Harding County Ranchers: Team Deep Dive

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Buffalo, SD -</strong> In this preview article, we are checking out a team that is coached by <strong><em>Jay Wammen</em></strong>. The Harding County Ranchers are a Class B team from Region 8. <em>Wammen</em> has been a head coach for 16 years and he holds an impressive record with 224 wins and 118 losses as a head coach.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Ranchers went 17-6 last season and lost to White River in the SoDak 16. Harding County was one game away from State last season, I expect them to have their sights set on the big dance this year!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is a talented team! Prep Hoops Dakotas had the Ranchers ranked #10 in the last Power Rankings. I would not be surprised if they move up in the next ranking...</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1399487,"width":243,"height":152,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/03/SD-1.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/03/SD-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1399487" width="243" height="152"/></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"25px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:25px"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Team Strengths</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <ul class="has-medium-font-size"><li>Returning 4 senior starters from last year's SoDak 16 team</li><li>Bring back a ton of playing experience</li><li>Will have a long and athletic team on both ends of the floor</li><li>Veteran coach</li></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center","style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"25px"}}} --> <p class="has-text-align-center" style="font-size:25px"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Coach <em>Jay Wammen</em> talks about the off-season for the Ranchers</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center","fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">"<em>We had a very good off-season.&nbsp;We performed well at all our team camps and more importantly had great turnouts for our off-season open gyms and individual camps.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"25px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:25px"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Rancher Style of Basketball</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <ul class="has-medium-font-size"><li>Takes pride on the defensive end of the court</li><li>Will mostly play 1/2 court man-to-man defense </li><li>Will occasionally mix in situational zones and full-court traps</li><li>Ranchers will let their defense lead to their offense in transition </li><li>Will play fast when opportunities present themselves </li><li>Expect them to execute in the half-court when needed</li></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"25px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:25px"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Top Players</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1641073' first='Gage' last='Gilbert'] (2022) |6'5 F|</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">12.0 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 4.8 bpg (1st Team All-Conference) - The Ranchers will count on Gage to be a leader on both ends of the court.&nbsp;He can play inside and outside. Gilbert is certainly a matchup problem. He is an incredible rim protector and allows the rest of the Ranchers to be very aggressive defensively. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='963799' first='Keegan' last='Hett'] (2022) |6'1 G|</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">16.7 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 4.2 apg (1st Team All-Conference) - Keegan is a well-rounded player on both ends of the court.&nbsp;He can get to the basket, shoot it and defend the opposing team's best player. Hett is going to have a monster senior season and is an All-State caliber player. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1227932' first='Dawson' last='Kautzman'] (2022) |6'1 G|</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">11.6 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 2.9 apg (2nd Team All-Conference) -&nbsp;Dawson puts in the most time in the summer and it has paid off for him during the season.&nbsp;He is a smart playmaker on both ends of the court and is the Ranchers best 3-point shooter! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='963800' first='Kelby' last='Hett'] (2022) |6'1 G|</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">10.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 4.8 apg (Honorable Mention All-Conference) - Kelby is an athletic guard who has an impressive midrange basketball game.&nbsp;He is one of the Ranchers best on-ball defenders. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Braden Routier (2024) |5'9 G|</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">He is an extremely hard worker on both ends of the court and is an energy guy that the Ranchers need. Routier brings max effort and he can get to the rim on the offensive end.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Brennan Glines (2024) |5'11 G|</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">He is an athletic forward who rebounds and plays his role very well.&nbsp;Glines will be counted on to be more of a scorer for the Ranchers this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"25px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:25px"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Up-and-Comers</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Slate Page</strong>, <strong>Evan Meyers</strong>, and <strong>Nayati Bickerdyke</strong> have worked hard in the off-season. They will add much-needed depth to the Rancher top 6. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center","style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"25px"}}} --> <p class="has-text-align-center" style="font-size:25px"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Coach <em>Wammen </em>on the Top Teams in Region 8</strong></span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center","fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size">"<em>Faith and Harding County should be the top teams in our Region with Timber Lake and Lemmon right behind.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1096180,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/12/Preview-2.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/12/Preview-2.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1096180"/></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->