Hoop Chat: Dakota Valley, Madison, SFC
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We are chatting with three South Dakota coaches in this Season Preview article. We shot a series of questions at the coaches and they gave us back some stimulating information. Take some time to read below about the Panthers, Bulldogs,…
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Continue ReadingWe are chatting with three South Dakota coaches in this Season Preview article. We shot a series of questions at the coaches and they gave us back some stimulating information. Take some time to read below about the Panthers, Bulldogs, and Chargers. We have many players below that you will want to hear about and the coaches gave us some interesting basketball material that you need to read.
Team Information
Team: Dakota Valley Class: A Region: 4
Team: Madison Class: A Region: 3
Team: Sioux Falls Christian Class: A Region: 3
See below for PHD’s conversations with Jason Kleis (Dakota Valley), Jeff Larsen (Madison), and Mike Schouten (Sioux Falls Christian).
Q&A with Jason Kleis from Dakota Valley
HD: Could you write a couple sentences summing up last season?
“The last two seasons have been magical for the Panthers, going undefeated both years! We are proud of what our kids have accomplished, having the longest active high school winning streak in the nation! We had a lot of special kids who have graduated from both seasons, but we are excited to turn the page and start again.”
PHD: How did the offseason go for your team/program?
“We had a great offseason. We had some injuries, and guys playing AAU, but still played and had success playing in several different venues. We didn’t have all our guys playing/healthy at any one event, so we haven’t seen what this year’s team will really look like yet.”
PHD: Who are a few of your top players to look out for?
“ Jaxson Wingert Jaxson Wingert 6'7" | PF Dakota Valley | 2024 State SD aka “Tish” 6’7” SR (14.8 ppg,6.7 rpg)…had a great summer, was a great player for us last year, and has vastly improved in the offseason. We expect a big year from Tish. Luke Bruns 6’1” JR (3.2 ppg)..most varsity experienced returner other than Tish. Luke is ready to move into a more prominent role and we feel has also improved.”
PHD: Who are a couple of up-and-comers to look out for?
“ Logan Collette Logan Collette 5'11" | SG Dakota Valley | 2025 State SD 5’11 JR – Logan played minutes last year as a soph, before being injured.”
“ Charlie Margeas Charlie Margeas 5'7" | PG Dakota Valley | 2024 SD 5’7 SR – Has been 3 year starting JV point guard behind Rosenquist on varsity, very athletic, ready to move into the PG role for us as a senior.”
“Tyler Cornelsen 6’1 JR – Tyler is a junior we are expecting great things from this year. Tenacious defender, and capable offensively.”
“Luke Harrison 6’3 SR – Senior post player who has worked hard and improved, limited minutes last year.”
PHD: What style of basketball will your team play?
“Up-tempo, which is how our program has been built. We take pride in running as much as possible, but being smart and patient when we need to.”
PHD: What are a couple of your team goals this year?
“We stopped setting hard and fast goals a few years ago as far as what we can achieve. A lot of that is out of our control, we will strive to control our ‘controllables’, become better every day, and being the best team by year-end that we possibly can be. Winning or losing will take care of itself from there.”
Who are some of the top teams in your Region?
“In our region, Lennox, Tea, Vermillion, and Elk Point. We expect to all have very good teams. We will again have the toughest region in class A.”
Best of luck to the Panthers!
Q&A with coach Jeff Larsen from Madison
The expectations are always high for the Bulldogs and this year will be no different. In 2019 and 2020 Madison made the State Tournament and in the previous three years, they got beat in the Sodak 16 game. Madison returns four starters but they will be a “new look” team after losing All-Stater Aiden Jensen to graduation. This is an exciting and intriguing squad!
PHD: What was your record last year?
“14-9 Lost to Hamlin in the SoDak 16 to go to State.”
PHD: Who are your top returning players?
