PAGE 6B: WINTER SPORTS 2017 PRESS & DAKOTAN ? PLAIN TALK Avon coaches Brad Poppe, center, and Jody Gittings congratulate their players as they come to the bench for a time out in a game in the 2016-17 season. The Lady Pirates return four starters from a team that has made back-to-back state tournament appearances. Lady Pirates Aim For Another Playoff Run sophomore Madisyn Cameron and freshmen Ali Sees, Natalie Zacharias and Maddie Kocmich. All but the 5-5 Schryvers are either 5-8 or 5-9, giving For the past two years, the Avon the Lady Pirates some length on the Lady Pirates have made their way to perimeter from their reserves. the South Dakota State Class B girls’ As in past seasons, the Lady Pirates’ basketball tournament. With a few new onslaught will be predicated on defense. faces in the fold — but a lot of familiar “We definitely need to play defense faces in the lineup — the squad looks to like we know how,” said Nagel, a Dakota do it again. State basketball recruit. “We need to be Avon graduated six players from aggressive with everything we do. Our a squad that went 22-4 and finished defense will help us go a long way.” seventh in the state, but return four One of the changes in Class B this starters and three all-conference players season is the addition of a shot clock. this season. While the change helps the defense“There is a lot of excitement around the gym,” said head coach Brad Poppe. minded Lady Pirates, it requires some “The energy around the program is a lot adjustments for the team’s deliberate offense. of fun.” “Having a shot clock requires us to The Lady Pirates boast a returning be ready for a few more situations. A lot all-state player in junior guard Lauren Sees (16 ppg, 6 rpg, 3 apg, 2 spg), as well of it is tweaking things that we already have,” Poppe said. “It will change our as returning all-league selections Cheystrategy at the end of the game, if we’re lee Nagel (12 ppg, 6 rpg, 4 apg, 2 spg) and Kacie Mudder (5 ppg, 5 rpg, 2 apg), trailing: not as many fouls, more playing out the possession. both seniors. Senior Olivia Jurrens (7 “In bigger games, it will come into ppg, 5 rpg) is the other returning starter. “It’s beneficial to have four returning play.” The Lady Pirate offense will still be starters,” Poppe said. “We graduated six focused on good passes and finding seniors, so we need that depth to help openings, just doing so a little more our younger girls. Having that experiquickly, Mudder noted. ence helps bring our other girls along.” Junior guard Lauren Sees earned all-state honors for Avon “There’s not a lot of change, but evThose “other girls” include senior a season ago, averaging 16 points and six rebounds per erything is a little quicker pace instead Josie Jonas, juniors KaCee Zacharias, game. of taking our time,” she said. “Our plays Tori Schryvers and Logan Mednansky, BY JAMES D. CIMBUREK James.cimburek@yankton.net reflect that.” Another change involves the postseason format. Instead of district champions playing in a region final, teams are seeded within the region, with the top two teams in each of the eight regions advancing to a statewide play-in bracket for state. Avon opens the season Dec. 8 against Gregory, then hits the road for tough opponents Corsica-Stickney (Dec. 12 at Corsica), Hartington Cedar Catholic (Dec. 14) and Hanson (Dec. 18 at Corn Palace in Mitchell). “It will let us know where we are at, and what we need to continue to work on,” Poppe said. “I like the strength of our schedule. It will be beneficial for us down the road.” The Lady Pirates also face two other tough region opponents away from home: Burke-South Central (Jan. 23 at Burke) and Tripp-Delmont-Armour (Feb. 9 at Corn Palace). After eight months of working and waiting, the Lady Pirates are ready to sail into the season. “Everyone’s really excited,” Mudder said. “We’re all looking forward to see where this season goes, with the effort and time we’ve put in.” Follow @JCimburek on Twitter. NEBRASKA BOYS’ BASKETBALL Allen COACH: Nick Curynyn ASSISTANT: Matt Hingst VITALS: Class D2, Lewis & Clark Conference LAST SEASON: The Eagles (4-16) ended their season with a first round loss in subdistricts. RETURNING: Noah Carr (So., 5-10, SG), Steven Cooks (So., 6-3, C), Brock Floyd (So., 5-7, G), Austin Gregerson (So., 5-9, SF), Joshua Grone (So., 6-3, C), Brogan Jones (So., 6-11, PF), Lukas Oswald (So., 6-0, SG). NEWCOMERS: Aden Anderson (Fr., 5-11, SF), Reed Hingst (Fr., 5-6, G), Kobe Kumm (Fr., 5-7, PG), Steven Sullivan (Fr., 5-9, G). Bloom?eld COACH: Gary Eisenhauer ASSISTANT: Matt Kuchar VITALS: Class D2, Lewis & Clark Conference LAST SEASON: The Bees finished 7-16. RETURNING: Braden Eisenhauer (So., 5-9, G, 8.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2 apg, 2.2 spg, All-Conference HM), Trenton Holz (Jr., 5-10, G), Will Feh- ringer (Jr., 5-8), Dade Davis (So., 5-11, F). NEWCOMERS: Dawson French (Sr., 6-2, G), Jackson Eisenhauer (Sr., 6-4, C), Michael Castaneda (Sr., 6-3, C), Dylan Kauth (Jr., 5-10, G), Adam Johnson (Jr., 6-0, G), Mitchell Mackeprang (Jr., 5-11, G). Creighton COACH: Ryon Nilson ASSISTANTS: Alan Oltjen- bruns, Bronson Pahl, Chase Maier VITALS: Class C-2, Lewis & Clark Conference LAST SEASON: The Bulldogs finished 6-12. RETURNING: Chase Largen (Sr., 6-1, PG, 12.5 ppg, 2 apg, All-Conference), Wyatt Diedrichsen (Sr., 5-11, F, 7 rpg), Noah Lilly (Sr., 6-2, F, 10 ppg, 6 rpg, All-Conference), Brady Nelson (Sr., 6-4, C), Cameron Tyler (5-10, F), Travis Tyler (Jr., 6-0, C), Brayden Zimmerer (So., 6-0 G), Carson Lilly (So., 6-4, F), Clay Curtis (So., 6-0, G/F), Brian Johnson (So., 6-2, F/C), Conner Hammer (So., 5-10, PG), Alex Homan (So., 6-0, G), James Johnson (Sr., 6-2 F), Sam Van Metre (So., 5-11, G/F), Logan Eggers (So.), Brennan Pint (So.), Jacob Dartman (So.). NEWCOMERS: Braxton Brockhaus (Fr.), Dylan Kuhlman (Fr.), RJ Wilmes (Fr.), Tyler Wagner (Fr.). Crofton COACH: John Connot ASSISTANTS: Kevin Janata, Luke DeBlauw VITALS: Class C2, MidStates Conference NEB. BOYS | PAGE 7B FORT RANDALL TELEPHONE CO. 605-563-2863 605-668-9670 2525 Fox Run Parkway, Suite 204, Yankton • www.yanktonsurgical.com *Independently Owned* Facilities and Outreach Clinics: Viborg, SD Avera Sacred Heart Hospital, Yankton, SD; Avera Surgical Hospital, Yankton, SD; Niobrara Valley Hospital, Lynch, NE; Avera St. Benedict Hospital, Parkston, SD; Douglas County Memorial Hospital, Armour, SD VIBORG-HURLEY COUGARS GAYVILLE-VOLIN RAIDERS Boys’ Basketball 12/8................................................. vs. Baltic 12/12...............................................at Wausa 12/15..............................vs. Alcester-Hudson 12/30....................................... Huron Classic 1/2..............................................vs. Scotland 1/5.............................. at Irene-Wakonda (W) 1/8.............................................vs. Canistota 1/11 ................................at Viborg-Hurley (V) 1/13......................... vs. Burke-South Central (Tri-Valley Conf. Classic, Yankton) Senior Logan Kingsbury earned first-team All-State honors for Ponca in leading the Indians to a 27-4 record and a Class C2 state title. 1/16.................................................at Parker 1/19..............................................vs. Colome 1/20...................... vs. Tripp-Delmont-Armour 1/23...............................................vs. Menno 1/27.........................DSU Classic at Madison 1/30...........................at Dell Rapids St. Mary 2/6........... at Freeman Academy-Marion (FA) 2/9.............................................at Centerville 2/12..................................................vs. Avon 2/15............................................vs. Freeman 2/22........vs. Andes Central-Dakota Christian Girls’ Basketball 12/8................................................. vs. Baltic 12/9....................................vs. Dakota