West Fargo Sheyenne: Mustangs Ready to Gallop

The West Fargo Sheyenne Mustangs charge into the 2025–26 season with their sights set towards the top of the EDC and a return to the Class AA State Tournament. After gaining valuable experience last winter, the Mustangs bring back a roster loaded with length, talent, athleticism, and depth. With nearly their entire rotation returning, Sheyenne looks poised to make serious noise once again in the always-tough Eastern Dakota Conference.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/11/SHEYENNE-MUSTANGS-LOGO-HI-RES.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/11/SHEYENNE-MUSTANGS-LOGO-HI-RES.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-3046815" style="width:253px;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/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:252px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   Head coach Tim Brandt has a strong group that's been through the battles. Eight players saw varsity time at the end of last season, and only two of them were seniors — a promising sign for a team that closed the year playing its best basketball. “We have a solid group with some experience coming back this year,” Brandt said. “My expectations and the standard I'm holding them to are high.”   That high standard starts on the defensive end. Brandt is firm about what it takes to earn minutes: you have to be able to defend. The Mustangs will hang their hats on disrupting opposing offenses and dictating the flow of the game. “We want to take offenses out of their rhythm,” Brandt noted. “I want to be able to dictate where the ball goes when we're on defense, not the other way around.”   Sheyenne has several guards ready to lead that effort. [player_tooltip player_id='1541299' first='Chase' last='Speelmon'] returns as the team's steady hand — a high-IQ floor general who impacts the game in subtle but important ways. [player_tooltip player_id='1539677' first='CJ' last='Smith'] brings instant offense with his deep shooting range, while [player_tooltip player_id='2237816' first='Max' last='Zenker'] adds toughness, leadership, and the willingness to take on any defensive challenge. Together, they form a backcourt that can defend, distribute, and score in multiple ways.   Up front, the Mustangs have the kind of size and athleticism that few in the EDC can match. [player_tooltip player_id='2132777' first='Kyson' last='Keller'], a returning All-EDC performer, anchors the lineup and provides a strong presence on both ends. [player_tooltip player_id='2237722' first='Tanner' last='Kratcha'] is primed for a breakout year, combining length and energy with rebounding ability that gives Sheyenne an inside edge. Alongside [player_tooltip player_id='1541561' first='Kayson' last='Bernstien'], that trio forms a physical, active frontcourt capable of controlling the paint and cleaning the glass.   Brandt credits the team's offseason for setting the tone. “We're in the gym the entire month of June and participate in various team camps around the area,” he said. That commitment, along with a focus on strength and conditioning, has helped the Mustangs grow both physically and mentally heading into the new year.   With so much returning experience, the 2025–26 Sheyenne squad should be one of the better teams in the EDC — and they know it. The expectations are high, and the Mustangs have their sights firmly set on returning to the State Tournament. The combination of size, athleticism, shooting, and depth makes this one of Coach Brandt's most balanced rosters yet. If Sheyenne can maintain its defensive identity and play to its strengths, there's every reason to believe the Mustangs will be right in the mix when March rolls around.   PHD will have eyes on youngster [player_tooltip player_id='2489407' first='Cole' last='Martin']. He is an uber-talented up-and-comer with exciting potential. It will be interesting to see if he can carve out some playing time. His future looks extremely bright.   The pieces are in place, the confidence is growing, and the Mustangs are ready to prove they belong among the state's elite once again.   Returning Statistical Leaders   [player_tooltip player_id='2132777' first='Kyson' last='Keller'] - 23 GP, 12.8 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 1.8 APG, 40.7 FG%, 30.5 3FG%, 46 3FGM   [player_tooltip player_id='2237722' first='Tanner' last='Kratcha'] - 22 GP, 6.5 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 1 APG, 37.3 FG%, 25.9 3FG%, 14 3FGM   [player_tooltip player_id='1541299' first='Chase' last='Speelmon'] - 24 GP, 5.8 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 2.3 APG, 40.8 FG%, 25.6 3FG%, 10 3FGM   [player_tooltip player_id='1541561' first='Kayson' last='Bernstien'] - 23 GP, 10.6 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 1.1 APG, 58.4 FG%, 29.4 3FG%, 15 3FGM   [player_tooltip player_id='2237816' first='Max' last='Zenker'] - 20 GP, 2.4 PPG, 1 RPG, 1 APG, 27.6 FG%, 27.3 3FG%, 9 3FGM   [player_tooltip player_id='1539677' first='CJ' last='Smith'] - 17 GP, 5.1 PPG, 1.2 RPG, .6 APG, 37.3 FG%, 38.6 3FG%, 22 3FGM   Team Stats 24-2025    65 ppg,  72 oppg, 35 rpg, 11.1 orpg 13.6 apg, 6.5 spg, 15 topg, 40 FG%, 29.8 3FG%, 65.3 FT%, 193 3's made, 205 FT's made   BEST OF LUCK TO THE STANGS!!   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/11/SHEYENNE-MUSTANGS-LOGO-HI-RES.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/11/SHEYENNE-MUSTANGS-LOGO-HI-RES.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-3046815" /></a></figure>

The West Fargo Sheyenne Mustangs charge into the 2025–26 season with their sights set towards the top of the EDC and a return to the Class AA State Tournament. After gaining valuable experience last winter, the Mustangs bring back a roster loaded with length, talent, athleticism, and depth. With nearly their entire rotation returning, Sheyenne looks poised to make serious noise once again in the always-tough Eastern Dakota Conference.