New Rockford-Sheyenne: Hoops Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>PHD is taking a deep dive into the Rockets in this Team Preview article. New Rockford-Sheyenne should be full of confidence heading into the hoops season. The Rocket football team had a fantastic fall. They finished the season as one of the best teams in 9-man football and they picked up 10 wins. There should certainly be some carry-over as many of those football players also compete in basketball. Keep eyes on these Rockets, I think they are going to make some noise over in District 4!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Team:</strong> New Rockford-Sheyenne</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mascot:</strong> Rocket</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Head Coach:</strong> <em>Tyler Cook</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class:</strong> B</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Region:</strong> 2</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>District: </strong>4</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>See below for stats, Q&amp;A with coach <em>Cook</em>, and the Rockets schedule. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- 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":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Players To Watch</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2270550' first='Kailar' last='Jacobson'] -&nbsp; 6'1" - Junior</strong> - 9.4 PPG, 8 RPG, 1.6 SPG</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1632742' first='Easton' last='Simon'] - 5'10" - Sophomore</strong> - 11.8 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 3.7 APG</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2270646' first='Easton' last='Benz'] - 6'1"- Sophomore</strong> - 4.5 PPG, 3 RPG</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2270551' first='Bennett' last='Meier'] - 6'2" - Junior</strong> - 10.9 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 3 APG</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kage Walford - 6'0" - Junior </strong>- 2.9 PPG, 2.8 RPG</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Luke Yri - Senior - 5'10"</strong> - 5.6 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 2 SPG</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DJ Mudgett -6' - Senior</strong> - 5.7 PPG, 3.1 RPG</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>Tyler Cook</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>We struggled record-wise, but we played in a lot of close games that we just couldn't find a way to win.&nbsp;We had a very young team last year and we bring back all 5 starters this year.</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>We attended a couple of team camps and most of our kids spent a lot of time in the weight room and also doing the speed program here in town.</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><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2270551' first='Bennett' last='Meier']</strong> - "<em>Bennett had a very good year for us offensively.&nbsp;He does a great job getting in the lane and loves the mid-range jump shot.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1632742' first='Easton' last='Simon']</strong> - "<em>He is my young PG who started last year as a Freshman.&nbsp;He does a good job scoring at all 3 levels.&nbsp;Also is our main ball handler.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2270550' first='Kailar' last='Jacobson']</strong> - "<em>Kailar is a very hard-working player.&nbsp;He is undersized in the post, but he gets the job done by outworking his opponent.&nbsp;He led us in rebounding last year.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kage Walford</strong> - "<em>Kage is our best perimeter defender.&nbsp;He always gets assigned the best player on the other team.&nbsp;He is also a good 3-point shooter.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: Who are a couple of up-n-comers to look out for in the future?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2270646' first='Easton' last='Benz']</strong> <strong>(2026)</strong> - "<em>Easton is our hardest-working player.&nbsp;He loves the challenge of guarding players at any position 1 - 5.&nbsp;I look for him to be more involved on the offensive end this year.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Alex Weisenburger (2026)</strong> - "<em>Alex is a very strong post player for a sophomore who can really score the ball.&nbsp;He is rehabbing a torn ACL.</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>"<em>We are going to try to pick up the tempo this year and get up-n-down and try to create as many easy baskets as possible.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: <u>What are a couple of your team goals this year?</u></span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Our main goal early on this year is to make the Region Tournament. We have missed it the last 2 years, so we want to get back to that Tournament.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: In your opinion, who are some of the top teams in your Region and why?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>North Star - They are big and athletic and have the best player in the Region in [player_tooltip player_id='1324683' first='Dane' last='Hagler'].</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Nelson County - They are a very solid team and with the Co-op this year that will add depth to their roster.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Rockets Schedule</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2270622,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/11/IMG_6459.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/11/IMG_6459.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2270622" /></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">Best of luck to the Rockets this season!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->