Winner Warriors: Season Review

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The <strong>Winner Warriors</strong> put together a resilient and hard-fought season, finishing with a 14-8 record against a challenging slate of competition. Led by one of South Dakota's premier coaches in Brett Gardner, this group never backed down, no matter the circumstances.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Adversity was a constant throughout the year, but the Warriors continued to respond—finding ways to win games, knock off quality opponents, and stay competitive every step of the way. It wasn't always easy, but it was a season defined by toughness, growth, and perseverance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In this season review, we dive into the numbers and feature an in-depth Q&amp;A that provides insight into the team's journey and mindset.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":3042995,"width":"297px","height":"auto","aspectRatio":"1.5239333604225924","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/11/winnerwarriors-crop-1169x768-1762524784.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/11/winnerwarriors-crop-1169x768-1762524784.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-3042995" style="aspect-ratio:1.5239333604225924;width:297px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1842251,"width":"288px","height":"auto","aspectRatio":"1.6019400658236618","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <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:1.6019400658236618;width:288px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"20px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:20px"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Wins Against</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">Parker-Marion, Lower Brule, Chamberlain, Bon Homme, Lyman, Bennett County, Todd County, Mt. Vernon-Plankinton, Gregory, Miller, St. Francis Indian (X2), McLaughlin, Crow Creek</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">STATS</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PPG:</strong> 56 <strong>OPPG:</strong> 45</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2249344' first='Carter' last='Craven'] JR -</strong> 23.4 PPG, 10.7 RPG</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2839180' first='Cooper' last='Craven'] FR -</strong> 10.2 PPG, 2.8 RPG</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2405782' first='Jalen' last='Tideman'] SO -</strong> 12.9 PPG, 8.0 RPG</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3562212' first='Sam' last='Steele'] JR -</strong> 9.5 PPG, 2.4 RPG</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2249367' first='Zac' last='Olson'] SR&nbsp;-</strong> 5.1 PPG, 4.6 APG</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3427143' first='William' last='Jorgensen'] JR -</strong> 3.3 PPG, 5.4 RPG</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3043022' first='Carter' last='Foster'] JR -</strong> 1.4 PPG, 3.1 RPG</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Camdyn Anderson JR -</strong> 1.9 PPG, 2.4 RPG</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2508303,"width":"236px","height":"auto","aspectRatio":"1.6019135486075518","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <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:1.6019135486075518;width:236px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"30px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:30px"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">With Brett Gardner</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline"><strong>PHD: How would you sum up the season for your squad?</strong></span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>We battled through a lot of injuries and sickness throughout the year. We had many ups and downs, but we stuck together.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: What are some of your best memories from off the court?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Seeing our guys in the locker room after tough defeats. They would hang out and just talk. Sometimes they would sit in there for over an hour.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: Can you talk about a time when you and the team overcame adversity?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>This team came together and won some tough games without our key players. We had one player miss 12 games, two players miss 2 games, one player missed 1 game, and another missed the 2^nd half of a game. We battled injuries more than any year I have been a head coach. We are very proud of the way we battled night in and night out.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: Who was your most improved player?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>[player_tooltip player_id='3427143' first='William' last='Jorgensen'] came on very strong as the year progressed. He had to play major minutes with the injuries to others, and he handled it very well.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: Who were a few of your hardest workers?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>[player_tooltip player_id='2249367' first='Zac' last='Olson'], Camdyn Anderson, and [player_tooltip player_id='2675212' first='Carter' last='McKenzie'] along with [player_tooltip player_id='3427143' first='William' last='Jorgensen'] worked their tails off every day. They stepped up and did the little things.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: Can you talk about your seniors?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>[player_tooltip player_id='2249367' first='Zac' last='Olson'] was our only Senior. He was our leader. He is a 3-year starter at point guard, which is very difficult in our system. He led by example and a few games "willed" us to victory. We will miss him bringing that experience and calm demeanor.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: Who was your top post player?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>[player_tooltip player_id='3427143' first='William' last='Jorgensen'] grew and grew as the year went on. He had to guard guys much bigger than him. He had 13 rebounds in our last regular-season game.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: Who was your best defensive player?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Camdyn Anderson, [player_tooltip player_id='3427143' first='William' last='Jorgensen'], and [player_tooltip player_id='2249367' first='Zac' last='Olson'] always drew the other team's best players.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: Were there any memorable buzzer-beaters, upsets, or clutch performances?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>We had some major heartbreaks. We lost on a buzzer beater against Stanley County game 1, we lost in overtime at Parkston game 4, and we lost on a buzzer-beater against Wagner game 7. Finally, in game 14, we beat Miller in double overtime on a coast-to-coast layup by [player_tooltip player_id='2249367' first='Zac' last='Olson'].</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: What lessons from this season go beyond basketball?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Stay together. Trust the process.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: Can you talk about an assistant coach?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Blake Tideman entered his second year as our assistant. He is so knowledgeable. He is very good at skill development and seeing the game from a player's perspective.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: Any last comments/thoughts on the season?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>We learned, we grew, and we banded together all year. Very proud of the Warriors.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontStyle":"italic","fontWeight":"1000","fontSize":"20px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:20px;font-style:italic;font-weight:1000">BEST OF LUCK TO THE WARRIORS THIS OFFSEASON!!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1399487,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/03/SD-1.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/03/SD-1.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-1399487" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->