Bball Q&A: Linton & Milbank

Prep Hoops Dakotas has two more Team Previews for the basketball fans to take in. This is a combo platter with a team from North Dakota and a team from South Dakota. We have stats, player info, and interesting info included in the Q&A's.   What a great time of year to be a basketball fan!   See below for info on the Lions & Bulldogs...   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/image_b78252.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/image_b78252.png" alt="" class="wp-image-2675345" style="width:258px;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/lintonlion.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/lintonlion.jpg?w=810" alt="" class="wp-image-2675343" style="width:256px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   Program: Linton-HMB   Mascot: Lions   Head Coach: Alex Jangula   Class: B   Region: 1   District: 2   2023-24 Record: 18-4   2023-24 Team Stats   PPG: 66.2 PPP: 1.01 OPPG: 49 RPG: 34.5 APG: 13.5 SPG: 8.1 FG%: 43.8 eFG%: 49.3 3FG%: 29.1 FT%: 59.6 3FGM: 143 FTM: 152   Player to Watch   [player_tooltip player_id='1144603' first='Gentry' last='Richter']- 6'3" Senior Forward - 11.8 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 2.5 apg, 41.9 FG%   Gentry is a returning starter and a terrific all-around player who can score at all three levels. He can drive and finish both ways. The Lions expect Gentry to be a playmaker and his numbers/production to be splashy.   [player_tooltip player_id='2264596' first='Kash' last='Moser'] - 6'3" Senior Forward - 10.9 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1.6 apg, 47.7 FG%   Kash is another returning starter who was playing his best ball at the end of last season. Moser is at his best in the open floor attacking the rim. The Lions are looking forward to Kash making another big step this year.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/image.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/image.png" alt="" class="wp-image-2675368" style="width:221px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   With Alex Jangula   PHD: How would you sum up last season?   "Last season did not end the way we were hoping it would. We were tripped up in the semifinals in Districts and were matched up with a tough Sargent County team in the first round of Regionals. We lost by 1 point in a tough physical game. The 2023-24 Lions ended the season with a good 18-4 record."   PHD: Does your program/team have any non-negotiables?   "Communicate - Energy, Accountable, Increases concentration"   "Positive Body Language - Next Play Mentality, Don't be an Energy Sucker"   "Be Coachable - Listen, Learn, Responsive"   "COMPETE - Embrace the Grind, Make your teammates better"   PHD: What will your defense "hang its hat on"?   "We are a pack line defensive team with multiple efforts to make the offense uncomfortable. The goal is always to take away the opposition's so-to-say Fastball"   PHD: Who will be your primary ballhandler this year?   "[player_tooltip player_id='2429661' first='Justin' last='Bosch'] is taking over the point guard position this year. He is a 5'10" sophomore who is a great athlete. Justin sees the floor well and is also a good scoring guard."   PHD: How did the offseason go for your team/program?   "The players were in the gym/weight room 3-4 times a week in the early mornings. We also participated in several team camps & scrimmages. We lost a lot of experience from last year so building team chemistry was really important for us."   PHD: Who are a few of your top players to look out for?   "[player_tooltip player_id='1144603' first='Gentry' last='Richter'] is a returning All-District player who has the potential to be an All-State player."   "[player_tooltip player_id='2264596' first='Kash' last='Moser'] will be a great player for us, his best attribute is his leadership."   PHD: Who are a couple of up-and-comers to look out for?   "[player_tooltip player_id='2429661' first='Justin' last='Bosch'] is our sophomore PG who has the ability and work ethic to be one of the top players in the area."   "[player_tooltip player_id='2675574' first='Levi' last='Keeney'] is Junior who can shoot it really well"   PHD: Who do you think will be your best rebounders?   "[player_tooltip player_id='1144603' first='Gentry' last='Richter'] & [player_tooltip player_id='2264596' first='Kash' last='Moser'] will/should be our best rebounders. They have the physicality and mentality to be great rebounders."   PHD: What are your team goals this year?   "We want to get better every day and by playing our best basketball during tournament time. If we do that, we have a great shot to advance."   PHD: Who will be your hardest worker?   "[player_tooltip player_id='2264596' first='Kash' last='Moser'] & Peyton Masset set the tone during drills and in the weight room."   PHD: Who are the top teams & players in your Region?   "EKM will be a tough team this year. They return their guards and have some nice young big men."   "Hankinson has one the best players in the state in [player_tooltip player_id='1559968' first='RaeShaun' last='Earl']."   PHD: Any last comments about the upcoming season?   "We play a tough non-region schedule including opening up against the defending champs (Westhope). I expect there to be some growing pains early in the season with a handful of players getting their first meaningful varsity minutes. We have the talent/depth/chemistry to be a great team by the end of the season."    GOOD LUCK LIONS!!   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/image_505853.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/image_505853.png" alt="" class="wp-image-2675577" style="width:278px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/milbankbulldog.