Hoops Profile: Hankinson & Roncalli

We are only days away from the Pirates and Cavaliers tipping off game 1! Before that happens, you need to read the Hoop Profiles.   When do they play?   Hankinson: 12/13/24 @ Lidgerwood vs. Wyndmere/Lidgerwood   Roncalli: 12/13/24 @ home vs. Redfield   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/HoopsProfile_6897b9.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/HoopsProfile_6897b9.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-2635133" style="width:319px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   Hankinson Pirates   Head Coach: Carter Mauch   Class: B   Region: 1   District: 1   The first NDAPSSA Class B State Poll came out yesterday (12/9/24) and the Pirates are ranked #6. Things are on the up & up for Hankinson hoops. The Pirates are looking to be deeper than we thought and expectations are high. [player_tooltip player_id='1559968' first='RaeShaun' last='Earl'] is an All-State baller, [player_tooltip player_id='2349038' first='Andrew' last='Jean'] is a workhorse who is primed for a huge season, and [player_tooltip player_id='2690712' first='Gunnar' last='Illg'] is coming on strong. He grew over the off-season and he is looking like a playmaker from mid-range and around the paint. The Pirates are scary!   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/QA.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/QA.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-2511663" style="width:281px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   With Coach Mauch   PHD: What can you tell me about last season?   "We went 18-4 last season. We won the District 1 Tournament and lost in the 1st round of the Regional Tournament. We lost six seniors but will return our top 2 scorers and our entire bench."   PHD: What will you do on defense?   "We will try to utilize a high-intensity press and cause chaos for opposing teams. We should be 8 or 9 players deep this year so that will help us so guys don't get tired and waste all their energy on defense."   PHD: Who will be your primary ballhandlers?   "[player_tooltip player_id='1559968' first='RaeShaun' last='Earl'], [player_tooltip player_id='2211283' first='Parker' last='Falk'] and Matthew Bladow will be our primary ball handlers. We are going to try and keep the ball out of Raeshaun's hands more this year so he can be utilized in other aspects."   PHD: How did the off-season go for your team?   "Our summer was one of the best we have had in recent years. Every single boy was involved in our summer weight program and we hope that can translate to the basketball court. We played good competition in summer camps and I feel that will be very beneficial to us."   PHD: Who are your top players to watch?   "[player_tooltip player_id='1559968' first='RaeShaun' last='Earl'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2349038' first='Andrew' last='Jean'] will be our top two scorers, but we will have capable other scorers as well. We will just need to find consistent 3rd and 4th options. Matthew Bladow made a lot of 3-pointers for us in JV and we hope that can translate to the Varsity squad this year. [player_tooltip player_id='2690712' first='Gunnar' last='Illg'] got a lot taller and slimmed up. He is going to play some post for us this year."   PHD: Who are some up-n-comers to keep eyes on?   "[player_tooltip player_id='2690907' first='Tyson' last='Falk'] is a young freshman who may see some minutes. He has grown a lot and spends a lot of time with the older kids. [player_tooltip player_id='2237803' first='Jax' last='Hernandez'] came off the bench last year and will look to grab extra minutes this season."   PHD: Who will be your best rebounders?   "[player_tooltip player_id='2349038' first='Andrew' last='Jean'] will be our main rebounder, but look for [player_tooltip player_id='2690712' first='Gunnar' last='Illg'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1559968' first='RaeShaun' last='Earl'] to rebound a lot for us this year as well.  Raeshaun can jump out of the jump so I expect him to grab a lot of rebounds for us this year."     PHD: What are your team goals?   "We will look to improve on our season from a year ago. We found success during the District Tournament but struggled to play defense against L-L-M in the Regional Tourney."   PHD: Who will be your hardest worker?   "Kade Hertz will be our hardest worker.  He is very quick and physical. Kade will play a lot for us in our press. He played middle linebacker for our football team and had lots of success in football this year. I'm excited to see his development."   PHD: Who are the top teams in Region 1?   "Almost every team in the Region graduated a lot of seniors, and that includes us. EKM, LLM, and Linton will be very good squads. Oakes is going to be very tough as well as they only graduated 1 senior from a year ago."   PHD: Who are the top players in your Region?   "In no particular order, these are a few players that come to mind. [player_tooltip player_id='2052770' first='Beau' last='Thorpe'], [player_tooltip player_id='2047813' first='Eddie' last='Garza'], [player_tooltip player_id='1167615' first='Tee' last='Sylling'], [player_tooltip player_id='1189430' first='Carter' last='Baasch'], [player_tooltip player_id='1144603' first='Gentry' last='Richter'], [player_tooltip player_id='1935092' first='Joseph' last='Kramlich'], [player_tooltip player_id='2255543' first='Braeden' last='Kinzler'], [player_tooltip player_id='1632740' first='Jayson' last='Schlenker']."   GOOD LUCK PIRATES!!   