Pats and Jags: Previews

Prep Hoops Dakotas is rolling out two team previews for hoops fans—featuring one Class AA powerhouse and one emerging squad from Class A. See below, the Previews are coming at you Q&A style.   The season is officially here. Class AA squads start practices today, 11/24/25!   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/02/NorthDakota.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/02/NorthDakota.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-1126976" style="width:233px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   PHD is spotlighting two compelling programs on opposite sides of the state: Bismarck Century from the west in Class AA and Northern Cass from the east in Class A. Each enters the season with a different path, a different personality, and a different set of expectations—but both are worth watching.   Century comes into the year with the pedigree of a Championship program (State Champs last year), carrying over the culture of a group that understood work, improvement, and execution. They return experienced guards, solid defensive identity, and a gym full of players who have invested time sharpening their game. The Patriots expect to be tough, disciplined, and relentless defensively once again.   Northern Cass, meanwhile, brings a scrappy, skilled, guard-oriented lineup into the season. They may not have the size of last year's roster, but they make up for it with IQ, ball skills, and the ability to control possessions. With several players poised to take on larger roles and younger talent pushing upward, the Jaguars aim to grow steadily through the year and peak when the postseason rolls around.   Two different classes, two different styles, and two different journeys—but both Century and Northern Cass enter the season with belief and ambition. It's going to be a fun winter on both sides of North Dakota hoops.   See below for info on the Pats and Jags!   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/06/Preview-crop-823x540-1688699564-crop-719x472-1763386614.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/06/Preview-crop-823x540-1688699564-crop-719x472-1763386614.jpg?w=718" alt="" class="wp-image-3070651" style="width:137px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/11/image_41631a.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/11/image_41631a.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-3102832" style="width:234px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   School: Bismarck Century   Mascot: Patriot   Head Coach: Darin Mattern   Athletic Director: Ben Lervick   Class: AA   Region: WDA   24-2025 Record: 27-1 (State Champs)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/11/image_d81102.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/11/image_d81102.png" alt="" class="wp-image-3102833" style="width:266px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   With Treyton Mattern   PHD: How would you sum up last season?   "Last season was a great group of kids. They brought their lunch pail every day to practice and worked extremely hard. This was a group that got better throughout the course of the year and finished the year as State Champs."   PHD: What will your defense "hang its hat on"?   "We will be a solid defensive team that is always going to play hard and be fundamentally sound defensively. We want to make the opposing team earn everything that they get and just make it difficult for them to run their offense."   PHD: Who will be a couple of your lead guards?   "Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1510914' first='Camden' last='Kraemer'] will be one of our guards who will take on a bigger role this year. He will look to run our team and be a playmaker for us."   "Another guard is [player_tooltip player_id='1657448' first='Gibson' last='Kinnebrew']. He is junior who we are looking to have a big year for us and increase his role from last year."   "[player_tooltip player_id='1332144' first='Garrett' last='Nissley'] is another senior returning guard who will be a good leader for us. He can play multiple positions and has a lot of experience from the past couple years."   "[player_tooltip player_id='1418039' first='Braylon' last='Aldinger'] is a senior who will look to have a bigger role and a positive impact on our team this season."   PHD: How did the offseason go for your team/program?   "This group had a good offseason. With a lot of guys in different activities so we just competed in 2 team camps in Fargo and Minnesota and had some open gyms throughout the summer. We have a lot of guys who love being in the gym and have put a lot of time into the game."   PHD: Who is your top defensive player?   "[player_tooltip player_id='1418037' first='Zavion' last='Harildstad'] is a senior who is returning from last year. He plays with a lot of energy and can guard any position on the court."   PHD: Who do you think will be your best rebounder?   "[player_tooltip player_id='1418034' first='Joey' last='Kraljic'] is a returning starter for us this season and has been a good rebounder for our team. He is very active on both ends of the floor and does a great job finding the ball."   