Rapid City Stevens: Team Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"11px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:11px"><strong><em>USE CODE “herrick30” FOR 30% OFF THE FIRST PURCHASE OF ANY SUBSCRIPTION</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Prep Hoops Dakotas (PHD) is going west for a Team Preview on the Raiders from Rapid City Stevens.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The teams and players from West River never get enough attention or recognition. Let's take a serious look at Coach Stoebner's squad. The Raiders have a nice group of players, skill, and athleticism, the Raiders certainly have a squad that could make a run to the State Tournament. The expectations and excitement are rising as the season quickly approaches for RC Stevens.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>School:&nbsp;</strong>Rapid City Stevens</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Mascot:</strong> Raider</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Head Coach:</strong>&nbsp;Chris Stoebner</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Class:</strong>&nbsp;AA</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2023-24 Record:</strong>&nbsp;12-9</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">See below for the Raiders schedule, stats, player comments, and a Q&amp;A session with Coach Stoebner</span>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2638815,"width":"274px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/RCstevens-crop-3792x2490-1732023197.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/RCstevens-crop-3792x2490-1732023197.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2638815" style="width:274px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2632356,"width":"275px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/TeamPreview.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/TeamPreview.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-2632356" style="width:275px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"30px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:30px"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Returning Statistical Leaders</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2111209' first='Kaelem' last='Brooks'] -</strong> 8.2 ppg, 5 rpg, 1.7 apg, 50.8 FG%, 52.7 eFG%</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1625085' first='Dayler' last='Segrist'] -</strong> 12.6 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 2.6 apg, 45.5 FG%, 58.7 eFG%</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1407009' first='JD' last='Green'] -</strong> 3.1 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 2.1 apg, 36.2 FG%, 43.1 eFG%</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2288391' first='Minkah' last='Hawley'] -</strong> 9.8, 3.2 rpg, 4.2 apg, 43 FG%, 51.2 eFG%</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2111210' first='Jess' last='Christensen'] -</strong> 1.2 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 70 FG%, 70 eFG%</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2532438' first='Tyler' last='Portlock'] -</strong> .9 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 1.3 apg, 33.3 FG%, 33.3 e3FG%</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1625136' first='Dylan' last='Szymonski'] -</strong> 1.4 ppg, .4 rpg, .2 apg, 71.4 FG%, 71.4 eFG%</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"30px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:30px"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">2024-25 Game Schedule</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">DATE</span></strong></td><td><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">OPPONENT</span></strong></td><td><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">LOCATION</span></strong></td></tr><tr><td>Dec 13</td><td>Pierre</td><td>Pierre T.F. Riggs</td></tr><tr><td>Dec 14</td><td>Aberdeen Central</td><td>Aberdeen Central</td></tr><tr><td>Dec 20</td><td>Mitchell</td><td>Rapid City Stevens</td></tr><tr><td>Dec 21</td><td>Huron</td><td>Rapid City Stevens</td></tr><tr><td>Dec 28</td><td>Spearfish</td><td>Spearfish</td></tr><tr><td>Jan 4</td><td>Rapid City Central</td><td>Rapid City Central</td></tr><tr><td>Jan 7</td><td>Douglas</td><td>Rapid City Stevens</td></tr><tr><td>Jan 10</td><td>Sioux Falls Roosevelt</td><td>Rapid City Stevens</td></tr><tr><td>Jan 11</td><td>Sioux Falls Jefferson</td><td>Rapid City Stevens</td></tr><tr><td>Jan 18</td><td>Sturgis</td><td>Sturgis</td></tr><tr><td>Jan 24</td><td>Watertown</td><td>Rapid City Stevens</td></tr><tr><td>Jan 25</td><td>Brookings</td><td>Rapid City Stevens</td></tr><tr><td>Feb 1</td><td>Rapid City Central</td><td>Rapid City Stevens</td></tr><tr><td>Feb 7</td><td>O'Gorman</td><td>O'Gorman</td></tr><tr><td>Feb 8</td><td>Brandon Valley</td><td>Brandon Valley</td></tr><tr><td>Feb 14</td><td>Yankton</td><td>Rapid City Stevens</td></tr><tr><td>Feb 15</td><td>Harrisburg</td><td>Rapid City Stevens</td></tr><tr><td>Feb 21 </td><td>Rapid City Christian</td><td>Rapid City Stevens</td></tr><tr><td>Feb 28 </td><td>Sioux Falls Washington</td><td>Sioux Falls Washington</td></tr><tr><td>March 1</td><td>Sioux Falls Lincoln</td><td>Sioux Fall Lincoln</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"30px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:30px"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Returning Starters</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><em>Comments from Coach Stoebner</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1625085' first='Dayler' last='Segrist'] (12) 6'2”-</strong> "<em>Leading scorer last year, All-State Honorable Mention. Look for him to be more of a leader vocally. If he can stay consistent, he is an All-State state-caliber player.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2288391' first='Minkah' last='Hawley'] (12) 6'5”-</strong> "<em>A lot of length and athleticism which allows him to defend multiple positions. Again, if he can be consistent he becomes one of the better players in class AA in my opinion because he can put it on the floor and shoot it."