South Dakota Series: Point Guard
In anticipation of December 13th’s official start to SDHSAA GBB season, we offer the SD Series on seven skill areas. Point Guard recognition is earned thru serious savvy/technique in ball handling, passing, floor vision, and movement. But most of all, leadership…
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Continue ReadingIn anticipation of December 13th’s official start to SDHSAA GBB season, we offer the SD Series on seven skill areas. Point Guard recognition is earned thru serious savvy/technique in ball handling, passing, floor vision, and movement.
But most of all, leadership is the key attribute, whether demonstrated by example, by influence, by encouragement, or by command-&-control of the ball. Fans know “It” when seen, and we salute all players learning the management of others.
From an overall perspective, GBB/WBB trends converge at the point guard position: better athleticism, strength/fitness, complex motions, positionless (players posting up as well as dropping dimes), and energetic defensive movement.
Just more reasons to watch-and-go-WOW over the way you play the game.
Point Guard: [ In no particular order or ranking ]
Emma Osmundson, 2020 SF Lincoln – In a “ying-yang” manner, Emma complements teammate Morgan Hansen. Together, the result was a runner-up finish at 2019 State AA’s. Osmundson brought All-State numbers to the stat sheet: 15-ppg, 5-rpg, & 2-steals/game. As an SDSU Softball commit, 2020 will be a last roll of the dice to see her sparkplug personality on the BB court: “…Oh yeah, I like getting my team started, getting us rolling….” Roll on Patriots, thru Watertown (12/13), Moorhead Spuds (12/14), SF Washington (12/17) and SF O’Gorman (12/21) – 20% of the season’s games in 8 days could define the pecking order in SD’s biggest class.
Bailey Conrad, Tea 2020 – Conrad features superb penetration with contortion-ist body control, left-and-right-handed rim runs, quick release, perimeter accuracy, step-backs, and finishing into contact. SD Attack season did not showcase Conrad’s full skill set, but they’ll be on display against Dakota Valley (12/14) & Dell Rapids (12/20). Bailey recently committed to Concordia in Seward, NE, for WBB. Nebraska grabs another feather for their bonnet and basketball fans.
Rianna Fillipi, Lennox 2020 – We’ve followed her career since 7th grade. The best of Lennox’s core players, look for Rianna to aggressively attack in all phases and give her team another run at a State ‘A’ title. Her 2019 per-game numbers will increase: 12.3-points, 7.6-rebounds, 6-assists, & 3-steals. Northern State has a D-1 guard coming to stir up the NSIC next winter. 2020’s rodeo begins with the first home game (12/13) facing a capable SF Christian squad.
Kylee Wadsworth, Hamlin 2021 Great family BB tree of Wadworth’s – Lexi at Northern State and Kami a 2023 prospect. “Intra-family spat” might mean losing at H-O-R-S-E. Wadsworth functions as a positionless player, successful from the perimeter and in post-ups. She has great ball handles and accomplished shooting skils with dexterity and quickness. An inexplicable loss in 2019’s SD Sixteen kept this early favorite away from the final weekend. Correcting that un-finished business starts with daunting matches at home vs Deuel (12/19) and at Colman’s Entringer Classic vs Flandreau (12/21).
Emily Fox, MVP 2024 – Burst upon HS scene last year as a 7th grader all the way into the state tournament. She displayed several improvements while leading SD Attack 14u’s summer successes. Fox distributes well, fires up threes, handles with both hands, and shows a mid-range pop which draws immediate attention around the paint. Two away contests at Gregory (12/13) & West Central (12/17) will compare her skill progress against the foes’ point guard talents.
Rylee Haldeman, West Central 2022 – Role in earlier years was to pester and destroy foes’ offensive rhythm, which was done splendidly with disruptive speed and tempo. In 2020, Haldeman will increase the exploitation of defensive lapses, like, poor screen reads, foot misplacement, and facial twitches. A crowd-pleaser, and student-section favorite, Haldeman can be seen against MVP (12/17) and Wagner (12/20). West Central home games are shown on www.NFHSNetwork.com, for modest monthly fees.
Jessy Vander Werff, Gregory 2023 – A youngster, class-wise, but Gorilla fans of were prepared for her 2019 breakout performances, including with SD Attack 14u’s. 2020 will witness this elite talent maturing with experience. Be prepared for the stiff test Dec 13th at home against MVP. Watch on www.gregorygorillaslive.com. Later, on Jan 11th, is a neighborhood tilt with Winner that will be great entertainment.
Sydney Altenburg, Harrisburg 2021 – Summer ballers from Harrisburg numbered (at least) ten on various teams. Eight of ten were guards. Altenburg is a superior ball wizard, strong and active, able to harmonize synergies between Aby Phipps, Brecli Honnor, and their supporting cast The path to state kicks off with Pierre (12/13), Brookings (12/17), and Watertown (12/19). Enjoy Sydney’s competitiveness, powess, and piloting – her name resonates with success.
Kalla Bertram, Winner 2021 1/9 Wagner at WINNER. Bertram came to town in 2018, to join Winner’s over-stocked supply of ball handlers, scorers, and athletes; proven by last spring’s undefeated championship. No surprise, their depth and energies took down all pretenders. Bertram’s floor vision and defensive genius increased her time on the floor. Bertram embodies the WBB/GBB trends described above in the preamble. WInner outlasted a similar philosophy from West Central to take home the trophy. Bertram is on the hunt again; weaponized with malice intended.
Kaela Martinez, SF Roosevelt 2022 – A keen GBB observer famously predicted Martinez to be the best player on the Rough Riders. If true, Roosevelt GBB might have a consistent leader to direct success against the O’Gorman-Lincoln-Brandon Valley oligarchy and its headline dominance. With alert passes, quick execution, and a “Meadowlark Lemon” scoring assortment, Martinez may lead the round-ball crusade to the promised land of State “AA” triumph. In 2016, Roosevelt last went to the state tourney to finish 7th. The largest school in SD ought to appear on the final weekend more often than in Presidential Election years. OMG, the first contest is SF O’Gorman (12/13). Is there an upset alert?