kids who love to compete.”   PHD: Who are a couple of up-and-comers to look out for?   “[player_tooltip player_id='1959434' first='Jack' last='Howard'] - SO, [player_tooltip player_id='1959441' first='Braylen' last='Bowsher'] - SO, Ryan Keeton - SO, [player_tooltip player_id='1551740' first='Sam' last='Rick'] - FR.”   PHD: What style of basketball will you play?   “We will continue to attack the rim through our offense and look to be better shooters and finishers this season. On the defensive end we play multiple different styles all featured around team defense - whether zone or man, talking, helping, contesting, and rebounding. Additionally, if we continue to welcome physicality on both ends of the floor, that will help us strive toward our goals as a program.”   PHD: What are a couple of your team goals this year?   “It is a goal every season to compete every night out. Our goal all season long is to prepare to our standards and improve all the way through the season, so we are at our best when we reach Region play. We have done a really good job of that the last 4 years in the program and look to continue that again this year. It's been a while since we've won the Conference, and that is a goal every year. We have some HIGH quality teams in our conference such as Hamlin and Groton to name a few - so winning the conference is a high honor. The boys are coachable, good teammates, and are hungry to improve and to compete, which are all vital keys to give ourselves the best shot to achieve our ultimate goals when we reach Region play.”    PHD: Who are some of the top teams in your Region?   “Groton and Tiospa Zina will both be very solid teams this season. Groton has a lot of experience and talent returning to their squad this year, and is loaded with good guards who can shoot it, and defend at a high level all over the court. Tiospa Zina is an athletic group that can defend with pressure, and have shooters who can get hot every night out. Aberdeen Roncalli will also be a quality and improved team this season with good guard play. Waubay-Summit will be solid as they have high IQ and talented players who have been in many high-level games over the years and are well-coached. We consider ourselves as one of the teams that should be in that mix atop the conference as well, bringing back the bulk of our roster that has competed against some of the very best teams in the state over the last couple of years as a group, and we've put together some solid seasons in that time as well - so it will be fun to compete this season and see how it all plays out!”   Best of luck to the Bulldogs this season!   Q&A with coach Luke Bonefield from Newell   PHD: What can you tell us about last season?   "With this being my first year in the program, I do not know much about last season. I was hired late in the summer and did not have the opportunity to have a full off-season."   PHD: How did the offseason go?   "I have had good participation from the boys from the end of summer up to now. With open gym, the boys have taken advantage of that."   PHD: Who are some of your players to watch this season?   "Jameson Duncan (6'2" SR) and Isaac Stark (6'4" JR) are going to be key factors in our season. Jameson will work the outside while Isaac will be on the inside. I am also looking for big contributions from William Juelfs (5'8" SR) and Chase Johnston (5'8 JR)."   PHD: What style of basketball will you play?   "We will look to use our speed and run the floor any chance we get."   PHD: Do you have any team goals?   "Our team goals will be to improve throughout the season. After every practice and every game just keep improving and not go backwards."   PHD: Who is the top team in Region 8?   "You have to pick Faith to be one of the best teams in the Region again because of their run to the State Tournament last year."   Best of luck to the Irrigators this season!   Q&A with coach Dan Gallagher from Aberdeen Roncalli   PHD: Could you write a couple sentences summing up last season?   "We played well despite missing our leading scorer from the season before (due to knee surgery). Although we accomplished a lot of what we set out to do, we didn't quite meet our own expectations, especially after starting off 7-3 before finishing 9-11 with a first-round loss to Tiospa Zina."   PHD: How did the offseason go for your team/program?   "We had a great summer! We consistently had a great group coming to open gyms, working not only on their own skill development but also understanding the strengths and weaknesses of themselves and their teammates. We competed against some great teams at camps this summer, and consistently got better with each game! We had plenty of older and younger players come in to get extra shots up outside of our open gyms and team camps!"   PHD: Who are a few of your top players to look out for?   "[player_tooltip player_id='1744129' first='Maddox' last='Miller'] (Sr) returns as our leading scorer and offensive initiator. [player_tooltip player_id='2273141' first='Keegan' last='Stewart'] returns this year after missing last season due to knee surgery. Between these two players, we return our two leading scorers from the past two seasons! Both are dynamic players who can shoot from the perimeter, but have the ability to finish with strong drives and backing down defenders. [player_tooltip player_id='1575041' first='Aiden' last='Fisher'] and Caden Shelton are also returning starters for us. Both played key roles in our success last year, with Aiden running a lot of our PG duties. A lot of what he brought to the table last year went unnoticed but were counting on him to step into a larger role as a scorer and facilitator this season."   PHD: Who are a couple of up-and-comers to look out for in the near future?   "Landon Zikmund (Sr) is coming back out for basketball this season and brings a strong, physical presence to us. [player_tooltip player_id='2273142' first='Parker' last='Grieben'] (Jr) will help take over the role of Maddox May in the post. He is 6'6" and understands the game well. Jackson Lewno (Jr) is a sharp shooter who will see some minutes this year. Jesse Hernandez (So) brings a little bit of everything to the table offensively with his perimeter shooting, finishing, and decision-making. Brody Weinmeister (Jr - Currently injured) - Brody is the best defender on our team. He came off the bench last year understanding he was going to be guarding the opponent's best player."   PHD: What style of basketball will your team play?   "Run and play with space. We found a lot of success playing in transition, and we will continue to approach the game that way. We also have some great scorers who can create for themselves, so we are going to give them the space to create advantages and attack them."   PHD: What are a couple of your team goals this year?   "The number one goal is to win every day - improve a little bit each day. We don't want to get to the end of the season and be just as good as we were at the start. We want to find growth in each individual and as a team."   "After that, we hope that our constant improvement each day will put us in a position to compete for a host site in our Region and a birth in the Sweet 16!"   PHD: Who are some of the top teams in your Region?   "Groton will be the team to beat in the Region this year. They have made the State Tourney or Sweet 16 the past two seasons, and they come back loaded with a ton of talent."   Best of luck to the Cavaliers this season!   <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>

We are chopping it up with three SoDak coaches in this Season Preview article. PHD bounced a series of questions off the coaches and they gave us back some thought-provoking information. Take some time to read below about the Bulldogs, Irrigators, and the Cavaliers. We have many players below that you will want to hear about and the coaches gave us some interesting basketball material that you need to read.