Q&A: Harrisburg & Platte-Geddes

Prep Hoops Dakotas (PHD) has two South Dakota Team Previews for basketball fans to check out. We have a class AA team and a class B squad.   We are looking at the Tigers from Harrisburg and the Black Panthers from Platte-Geddes. These Team Previews are coming to you via Q&A style!   The teams are 1 week away from starting practice, it is a great time to be a basketball fan!   See below and you will get a good read on the Tigers & Black Panthers.<a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/TeamPreview.jpg"></a>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/image_790ba0.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/image_790ba0.png" alt="" class="wp-image-2650037" style="width:280px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   School: Harrisburg   Mascot: Tiger   Head Coach: Scott Langerock   Class: AA   Conference: ESD & Metro   2023-24 Record: 20-4 (3rd at State)   The Tigers were a top team in South Dakota last season, and those expectations will not change this year. Harrisburg plays a daunting schedule early in the season as it tries to find its identity. Coach Langerock and his staff are excited about the Tigers' talent and personnel. Finding consistency will be a key factor in Harrisburg's success this season. It will be fun to see how it all comes together for the Tigers. Questions: How will the Tigers lack of game experience affect the start of the season with a challenging schedule? Will Harrisburg find defensive toughness and finish possessions with rebounds? Who will step up this season and lead the Tigers?   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/image_86990f.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/image_86990f.png" alt="" class="wp-image-2650086" style="width:279px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   With Coach Langerock   PHD: How would you sum up last season?   "Last year was a good year for the Tigers and felt we had a chance to contend at the State Tournament which we did. Our lower-level teams played well and we have numerous good players coming up in the program."   PHD: Who are your top returning players?   "[player_tooltip player_id='1263165' first='Aiden' last='Costain'] - 12th - He played minutes in the AA State Tourney last spring."   "[player_tooltip player_id='2685746' first='Nolan' last='Krull'] - 12th - He played minutes in the AA State Tourney last spring."   "[player_tooltip player_id='2328478' first='Isaiah' last='Tap'] -12th - Long and athletic."   "[player_tooltip player_id='1625202' first='Kaden' last='Anderson'] - 12th - He can knock down shots when he gets going."   PHD: Who are your up-n-comers to keep track of?   "Cayden VanHorssen - 12th - Big and athletic and protects the rim."   "[player_tooltip player_id='2623213' first='Stellen' last='Larson'] - 11th - Big off-season and can score on all 3 levels of the court."   "[player_tooltip player_id='1641209' first='Crayton' last='Jibben'] - 11th - Long and good pull-up game."   "[player_tooltip player_id='2338840' first='Jakob' last='Graff'] - 11th - Smart player that has great feet and hands and vision."   "Owen Sylliassen - 11th - Scorer mindset and makes plays."   "[player_tooltip player_id='2338450' first='Thomas' last='Osman'] - 10th - Playmaker on both ends. Has the toughness factor."   "[player_tooltip player_id='1641207' first='Cole' last='Kooiker'] - 11th - Shooter and has really developed his game."   "Will VanHolland - 11th - Smart and big-time communicator, shoots it well."   "[player_tooltip player_id='2250312' first='Myles' last='Nour'] - 10th - Smart and good vision. Good pull-up game and developing the other two pieces. Big upside."   PHD: What will your defense "hang its hat on"?   "We play with man-to-man principals that keeps the ball out of the paint and try to preach guarding the dribble as much as possible."   PHD: How did the off-season go for your program?   "It was a good off-season with skill development, shot making, and weight room expectations. Many guys know they have the opportunity to get minutes, so they are competing."   PHD: Who are some of the top players in AA?   "[player_tooltip player_id='1297809' first='Markus' last='Talley'] - Mitchell, [player_tooltip player_id='1467166' first='Blake' last='Ellwein'] - Huron, [player_tooltip player_id='1641566' first='Jhace' last='Woods'] - SF Washington, [player_tooltip player_id='1503882' first='Thomas' last='Hoffman'] - SF Washington, [player_tooltip player_id='1958459' first='Lucas' last='Johnson'] - SF Washington, [player_tooltip player_id='1641205' first='Sam' last='Ericsson'] - SF Lincoln, [player_tooltip player_id='1949563' first='Sam' last='De Groot'] - SF Lincoln, [player_tooltip player_id='2328482' first='Mason' last='Payne'] - SF Jefferson, [player_tooltip player_id='1625085' first='Dayler' last='Segrist'] - RC Stevens."   