Previews: Bismarck St. Mary's & SF Jefferson

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone across the Dakotas!   Prep Hoops Dakotas (PHD) has two Team Previews for the readers in this article. We are looking at AA squads from North Dakota and South Dakota. Both programs are in the biggest class and they come from the big city (Bismarck & Sioux Falls). St. Marys is a private school and SF Jefferson is public. ND class AA started practices this past week and SD class AA tips off coming week. The Saints and the Cavaliers have talented ballers that you need to hear about and we recommend that you get eyes on them this season.   See below for info on the St. Mary's Saints and the Sioux Falls Jefferson Cavaliers.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/image_2dabb2.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/image_2dabb2.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2673728" style="width:352px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/06/Preview-crop-823x540-1688699564-crop-746x490-1700852708.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/06/Preview-crop-823x540-1688699564-crop-746x490-1700852708.jpg?w=745" alt="" class="wp-image-2280782" style="width:352px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   School: St. Mary's   Mascot: Saint   Head Coach: BJ Etzold   Class: AA   Region: WDA   2023-24 Record: 2-20   Players to Watch   Comments from coach Etzold   [player_tooltip player_id='1418035' first='Chris' last='Benning'], 6'0” Junior - "Excellent perimeter shooter who has the ability to score at all 3 levels. Averaged over 10 ppg last year as a freshman and will be looked upon to be a playmaker along with his scoring on the offensive end."   [player_tooltip player_id='1531064' first='Jackson' last='Barth'], 6'4” Junior - "Our most improved player from last season who ended the year averaging a double-double in points and rebounds during the final 5 games of the season. He's a versatile big who can put the ball on the floor and play on the perimeter, although his main presence is felt around the basket with his ability to finish through contact and protect the paint, defensively."   [player_tooltip player_id='2539079' first='Connor' last='Schatz'], 6'3” Senior - "Extremely versatile as he can play inside and outside while creating for his teammates. He can also guard any position on the floor and will be looked upon as a vocal leader with this crew."   [player_tooltip player_id='2539081' first='Aeyden' last='Price'], 5'11” Senior - "Excellent on-ball defender who uses his athleticism to consistently keep his guy out of the paint and does a great job playing off of two feet on penetration offensively."   [player_tooltip player_id='1657451' first='Brooks' last='Armstrong'], 6'0” Sophomore - "Tremendous playmaker with the ball in his hands, which allows him to get to the basket and finish with either hand in many different ways. He also has an innate ability to change speeds with the bounce, which keeps his defender off balance and allows him to create an advantage for us on offense."   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/image_fafde8.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/image_fafde8.png" alt="" class="wp-image-2673744" style="width:247px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   With BJ Etzold   PHD: How would you sum up last season?   "While we were picked to finish last in the WDA last year and that's where we ended up by going 2-20 overall, we still felt like we never quite reached our potential as we had higher expectations for ourselves. We only graduated 3 seniors from last year's team (Sam Fedorchak, Nick Roemmich, & Isaac Schroeder) and did not play one game last year without at least one regular starter injured as [player_tooltip player_id='1418035' first='Chris' last='Benning'] missed our first 3 games due to a broken hand., [player_tooltip player_id='2539079' first='Connor' last='Schatz'] missed multiple games in the middle and end of the season due to ankle injuries, and Sam Fedorchak missed almost the entire 2nd half of the season due to a hyperextended knee."   PHD: Who will be your primary ballhandler this year?   "There will be a good chance that either [player_tooltip player_id='1418035' first='Chris' last='Benning'] or [player_tooltip player_id='1657451' first='Brooks' last='Armstrong'] will always be on the floor for us due to their ability to handle the ball at a high level, get past the initial defender, and either finish around the rim or get the defense to collapse."   PHD: How did the offseason go for your team/program?   "We definitely had some underclassmen, who maybe did not have an extensive role on the varsity last year, step up as leaders throughout the summer with their commitment level & work ethic in Brady Ruggles, Dominic Zander, & [player_tooltip player_id='1657451' first='Brooks' last='Armstrong']."   PHD: Who do you think will be your top interior players?   "[player_tooltip player_id='1531064' first='Jackson' last='Barth'] finished the season very strong last year as he was averaging a double-double in the 2nd half of the season and had an outstanding off-season playing AAU for [program_tooltip program_id='2078372' first='ECI' last=''] Basketball and getting stronger & more athletic in the weight room this summer. Seniors, [player_tooltip player_id='2539079' first='Connor' last='Schatz'] & Cortland Eberle, are both versatile athletes who we expect to play big roles for us finishing our the rim and guarding the other team's interior players. All three guys have had tremendous football seasons having to play both ways, in the trenches, the majority of the season."   PHD: What are the goals for the season?   "Our goals are the same every year…We would like to finish every game +5 in two out of three categories 1) Turnovers Forced 2) Offensive Rebounds 3) FG% and focus on improving each day we step on the floor."   PHD: Who will be your hardest worker?   "We have an extremely selfless group of seniors this year who will definitely set the tone at practice every day on working hard and not care who gets the credit. We pride ourselves on having a culture of servant leadership, so knowing your seniors will exemplify this daily will be a true blessing this year. We also firmly believe, from top down, that all of our guys have tremendous work ethic, which makes it easy on the coaching staff knowing you do not have to coach effort."   PHD: Who are some of the top teams & players in your Region?   "Minot – Their entire team."   "Century – [player_tooltip player_id='1194507' first='Drew' last='Kempel'], [player_tooltip player_id='1332144' first='Garrett' last='Nissley'], & [player_tooltip player_id='1657448' first='Gibson' last='Kinnebrew']"   "Bismarck High – [player_tooltip player_id='2399947' first='Andre' last='Austin'], [player_tooltip player_id='1219806' first='Jack' last='Shaffer'], [player_tooltip player_id='1657449' first='Weston' last='Scott']"   "Dickinson – [player_tooltip player_id='2617633' first='Boston' last='Cranston']"   "Legacy – [player_tooltip player_id='1169148' first='Parker' last='Falcon']"   "Mandan – [player_tooltip player_id='1219797' first='Hudsen' last='Sheldon']"   GOOD LUCK SAINTS!!   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/jeffersoncavs.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/jeffersoncavs.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2674096" style="width:297px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/06/Preview-crop-823x540-1688699564-crop-746x490-1700852708.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/06/Preview-crop-823x540-1688699564-crop-746x490-1700852708.jpg?w=745" alt="" class="wp-image-2280782" style="width:262px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   School: Sioux Falls Jefferson   Mascot: Cavalier   Head Coach: Tim Reck   Class: AA   Region: Metro   2023-24 Record: 14-10 (5th Place at State)   Coach Tim Reck has a career head coaching record of 49-23 with State Tournament appearances in 21-22 (7th Place), 22-23 (3rd Place), and 23-24 (5th Place).   The Cavaliers are coming off a 5th Place finish at last year's State Tournament. The Cavs bring back some talent at the guard and post position. They will need to develop depth as the season progresses. SF Jefferson ended last year by winning 8 of their last 9 games. They also had a nice/productive off-season. The Cavs should have serious momentum heading into the fast approaching.   Players to Watch   Comments from Coach Reck   [player_tooltip player_id='2328482' first='Mason' last='Payne'] (2025) 6'6" - 10 ppg, 7 rpg   "Mason had a great season for the Cavaliers last year. He was a force in the post while also showing his ability to shoot the ball on the perimeter. Mason was named to the AA All-Tournament Team at last year's AA State Basketball Tournament."   [player_tooltip player_id='2526524' first='Damaris' last='Fields'] (2025) 5'9" - 9 ppg, 3 rpg, 2 apg, 2 spg   "Damaris was the starting point guard last year for the Cavaliers. He did a tremendous job getting us into our offense as well as being a tough defender. Damaris is a leader on the floor and in the hallways of JHS."   [player_tooltip player_id='2422283' first='Ethan' last='Swenson'] (2025) 6'1"   "Ethan played a supporting role for the Cavaliers last year. He was required to fill multiple different roles and did them great for the Cavs. This year he will be stepping into a larger role which we feel will benefit the Cavs basketball team greatly. Ethan was also the starting quarterback for the Cavs the last 2 seasons."   [player_tooltip player_id='1641567' first='Eddie' last='Whiting'] (2026) 6'6"   "Mostly a backup post player last year his role this year will greatly increase. He is a great compliment to [player_tooltip player_id='2328482' first='Mason' last='Payne'] and can also shoot it from the outside. His passing ability is also one of his many skills."   [player_tooltip player_id='1959440' first='Kuek' last='Kuek'] (2026) 6'6"   "Kuek is long and very athletic with versatility in playing a wing, trail 4, and even some interior post position. Has placed the last 2 years in State Track in the High Jump as well."   [player_tooltip player_id='1959438' first='Kuai' last='Mayen'] (2026) 6'1"   "Lanky and super athletic guard that will be relied on to get to the rim as well as guard the other team's best guard. Very high basketball IQ."   GOOD LUCK CAVALIERS   <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>

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone across the Dakotas!