Aberdeen Roncalli Cavaliers   Head Coach: Dan Gallagher   Class: A   Region: 1   Players to Watch   [player_tooltip player_id='1575041' first='Aiden' last='Fisher'] - Sr G, 5'10 - High IQ player with the ability to score from all three levels. He has a great knack for understanding where the ball needs to go. Aiden is also one of the Cavs best on-ball and overall defenders, being pesky on the perimeter, but also getting to the right position off the ball as well.   Brody Weinmeister - Sr. G, 6'0 - The Cavs top defender. Brody's size and speed allow him to defend both guards and post players, and his tenacity to defend sets the tone for the team defense.   [player_tooltip player_id='2273142' first='Parker' last='Grieben'] - Sr. F, 6'5 - Parker is the Cavs inside presence both on the offensive and defensive side of the ball. His height forces difficult shots in the paint, but that along with his athleticism plays a key roll for the Cavs 2-man game offensively.   Jesse Hernandez - Jr G, 5'9 - Jesse is a strong guard offensively with the ability to score from all three levels. He has a great touch to his shot and will be a threat from deep this season.   Sam Franks - Sr. G, 6'1 - Sam is a new player for the Cavs. He brings over some athletic ability that makes him a strong threat on the offensive side with the ability to make crafty plays to both finish and find the open man.   [player_tooltip player_id='2338809' first='Sam' last='Larson'] - Jr G, 5'8 - Sam is a great shooter and a strong finisher despite his size. He plays very well off of 2-feet and makes the right read for better team play.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/QA.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/QA.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-2511663" style="width:253px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   With Coach Gallagher   PHD: Could you write a couple of sentences summing up last season?   "Like most teams, we had our series of ups and downs. Overall, we had the most successful season our program has had in the last five years, winning fourteen games and winning our first playoff game in five years. Our guys started to really bond and mesh together as the season went on, trusting each other, sharing the ball better, and playing team defense. It showed as we came to the second half of our season when we went on a 10-3 run to close out the season."   PHD: Does your program/team have any non-negotiables?   "Our #1 non-negotiable is effort. If you don't sprint the floor both offensively and defensively, you won't play. Our guys, especially our seniors, have really bought into that. They understand that talent is important, but effort combined with talent can take a team to extraordinary places."   PHD: What will your defense "hang its hat on"?   "We will hang our hat on our toughness and IQ. We're not necessarily the biggest or fastest team, but we have guys that will fly around, are willing to dive on the floor for loose balls, take charges, and stay in front of the ball."   PHD: Who will be your primary ballhandler this year?   "[player_tooltip player_id='1575041' first='Aiden' last='Fisher'] and Sam Franks will be our primary ball handlers with Jesse Hernandez helping fill that role as well. They all have a strong basketball IQ, handle the ball very well, and have the ability to make plays for themselves to score while also having the vision to make the extra pass or dump down for the better shot."   PHD: How did the off-season go for your team/program?   "The offseason went very well for us. We will be replacing two key players in Maddox Miller and Keegan Stewart, so we had to introduce many guys to new roles, and they bought in! We performed well in our team camps and came together more as a team!"   PHD: Who are a couple of up-and-comers to look out for?   "Austin Fisher (soph) & [player_tooltip player_id='2338809' first='Sam' last='Larson'] (jr)"   PHD: Who do you think will be your best rebounders?   "[player_tooltip player_id='2273142' first='Parker' last='Grieben'] - his height is a major factor, but he uses his athleticism really well also."   "Brody Weinmeister and [player_tooltip player_id='1575041' first='Aiden' last='Fisher'] because of their tenacity to go get the ball and make the toughness plays."   PHD: What are your team goals this year?   "The main goal is to get better every day. Each day, we want to improve 1%, so that by the end of the season, we are competing at an incredibly high level. Success for this season will be based on did we as a team reach our maximum potential?"   "As far as outcomes, it has been six seasons since our school has reached the SoDak 16. While we want to play as late into March as possible, that is definitely a goal for our guys."   PHD: Who will be your hardest worker?   "It's hard to pick one person to be our hardest worker. We have several incredibly dedicated guys who want to compete and get better!"   PHD: Who are some of the top teams & players in Region 1?   "Groton will come in as the top team in our Region."    "Top players: [player_tooltip player_id='1548633' first='Keegen' last='Tracy'], [player_tooltip player_id='1548634' first='Ryder' last='Johnson'], [player_tooltip player_id='1821026' first='Becker' last='Bosma'], [player_tooltip player_id='2365532' first='Matthew' last='Mount'] (Webster)."   GOOD LUCK CAVALIERS   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/HoopsProfile_6897b9.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/HoopsProfile_6897b9.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-2635133" /></a></figure>

We are only days away from the Pirates and Cavaliers tipping off game 1! Before that happens, you need to read the Hoop Profiles.