Sioux Valley: Cossack Preview

Sioux Valley enters the 2025–26 season with renewed energy, a deep group of returners, and the confidence that comes from one of the most consistent winning traditions in Class A basketball. After a slightly down year by their standards, finishing 12–9 but still claiming the Big East Conference Title, the Cossacks look poised to return to form and once again compete with the best teams in Region 2 and across the state. At the center of it all is longtime head coach Bill Vincent, a basketball savant with 29 years of experience, nearly 500 career wins, and a reputation statewide as a genuine class act. Vincent's program is known not only for their discipline and success, but also for the respect he commands and the character he models on and off the floor. His steady leadership, combined with the continuity of a strong staff: Dave Carmon, Buster Vincent, Collin VanderWal, Ryan Burggraff, and Trevor Olson, provides Sioux Valley with one of the most stable coaching foundations in Class A.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/image_6a60bc.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/image_6a60bc.png" alt="" class="wp-image-3186620" style="aspect-ratio:1.5114942528735633;width:263px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   The Cossacks graduated three key pieces in Maverick Nelson, Brock Christopherson, and Levi Loban, losing an All-State standout in Nelson and a next-level talent in Christopherson, now at Dakota State. They'll also be without [player_tooltip player_id='1959432' first='Tobin' last='Squires'] this season. But Sioux Valley brings back enough firepower and varsity experience to remain a dangerous threat. Returning letterwinners include seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3186773' first='Braden' last='Danzeisen'], [player_tooltip player_id='2341521' first='Bret' last='Milton'], [player_tooltip player_id='2402552' first='McCade' last='Nelson'], [player_tooltip player_id='3186803' first='Carson' last='Wosje'], and [player_tooltip player_id='3186779' first='Broden' last='Teske'], along with juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2406045' first='Carter' last='Sapp'], [player_tooltip player_id='2430313' first='Brady' last='Hiltunen'], [player_tooltip player_id='2430308' first='Holdyn' last='Ruesink'], [player_tooltip player_id='3186805' first='Trentyn' last='Schmit'], and Tyrus Schulz. Three starters return from last season: Danzeisen, Hiltunen, and the versatile 6'7" forward [player_tooltip player_id='2406045' first='Carter' last='Sapp'], giving Sioux Valley a proven core capable of anchoring this year's lineup.   Sioux Valley's potential starting group blends size, skill, and a whole lot of toughness. Sapp gives the Cossacks a lengthy, high-level forward who can influence the game on both ends of the floor. Danzeisen and Hiltunen bring experience, scoring punch, and perimeter grit, while Milton, Nelson, and Wosje supply senior strength and the versatility to plug into multiple roles. Ruesink adds athleticism and an interior presence that fits perfectly with this group.   Senior transfer guard [player_tooltip player_id='1911439' first='Connor' last='Relf'] will also factor heavily into the rotation. Relf is a major addition, he handles it well, creates for others, shoots the lights out, hoops with swagger and confidence, and holds his own defensively. His presence allows [player_tooltip player_id='2430313' first='Brady' last='Hiltunen'] to slide to the wing, where his shooting and sniper-level accuracy become even more dangerous. With Relf, Hiltunen, and Sapp, the Cossacks will feature one of the most explosive three-headed attacks in Class A.   Beyond the returners, Sioux Valley has a wave of newcomers ready to compete for minutes. Sophomores Cooper Teske, Westin Pitts, and [player_tooltip player_id='2853770' first='Cody' last='Strenge']; juniors Logan Mohn, Kellon Tucker, and Patrick Quale; plus several freshmen, including [player_tooltip player_id='3186814' first='Luke' last='Langland'], [player_tooltip player_id='3186819' first='Damon' last='Uecker'], Ashton Warne, [player_tooltip player_id='3186822' first='Blaze' last='Mathern'], and [player_tooltip player_id='2787130' first='Trey' last='Wyman'], headline a young but promising group. The program's JV and C squads were highly competitive last season, and Vincent expects several underclassmen to fill out the remaining varsity roster and contribute as the year progresses.   This team's strengths should be familiar: athleticism across the board, a defensive identity built on toughness and rebounding, and a core group that has been playing meaningful varsity minutes since young ages. Sioux Valley's biggest task will be developing depth and establishing the full rotation early in the year. With experience returning and talent rising, there's confidence the Cossacks will settle into form quickly.   The schedule will test them immediately. Sioux Valley once again navigates two challenging conferences, the Big East and the LCC, where programs like DeSmet, Hamlin, Castlewood, Clark-Willow Lake, Deuel, Baltic, MCM, Garretson, and Flandreau make for constant battles. Region 2A is equally loaded, with Hamlin, Elkton-Lake Benton, Deuel, Great Plains Lutheran, Clark-WL, and Florence-Henry all capable of deep postseason runs. But the Cossacks welcome the challenge, knowing this demanding slate will help make them tourney tough by March.   The program's recent history speaks for itself. Sioux Valley has gone 122–24 over the past six seasons, including a 21–1 record in 2020 before COVID canceled the state tournament, back-to-back state runner-up finishes in 2021 and 2022, and consolation championships in both 2023 and 2024. Even last season's “down year” still produced a conference title and a competitive postseason push. That tradition, combined with Vincent's leadership and the hunger of this year's group, keeps expectations high in Volga.   With three returning starters, improved depth, and a coach who embodies both excellence and integrity, Sioux Valley has every reason to believe they'll be right back in the mix with the state's elite. The Cossacks plan to compete every night, sharpen themselves through a rugged schedule, and position their program for another deep postseason run. If everything comes together as expected, Sioux Valley will once again be a team nobody wants to see when March rolls around.   <a href="https://www.bigeastsd.org/g5-bin/client.cgi?cwellOnly=1&G5statusflag=view&schoolname=&school_id=8&G5button=13&G5genie=423&vw_schoolyear=1&vw_agl=6-2-19,&manual_access=1">CLICK HERE to see the Sioux Valley schedule.</a>   BEST OF LUCK TO THE COSSACKS!!   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/image_9c67d8.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/image_9c67d8.png?w=909" alt="" class="wp-image-3186592" style="width:524px;height:auto" /></a></figure>

Sioux Valley enters the 2025–26 season with renewed energy, a deep group of returners, and the confidence that comes from one of the most consistent winning traditions in Class A basketball. After a slightly down year by their standards, finishing 12–9 but still claiming the Big East Conference Title, the Cossacks look poised to return to form and once again compete with the best teams in Region 2 and across the state. At the center of it all is longtime head coach Bill Vincent, a basketball savant with 29 years of experience, nearly 500 career wins, and a reputation statewide as a genuine class act. Vincent's program is known not only for their discipline and success, but also for the respect he commands and the character he models on and off the floor. His steady leadership, combined with the continuity of a strong staff: Dave Carmon, Buster Vincent, Collin VanderWal, Ryan Burggraff, and Trevor Olson, provides Sioux Valley with one of the most stable coaching foundations in Class A.