Hoops Profile: Ray & Watertown

Before we get to the basketball chat, Prep Hoops Dakotas wants to wish all the readers, players, coaches, and fans a HAPPY THANKSGIVING!   In this article, we are taking a trip to northwest North Dakota to look at a class B team and a trip to northeast South Dakota to look at a class AA squad. We are highlighting the Jays from Ray and the Arrows from Watertown! Fun fact...Ray and Watertown are 460 miles apart. Both communities are big into basketball, have talented players, and the excitement is high heading into the season.   Read below to get a good read on the Jays and Arrows...   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/HoopsProfile_6897b9.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/HoopsProfile_6897b9.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-2635133" style="width:362px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   Ray Jays   School: Ray   Mascot: Jay   Head Coach: Michael Bergstrom   Class: B   Region: 3   District: 5   2023-24 Record: 12-10   23-24 Team Stats   PPG - 65, FG% - 46, 3FG% - 33, eFG% - 53, FT% - 65   Players to Watch   Jr. - [player_tooltip player_id='1951556' first='Brody' last='Ceynar']: Brody is a strong slasher who can hit the three, he defends and rebounds well   Jr. [player_tooltip player_id='1951583' first='Grayde' last='Parizek']: Grayde is an active defender, always wins the 50/50 balls, and effective scorer from mid-range   Jr. [player_tooltip player_id='2673258' first='Colton' last='Grove']: Colton runs the floor well and is extremely active on the boards   Fr. - [player_tooltip player_id='2417313' first='Blake' last='Bergstrom']: Blake runs the point, can score at 3 levels, sees the floor well and is a good leader   Fr. - [player_tooltip player_id='2414701' first='Jace' last='Becker']: Jace plays inside out, has high energy, defends all 5 positions, and good leader   8th - [player_tooltip player_id='2442325' first='Ty' last='Barman']: Ty can shoot it at a high level,  tough matchup for defenses, has great length, and athleticism   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/image_aa9d1b.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/image_aa9d1b.png" alt="" class="wp-image-2673244" style="width:258px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   With Coach Bergstrom   PHD: Could you write a couple of sentences summing up last season?   "Last season we went really young starting a 7th grader, 2 8th graders, a Soph, and a Sr with a Soph off the bench. We went from 3 wins the year before to 12 wins last year.  Our skill level, ability to shoot the ball, and basketball IQ allowed us to compete very well. Our young age caused us a lot of issues physically going against Jr/Sr at times and struggled to get stops and rebounding. Overall I was very happy with the progress we made last year."   PHD: Does your program/team have any non-negotiables?   "We talk daily about our 4 Pillars of Servanthood, Accountability, Awareness, Loyalty. Everything we do is based on those things. We challenge the guys to compete for spots and time and the ones who earn them get them, role identification and everyone having their role and being a superstar in their role. "Roles are different, status is the same" and we talk daily also about being great teammates. If the primary individual goal of each player is to be the best teammate on the team and not the best player on the team our team is going to be a lot more successful."   PHD: What will your defense "hang its hat on"?   "This year we are going to switch from mainly zone and "junk" defenses to M2M primarily. We plan to apply a lot of ball pressure, and a lot of pressure 1 pass away. We also plan to run and jump more in the full court. We want to be control freaks where we are controlling what the offense is doing instead of them controlling what we do."   PHD: Who will be your primary ballhandler this year?   "Our primary ball handler will be [player_tooltip player_id='2417313' first='Blake' last='Bergstrom']. He handles the ball at a high level and has a high basketball IQ.  [player_tooltip player_id='1951556' first='Brody' last='Ceynar'], [player_tooltip player_id='2414701' first='Jace' last='Becker'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2442325' first='Ty' last='Barman'] are also very good ball handlers that are all capable of leading the break at any time."   PHD: How did the off-season go for your team/program?   "We had a really good off-season. We had really good turnout from 7-12 on our mourning skills 4 days a week, we had two camps come to our place this summer, 10K Shot Club and played 16 games in team camps. We now have year around weights teacher and a lot of guys are really starting to buy into it and it is starting to show and I think that will be a game changer for our program. Outside of organized off-season stuff, the guys organized a 3v3 league that a lot of the guys took part in."   PHD: Who are a few of your top players to look out for?   "[player_tooltip player_id='1951556' first='Brody' last='Ceynar'] - Experienced and skilled"   "[player_tooltip player_id='2417313' first='Blake' last='Bergstrom'] - Dynamic offensively and smart"   "[player_tooltip player_id='2414701' first='Jace' last='Becker'] - Tough matchup and high energy"   "[player_tooltip player_id='2442325' first='Ty' last='Barman'] - Can score the ball all over the court"   PHD: Who are a couple of up-and-comers to look out for?   "I expect [player_tooltip player_id='2673258' first='Colton' last='Grove'] (jr) and Landon Barman (Fr) to take on bigger roles this year, they both are physically ready to play at this level and we have roles that need to be filled and their skillsets match those roles. We have a big freshman class hoping to see some of those guys separate at the sub-varsity levels this year. Also coming is a very solid JH group with good numbers and I expect those guys to compete for spots in the upcoming seasons."   PHD: Who do you think will be your best rebounders?   "I expect [player_tooltip player_id='1951583' first='Grayde' last='Parizek'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2673258' first='Colton' last='Grove'] to be towards the top in that category. It is something they take great pride in. I am really challenging the rest of the guys to take more of a priority in that area as I think that is the #1 indicator to our success this year."   