PHD: What are your team goals this year?   "Our goal for not only this year, but for every year is to get better throughout the course of the year and play our best basketball at the end and see how good we can become."   PHD: Any last comments about the upcoming season?   "We are excited and looking forward to the upcoming season!"   BEST OF LUCK TO THE PATRIOTS THIS SEASON!!   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/06/Preview-crop-823x540-1688699564-crop-719x472-1763386614.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/06/Preview-crop-823x540-1688699564-crop-719x472-1763386614.jpg?w=718" alt="" class="wp-image-3070651" style="width:171px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/11/Ncass-crop-1242x816-1764015796.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/11/Ncass-crop-1242x816-1764015796.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-3103345" style="width:271px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   School: Northern Cass   Mascot: Jaguar   Head Coach: Bryce Laxdal   Athletic Director: Bryce Laxdal   Class: A   Region: 1   24-2025 Record: 15-9   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/07/QA.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/07/QA.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-2508303" style="width:212px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   With Bryce Laxdal   PHD: How would you sum up last season?   "We had a very nice season last year, going 15-9 and finishing 4th in the Region."   PHD: Does your program/team have any non-negotiables?   "We emphasize valuing possessions and getting good shots every time down the court."   PHD: What will your defense "hang its hat on"?   "We try and force teams into making tough shots, off-hand, off shoulder etc..."    PHD: How does this year's team differ from last year's?   "We lost a lot of size from last year's team, we will have good ball skills and IQ guys, but we will be undersized."   PHD: How did the offseason go for your team/program?   "We didn't have a great off-season; we battled a lot of injuries. I do not think we got our 5 best guys on the court together at one camp. We did have some younger guys step up this summer and hopefully that experience will help them this winter."   PHD: Who are some players you expect to take on expanded roles this season?    "[player_tooltip player_id='2276696' first='Brooks' last='Crockett'] and [player_tooltip player_id='3111838' first='Chris' last='Hoiland']"   PH:D Who are a few of your top defensive players?   "[player_tooltip player_id='1547231' first='Myles' last='Froehlich'] is a very good on-ball defender. [player_tooltip player_id='2276696' first='Brooks' last='Crockett'] and [player_tooltip player_id='3111838' first='Chris' last='Hoiland'] are going to have to step up to guard inside this season."   PHD: Who is an up-and-comers to look out for?   "[player_tooltip player_id='2276696' first='Brooks' last='Crockett'] is going to have a nice year; he's improved a bunch since last winter."   PHD: What style of play can fans expect on both ends of the floor?    "We might try to run a bit more this year. We are still going to value possessions, especially at the end of shot clocks, quarters, and games."   PHD: Who do you think will be your best rebounder?   "[player_tooltip player_id='1547231' first='Myles' last='Froehlich'] is a very good rebounding guard, he had a could dbl dbl last season."   PHD: What are your team goals this year?   "Steadily improving each day, our Region will be very competitive again this year. Hopefully be able to play our best basketball at the end again and make some noise at Regionals."   PHD: Who are some of the top players in your Region?   "[player_tooltip player_id='1484338' first='Brooks' last='Bakko'] and Kindred"   "[player_tooltip player_id='1798696' first='Brayden' last='Steffens'] and Wahpeton"   "[player_tooltip player_id='2863432' first='Konnor' last='Lorenz'] and Central Cass"   "[player_tooltip player_id='1541300' first='Cameron' last='Cordero'] and Lisbon"   "[player_tooltip player_id='2055924' first='Miken' last='Mattson'] and Valley City"   "[player_tooltip player_id='2237763' first='Aidan' last='Saunders'] and Oak Grove"   PHD: Can you tell us about an assistant coach?   "Chad Wittner is a fantastic assistant coach; we have been together for quite a few seasons now. He's got a lot of experience, and has been a Head Coach. We work very well together."   PHD: Any last comments about the upcoming season?   "Go Jags!"   BEST OF LUCK TO THE JAGUARS THIS SEASON!!   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/NorthDakota.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/NorthDakota.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-1606306" /></a></figure>

Prep Hoops Dakotas is rolling out two team previews for hoops fans—featuring one Class AA powerhouse and one emerging squad from Class A. See below, the Previews are coming at you Q&A style.