-2 points

-An elite pg who will beat you in all ways outside of scoring (even though hes had games that show he can also score)

-Continually got teammates involved throughout the whole game

-Pushes the ball and always has his head up

-Eltie ball handler who get by defenders with ease

-Controls the game and pace for his team

-Had several nice drive and kicks for scores

-Look for him to score more next season

-Excited to watch his growth from this year to next

-3 points

-Hit three in 4th quarter trying to keep his team in it

-Did an outstanding job of beating his man 1vs1 and getting into paint to drive and kick to teammates

-Lighting quick crossover

-Was very energetic and shifty with the ball in this game

-Nice job of controlling the pace for his team today

-Active hands lead to couple steals

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 Cooper Gibbs Cooper Gibbs 6'5" | PF/SF Spearfish | 2026 State SD . 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.“

Southern has proven to be a serious difference maker for the Spearfish Spartans, especially when the lights get brighter. This past weekend against Huron and Mitchell, Southern led the Spartans in both scoring (13 ppg) and assists (7 apg), showing his ability to control the game on multiple levels. As the competition has stiffened, Southern has found the right balance, becoming a more aggressive scorer without sacrificing his role as a distributor. He put that on full display with a 15-point, 7-assist performance against Mahpiya Luta in a highly anticipated battle of unbeatens. Rarely leaving the floor, the Spartans’ floor general logged 63 of 64 minutes over the two-game stretch, a testament to his value and trust level. Skilled, ambidextrous, and always poised for the moment, Southern is a fun player to watch and a certified gamer when it matters most.

-15 points and 8 assists

-Had a very nice and efficient offensive game/didn’t shoot much but made the most of his opportunities

-Consistently found open guys for shots and layups all night vs zone or m2m

-Nocked down two deep corner three’s when team needed a scoring boost

-Played stellar defense all night long no matter who he was guarding

-Energy level was on high all night

-Grabbed a couple tough rebounds

-Had two strong finishes at the rim/had one tough lefty finish

-5 points

-Has great handles/very shifty guard

-Love how he stayed low in his drives to get past his defender

-If the whole spearfish team had not had an off night shooting he could of easily had 7 or 8 assists

-Made couple tough jumpers in traffic

-Nice finishes at the basket off of curl screens

-Will definitely have some bigger scoring nights

-15 points tonight showed nice versatility on the offensive end

-had couple of tough floaters in the lane tonight, played off of two feet very well

-strong defender no matter who he was guarding/scrappy on floor for loose balls often

-attacked the basket with no fear and finished strong

-Accepted his role as the PG, Mason has fully bought into being a floor general for the Spartans

-Capable of scoring more, but his team needs him to be a facilitator 1st, scorer 2nd

-Leads Spearfish team in assists, responsible for 3 players averaging double-digit points

-Great job of being efficient with his shooting, which makes him a dual threat PG, without him, Spearfish would be nowhere near as efficient on offense

-Controls the pace, pushes in transition, and makes the easy play, puts stress on the defense, also stepped up on the defensive end, guarding opposing team’s playmakers

-Makes the O go, takes care of the rock, creates shots, and thrives in that role

Mason Southern Mason Southern 5'10" | PG Spearfish | 2027 has emerged as one of the Spartans’ most impactful role players during their perfect 4‑0 start. The point guard is a dynamic creator and facilitator, running the offense with precision and controlling the pace of the game. His ball-handling is impressive, ambidextrous, and allows him to see the floor and set up teammates for high-quality looks. While Mason can score when needed, his true value comes from directing the action, dishing to open shooters, and making winning plays under pressure. His ability to rack up assists and make the right play at the right time keeps the Spartans humming on offense and makes him an indispensable part of the team’s early-season success.

-Have not seen him play since the spring, but he is intriguing, great ball skills

-Everyone brags up his passing & creating, the Spartans are undefeated