Season Rewind: Bismarck Century & Sioux Valley

PHD is turning back the calenders and looking at the high school season. We are looking at two of the top programs in North Dakota and South Dakota.   The Patriots from Bismarck Century and the Cossacks from Sioux Valley!   These squads have a rich history, are talented, the future looks bright, and they have top-notch coaches!   See below for Q&A sessions with Darin Mattern from Century & Bill Vincent from Sioux Valley.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/SeaonReview-.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/SeaonReview-.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-1842251" style="width:283px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   Team: Bismarck Century   Mascot: Patriot   Head Coach: Darin Mattern   Class: AA   Record: 19-8   Finish: State Tournament appearance   Q&A with Coach Mattern   PHD: How would you sum up the season for your squad?   "After graduating several key players, we are very excited to be able to finish 19-8 and qualify for the State Tournament."   PHD: Do you have any fun memories to share with us from the season?   "Finishing in the top 3 of the regular season and qualifying for the ND State Tournament was extremely gratifying."   PHD: How did your team overcome adversity?   "We had some injuries and sickness throughout the course of the season. I was very happy with how our young roster contributed to our veteran player's success."   PHD: What are a few things your team improved on throughout the season?   "I thought our defense and team rebounding improved throughout the season. We were competitive against some of the best teams in the state throughout the season."   PHD: Who are some role players that stood out?   "I thought some young kids stepped up and played great minutes throughout the course of the season. [player_tooltip player_id='1418034' first='Joey' last='Kraljic'] played well late in the season for a sophomore. I thought [player_tooltip player_id='1657448' first='Gibson' last='Kinnebrew'] had a tremendous freshman campaign."   PHD: Can you talk about your seniors and what will be missed?   "[player_tooltip player_id='1111175' first='Isaiah' last='Schafer'] will graduate as the school's all-time leading scorer. He was a four-year letterwinner who played valuable minutes since his freshman year. Having him on the floor created space for other players with his ability to shoot the ball."   PHD: Who was your best defensive player?   "[player_tooltip player_id='1454708' first='Oliver' last='Jensen'] - Physical, was able to keep the ball in front of him. He could defend multiple positions. Would guard the opponent's best player every game."   "[player_tooltip player_id='1657448' first='Gibson' last='Kinnebrew'] - Used his length to be an elite defender. Could guard the 1-5 positions. Will improve going forward with maturity and strength."   PHD: Any last comments/thoughts on the season?   "It was a fun team to coach. Anytime you knock on the door of 20 wins that is an excellent campaign for the kids. They worked hard on a daily basis, which is extremely gratifying for the coaching staff."   Best of luck to the Patriots this offseason!   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/05/image_25eea0.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/05/image_25eea0.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2447351" /></a></figure>   Team: Sioux Valley   Mascot: Cossack   Head Coach: Bill Vincent   Class: A   Record: 23-3   Finish: 5th Place at State   Q&A with Vincent   PHD: How would you sum up the season for your squad?   "We had an outstanding season finishing 23-3 (with 23 wins being a tie for most wins in one season for a SV team), which ties last season's 23-3 and the 23-2 State Runner-Ups from 2021. This was a season led by upperclassmen who were hungry to get us back to the State Tourney. We only lost three games and one of those was in overtime and one in double overtime. We had to overcome some midseason injuries and only lost one game this year with all our players in uniform."   PHD: Do you have any fun memories you want to share with us from the season?   "Every season is full of great memories on and off the court. This year was a "family atmosphere", so you can only imagine the fun memories we had."   PHD: How did your team overcome adversity?   "We really didn't have any adversity to overcome. A sign of a mature group of upperclassmen. We did overcome some illnesses and injuries that only made us better in the long run, but just about every team has those obstacles to overcome over the course of a season."   PHD: What are a few things your team improved on throughout the season?   "We really improved on defense this season and had one of our best defensive teams ever."   PHD: Who are some role players that stood out to you?   "We had Playoff Hudsyn. [player_tooltip player_id='1266229' first='Hudsyn' last='Ruesink'], like last year, had an outstanding postseason, especially in the SoDak16 game for a second year in a row. [player_tooltip player_id='2075251' first='Boden' last='Schiller'] saved his best for last having an outstanding State A Tournament being a force on the glass and on defense and almost averaging a double-double in the State Tourney. [player_tooltip player_id='2434688' first='Brock' last='Christopherson'] was called upon to be a defensive stopper all postseason and stepped up midseason during injuries to start a few games for the Cossacks."   "[player_tooltip player_id='1496797' first='Jace' last='Christensen'] really grew into his role of our starting point guard after missing most of last season to a broken foot. You can tell he was groomed by Oliver Vincent. Jace was outstanding this season, especially in the second half after returning from a terrible ankle sprain."    "[player_tooltip player_id='1763076' first='Max' last='Engebretson'] had an All-State caliber of a season. Someone is going to get a great college-level player as his best ball is still ahead of him and his body is still growing and developing. One of the Class A Leaders in made three-pointers with 64!  Also one of the top in SD in assists. Max plays with high energy and wants to make the big plays."   "[player_tooltip player_id='1266223' first='Alec' last='Squires'] was a dominant big this year and leaves SV as our all-time leader in blocks, rebounds, dunks, fg%. He is a 1000-point scorer and had 5 dunks in one game. He will take his game to SDSU. He has a great motor and runs the floor well against the bigs. He will look forward to seeing fewer double teams at the college level."   "[player_tooltip player_id='1266229' first='Hudsyn' last='Ruesink'] was a regular in SV lineup the last two seasons replacing his brother Hayden at the power forward spot. He always seemed to play his best in the biggest of games this season and he was named MVP at the Entringer Classic and once again had a big SoDak16 game."   "[player_tooltip player_id='1263164' first='Maverick' last='Nelson'] is a star in the making. A knockdown three-point shooter, who has become a rim attacker. He also has the ability to hit the pull-up. His defense is very good on the perimeter. He can score in bunches and will have a great season next year for the Cossacks."   "[player_tooltip player_id='2075251' first='Boden' last='Schiller'] is one of the better 6th men around. He spent some time in the starting line-up when needed. He plays the game above the rim, being on the receiving end of many alley-oop dunks from Engebretson. He was dominant on the glass and guarded the best player upon entering the game."   "[player_tooltip player_id='2434688' first='Brock' last='Christopherson'] is one of the more competitive players SV has ever had. He spent some time in the starting line-up. He was always guarding the other team's best ball handler and is a defensive scrapper. He has a mind for the game and is a coach on the floor. The Cossacks look forward to having Brock run the show moving forward."   PHD: Can you talk about your seniors and what will be missed?   "Our Seniors were outstanding leaders on and off the court. They will be greatly missed. They have an amazing 3.95 combined GPA amongst the five of them. They have been around since the beginning and many had older brothers who were Cossacks and some spent time as ball boys well before ever becoming Varsity players. They know nothing but State as the Cossacks have qualified for 5 straight State A's (a trophy for each of them!) 2020 CoVid Cancelled (21-1), 2021 State Runner-up (23-2), 2022 State Runner-up (20-6), 2023 Consolation Champs (23-3), and 2024 Consolation Champs (23-3)!"   PHD: Who are some up-and-comers to look out for in the future?   "[player_tooltip player_id='1263164' first='Maverick' last='Nelson'] is a Junior this year and a two-year starter. He is an LCC and Big East All-conference performer. [player_tooltip player_id='2434688' first='Brock' last='Christopherson'] started in a handful of games this year for the Cossacks, a defensive star. He will take over for [player_tooltip player_id='1496797' first='Jace' last='Christensen'] at the point. [player_tooltip player_id='1959432' first='Tobin' last='Squires'] backed up his brother this season as a sophomore. He has the size and strength to be a great HS player. [player_tooltip player_id='2402552' first='McCade' last='Nelson'] brother to Maverick, is a longer version of his brother and will play a forward spot for the Cossacks. Braden Danzeisen will help at the guard spots moving forward his brother Damian started on the Cossacks 2023 team. [player_tooltip player_id='2341521' first='Bret' last='Milton'] is a long, athletic wing that will make an impact on future Cossack teams. Sharp shooting freshman, [player_tooltip player_id='2430313' first='Brady' last='Hiltunen'] won the Elkton FCA/Dakota Sports Area three-point shoot-out and will team with 6'7" freshman [player_tooltip player_id='2406045' first='Carter' last='Sapp'] to give SV some youthfulness to their rotation. Sioux Valley's freshman team went undefeated and the JV team under Travis Engebretson and Buster Vincent only lost twice."   PHD: Who was your best defensive player?   "We had many great defensive players. [player_tooltip player_id='1263164' first='Maverick' last='Nelson'] always drew the other team's top perimeter player and [player_tooltip player_id='2075251' first='Boden' last='Schiller'] would tag-in to provide even more defensive pressure on the top opponents. [player_tooltip player_id='1266223' first='Alec' last='Squires'] controlled the paint for us blocking and adjusting shots and cleaning up the boards. [player_tooltip player_id='1266229' first='Hudsyn' last='Ruesink'] was a scrapper for us in the paint and on power fowards. We also used [player_tooltip player_id='2434688' first='Brock' last='Christopherson'] to disrupt point guards."   PHD: Any last comments/thoughts on the season?   "It was another very enjoyable season. We had a group of guys willing to sacrifice personal glory for the good of the team. We had hard workers who wanted to solve the puzzle together as a group. Our buddy coaching was outstanding. Just a great joy to coach this group of young men.  we can't thank the seniors enough and we wish them the best. We are excited to get started on next season. Our goals will remain the same."   Best of luck to the Cossacks in the offseason!   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/05/image_436406.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/05/image_436406.png" alt="" class="wp-image-2447356" /></a></figure>

PHD is turning back the calenders and looking at the high school season. We are looking at two of the top programs in North Dakota and South Dakota.