PHD: What are your team goals this year?   "Our goal this year is to have an upward trajectory, approach every practice and every game the same, play with great energy, and stay very well connected. We think doing those things will put us in a position to compete for the things we want."   PHD: Who will be your hardest worker?   "We try not to make it impossible to label one person as the hardest worker and not reward things that are expected.  We have some extremely hard working dedicated kids on this team and that number is gradually getting bigger."   PHD: Who are some of the top teams & players in your Region?   "I think in our Region Westhope and Minot Ryan are at the top. The rest of their district also has some really good teams that can compete for a State Tournament starting with Our Redeemers. In our district Powers Lake, Kenmare, and Alexander I feel are going to be pretty strong. Top players are [player_tooltip player_id='1169145' first='Walker' last='Braaten'], [player_tooltip player_id='1355223' first='Braden' last='Bailey'], [player_tooltip player_id='1189452' first='Ramsey' last='Walz'], [player_tooltip player_id='1376819' first='Jett' last='Lundeen'], and a couple of the Our Redeemers guys. [player_tooltip player_id='2237681' first='Eli' last='Undlin'] is good at MLS, [player_tooltip player_id='1329685' first='Reggie' last='Bruner'] at Velva, [player_tooltip player_id='2309413' first='Kyle' last='Huseby'] at Powers Lake, and I think we have a couple of young guys who are some of the top in the Region."   PHD: Any last comments about the upcoming season?   "We are very excited about the year coming up. I'm excited to see the progress the kids have made individually and the improvement we've made from a team standpoint."   BEST OF LUCK TO THE JAYS!!   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/HoopsProfile_6897b9.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/HoopsProfile_6897b9.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-2635133" style="width:356px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   Watertown Arrows   School: Watertown   Mascot: Arrow   Head Coach: Pat McClemans   Class: AA   2023-24 Record: 14-10 (6th at the State Tournament)   The Arrows lost 8 seniors and 5 starters to graduation. They return 1 player with significant varsity playing time. They will be inexperienced, but the cupboard is not bare by any means. There will be plenty of opportunities for players to earn minutes. It will be fun to see who steps for the Arrows!   Returning Letter Winners   Senior - [player_tooltip player_id='2526552' first='Mitch' last='Olson'] 6'4 Forward - Smart player, quiet leader, solid all-around player   Senior - [player_tooltip player_id='2673234' first='Gabe' last='Norberg'] 5'11 Point Guard - Quick, good in transition, responsible for getting them into offense, will be running the show   Juniors   Junior [player_tooltip player_id='2343451' first='Kaden' last='Decker'] 5'10 Guard - Physical player who can shoot the 3, attacks the basket well   Junior [player_tooltip player_id='2338383' first='Jackson' last='McClemans'] 6'4 Guard/forward - Scorers mentality, good off the dribble, has the ability to make the 3   Junior [player_tooltip player_id='2338805' first='Ashton' last='Rabine'] 6'0 Forward - Physical player who defends well, plays bigger than his listed height   Junior Cole Hanson 5'10 Guard - Physical quick guard who can get into the paint and create shots for others   Junior Jaxon Falak 5'10 Guard - Physical, athletic guard, who defends well, attacks the basket   Junior [player_tooltip player_id='2338603' first='Carter' last='Buisker'] 5'11 Guard - He can shoot the 3 and handles the ball well   Sophomores   Soph Max Martinson 5'8 Guard - Smart player who handles the ball well and passes very well   Soph [player_tooltip player_id='2548482' first='Dane' last='Stark'] 5'10 - Anticipates well, is a good defender, can shoot the 3   Soph [player_tooltip player_id='2548480' first='Jack' last='Mack'] 6'3 - Long and athletic, has potential  to score   Soph Issac Rehorst 6'4 - Long and athletic, rebounds well, has potential to score   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/QA.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/QA.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-2511663" style="width:222px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   With Coach McClemans   PHD: What can you tell us about last season?   "Last season we were a team that had a lot of experience. We were able to get into the State Tournament for the first time in 9 years. We had some big wins throughout the year."   PHD: What can you tell us about this years team?   "We will have a very inexperienced team, after losing as many seniors as we did. The challenge is getting players to raise their level of play to the varsity level. We realize that there will be bumps in the road as we go along. We hope that as the season progresses we become a little more consistent. Trying to figure out what we do well, and what certain players do well is the key. How are kids going to respond, what things can you do offensively and defensively that will make you successful. Our Non-negotiable item is effort. The expectation is that you play hard. Every kid thinks they play hard but there is another level you need to try and get them to. If you have effort, which the players can control, then you would hopefully be a good defensive team and rebounding team. As those two areas are just effort areas that players can control."   PHD: Who do you see as the top teams in AA?   "At the AA level, Mitchell has to be the top team with the number of quality players they are returning. Huron, along with any and all the Metro Schools (SF Jefferson, SF Roosevelt, SF Lincoln, SF Washington, SF O'gorman, Brandon Valley) will always be very good."   BEST OF LUCK TO THE ARROWS!!   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/08/PHD.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/08/PHD.jpg?w=400" alt="" class="wp-image-1272514" /></a></figure>

Before we get to the basketball chat, Prep Hoops Dakotas wants to wish all the readers, players, coaches, and fans a HAPPY THANKSGIVING!