PHD: Who are the top teams in AA?   "Mitchell, Huron, Rapid City Stevens, Brandon Valley, SF Washington"   PHD: What are your team goals this season?   "Once we get our rotation and roles identified, we will work to be competitive as February comes around. Our goal to to make the Tournament and then compete to play in the evening sessions.   PHD: Any last comments about the fast approaching season?   "This year will be more of the underdog role for us. These can be fun years if the guys buy into the mentality and the toughness that is needed. We will need to share the ball and move to space with pace for us to score consistently each night."   GOOD 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_41c993.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/image_41c993.png" alt="" class="wp-image-2654678" style="width:380px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   School: Platte-Geddes   Mascot: Black Panther   Head Coach: Frank Cutler   Class: A   Conference: South East South Dakota Conference & South Central Conference   Region: 5   2023-24 Record: 11-10   Players to Watch   *Sprik & Breukelman are returning starters   <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>PLAYER</td><td>INFO</td><td>PPG</td><td>RPG</td><td>APG</td><td>SPG</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1421531' first='Hayden' last='Sprik']</td><td>5'10 Sr.</td><td>11.5</td><td>3.9</td><td>2.7</td><td>2.0</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='2565160' first='Braxton' last='Breukelman']</td><td>6'3 Sr.</td><td>9.6</td><td>7.5</td><td>1.0</td><td>1.0</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1535885' first='Max' last='Miller']</td><td>5'11 Sr.</td><td>2.4</td><td>1.5</td><td>1.0</td><td>1.0</td></tr><tr><td>Jye Bailey</td><td>5'8 Jr.</td><td>4.9</td><td>3.5</td><td>1.5</td><td>2.6</td></tr><tr><td>Aiden Boettcher</td><td>5'10 Sr.</td><td>1.0</td><td>1.5</td><td>na</td><td>na</td></tr><tr><td>Quincy Stephens</td><td>5'10 Sr.</td><td>na</td><td>na</td><td>na</td><td>na</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/image_5acc48.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/image_5acc48.png" alt="" class="wp-image-2654729" style="width:218px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   With Coach Cutler   PHD: What can you tell us about last season?   "We finished with an 11-10 record. 4th Place in the SESD and 2nd Place in the SCC."   PHD: What type of success have you had at the State Tournament?   "State Champions in 2008 (Class A)! State Runner-Up in 2009 (Class A) & 2014 (Class B)."   PHD: Can you tell us a bit about your coaching career?   "36 seasons as a head coach with a 532-256 record. Assistant coach is Carter Kemnitz who has been in that position for 3 years."   PHD: Who will be the tough teams in your Conferences this year?   "SESD: Parkston, Gregory, and Winner. SCC: Gregory."   PHD: Who are the top teams in A this season?   "Hamlin, Sioux Fall Christian, Lennox, Dakota Valley, Sioux Valley, St. Thomas More, Rapid City Christian."   PHD: What type of schedule do you have this season?   "We play a great schedule that includes 3 Classics this season. The Hoop City Classic in Mitchell, Madison Hometown Classic, and The Blizzard Classic in Irene."   PHD: Any additional comments on the season/team?   "We return 2 starters and 2 others with good playing experience. We did lose 3 starters from last year and will need to replace them with consistent scoring and rebounding. [player_tooltip player_id='1421531' first='Hayden' last='Sprik'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2565160' first='Braxton' last='Breukelman'] are our top scorers back. Jye Bailey and Sprik handle the ball well and give us strength at the guard position along with solid defensive play. [player_tooltip player_id='1535885' first='Max' last='Miller'] gives us another strong offensive threat and Stephens is athletic and will give us another strong defensive presence. Boettcher is a hard worker and looks to add depth to the roster. We will be an athletic team on the floor but will need to work hard on defense and rebounding to compete with bigger and more physical teams."   GOOD LUCK TO THE BLACK PANTHERS!   <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>

Prep Hoops Dakotas (PHD) has two South Dakota Team Previews for basketball fans to check out. We have a class AA team and a class B squad.