Bearcats & Sharks: Season Previews

USE CODE “herrick30” FOR 30% OFF THE FIRST PURCHASE OF ANY SUBSCRIPTION   The fall is flying by! It is hard to believe high school football is in the playoffs and that some teams are done for the year. Basketball season is right around the corner!   Prep Hoops Dakotas is continuing our preview series. In this piece, we are looking at Freeman Academy-Marion and Iroquois-Lake Preston. The Bearcats and the Sharks!   Both squads are Class B teams from South Dakota and are ready to start the season. Take some time to read about the squads, the small-town ballers deserve your attention!   Players To Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='2379029' first='Karter' last='Weber'] from FAM who is a stat-stuff, a playmaker, and he can go off for a Triple-Double on any given night. [player_tooltip player_id='2249810' first='Lucas' last='Peskey'] from ILP is an all-around solid player who knows the games well, gets it done on both O & D, and he makes positive plays as a scorer & passer.   See below for two Q&A sessions. These help preview the teams and highlight the program/players.   Enjoy the rest of your fall, hoops season is almost here!   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/06/Preview-crop-772x507-1711398103.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/06/Preview-crop-772x507-1711398103.jpg?w=771" alt="" class="wp-image-2388806" style="width:314px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   Freeman Academy-Marion   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/10/FAM-Bearcats-Shield-Maroon-Gold-crop-2707x1777-1730163403.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/10/FAM-Bearcats-Shield-Maroon-Gold-crop-2707x1777-1730163403.png?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2628870" style="width:412px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   School: Freeman Academy & Marion   Mascot: Bearcat   Head Coach: Jerico Shape   Class: B   Region: 4   2023-24 Record: 8-13   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/10/image_4793cb.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/10/image_4793cb.png" alt="" class="wp-image-2628893" style="width:310px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   With Coach Jerico Shape   PHD: What can you tell us about last season?   "Looking back on last season, we finished 8-13, but I feel really good about where we're headed this year. We return most of our team including [player_tooltip player_id='2379029' first='Karter' last='Weber'], who averaged 14 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals per game, is back. He even posted three triple-doubles last season, so having him return is a huge advantage for us. With everyone else back as well, and the experience our guys gained, I think we're in a great position to make a big leap this season."   "We spread the scoring pretty well last year. [player_tooltip player_id='2379030' first='Jackson' last='Donlan'] also averaged 14 points and grabbed 5 rebounds per game, and Taylor Goodwin gave us great versatility with 8 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals per game. Elshadi Mesfin led the team in three-point shooting, knocking down over 45% from beyond the arc. Plus, [player_tooltip player_id='2546045' first='Hunter' last='Nankivel'] and Ashton Kesteloot really improved during the last month of the season, combining for over 8 points and 5 rebounds per game. We averaged 53 points as a team last year, but I expect that number to go up with the offensive improvements we've made. Defensively, we forced over 10 turnovers per game, and with the speed we have, we're looking to increase that as well."   PHD: Can you tell us about the off-season?   "This offseason, we focused on becoming a more physical, hard-nosed team, and it showed in our ability to compete with Class A-ranked schools down to the wire. I'm confident that we've got a real shot at making the State B tournament."   PHD: Who will be your lead guards?   "We now have four capable ball handlers in Elshadi Mesfin, Taylor Goodwin, [player_tooltip player_id='2379029' first='Karter' last='Weber'], and newcomer Domani Butler, which will give us a lot of flexibility running the offense.   PHD: Can you give us a defensive player to keep eyes on?   "Ashton Kesteloot has also developed into a dominating defensive presence, shutting down top center players this offseason, and he's added a perimeter shot to his game, making him a huge asset for us."   PHD: What are your goals for the season?   "Our goals this season are to win the conference tournament and make it to the State Tournament. A lot of people might not expect that from us, but with almost the entire team back and how hard we've worked, we're ready to surprise a lot of people. We know what we're capable of, and we're ready to prove it."   BEST OF LUCK TO THE BEARCATS THIS SEASON!   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/10/image_1369d3.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/10/image_1369d3.png" alt="" class="wp-image-2628918" style="width:347px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   Iroquois-Lake Preston   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/10/ILPsharks.