FAM Bearcats

The South Dakota high school basketball season is in the rearview mirror. Prep Hoops Dakotas will publish a series of Season Reviews to help put a bow on the season.   Today, we are looking at a Class B squad, the Freeman Academy-Marion Bearcats!   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/FAM-Bearcats-Shield-Maroon-Gold.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/FAM-Bearcats-Shield-Maroon-Gold.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2823173" style="width:208px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   Head Coach: Jerico Shape   Class: B   Region: 4   Record: 6-15   See below for a detailed season review from Coach Shape.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/SeaonReview-.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/SeaonReview-.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-1842251" style="width:344px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   With Coach Jerico Shape   "The 2024-25 season was a testament to our team's resilience, dedication, and growth. We faced challenges head-on, battled through adversity, and emerged stronger. Despite setbacks, including missing a key player in [player_tooltip player_id='2379030' first='Jackson' last='Donlan'] due to injury, our squad never backed down. Every game was an opportunity to prove our toughness, and our athletes stepped up in remarkable ways."   Overcoming Adversity   "Adversity hit us early, but we didn't let it define us. The absence of [player_tooltip player_id='2379030' first='Jackson' last='Donlan'] forced others to take on larger roles. [player_tooltip player_id='2379029' first='Karter' last='Weber'] led by example, proving why he was an All-Conference player with his leadership and playmaking. [player_tooltip player_id='2546045' first='Hunter' last='Nankivel'] and Domani Butler stepped up with crucial contributions on both ends of the floor. Austin Waldner provided valuable minutes, while the team collectively worked to fill the gaps left by injuries."   Areas of Improvement   "Throughout the season, our team showed immense growth. Our defensive intensity improved dramatically, especially in terms of rebounding and rotations. Offensively, our ball movement became sharper, and players gained confidence in their ability to attack the basket and make the extra pass. We also became mentally tougher, learning how to handle pressure and close out tight games."   Key Role Players   "Several role players made significant impacts. [player_tooltip player_id='2546045' first='Hunter' last='Nankivel']'s hustle and rebounding ability gave us second-chance opportunities. Domani Butler provided scoring depth and a strong defensive presence. Austin Waldner may not have filled up the stat sheet, but his grit and effort were crucial in tight situations."   Seniors & Their Legacy   "Our seniors will be deeply missed. They set the tone for our program and left a lasting impact. Elshadai Mesfin led us in scoring this season at about 16.5 ppg and 4 apg and will be deeply missed along with Anderson (Lincoln) 6 ppg, 7 rpg and Dominic Sperling 2 ppg, 3 rpg. Their leadership, work ethic, and determination will be hard to replace, but their legacy will live on in the younger players they mentored."   Future Standouts   "Looking ahead, our future is bright. [player_tooltip player_id='2379030' first='Jackson' last='Donlan'] returns healthy and ready to make an immediate impact. Alongside him, [player_tooltip player_id='2379029' first='Karter' last='Weber'] will continue to lead with his dynamic play. Additionally, we'll welcome David Malonga, our 6'4” force in the paint, whose dominance on JV showcased his potential to be a game-changer at the varsity level."   Best Defensive Player   "Defense was a team effort, but if one player stood out, it was [player_tooltip player_id='2379029' first='Karter' last='Weber']. His ability to lock down opponents, disrupt passing lanes, and make key stops in crunch time made a difference in every game. His defensive instincts and effort set the tone for our entire squad."   Interior Presence   "David Malonga is primed to be our dominant interior force. His rebounding ability and shot-blocking presence will be crucial for us next season. He brings a toughness inside that we have been missing, and his growth as a scorer will add another dimension to our offense."   Final Thoughts   "This season was one of challenges and growth, but it laid the foundation for an exciting future. With our returning talent, a healthy [player_tooltip player_id='2379030' first='Jackson' last='Donlan'] 17ppg, 8rpg, 5apg as a Sophomore and will be a senior now, all conference guard [player_tooltip player_id='2379029' first='Karter' last='Weber'], and the emergence of young stars like David Malonga, [player_tooltip player_id='2546045' first='Hunter' last='Nankivel'], and Austin Waldner, we are poised to come back stronger. The work doesn't stop here—our team is ready to put in the effort to take the next step and make a deep run next year. We're grateful for the support from our fans, and we can't wait to see what the future holds."   BEST OF LUCK TO THE BEARCATS THIS OFFSEASON!!   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/FAM.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/FAM.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2823174" /></a></figure>

The South Dakota high school basketball season is in the rearview mirror. Prep Hoops Dakotas will publish a series of Season Reviews to help put a bow on the season.