The Last 2 SD Previews

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">PHD is wrapping up the South Dakota preview season with a look at two AA teams. The Patriots and the Raiders will be featured in this article.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We are heading to western South Dakota! Last but not least, we have the Team Previews for Douglas and Rapid City Stevens. The Patriots start the season on Saturday (12/9) at Rapid City Christian. The Raiders open up at home on Friday (12/8) against Pierre. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Info</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Team:</strong> Douglas <strong>Mascot:</strong> Patriot <strong>Class:</strong> AA <strong>Head Coach:</strong> <em>Travis Miller</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Team:</strong> Rapid City Stevens <strong>Mascot: </strong>Raider <strong>Class:</strong> AA <strong>Head Coach:</strong> <em>Chris Stoebner</em></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">Douglas Patriots</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Head Coach <em>Travis Miller</em> is entering his 13th season at the helm.</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>Miller</em></span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: Can you tell us about the first week of practice?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>We had a good first week of practice. I think we are ahead of where we were last year. The players are working hard, and we are looking forward to the season. It is always fun to see who steps up the fill the roles of the team.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: What can you tell us about last season?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Last year's record didn't turn out the way we had hoped (6-14). We lost 6 seniors to graduation and return 2 players with a lot of varsity experience.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: How did the off-season go for your team?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>We had a good group of boys for our summer program. We went to 3 different team camps and played in the Steven's League on Wednesdays.  We also had players in the gym for workouts and quite a few in the weight room for our Physio program.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: Who are your top players to watch this season?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>We will have 4 seniors coming back this season. [player_tooltip player_id='1532260' first='Jason' last='Fisher'] was an All-Conference player last year and has worked hard to improve his strength, shooting, and post-play. <strong>Michael Rountree</strong> got valuable experience on the JV team last year and we are looking for him to help this year. <strong>Aven Stafford</strong> and <strong>Jacob Thibeau</strong> were both injured during the season last year but will contribute this year.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>We have a couple of juniors coming back and 1 transfer that will help on varsity and JV this year. <strong>Gabe Tapia</strong> will be one of our main ball handlers and is a good shooter. <strong>Landon Hall</strong> and <strong>Caden Walters</strong> will also contribute.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: Do you have any up-n-comers to keep track of?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>We have quite a few sophomores this year and they are led by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2288281' first='Isaiah' last='Brewer']</strong>. He will be one of our main players and leaders on varsity this year. <strong>Mercer Chapman</strong>, <strong>Lane Paulson</strong>, and <strong>Conner Wright</strong> will be some of the other players that we will rely on.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: What style of basketball will you play?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>We will play an up-tempo style of basketball this year. We will be undersized in a lot of the games and will need to play at a quicker pace. We will want to work from the inside out on offense. Our defense will need to be ready to go and rebounding will be a key.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: Who will be the best AA school out west?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>The Black Hills Conference will be very competitive this year and Stevens should be the top AA team out west.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Patriot Schedule</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>12/9 -at <strong>Rapid City Christian</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>12/12 at <strong>St. Thomas More</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>12/15 - home vs. <strong>Scottsbluff (NE)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>12/21 - home vs. <strong>Brookings</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>12/22 - home vs. <strong>Watertown</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>12/29 - home vs. <strong>Sturgis Brown</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1/2 - home vs. <strong>Rapid City Stevens</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1/6 - home vs. <strong>Belle Fourche</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1/12 - at <strong>Harrisburg</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1/13 - at <strong>Pierre</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1/25 - at <strong>Lead-Deadwood</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1/27 - home vs. <strong>Yankton</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1/30 - at <strong>Custer</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2/6 - home vs. <strong>Hot Springs</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2/8 - home vs. <strong>Hill City</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2/10 - home vs. <strong>Red Cloud</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2/13 - at <strong>Rapid City Central</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2/15 - home vs. <strong>Spearfish</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2/20 - at <strong>Sturgis</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>PLAYOFFS</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- 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 Douglas this season!