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/milbankbulldog.jpg?w=480" alt="" class="wp-image-2675578" style="width:279px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   Program: Milbank   Mascot: Bulldogs   Head Coach: Logan Diede   Class: A   Region: 1   2023-24 Record: 17-6   Numbers   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/image_bb1a62.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/image_bb1a62.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2675617" style="width:1153px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   Players to Watch   [player_tooltip player_id='1551740' first='Sam' last='Rick'] / 6' Guard / Sophomore   Sam was on varsity last year as a freshman and was the 6th man most of the year. He is an athletic guard who really shined on the football field this fall with that athleticism. Rick has worked to improve his outside shooting and looks to take on a big role with the varsity group this season.    [player_tooltip player_id='2047842' first='Graham' last='Lightfield'] / 5'11" Guard / Senior   Graham has been starting at the point for Milbank since his sophomore year. He has the most experience on this year's varsity roster and the Bulldogs will look for him to take a step forward in shooting/scoring as he continues to run the offense. Lightfield is a scrappy defender and always gives maximum effort.    [player_tooltip player_id='2675716' first='Emmett' last='Hanson'] / 6'4" Center / Senior   Emmett started a handful of games for the Bulldogs down the stretch last season due to injury and got some valuable experience. He is an extremely hard-working and athletic player who leads by example with his effort. Milbank will need him to control the boards this season and find opportunities around the basket.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/image_d9cfe2.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/image_d9cfe2.png" alt="" class="wp-image-2675719" /></a></figure>   With Logan Diede   PHD: Could you write a couple sentences summing up last season?   "Last year was a really good year for us. We had a lot of veteran leadership and were a senior-led group. We compiled a 17-6 record and came up short against a very high-quality team in Rapid City Christian in the SoDak16. We graduated all of our production in the box score last year, but we have a hungry younger group of guys this season ready to get going. We will definitely miss the seniors from last year's team, but I am grateful for their years of dedication to the program and am excited for this year's team to carry the torch forward."   PHD: What will your defense "hang its hat on"?   "Effort, Energy, and Talk. We will play multiple defenses, but the talk, effort, and energy are all pillars to how we want to play defensively no matter what we are in schematically."   PHD: Who will be your primary ballhandler this year?   "[player_tooltip player_id='1551740' first='Sam' last='Rick'] & [player_tooltip player_id='2047842' first='Graham' last='Lightfield'], listed above."   PHD: How did the offseason go for your team/program?   "We had another great offseason, with a big commitment from our group. That's the way we've been for years now with a big buy-in. We spent a lot of time to continue to improve our perimeter shooting and attacking."   PHD: Who are a few of your top players to look out for?   "[player_tooltip player_id='1551740' first='Sam' last='Rick'], listed above"   "[player_tooltip player_id='2047842' first='Graham' last='Lightfield'], listed above"   "[player_tooltip player_id='2675716' first='Emmett' last='Hanson'], listed above"   "[player_tooltip player_id='1959434' first='Jack' last='Howard'], Ryan Keeton, [player_tooltip player_id='1959441' first='Braylen' last='Bowsher'] (all juniors) - Guards who will all be competing for spots in our rotation who can bring outside shooting to our lineup."   PHD: Who are a couple of up-and-comers to look out for?   "[player_tooltip player_id='2675873' first='Emmett' last='Snaza'], FR, 6'5": Tall, long, 5 man with a ton of potential inside. He has good feet and hands around the rim, and if he continues to gain strength and explosion his future will be very bright in this program."   "[player_tooltip player_id='2549830' first='Lincoln' last='Holscher'], FR, 6'3": Tall, long, guard who can play inside and out. Athletic player with a unique ability to score the basketball and will have a very bright future in this program."   "[player_tooltip player_id='2675902' first='Jeter' last='Scoular'], SO, 5'9": Crafty left-handed point guard who has a good handle of the ball, very competitive player, with a good basketball IQ for his age. He has continued to improve his outside shooting and as he grows and gets faster/stronger, he will have a very bright future in this program."   PHD: Who do you think will be your best rebounders & why?   "[player_tooltip player_id='2675716' first='Emmett' last='Hanson'], but there are a few others that will be very crucial to our rebounding this season as well."   PHD: What are your team goals this year?   "Our primary team goal is the same every year. That is to compete every day, in practice, and compete in every game. We are always focused on improving every step of the way, so we are always playing our best basketball when Regions arrive."    PHD: Who are the top teams in your Region?   "Groton, Aberdeen Roncalli, and Milbank"    PHD: Any last comments about the upcoming season?   "We can't wait to get rolling with this group! Excited to see where the journey will take us this year and how we much we improve!"   GOOD LUCK BULLDOGS!!   <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>

Prep Hoops Dakotas has two more Team Previews for the basketball fans to take in. This is a combo platter with a team from North Dakota and a team from South Dakota. We have stats, player info, and interesting info included in the Q&A's.