Previews: Howard & Waverly/South Shore

USE CODE “herrick30” FOR 30% OFF THE FIRST PURCHASE OF ANY SUBSCRIPTION<a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/10/image_4b8076.png"></a>   We are getting close to the high school hoops season in South Dakota! Practices start December 2nd and the first games can be played on December 12th.   At Prep Hoops Dakotas (PHD), we call this time of year “Preview Season” and/or "The Season of Optimism". Everyone should be positive/optimistic and hoping for the best as we lead up to the start of the season. In this article, we have previews/profiles on two Class B South Dakota squads.   We are highlighting the Howard Tigers and the Waverly/South Shore Coyotes!   Both squads saw historical success in the 2023-24 season. Howard won the State Championship and Waverly/South Shore made a run to the SoDak 16. The Tigers and Coyotes are getting ready for another fun year with many wins!   See below for info on Howard and Waverly/South Shore...   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><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" style="width:269px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/HowardTigers-Logo_Centered-crop-660x434-1730645612.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/HowardTigers-Logo_Centered-crop-660x434-1730645612.jpg?w=659" alt="" class="wp-image-2631213" style="width:275px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   Before we start talking about this hoops season, PHD wants to congratulate the Tigers on their magical State Championship run last spring! The Howard football team is also having a ton of success this fall. They are 10-0, ranked #1, and play in the State Semifinals vs. Warner this coming Friday.   School: Howard   Mascot: Tiger   Head Coach: Nick Koepsell   Class: B   Region: 3   2023-24 Record: 23-3 (State Champions)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/image_d98789.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/image_d98789.png" alt="" class="wp-image-2631225" style="width:318px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   With Coach Nick Koepsell   PHD: What can you tell us about last season?   "We finished last season with a 23-3 record and won the State B Championship finishing on a 16-game winning streak! Beat Wessington Springs, White River, & De Smet in the State Tournament. We were led by All-State & All-Tournament players Kolt Koepsell & [player_tooltip player_id='1503843' first='Luke' last='Koepsell']."   PHD: Who will be your primary ballhandler this year?   "Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2461797' first='Carson' last='Hinker'] will be our primary ball handler this season from the point forward position. Carson is 6'3 and was our 6th man last season. We will rely heavily on Carson this season in a variety of ways."   PHD: How did the offseason go for your team/program?   "We had a good summer. We took in a couple team camps (DSU, Webster, Cornbelt) to go along with our weekly open gyms. The majority of our guys play on a summer AAU team as well."   PHD: Who are a few of your top players to look out for?   [player_tooltip player_id='1503843' first='Luke' last='Koepsell'] 6'4 SR - "2nd Team All-State, All-Tournament, 1st Team All-Conference. Luke will be our leader this year. He is a 4 year starter who averaged 15.5 pts, 7.0 rebs, 3.2 assists last year. Luke is a 1,000-point career scorer and will asked to carry the load for us this year."   [player_tooltip player_id='2461797' first='Carson' last='Hinker'] 6'3 SR - "6th man off the bench last season that played starters minutes. Carson will handle the ball for us a lot this year and is also capable of playing in the paint with his size & footwork. Averaged 5.0 pts & 3.0 rebs last season."   [player_tooltip player_id='2631269' first='Austin' last='Severson'] 6'2 SR - "Played a big role off the bench last year and will be asked to step into a starter's spot this season. Austin has the capability of stretching the floor with his perimeter shooting. We will rely on Austin to provide an offensive punch for us as well as rebounding in the post."   PHD: Who are a couple of up-and-comers to look out for?   "Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2631288' first='Lucas' last='Feldhaus'], Senior Tom Connor, Junior Caden Schwader, Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2461048' first='Kolt' last='Becker'], Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2631290' first='Korbin' last='Shumaker'], Freshman, Brody Spader, and Freshman Chas Shumaker will all be asked to step into varsity roles this season."   "Sophs Becker, Shumaker & Frosh Spader & Shumaker have a ton of talent and will be key players for our program the next few years."   PHD: Who do you think will be your top interior player?   "[player_tooltip player_id='1503843' first='Luke' last='Koepsell'] will be our primary post player, and the offense will run through him. [player_tooltip player_id='2461797' first='Carson' last='Hinker'] & Shumaker are also good in the post and we will look to get them the ball down low."   PHD: What are the goals for the team this year?   "We will have the same goals that we've had for the last 5 years or so. We want to finish top 3 in our Region, make the SoDak 16 & ultimately make the State Tournament."   PHD: Who will be your hardest worker?   "[player_tooltip player_id='2461048' first='Kolt' last='Becker'] is an extremely hard worker. He will be asked to put pressure on the opposing team's primary ball handler. Nobody will outwork Kolt on the basketball court."   "[player_tooltip player_id='1503843' first='Luke' last='Koepsell'] works as hard as anybody and can guard any position 1 through 5. He guarded All-State PG Nic Marshall last year in the State Semifinal and guarded All-State Center George Jensen the next night in the Championship Game."   PHD: Who are some of the top teams & players in your Region?   "Top Players: [player_tooltip player_id='1503843' first='Luke' last='Koepsell'] - Howard, Maverick Lebrun - Dells St. Mary, [player_tooltip player_id='1506292' first='Trevon' last='Beckman'] - Dells St. Mary, [player_tooltip player_id='1808755' first='Ben' last='Weber'] - B-E, [player_tooltip player_id='1421530' first='Layke' last='Wold'] - Chester, [player_tooltip player_id='2631305' first='Brady' last='Scott'] - Canistota, [player_tooltip player_id='2461797' first='Carson' last='Hinker'] - Howard."   "Top Teams: Dell Rapids St. Mary, Bridgewater-Emery, Howard."   PHD: Any last comments about the upcoming season?   "We will once again play a very tough schedule so we hope that will prepare us for post-season play. We have a great group of seniors to lead us, but we will have some growing pains early in the season with so many players having new roles and working the young guys into the rotation. We have the potential to make another post-season run if we can stay healthy and be playing our best ball at the end of the season."   BEST OF LUCK TO THE TIGERS!   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/image_e100ff.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/image_e100ff.png" alt="" class="wp-image-2631325" style="width:338px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   Before we start talking about this hoops season, PHD wants to congratulate the Coyotes on their first-ever trip to the SoDak 16 last March. The 2023-24 Coyote squad put together a magical season. The run to the SoDak 16 made memories for the Coyote fans, players, and coaches that will never be forgotten.   School: Waverly/South Shore   Mascot: Coyote   Head Coach: Austin Appelhof   Class: B   Region: 1   2023-24 Record: 16-7 (SoDak 16 appearance)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/image_7c5151.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/image_7c5151.png" alt="" class="wp-image-2631326" style="width:363px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   With Coach Austin Appelhof   PHD: Could you tell us about last season?   "Last season was a shock to me personally as we had a whole new starting varsity lineup. We made it to the SoDak 16 for the first time in boy's basketball history. There were plenty of growing pains at the beginning of the season, but they stuck together and made a final push at the end of the season to get to the SoDak 16."   PHD: Who will be your primary ballhandler this year?   "[player_tooltip player_id='2566545' first='Colton' last='Kranz'] took control of our offense last season as Junior as our PG. Colton is a great team leader who helps out the underclassmen when they don't understand a drill or play. On the court, he is an aggressive defender and is not shy about getting physical in the paint."   PHD: How did the offseason go for your team/program?   "Our offseason went great. We played in a summer league in Watertown and played very well. At open gyms, we worked on improving our weaknesses and finding new ways to get guys into positions for them to succeed."   PHD: Who are a few of your top players to look out for?   "[player_tooltip player_id='2566543' first='Sam' last='Appelhof'] is a great weapon for us being a guy who can play 1-5 and score from all 3 levels at a high rate. Sam is a matchup nightmare for the opposing teams as he has high basketball IQ along with his high skill set."   "[player_tooltip player_id='2565911' first='Zach' last='Ries'] is another player who can play multiple positions on offense and is a good shot blocker on defense. Zach can slide with guards and is hard to score on in the paint."   "Both of them were First-Team All-ECC as juniors and I expect them to build from last years season."   PHD: Who are a couple of up-and-comers to look out for?   "Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2631356' first='Jace' last='Jellis'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2631357' first='Bryan' last='Ramirez'] will play big roles coming up from JV last season. Both are aggressive defenders and play hard every play. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='2565912' first='Kyle' last='Kneeland'] was our main scorer on JV last year I expect a big leap from him this year moving up to varsity and adding more offensive firepower to our team."   PHD: Who do you think will be your top interior players?   "[player_tooltip player_id='2565911' first='Zach' last='Ries'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2631355' first='Brady' last='Eschen'] will spend a lot of time in the paint. They complement each other's styles very well. It's an advantage of ours having two different types of post players."   PHD: What goals do you have for the team this year?   "I am looking for our team to be in sync with each other more this season as they have more experience now. Another goal is to not be looking ahead and taking it one game at a time and to never overlook anyone."   PHD: Who will be your hardest worker?   "It's hard to pick just one guy for hardest worker, we have so many guys who put in hours in the gym over the offseason. I would say the whole senior class, they know they were one game away from State last year, that opened their eyes to what they can accomplish with hard work."   PHD: Who are some of the top teams & players in your Region?   "Region 1B is a very tough region, there is talent on every team that I would love to give credit to. I think the team to beat though is Leola-Fredrick, they finished 1st last year and are riding high. Always have to come prepared to an Aberdeen Christian game who does a great job staying at the top of the Region every year. Waubay-Summit a rivalry game for us every year it is always a close game."   PHD: Any last comments about the upcoming season?   "We are excited to get back to playing basketball again and look to grow as a team. Excited to see what this team can do this season."   BEST OF LUCK TO THE COYOTES!   <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>

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