Lead-Deadwood Golddiggers: Season Review

The Lead-Deadwood Golddiggers put together a solid and competitive season, finishing with a 12-10 record and earning a spot in the SoDak 16 Qualifier, where their year came to an end against St. Thomas More. Under the leadership of Head Coach Dan Janssen, the Golddiggers showed growth and resilience, picking up 12 wins and competing tough throughout the season.   While the final result fell short of a State Tournament berth, there's plenty to build on. With key pieces returning and a group of intriguing talent set to take the next step, Lead-Deadwood has the potential to be a dangerous team out west next season.   In this season review, we take a deeper dive into the Golddiggers' year—breaking down the numbers, sharing player comments, and featuring an in-depth Q&A for a closer look inside the program.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/image_7e5d98.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/image_7e5d98.png?w=1003" alt="" class="wp-image-3565146" style="aspect-ratio:0.9804675043051215;width:237px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   <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="aspect-ratio:1.6020025031289111;width:213px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   Wins Against   Harding County, Newcastle (WY), Sundance (WY), New Underwood (x2), Belle Fourche, Edgemont, Hot Springs (x2), Bison, Custer (x2)   Statistical Leaders   [player_tooltip player_id='2625941' first='Blake' last='Janssen'] - 15.3 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 2.9 apg, 1.7 spg, 50.5 eFG%   [player_tooltip player_id='3565243' first='Canon' last='Rogers'] - 13.2 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 2.5 apg, 2 spg, 44.1 eFG%   [player_tooltip player_id='2545292' first='Enzo' last='Stone'] - 10 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 2.4 apg, 2.1 spg, 41.4 eFG%   [player_tooltip player_id='3565322' first='Garrett' last='Rantapaa'] - 5.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg, .5 apg, .9 spg, 42.2 eFG%   [player_tooltip player_id='3565326' first='Cooper' last='Hansen'] - 4.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg, .5 apg, .6 spg, 54.3 eFG%   [player_tooltip player_id='3565317' first='Brady' last='Rantapaa'] - 3.4 ppg, 5 rpg, .8 apg, .5 spg, 34.8 eFG%   Elias Taylor - 1.8 ppg, 1.8 rpg, .5 apg, .5 spg, 40.2 eFG%   Player Comments with Coach Janssen   [player_tooltip player_id='2625941' first='Blake' last='Janssen'] (classs of 2027) |6'3 G| - "Was our shooting guard, but at 6'3, he was able to do a lot of work in the paint. Really got strong in the off-season, so was finishing well around the rim. Lead our team in PPG (15.3), Rebounds (8), Assists (2.9), and Blocks (2.1). His rim protection was awesome and his 44 blocks this season set a school record. He was a team captain and really a good leader in setting the standard during practice. He had a goal of keeping his eFG% >50% and he reached that. Next year, he has the potential to add to all of these numbers and really carry the team to a special season."   [player_tooltip player_id='3565243' first='Canon' last='Rogers'] (class of 2026) |6'0 G| - "Was our court general/point guard. His senior leadership and willingness to be vocal on the court were instrumental to the success we had this year. He goes 100% any time he is on the court. Everyone knows that he is the guy that is going to do whatever it take to win. He dives for every lose ball and sacrifices for each advantage. He really was the heart of our team. Canon had a 31 point game at the end of the season that secured our first-round home playoff game."   [player_tooltip player_id='2545292' first='Enzo' last='Stone'] (class of 2028) |6'1 G| - "We used him as a shooting guard for most of the season, but by the end of the year, he was bringing the ball up the court a lot. As a sophomore, he displayed great basketball IQ and a coolness under pressure that is usually only seen in upperclassmen. He led our team in steals but was more known for his offensive abilities. He unselfishly creates space and has some really creative dishes for highlight assists."   [player_tooltip player_id='3565322' first='Garrett' last='Rantapaa'] (class of 2027) |6'3 SF| - "Played small forward and displayed great range with his shooting. He led the team in 3-point shooting % at 34.3 on the season. He was a solid rebounder and good inside defender."   [player_tooltip player_id='3565317' first='Brady' last='Rantapaa'] (class of 2026) |6'3 PF| - "Was our power forward. He was a defensive presence on the court and another good rim protector. He had 5 rebounds/game. He did not score much, only averaging 3.4 points per game, but had the best +/- on the team at +2.2 / game, ahead of our leading scorer. That defines his season as the unsung hero of our team. We just won with him on the court."   [player_tooltip player_id='3565326' first='Cooper' last='Hansen'] (class of 2027) |6'3 PF| "Is our up-and-coming power forward. He was a great defender and led our team in eFG% at 54%. He also shot 26.3% from the 3-point line. He will be a big part of our team next year!"   <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="aspect-ratio:1.6019953678959558;width:245px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   With Dan Janssen   PHD: How would you sum up the season for your squad?   "Our season was defined by the effort of our players. There were a lot of times when our play did not look very good, but the guys never gave up and had an amazing ability to keep themselves in every game with hard work and hustle."   PHD: What are some of your best memories from off the court?   "This team's chemistry was fun to be a part of. These boys laughed and had a great time along the way. There was never a situation where they couldn't move on to the job at hand. Loved seeing them develop that life skill of addressing difficult situations and moving on."   PHD: Can you talk about a time when you and the team overcame adversity?   "In our Regional playoff game, a team we had previously beaten comfortably was up on us at halftime. I could see the guys starting to point fingers and express frustration. The captains really stepped up and took ownership of the moment by elevating their voices above the crowd. They started with themselves, saying what they were going to fix. Then went around and asked each player what they were going to fix for the next half or how they could help us win. It was a great moment to watch and see the success they had when they reentered the court with that determination."   PHD: Who was your most improved player?   "In the off-season, it was [player_tooltip player_id='2625941' first='Blake' last='Janssen'] as he went from a 6'0 point guard who mostly played behind the 3 point line to a dominant shooting guard who had the ability to play above the rim. He really took his off-season workouts seriously and came back this season as a weapon."   PHD: Who were a few of your hardest workers?   "[player_tooltip player_id='3565243' first='Canon' last='Rogers'] and [player_tooltip player_id='3565317' first='Brady' last='Rantapaa'] were known for their grit and hard work. Canon had speed and was the first person back on defense every time. Brady is a local ranch kid and brought that toughness to the court. Both were seniors and will be missed for their work ethic."   PHD: Who was your top post player?   "We ended the season with [player_tooltip player_id='2625941' first='Blake' last='Janssen'] as our top post player. We would isolate and try to play inside out through him 11.4 of his 15.3 points/game were points in the paint. He really understood how to get his opponent in the air and how to finish with contact."   PHD: Were there any memorable buzzer-beaters, upsets, or clutch performances?   "[player_tooltip player_id='3565243' first='Canon' last='Rogers'] 31-point game at the end of the season to help us secure our first home playoff game in over 10 years was special. Canon was also our guy who would hit that last-second shot at the end of the quarter; he was always exciting with the ball in his hands."   BEST OF LUCK TO THE GOLDDIGGERS THIS OFFSEASON!!   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/image_98f239.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/image_98f239.png?w=1003" alt="" class="wp-image-3565645" /></a></figure>

The Lead-Deadwood Golddiggers put together a solid and competitive season, finishing with a 12-10 record and earning a spot in the SoDak 16 Qualifier, where their year came to an end against St. Thomas More. Under the leadership of Head Coach Dan Janssen, the Golddiggers showed growth and resilience, picking up 12 wins and competing tough throughout the season.