</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2111209' first='Kaelem' last='Brooks'] (12) 6'1”-</strong> "<em>Plays much bigger than his size. Really good defender who crashed that glass hard. If he can bring that to the table every game though, that will be the key.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2532438' first='Tyler' last='Portlock'] (12) 6'2”- </strong>"<em>Tyler was hurt about half the season last year but when he came back he brought some of that consistently. We need him now to provide us with some offense and scoring this year.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"30px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:30px"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Key Reserves</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1407009' first='JD' last='Green'] (12) 6'1”-</strong> "<em>He will need to run the PG spot for us at times and bring quickness as far as attacking the basket that we maybe don't have. Will ask him to be a leader from the PG spot and really run the offense and take care of the ball.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2111210' first='Jess' last='Christensen'] (12) 6'3” -</strong> "<em>Long and athletic will be asked to grab hold of his role of rebounding and defending.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2639031,"width":"281px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/image_ec8480.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/image_ec8480.png" alt="" class="wp-image-2639031" style="width:281px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"30px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:30px"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">With Chris Stoebner</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: How would you sum up last season?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Last season we had high expectations even with playing a majority of juniors. We just didn't quite put it together. We had games where we played like we could beat anybody and games where anybody could beat us. So, I would say even though we won 12 games our season was defined by inconsistencies. Now with that said we had an<br>opportunity to make the State Tournament if we just finished the game at Jefferson last year.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: Does your program/team have any non-negotiables?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>I would like to think that our program hangs our hat on the defensive end so that is where it starts and I believe the boys know that if they aren't willing to defend then it will be hard for them to get on the floor. So, I would that's a non-negotiable along with effort all the time.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: What will your defense "hang its hat on"?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>I think this team has a number of players that can defend different positions which will allow us to play multiple lineups throughout the year. But I would say we are not overall a big team, so we are going to have to hang our hats on being able to rebound the basketball.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: Who will be your primary ballhandler this year?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>I think we have multiple players that can handle the basketball, but I do think we will rely on [player_tooltip player_id='1625085' first='Dayler' last='Segrist'] to handle a lot of the load but also, we need him off the ball as well so others will have to take on some more of a ball-handling role. At the end of the day, we have to take care of the ball much better than we did last for us to compete in AA.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: How did the offseason go for your team/program?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>I think we had pretty good participation in the off-season I feel now it's just a matter of if the boys are going to really buy into what it's going to take to compete for a State Title. We have the talent, but talent alone is never what it is about. Can we buy in and play for each other and block out the outside noise?</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: Who are your top players to look out for?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>[player_tooltip player_id='1625085' first='Dayler' last='Segrist'] is in his third year as a starter and will be relied upon to be a leader with his voice and his play. Dayler has gotten stronger, and he will need that as teams game plan around stopping him. Can he be in that role more consistently is going to go along ways into us competing for a State Title.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>[player_tooltip player_id='2288391' first='Minkah' last='Hawley'] was our third leading scorer last year. He has the length and athleticism to be a real game-changer every night out. But that's what we will ask of him every night out and bringing more consistency to our team.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: What are&nbsp;your&nbsp;team goals this year?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>I would say my goal is for this team to really see what they can accomplish if they all buy in. We need to try to get a little better every day and trust the process of what it takes to get to what should be our ultimate goal of winning a State Title for Stevens High School. I think if we do those things our season will be a success even if we don't reach our ultimate goal.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"30px","fontStyle":"italic","fontWeight":"1000"}}} --> <p style="font-size:30px;font-style:italic;font-weight:1000">BEST OF LUCK TO THE RAIDERS!!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2638815,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/RCstevens-crop-3792x2490-1732023197.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/RCstevens-crop-3792x2490-1732023197.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2638815" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->