“ Ben Brooks Ben Brooks 6'9" | SF Madison | 2025 State SD , Chuck Callahan Chuck Callahan 6'2" | SF Madison | 2024 State SD , Andrew Comes Andrew Comes 5'11" | SG Madison | 2024 State SD , Eli Barger Eli Barger 6'0" | SF Madison | 2024 SD , Thomas Mechels Thomas Mechels 6'2" | PF Madison | 2024 SD “
“ Ben Brooks Ben Brooks 6'9" | SF Madison | 2025 State SD – 9.9 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 5.3 apg. Andrew Comes Andrew Comes 5'11" | SG Madison | 2024 State SD -11.5 ppg, Chuck Callahan Chuck Callahan 6'2" | SF Madison | 2024 State SD – 6.7 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.6 apg, Eli Barger Eli Barger 6'0" | SF Madison | 2024 SD – 5.1 ppg, 4.7 rpg, Thomas Mechels Thomas Mechels 6'2" | PF Madison | 2024 SD – 2.1 ppg, 2.4 rpg.“
PHD: How did the offseason go for your team/program?
“During the offseason, we continue to focus on skill development. We did BEST Shooting 1x week, team workouts 2xweek, Pentagon League, 2 Varsity Team Camps and 2 JV Team Camps. We also got on the Dr. Dish Individually.”
PHD: Who are a couple of up-and-comers to look out for?
“Elijah Sims, Shane Veenhof Shane Veenhof 5'11" | CG Madison | 2026 State SD , Myles Schneider Myles Schneider 6'2" | SF Madison | 2026 State SD , Brody Cummins Brody Cummins 5'11" | SF Madison | 2026 State SD , AJ Rodriguez AJ Rodriguez 6'1" | PG Madison | 2026 State SD ”
PHD: What style of basketball will your team play?
“Transition to Execution. We must take care of the ball, limit our turnovers, and confident & disciplined on the offensive & defensive ends respectfully.”
PHD: What are a couple of your team goals this year?
“We haven’t set goals yet but one will be to qualify for the STATE A Tournament.”
PHD: Who are some of the top teams in your Region?
“SF Christian – Very skilled and very athletic.”
“West Central – They return a good nucleus and had some good players move in.”
“Dell Rapids – Very athletic.”
Best of luck to the Bulldogs!
Q&A with coach Mike Schouten from Sioux Falls Christian
PHD: What can you tell us about last season?
“Last year we finished 21-5 and were State Runner-Up in Class A.“
PHD: How did the off-season go for the Chargers?
“The off-season went well. We did the typical stuff this summer with open gyms, team camps, and we played in a summer league.“
PHD: Who are some of your top players to watch this season?
“Top Players: Griffen Goodbary Griffen Goodbary 6'10" | PF Sioux Falls Christian | 2025 State SD – Has received an offer to play basketball at Augustana University, started last year as a sophomore. Britton Mulder Britton Mulder 6'2" | SG Sioux Falls Christian | 2025 State SD – Started last season as a sophomore, played limited varsity minutes as a freshman, 2nd Team All-Conference. Cole Snyder Cole Snyder 6'0" | CG Sioux Falls Christian | 2025 State SD – Started as a sophomore last year, also played limited minutes on the varsity as a freshman, 3rd Team All-Conference last season.“
PHD: Who are some of your up-n-comers?
“Up and comers: Carson Nickles Carson Nickles 6'1" | CG Sioux Falls Christian | 2026 State SD , Cooper Goodbary Cooper Goodbary 6'3" | SG Sioux Falls Christian | 2026 State SD , Brant Wassenaar Brant Wassenaar 6'3" | SG Sioux Falls Christian | 2027 State SD “
PHD: What style of basketball will you play?
“We hope to play a fast style of basketball along with being able to play solid man-to-man defense and rebound the ball well.“
PHD: What do you have for team goals this year?
“Team goals: Bring glory to God in all that we do this season. Win a State Championship.“
PHD: Who are the top teams in Class A?
“Top teams: Dakota Valley – back-to-back State Championships, undefeated the last 2 seasons, Hamlin– return most of their top players from a very good team from last year, 3rd at State last season, Lennox – have Porter Ihnen Porter Ihnen 6'5" | CG Lennox | 2024 State #318 Nation SD , a USD recruit, along with several other good players, Sioux Valley – have Alec Squires Alec Squires 6'10" | C Sioux Valley | 2024 State #280 Nation SD an SDSU recruit, along with several other good players.“
Best of luck to the Chargers!