Valley 12/12...............................................at Wausa 12/15..............................vs. Alcester-Hudson 12/28...................................Parkston Classic 1/2..............................................vs. Scotland 1/5.............................. at Irene-Wakonda (W) 1/11 ................................at Viborg-Hurley (V) 1/16.................................................at Parker 1/20...................... vs. Tripp-Delmont-Armour 1/23...............................................vs. Menno 1/27........vs. Andes Central-Dakota Christian (Tri-Valley Conf. Classic, Yankton) 2/2.........................at Bridgewater-Emery (E) 2/5.............................at Dell Rapids St. Mary 2/6........... at Freeman Academy-Marion (FA) 2/8.................................vs. Mitchell Christian 2/9.............................................at Centerville 2/12..................................................vs. Avon 2/13......................... vs. Sioux Falls Christian 2/15............................................vs. Freeman 2/16........................................at Bon Homme Boys’ Basketball (H-at Hurley; V-at Viborg) 12/8......................................vs. Freeman (H) 12/11 ............................................at Scotland 12/15..........................vs. Irene-Wakonda (H) 12/18............................................. at Howard 12/22......................................vs. Hanson (H) 12/27.....East-West Classic (at Chamberlain) 1/6....................................... Barefoot Classic (at Sanford Pentagon, Sioux Falls) 1/11 .............................. vs. Gayville-Volin (V) 1/19...................................................at Baltic 1/23..........................vs. Alcester-Hudson (V) 1/25...........................................at Centerville 1/27............................DSU Classic, Madison 1/30............................................ at Canistota 2/2..........vs. Freeman Academy-Marion (FA) 2/6......................................................at Avon 2/9........................................... vs. Parker (H) 2/10...........................................vs. Ethan (V) 2/12............................. at Elk Point-Jefferson 2/13.................................................at Menno 2/17.......................at Bridgewater-Emery (E) (at Tri-Valley Conf. Classic, Yankton) Girls’ Basketball (H-at Hurley; V-at Viborg) 1/2.................... at Tripp-Delmont-Armour (T) 1/8............................vs. Alcester-Hudson (H) 1/11 .............................. vs. Gayville-Volin (V) 1/13.......................Midco Classic at Madison 1/18............................... vs. Chester Area (V) 1/19...................................................at Baltic 1/25...........................................at Centerville 1/27...................................vs. Platte-Geddes 12/8......................................vs. Freeman (H) 12/12................... vs. Bridgewater-Emery (H) 12/15..........................vs. Irene-Wakonda (H) 12/16........................Pentagon Classic at SF 12/18............................................. at Howard 12/22......................................vs. Hanson (H) 1/30............................................ at Canistota 2/1........................................ vs. Scotland (V) 2/2..........vs. Freeman Academy-Marion (FA) 2/6......................................................at Avon 2/9........................................... vs. Parker (H) 2/12............................. at Elk Point-Jefferson 2/13.................................................at Menno Keeping Smiles Healthy & Young New Patients & Emergencies Welcome! 509 Washington St. Gayville, SD (605) 267-3100 Gayville, SD • 605-267-4426 1101 Broadway Ste. 105, Morgen Square 605.665.2448 • www.scottfamilysmiles.com Experience Gentle, Personalized Dental Care For Your Entire Family!