Season Info: Miller and Pine Ridge

PHD is heading to South Dakota for this article. We are checking out the Rustlers and Thorpes in this Season Preview! These two squads will be legit and they both have stud ballers on their rosters. See below for much more info on the Miller and Pine Ridge basketball teams.   <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>   Miller Rustlers   Head Coach: Steve Schumacher   Class: A   Region: 6   Team Info from coach Schumacher   "We are excited to get the 2023-24 basketball season underway. We lost five seniors to graduation and will miss their experience."   "We are returning some quality players. Guard [player_tooltip player_id='1313354' first='Alex' last='Schumacher'] is a returning All-Conference player who has started since he was a freshman. His defense, shooting, ball handling, and leadership skills are a big asset to our team. Alex should score his 1,000 career point during this season. Alex is a good athlete and has had great success in cross country and track. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1548639' first='Isaak' last='Hunter'] was Honorable Mention All-Conference last year as a freshman and is capable of double figures in points and rebounds in most games. Isaac is a good defender and capable of scoring inside and outside. Senior forward Treyton Anson has some starting experience from last year and has put in time working on his game in the off-season. Others who will need to step into bigger roles for the new season are seniors Davin Bossert and Ian Speck. Sophomore Derek Brueggeman is coming off a football season as the starting quarterback and has two years of varsity basketball experience. I am hopeful he will contend for a starting spot this season. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='1311878' first='Gentry' last='Harrell'] and sophomore William Resel are also expected to be contributors."   "We also have a number of underclassmen who we are hoping will step up and play some minutes at the varsity level while also playing junior varsity."   "With Alex and Isaak we have two good building blocks going into the season. We have six or seven other players who have put in time in the off-season, and we will need them to play well in order to have team success."   Rustler Game Schedule   12/7 - home vs. Stanley County   12/9 - home vs. Cheyenne-Eagle Butte   12/12 - at Potter County   12/14 - @ Mount Vernon/Plankinton   1/2 - home vs. Wolsey-Wessington   1/4 - at Mobridge-Pollock   1/9 - home vs. Redfield   1/11 - at Sully Buttes   1/16 - at Crow Creek   1/18 - at Chamberlain   1/20 - home vs. McLaughlin   1/25 - at James Valley Christian   1/27 - at Wessington Springs   1/30 - home vs. Winner   2/1 - home vs. Ipswich   2/3 - home vs. Platte-Geddes   2/6 - home vs. Aberdeen Roncalli   2/10 - at Todd County   2/13 - home vs. Faulkton   2/23 - at Highmore-Harrold   Best of luck to the Rustlers this season!   Pine Ridge Thorpes   Head Coach: Casey Means   Class: A   Region: 7   The Thorpes should be a Top 10 Team entering the season with loads of talent, experience, length, shooters, athletes, and depth. Pine Ridge is a serious contender to make the State Tournament!   Q&A with coach Means   PHD: What can you tell us about last season?   "Last year's team fell short of the State Tournament by 1 game. We return our top 8 players, 4/5 starters from a team that won our Region and went undefeated at home, with an 18-4 record. We got to have an off-season this year, something we didn't get to have the year before."   PHD: How did the offseason go for your squad?   "We went to Creighton Blue Jays Team Camp and the Golden Crown Team Camp in CO. We went 6-6 in those camps playing mostly against 4A-6A schools from all over the Midwest, all games competitive. We went 8-0 in the Pentagon League in Sioux Falls. We have been in the weight room since the week after we lost at SoDak. We put in the grind time and it's going to show!"   PHD: Who are some of your top players to watch?   "[player_tooltip player_id='1384718' first='Marvin' last='Richard III'] – Can light it up from all 3 levels, has a high IQ, plays defense, rebounds, does a bit of everything, and should be one of the top players in the state. (15.3 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 4.2 APG, 2.5 SPG)."   "[player_tooltip player_id='1907971' first='Anthony' last='Steele'] – Was 2nd in the state in steals, had some big games offensively also, gym rat with 3-level scoring ability, one of the top defenders in the state, with All-State ability (9.2 PPG, 3.7 SPG, 2.1 APG, 2.2 RPG)."   "[player_tooltip player_id='1907981' first='Jaylen' last='Rouillard'] – Sniper, can light it up with the best, smart and doesn't take bad shots, underrated defender that does everything well, All-State Potential (14.2 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 44% 3PFG, 2.0 APG, 1.5 SPG)."   "[player_tooltip player_id='2264304' first='Domonic' last='Ghost Bear'] – One of the best athletes in the state, loves to rebound, lives in transition and playing defense, put a lot of work in on his handles and shot range, expecting a big year from him (5.4 PPG, 4.3 RPG 1.0 SPG)."   "Xavier Little – Can't win without players like X, unselfish, plays Defense, Rebounds, can finish, and knock it down when needed, the glue guy (3.1 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 1.1 APG, 1.3 SPG)."   "[player_tooltip player_id='1907982' first='Kanye' last='Hollow Horn'] – Athletic big man who can score on all 3 levels and has the post-game to go with it, led Class A in Blocks last year, footwork, and uses both hands well around the basket, All-State Potential (9.0 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 1.5 BPG)."   PHD: Who are some up-n-comers to keep an eye on?   "[player_tooltip player_id='1907959' first='Christian' last='Pulliam'] (sophomore) played a lot of varsity minutes as a freshman. An athletic Sniper who will be a part of the rotation this year and will have a breakout season."   "[player_tooltip player_id='2264291' first='Anthony' last='Little'] (sophomore) Gym rat! Put a lot of work in since the spring, improved his strength and speed, worked on finishing and shot is more consistent!"   "[player_tooltip player_id='2264292' first='Tokeya' last='Big Crow'] (freshman) G/F Who puts in the work, can shoot, finish, plays D, never misses a workout. Has the potential to play big minutes for the varsity and is a big part of our future for the Thorpes."   "[player_tooltip player_id='2264293' first='Daniel' last='Weston'] (freshman) Big with footwork, touch, size, and all the traits. Should be playing minutes by season's end, also is going to be a big part of the future for our Thorpe program."   PHD: What style of basketball will you play?   "We will play fast pace offensively, with pressure defense, and wear our opponent out with our athletic ability and aggressive style in our half-court offense as well."   PHD: What are your team goals?   "Team Goals – Win LNI, win our Region, and be the last team Standing in March!"   PHD: Who are the top teams in your Region?   "Top teams in the Region are Winner and Red Cloud. They both have potential All-Staters coming back, also their culture and programs are top-notch like us."   Best of luck to the Thorpes 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>

PHD is heading to South Dakota for this article. We are checking out the Rustlers and Thorpes in this Season Preview! These two squads will be legit and they both have stud ballers on their rosters. See below for much more info on the Miller and Pine Ridge basketball teams.