Washburn Cardinals: Team Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What a great day for basketball in North Dakota! It is the first day of practice for A and B teams across the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Today, PHD has a Class B Preview for you to read. We recently published our our <a href="https://prephoops.com/2023/11/nd-preseason-b-power-rankings/">Preseason Power Rankings for B</a> and we put the Cardinals at #10. They bring back serious talent and they have a quality coach. The Cards do not have much height or a ton of depth but they have a talented backcourt and PHD thinks they have what it takes to be a serious team. Coach <em>Sharp's</em> squad will certainly be an entertaining group to watch this winter! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Team:</strong> Washburn</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mascot:</strong> Cardinal</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Head Coach:</strong> <em>Josh Sharp</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class: </strong>B</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Region:</strong> 3</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>District:</strong> 6</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1634111,"width":"392px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/10/TeamPreview.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/10/TeamPreview.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-1634111" style="width:392px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Returning Statistical Leaders</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1326981' first='Alex' last='Retterath'] ('24) -</strong> 18.9 ppg, 9 rpg, 2.7 apg, 2.4 spg</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Carter Knutson ('24) -</strong> .9 ppg, 1.3 rpg, .6 apg, .5 spg</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1892735' first='Jack' last='Retterath'] ('25) -</strong> 5.4 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 3.9 apg, 1.2 spg</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1632628' first='Parker' last='Jacobson'] ('26) - </strong>15 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 1.7 spg, .9 spg</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1542352' first='Ethan' last='Retterath'] ('27) - </strong>2.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.3 apg, 07 spg</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Player Comments from coach <em>Josh Sharp</em></span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1326981' first='Alex' last='Retterath'] 6'1" Sr</strong> - "<em>Returning All-Region player. Led us in pretty much all statistical categories. True 3-level scorer and an underrated defender. He never seems to get tired. Alex needs to take the next step and be able to guard a team's top threat as long as they are not a 6'5" post.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1632628' first='Parker' last='Jacobson'] 6'1" Soph</strong> - "<em>Returning All-Region player. Top three-point shooter in the state at all levels. Shot 50% and hit over 100. He also never seems to get tired. We will need him to improve defensively and be aggressive when teams chase him.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1542352' first='Ethan' last='Retterath'] 6'1" Frosh</strong> - "<em>Was our co-defensive player of the year. Will look for him to step into a full-time starting role. He started the last game of the season. Is able to guard all five positions on the court.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1892735' first='Jack' last='Retterath'] 5'10" Jr</strong> - "<em>Was our co-defensive player of the year with his brother Ethan. He is our best perimeter defender and our floor leader. We always play better when he is on the court. We will need him to continue to improve his finishing.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Q&amp;A with coach <em>Sharp</em></span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: Could you write a couple sentences summing up last season?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>I think we really surprised teams last season. I just kept telling the guys we need to be better each day. We can't be the same team in March that we were in December. I really believe the guys bought into this. We did some good things but we have really focused on not being satisfied with a 4^th place finish. We want to build on this past season.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: How did the off-season go for your team/program?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>I feel our off-season went well. We attended a few team camps. I thought we played well. They definitely went better than they did last year.  Our guys worked on our Sanford Power program and attended the summer skills development. They all worked their individual improvement plans they were given at the end of the season as best they could.</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>The two players to really keep an eye on are [player_tooltip player_id='1326981' first='Alex' last='Retterath'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1632628' first='Parker' last='Jacobson']. They are both returning All-Region players.</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>I have three guys to keep your eye on over the next three years. [player_tooltip player_id='1892735' first='Jack' last='Retterath'], [player_tooltip player_id='1542352' first='Ethan' last='Retterath'], and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2283517' first='Josh' last='Lanning']</strong>.</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>Offensively you will see a lot of movement and multiple ways to attack the middle. We focus on playing off of each other. Defensively, we want to impose our will on our opponents. We want them to adjust to what we are doing vs. us adjusting to them. We want to dictate the shots they get and where they go offensively.</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>1. Get better each day and peak in March</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>2. Build on our success from last year</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>3. Qualify for the Regional Tournament and finish better than we did last season</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>Bowman Co. is the best team in the Region. They might be the top team in class B. They are the same group that went to State as sophomores, lost to Trinity as juniors, and returned 2 All-State players. After them, I think our region is pretty level. I would say the next three would be Flasher, Wilton, and Washburn. Flasher returns one of the top players in the entire state. Wilton returns 2 starters and an All-Region player.  Washburn returns four starters and two All-Region players. There are a lot of good teams and you won't be able to have an off night or you will get a loss. There are also two teams that I think could sneak up on some people this year. My two sleepers are Hettinger-Scranton and Center-Stanton. They both return multiple starters and All-Region players.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Washburn Schedule</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>12/9 - home vs. <strong>Parshall</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>12/12 - home vs. <strong>Solen-Cannonball</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>12/18 - at <strong>Kidder County</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>12/28 - at <strong>Grant County</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1/5 - at Jamestown vs. <strong>TBD</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1/9 - home vs. <strong>Center-Stanton</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1/11 - at <strong>Central McLean</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1/13 - home vs. <strong>New Rockford/Sheyenne</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1/16 - home vs. <strong>Wilton-Wing</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1/21 - home vs. <strong>Edgeley/Kulm/Montpelier</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1/23 - home vs. <strong>Garrison</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1/27 - home vs. <strong>Hettinger-Scranton</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2/1 - at <strong>Flasher</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2/3 - at <strong>Mandaree</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2/8 - home vs. <strong>New Salem-Almont</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2/13 - at <strong>Richardton-Taylor</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2/17 at <strong>Killdeer</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontStyle":"italic","fontWeight":"800"}},"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size" style="font-style:italic;font-weight:800">Best of luck to the Cardinals this season!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2283403,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/11/WASHburnCardinal.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/11/WASHburnCardinal.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2283403" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->