The Rotation: Sioux Falls Christian
SF Christian grabbed themselves a third place in state trophy last year. At 24-1 they were hoping for that perfect record but it was a great year. Another great season is expected.
Koln Oppold (12.7 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 5.0 apg), Mitchell Goodbary (12.6 ppg, 7 rpg), Gavin Schipper (11.6 ppg), Lincoln Unruh (11 ppg) and Will Garnaas (11 ppg), plus a sixth man who’s averaging 7 ppg in Mitchell Oostra.
Must Be Replaced: Koln Oppold, Lincoln Unruh, Will Garnaas
Oppold, Unruh, and Garnaas were starters on one of the most balanced, number one ranked teams you will see. Oppold was a 13/p/6r/5a guy that turned himself into a talented all around player. Unruh and Garnaas both scored 11 points a game as three of the five players that averaged double figures on the 24-1 team.
Returning Starters: Mitchell Goodbary, Gavin Schipper
Mitchell Goodbary is one of the most physical players in all of South Dakota, some will say the best two sport athlete in the senior class. Then you have Schipper, a guard with a flamethrower of a shooting touch. Gavin is considered one of the elite shooters in all of South Dakota. Goodbary averaged 13 points and 7 rebounds last year while Schipper put up just under a dozen points a contest.
Stepping into Bigger Roles: Mitchell Oostra, Parker Nelson, Dawson Mulder, Zach Witte
Oostra is a 6-foot-3 wing that was the Chargers sixth man last year. He scored 3-4 baskets a game and should join Schipper on the wing. Nelson and Mulder are both guards that played off the bench last year and at least one should open the season as a starter. Then you have Zach Witte, a 6-foot-7 big man who will be a junior. Witte saw a lot and picked up valuable experience during last year’s run.
Future. Xavier Van Beek
There are several juniors and sophomores fighting to earn themselves a spot off the bench this year. Van Beek could be one of those guys, or it could be one of several others.