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Rapid City Stevens Raiders</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>RC Stevens is going to have a tough squad this year, PHD recently put the Raiders at #4 in the SD AA Power Rankings! The returning players for the Raiders gained valuable experience last season. RC Stevens only won 5 games last year but they were competitive in many more. This group of players put in countless hours this past off-season and they are hungry to compete with the best in AA ball. The Raiders return talented players and they also got in a couple of transfers that is headlined by [player_tooltip player_id='1826385' first='Shun-Zi' last='White Woman']. They certainly have the talent, size, and athletes to compete with the best teams in AA. They still need to keep improving, defend, and rebound to play with the best. If the Raiders can shoot it consistently, they will be able to stay and beat anyone in the state. It is going to be a fun year of hoops for RC Stevens!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Top Statistical Returners</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1625189' first='Dayler' last='Segrist'] - 9.8 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 2.3 apg, 35.3 FG%</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2288498' first='Madinko' last='Hawley'] - 5.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg, .3 apg, 42.6 FG%</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thomas Martian - 4.2 ppg, 2.3 rpg, .1 apg, 49.3 FG%</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2288391' first='Minkah' last='Hawley'] - 3.3 ppg, 1.5 rpg, .4 apg, 37.9 FG%</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kaalem Brooks - 3.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg, .6 apg, 30.9 FG%</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2233703' first='Ethan' last='Pisle'] - 2.3 ppg, 1.6 rpg, .3 apg, 32.5 FG%</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>Stoebner</em></span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: Can you tell us about last season?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>5-16 record, lost in the round of 16 to SF Jefferson.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: Who are your top returning players?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1625189' first='Dayler' last='Segrist']</strong> 6'2” (Jr.), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2288391' first='Minkah' last='Hawley']</strong>6'6” (Jr.), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2288498' first='Madinko' last='Hawley']</strong> 6'4” (Sr.),<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2233703' first='Ethan' last='Pisle']</strong> 6'2” (Sr.), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2111209' first='Kaelem' last='Brooks']</strong> 6'2” (Jr.), <strong>Tyler Portlock</strong> 6'2” (Jr.)</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: How would you rank the top 5 teams in AA?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>1. SF Roosevelt, 2. Harrisburg, 3. SF Lincoln, 4. Brandon Valley, 5. O'Gorman</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: Who do you see as some of the top players in AA?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>[player_tooltip player_id='1270335' first='Jacoby' last='Mehrman'] (Harrisburg), [player_tooltip player_id='1266274' first='Jackson' last='Brouwer'] (SF Roosevelt), [player_tooltip player_id='1466940' first='Colton' last='Smith'] (Mitchell), [player_tooltip player_id='1707423' first='Tate' last='Schafer'] (SF Lincoln), [player_tooltip player_id='1508649' first='Seth' last='Hamilton'] (Spearfish)</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Raider Schedule</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>12/8 - home vs. <strong>Pierre</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>12/9 - home vs. <strong>Aberdeen Central</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>12/15 - at <strong>Mitchell</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>12/16 - at <strong>Huron</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>12/21 - home vs. <strong>Spearfish</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>12/30 - at <strong>Rapid City Central</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1/2 - at <strong>Douglas</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1/5 at <strong>Sioux Falls Roosevelt</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1/6 - at <strong>Sioux Falls Jefferson</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1/12 - home vs. <strong>Campbell County</strong> <strong>(WY)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1/19 - at <strong>Watertown</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1/20 - at <strong>Brookings</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1/27 - home vs. <strong>Rapid City Central</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2/2 - home vs. <strong>O'Gorman</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2/3 - home vs. <strong>Brandon Valley</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2/9 - at <strong>Yankton</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2/10 at <strong>Harrisburg</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2/16 - at <strong>Sturgis</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2/23 - home vs. <strong>Sioux Falls Washington</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2/24 - home vs. <strong>Rapid City Stevens</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>PLAYOFFS</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- 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 RC Stevens this season!</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 -->