Previews: Aberdeen Central and Mobridge-Pollock

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">PHD has Team Previews on the Golden Eagles and Tigers! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We have Q&amp;A sessions with both head coaches, these squads have intriguing talent. Be on the lookout, the Golden Eagles and Tigers could surprise people this year. South Dakota is a week into practices and games will get started next weekend. It is going to be a fun year of basketball in South Dakota.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontStyle":"italic","fontWeight":"800"}},"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size" style="font-style:italic;font-weight:800">Best of luck to Aberdeen Central and Mobridge-Pollock this season!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Team Info</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Team:</strong>&nbsp;Aberdeen Central Golden Eagles&nbsp;<strong>Class:</strong>&nbsp;AA&nbsp;<strong>Head Coach:</strong>&nbsp;<em>Brent Norberg</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Team:</strong>&nbsp;Mobridge-Pollock Tigers&nbsp;<strong>Class:</strong>&nbsp;A&nbsp;<strong>Region:</strong>&nbsp;6&nbsp;<strong>Head Coach:</strong>&nbsp;<em>TJ Knudson</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1634111,"width":"277px","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:277px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Aberdeen Central</span></strong></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>Brent Norberg</em></span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: Could you write a couple of sentences&nbsp;summing up last season?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Last season was a disappointing ending.&nbsp;I thought we improved throughout the year and gave it everything we had each and every time out.</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>Our off-season involved getting in the weight room and open gym four days a week.&nbsp;Our upperclassmen had a good off-season.</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='1968829' first='Parker' last='Lemer'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2049884' first='Jett' last='Carlson'] are two returning starters with the most experience.&nbsp;Both players are really good shooters and great leaders.&nbsp;<strong>Grant</strong> <strong>Fritz</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2317598' first='Camden' last='Fauth']</strong> are two seniors who will be relied on to play more minutes this year.&nbsp;They both had some big games last year.</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?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em><strong>Ollie Rife</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1625185' first='Cameron' last='Olson']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1625184' first='Brendan' last='Phillips']</strong>, <strong>Donnie Soderlund</strong>, <strong>Charlie Phillips</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2047837' first='Rylee' last='Rieker'],</strong> and <strong>Colby Dauwen</strong> are players who had good years on our JV Team.</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 will try and play a fast pace with solid half-court defense.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: What are a couple of your team goals this year?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Our Goal every year is to make the State Tournament and try to win it.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: Who are some of the top teams in AA?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Harrisburg, Brandon Valley, Roosevelt, Lincoln, Washington, Jefferson</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Mobridge-Pollock</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2287252,"width":"193px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/12/IMG_6720.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/12/IMG_6720.jpeg?w=884" alt="" class="wp-image-2287252" style="width:193px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Players To Watch</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1851632' first='Michael' last='Wald'] (2024) |5'10 G|</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>12.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 2.6 apg, 34.3 FG%</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2287259' first='Simon' last='Fried'] (2024) |5'9 G|</strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2.4 ppg, 2 rpg, 1 apg, 27.4 FG%</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1377249' first='Jackson' last='Eisemann'] (2025) |5'10 G|</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10.9 ppg, 3 rpg, 1.7 apg, 32 FG%</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1790129' first='Shane' last='Henderson'] (2025) |6'6 PF|</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10.4 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 1 apg, 48 FG%</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Career Points</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1377249' first='Jackson' last='Eisemann'] - 470</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1790129' first='Shane' last='Henderson'] - 245</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1851632' first='Michael' last='Wald'] - 308</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2287259' first='Simon' last='Fried'] - 53</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>TJ Knudson</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>Last year we finished 11-11. With many players being on the younger or inexperienced side we struggled shooting the ball and finishing games. 5 of our losses were within single digits last year and we felt we could have won each of those games.</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>The off-season went well with traveling to Jamestown, ND, Mitchell to the Cornbelt team camp, and Northern State. We played a competitive schedule and lost to some good teams. It was fun to see our younger kids start to be comfortable on the court against kids who are older and stronger.</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='1851632' first='Michael' last='Wald'], [player_tooltip player_id='2287259' first='Simon' last='Fried'], [player_tooltip player_id='1377249' first='Jackson' last='Eisemann'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1790129' first='Shane' last='Henderson']. These four players have the most varsity experience, are skilled, and have a team-first attitude.</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?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1361800' first='Unique' last='White Twin'] and freshman [player_tooltip player_id='1551734' first='Kale' last='Knudson'] have proven ball-handling and play-making ability. Freshmen <strong>Kellen Pfitzer</strong>, <strong>Spirit Barton</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1551737' first='Easton' last='Eisemann']</strong> have improved their outside shooting and driving ability. Sophomores <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1641167' first='Caige' last='Yellow']</strong> and <strong>Isaiah Waldner</strong> will prove their athleticism and competitiveness.</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 will look to play clean defense and score quick. We will work on taking uncontested shots and crashing the offensive boards more this year.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: What are a couple of your team goals this year?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>The team goal is to make it to the State Tournament in Rapid City.</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>McLaughlin and Miller both return experience and skill. They both have players that can control the game.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1399487,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <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> <!-- /wp:image -->