Tea Area: Season Update

<p><strong>Tea, SD</strong> <strong>- </strong>The Titans are without a doubt one of the top teams in South Dakota Class A basketball. They are currently receiving votes in the state polls. Tea is fresh off a nice win over Sioux Falls Christian. I am excited to watch this talented team on Saturday at the DAK XII-NEC "CLASH" in Madison. Read below for an in-depth look at the Titans. </p> <h4><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Team Stats</strong></span></h4> <p>64.1 ppg, 48 FG%, 40 3FG%, 17 apg, 10.2 spg, 5 bpg</p> <h4><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Player Stats</strong></span></h4> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="812209" first="Cael" last="Lundin"] (2022) |6-3 G| </strong>- 19.9 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 4 apg</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1265485" first="Jonah" last="Kocer"] (2023) |6-1 G| </strong>- 5.7 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 3.7 apg</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="968157" first="Jeff" last="Worth"] (2022) |5-11 G| </strong>- 16 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 2.9 apg</p> <p><strong>Klayton Sattler (2022) |6-6 C| </strong>- 4 ppg, 3.7 rpg</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1142658" first="Cole" last="Schilling"] (2022) |6-7 F| </strong>- 3.9 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1 apg</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1227966" first="Reis" last="Kirschenman"] (2023) |6-4 F| </strong>- 7 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 1 apg</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1278718" first="Sam" last="Almas"] (2024) |6-2 G| </strong>- 4.4 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 1.1 apg</p> <h4><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Titan’s Talk with Coach <em>Drew Weber</em></strong></span></h4> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">What has been the highlight of the season so far?</span></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"<em>Highlight of the season has been seeing the growth of our team on the defensive end. We haven’t always been as committed defensively the past couple of seasons, but I feel like things are starting to click on that end of the court.</em>"</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">What are your goals for the rest of the season?</span></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"<em>We play 6-7 ranked teams the rest of the season and many on short rest. We will be battle-tested for sure, but need to find wins in order to secure a top 2 seed in the Regions, which was our goal coming into the season.</em>"</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Which players are most improved and why?</span></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1265485" first="Jonah" last="Kocer"] – </strong>"<em>Never played PG before this season and is doing an admirable job while also guarding the opposing team’s best perimeter player on a nightly basis.</em>"</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="968157" first="Jeff" last="Worth"] – </strong>"<em>Was expected to have a big season and is finding ways to score at all 3 levels instead of being so dependent on perimeter shooting.</em>"</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Klayton Sattler – "</strong>Did not play as a sophomore or junior and has inserted himself as a key rotation guy. Carried us in a big win at Vermillion."</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1278718" first="Sam" last="Almas"] – "</strong>Has battled injuries throughout the season, but has developed into a main rotation player. We expect him to have a big second half of the season."</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1142658" first="Cole" last="Schilling"] – </strong>"<em>Had a big 2H vs. Aberdeen and led us to a big win there.</em>"</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Who have been your top players defensively?</span></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1265485" first="Jonah" last="Kocer"] – </strong>"Matches up with the opposing team’s best player and does a great job with it."</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1227966" first="Reis" last="Kirschenman"] – </strong>"Hasn’t had the offensive efficiency yet, but leads the team in rebounds and has shut down some quality big men."</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="968219" first="Alex" last="Pies"] – </strong>"<em>We play a lot of top forwards in the state and he has done a quality job on them night in and night out.</em>"</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="812209" first="Cael" last="Lundin"] – </strong>"<em>He is the leader of our team and the guy we most depend on offensively, but he has picked his game up defensively &amp; on the boards, especially in games where he doesn’t have his A-game offensively.</em>"</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">What do you hang your hat on?</span></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"<em>We hang our hat on being a team that can play different styles and tempo depending on the match-ups. We want to be one of the best half-court defensive teams in SD as we know that is how you win in March. We aren’t quite there yet, but expect to be there by season’s end.</em>"</p> <h4><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Titan Schedule (8-3)</strong></span></h4> <p><strong>Dell Rapids</strong> - W 67-57</p> <p><strong>Dakota Valley</strong> - L 61-72</p> <p><strong>O'Gorman</strong> - L 64-65</p> <p><strong>Vermillion</strong> - W 68-55</p> <p><strong>Madison</strong> - W 63-61</p> <p><strong>Crofton, NE</strong> - W 69-50</p> <p><strong>Canton</strong> - W 81-52</p> <p><strong>Aberdeen Central</strong> - W 54-51</p> <p><strong>Tri-Valley</strong> - W 62-29</p> <p><strong>Sioux Valley</strong> - L 63-47</p> <p><strong>Sioux Falls Christian</strong> - W 61-48</p> <p>January 29 @ Madison vs. <strong>Clark-Willow Lake</strong></p> <p>February 1 (home) vs. <strong>Western Christian, IA</strong> </p> <p>February 3 (home) vs. <strong>West Central</strong></p> <p>February 5 @ Sandford Pentagon vs. <strong>Moorhead, MN</strong></p> <p>February 11 (home) vs. <strong>Lennox</strong></p> <p>February 15 (home) vs. <strong>Brandon Valley</strong></p> <p>February 17 @ <strong>Yankton</strong></p> <p>February 18 @ <strong>Elk Point-Jefferson</strong></p> <p>February 25 (home) vs. <strong>Beresford</strong></p>