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/10/ILPsharks.jpg?w=500" alt="" class="wp-image-2628919" style="width:337px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   School: Iroquois-Lake Preston   Mascot: Shark   Head Coach: Brock Dufek   Class: B   Region: 2   2023-24 Record: 4-17   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/10/image_0e55ae.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/10/image_0e55ae.png" alt="" class="wp-image-2628946" style="width:304px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   With Coach Brock Dufek   PHD: Could you write a couple of sentences summing up last season?   "Last season we were a pretty young team with only 4 seniors. We didn't have very much varsity experience with the players we had. The team ended up going 4-17 but I saw a lot of good things to build on for the future."   PHD: Who will be your primary ballhandler this year?   "Primary ball handler will be [player_tooltip player_id='2249810' first='Lucas' last='Peskey']. He is a sophomore this year that seen a lot of time last year was our leading scorer. He has a high basketball IQ and will always look to get his teammates involved. He knows when to shoot and when to pass the ball for a better opportunity. He also reads the ball very well coming off the rim and usually leads the team in rebounds each game. He also is very aggressive on defense and looks to get a lot of steals."   PHD: How did the offseason go for your team/program?   "This off-season we went to a couple of team camps where the team just played against other teams around the state. They went to Spearfish and Elkton and I saw a lot of good things there as well. They also had a summer lifting program that helped for football and the basketball season."   PHD: Who are a few of your top players to look out for?   "[player_tooltip player_id='2249810' first='Lucas' last='Peskey']: All-around athlete that makes everyone better on the floor. Can score the ball, make the correct pass, and get after it on the defensive side. He is very coachable and is always looking for ways to improve his game and what he can do to help his team out."   "[player_tooltip player_id='2470162' first='Rexton' last='Blue']: Rexton is out this season after suffering an ACL injury during the football season. He is also a very smart basketball player and makes everyone better on the court. He is one of our better shooters from outside and losing him will hurt but I know some of our players will be able to step up."   "Ben Curd: Ben is our effort guy on the floor. He will take charges, sacrifice his body, and get after it on the boards. He is high energy and when the team needs a little push, I look to Ben to supply that."   "Ryne Greene: Ryne is also another high IQ player. He is probably our best passer on the floor and can also shoot from outside. Ryne will also look to take charges and I believe he led the team last year in taking them."   PHD: Who are a couple of up-and-comers to look out for?   "Brycen Blue: Brycen is a quick athlete and a very good shooter. He is always very talented when handling the basketball. Coming in as a freshman, I look for him to see a lot of varsity time this season."   "Carter Arbeiter: Carter is another freshman who will see a lot of floor time. He is a super strong and athletic kid who has a very high vertical. I look for him to get us rebounds and play defense on the other teams better post players."   "Ervin Carter: Carter is also a freshman that will see the floor. He has a high vertical and will help us on the boards. I look for him to help out down low and get easy buckets in the post position."   "Rowdy Scheel: Rowdy is a sophomore and is a hustler and will go after every rebound and sacrifice his body to help out his team. He is not afraid to guard someone that is bigger than him and he knows his role on the team."   "Peyton Hope: Peyton Hope is a junior and I look for him to see a lot of floor time on the varsity level as well. He will be one of our taller athletes and has a pretty good outside shot."   PHD: Who do you think will be your top interior players?   "We will be a super small team with not much for height. With this team, we will need to run the floor and play fast in order to be successful."   PHD: What are the goals for the team this year?   "Improve our overall basketball IQ. Limit turnovers per game and be competitive towards the end of games to give us a chance to finish it out with a win."   PHD: Who will be your hardest worker?   "I can't pick any one kid for the hardest worker. Everyone on this Shark team knows what they need to do and they always look to improve."   PHD: Who are some of the top teams & players in your Region?   "Castlewood, Dell Rapid St Mary, Wolsey Wessington, Wessington Springs."   BEST OF LUCK TO THE SHARKS THIS SEASON!   <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>

USE CODE “herrick30” FOR 30% OFF THE FIRST PURCHASE OF ANY SUBSCRIPTION