Voices of the Dakotas: One More Time

The season keeps charging forward, the pressure continues to build, and the competitors across the Dakotas are rising to meet the moment.   In Voices of the Dakotas: One More Time, Prep Hoops Dakotas delivers one final installment of the series, this time catching up with three ballers from South Dakota and one from North Dakota who are embracing the grind and making their presence felt. As the postseason approaches, the focus sharpens and every possession carries weight — and these four athletes are right in the middle of it.   Each hooper answered the same set of questions, offering insight into their preparation, motivation, and growth as the season unfolds. They bring more than numbers to the stat sheet. They bring leadership, perspective, and a competitive edge that shows up every time they step on the floor.   Lock in, hear it straight from the source, and get to know the voices helping shape Dakotas hoops.   Keep it rolling and best swishes.   <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="width:384px;height:auto" /></a></figure>    What has been the biggest focus for you personally this season?   "It's been a few things. On being a great facilitator of the basketball. Making winning plays that contribute to my team winning. And growing my own game to help prepare me for being my best."   What's one area of your game you've seen the most improvement in?   "Probably my basketball IQ."   What does your team do well when you're playing your best basketball?   "Ball movement. I think when I'm at my best is when my teammates are playing their best. When the ball comes to me inside, I want to be able to have great vision to find cutters and open guys."   Who's a teammate that deserves more recognition?   "That's tough. Because we have so many guys who have stepped up and played well in their roles. [player_tooltip player_id='2430308' first='Holdyn' last='Ruesink'] has made winning plays all year, [player_tooltip player_id='2430313' first='Brady' last='Hiltunen'] is having an All-State type of year, [player_tooltip player_id='1911439' first='Connor' last='Relf'] has been elite for us on getting us into sets and scoring, [player_tooltip player_id='3186773' first='Braden' last='Danzeisen'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2341521' first='Bret' last='Milton'] have been clutch on both ends of floor and timely plays. I love my teammates. But. Everyone deserves way more credit. Our team deserves more credit and love!"   How do you stay locked in during the grind of the season—especially on tough weeks?   "Being a kid, it's easy to get distracted. I try my best to focus on the tradition of Cossack Basketball. The standard of #HoopValley that's come before me. And going hard for my teammates."   What's something your coaches emphasize that really shows up on game nights?   "Coach Vincent is a legend. Everyone knows it. He is college-level. He scouts everything and knows every detail of every team. I'd say his ability to prepare us for every look helps us be our best."   What's the biggest lesson basketball has taught you?   "To work hard and have fun doing it."   What has been your favorite moment of the season so far?   "Celebrating Coach Vincent's 500th win!"   Favorite gym to play in (besides home)?   "Corn Palace. Great atmosphere and fun."   What are you hoping to accomplish before postseason play begins?   "To have our team be the best versions of ourselves. Be ready for big moments ahead of us."     What has been the biggest focus for you personally this season?   "Staying healthy and making it to State."   What's one area of your game you've seen the most improvement in?   "Rebounding and getting my teammates open shots."   What does your team do well when you're playing your best basketball?   "Balanced scoring and good ball movement."   Who's a teammate that deserves more recognition?   "[player_tooltip player_id='3288458' first='Slayten' last='Wilkinson'], he's a very efficient passer and his hustle is contagious and a great defender."   How do you stay locked in during the grind of the season—especially on tough weeks?   "Focus on 1 game at a time."   What's something your coaches emphasize that really shows up on game nights?   "Effort, Energy, and Enthusiasm."   What's the biggest lesson basketball has taught you?   "Discipline and composure under pressure."   What has been your favorite moment of the season so far?   "Scoring 1000 points and breaking De Smet's All-Time Rebounding Record."   Favorite gym to play in (besides home)?   "Barnett Center in Aberdeen, I have many good memories there."   What are you hoping to accomplish before postseason play begins?   "Having our team ready to play our best basketball in March."     What has been the biggest focus for you personally this season?   "My biggest focus has been consistency. Bringing the same energy, effort, and leadership every night, no matter who we're playing. I've really tried to impact the game on both ends of the floor."   What's one area of your game you've seen the most improvement in?   "The most improvement I've seen in my game, I'd say, is my decision-making. I'm reading defenses better, knowing when to score and when to create for others, and just playing smarter overall."   What does your team do well when you're playing your best basketball?   "When we're at our best, we defend hard, rebound, and push the pace. We move the ball, play unselfishly, and trust each other."   Who's a teammate that deserves more recognition?   "A teammate I think, who deserves more recognition is our big man, [player_tooltip player_id='3269988' first='Ethan' last='Hanson']. He works hard on both ends of the floor, consistently getting rebounds and put-backs for us. He has a huge impact on the team."   How do you stay locked in during the grind of the season—especially on tough weeks?   "I stay locked in by having the next game/play mindset. We could play not the best one game but we work on it during practice and do better the next game."   What's something your coaches emphasize that really shows up on game nights?   "Something our coaches emphasize is pushing the ball and trusting each other. They tell us to get the ball out and go into every possible situation. We are a fast-paced team, and we also have to trust each other to do our job."   What's the biggest lesson basketball has taught you?   "The biggest lesson basketball has taught me is that nothing is given, everything is earned. You have to work for what you want, and you can't skip steps to get there."   What has been your favorite moment of the season so far?   "My favorite moment this season so far is probably a big win where everything clicked for us as a team. Those games where everyone contributes are the most fun."   Favorite gym to play in (besides home)?   "My favorite gym to play in is definitely the VCSU bubble. We always bring a crowd to the BCT tournament because it is pretty close to our school. It just gives that college environment, and it's by far my favorite."   What are you hoping to accomplish before postseason play begins?   "Something I hope for us as a team to accomplish before postseason play is being fully connected as a team. Everyone is playing their best basketball and keeps trusting each other."     What has been the biggest focus for you personally this season?   "My biggest focus is to become more of a scoring threat and help our team win games."   What's one area of your game you've seen the most improvement in?   "The area I've seen most improvement in this season has been defense."   What does your team do well when you're playing your best basketball?   "We play very good team defense and on offense, we get the ball moving and get into the lane."   Who's a teammate that deserves more recognition?   "A teammate that I think deserves more recognition is [player_tooltip player_id='2612675' first='Cooper' last='Gibbs']. He has been playing really solid this year, especially on the defensive end."   How do you stay locked in during the grind of the season—especially on tough weeks?   "I stay locked in my just staying in the moment, not thinking or stressing about the games or practices that we have ahead, but simply what I can do now."   What's something your coaches emphasize that really shows up on game nights?   "Defense, especially being in gaps and playing really good team defense with great intensity."   What's the biggest lesson basketball has taught you?   "The biggest lesson basketball has taught me is leadership."   What has been your favorite moment of the season so far?   "Bus trips have to be one of the best parts of playing any team sport. But if we're talking on the court, I would say beating Mitchell."   Favorite gym to play in (besides home)?   "My favorite gym to play in is Red Cloud. They have a really small gym and it is so loud. You can't hear anything and the fans really get into it."   What are you hoping to accomplish before postseason play begins?   "We're hoping to accomplish an 18-2 record and be playing our best basketball heading into the SoDak 16 and State."    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/NDSD.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/NDSD.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-2950876" /></a></figure>

The season keeps charging forward, the pressure continues to build, and the competitors across the Dakotas are rising to meet the moment.