Rapid City Christian: Team Preview
Rapid City, SD – The Comets from Rapid City Christian have a nice team that plays in Region 8A. Expect many wins from this talented team. Read below for a close look at the Comets. 2020-21 Record/playoff result last year: 16-6…
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Continue ReadingRapid City, SD – The Comets from Rapid City Christian have a nice team that plays in Region 8A. Expect many wins from this talented team. Read below for a close look at the Comets.
2020-21 Record/playoff result last year: 16-6 record in 2020-2021. Lost in the SoDak 16 round to Dell Rapids.
Season Outlook from Coach Kyle Courtney
“We are very excited for the new season and the opportunity to begin our first season as a member of the Black Hills Conference. We will play a challenging schedule this year between our Conference schedule and the opportunity to participate in the Lakota Nation Invitational Tournament, which will be a great opportunity for our school to participate in. We will also return to the New Year’s Classic in Bismarck, North Dakota again where we will play perennially strong North Dakota programs in Dickinson Trinity Catholic and Shiloh Christian. We are excited about the opportunities and challenges our schedule will present. I anticipate that St Thomas More, Spearfish, Red Cloud, and Sturgis will be some of the frontrunners in the BHC this season, but we know the conference is full of good programs with good coaches so we will have to be ready to play and execute each night. St Thomas More will again be the favorite in our Region. In Class A overall it looks like Sioux Falls Christian is the frontrunner again and may be for some time, their program is very good.”
“We return a solid core of players off last year’s team and have good numbers out throughout the program which is nice. We are looking for veteran leadership from our senior class and we anticipate strong competition for spots and for playing time throughout the program which will hopefully help us push each other in practice every day. If we can focus on the right things every day and develop the kind of leadership and chemistry we need then I think we have a chance to be pretty solid by the end of the year.”
Key Returning Players
Trace Trainor (2022) |5-9 PG|
Trace is a returning starter at the point guard position for the Comets. Trace is a solid ball-handler and has the potential to be a lockdown defender for RC Christian. Trace also shot a good percentage from both the 3-pt line and the FT-line last season. The Comets are looking for great veteran leadership and solid all-around play from Trace this season. He has been working hard and they anticipate a big senior year from him.
Jackson DiBona (2022) |6-2 SG|
Jackson is a returning starter and he was the 3rd leading scorer last year as a Junior. Jackson also set a school record with nine 3-pt shots in a game. Jackson had a nice summer and has worked hard in the weight room to get stronger. The Comets are looking for Jackson to take the next step as a team leader and as “go-to” scorer for the RC Christian this year.
Mitch Heidecker (2022) |6-2 F|
Mitch is also a returning starter for the Comets and has been playing a lot of varsity minutes over his career. Mitch is a workhorse for the Comets and already has several school records for rebounding. Mitch plays with high energy and has really improved his offensive game over the past year. RC Christian expects Mitch to continue to improve his game and to be another key leader for them. Heidecker should have a special season.
Carson Glassbrenner (2022) |6-4 F|
Carson was the 6th man last season and he played some key minutes. Carson has the ability to really score in the post and to be a force on the boards at both ends. Carson has a lot of ability and will be a real weapon for the Comets. They anticipate Carson to be able to be another veteran presence in the starting lineup and to have a solid year at both ends of the floor.
Avery Wipf (2022) |6-2 F|
Avery was the 7th man last year and is another senior with a lot of varsity experience. Avery is a very athletic player who had the ability to play inside and outside and he brings some valuable versatility to the Comets. Avery also had a nice summer in which he took some great strides as a player. Avery is coming off a tough leg injury in the football season but they hope to get him back in time to make a real impact on the season.
Sam Fischer (2023) |5-11 G|
Sam saw limited minutes last season as a sophomore off the bench before his season was halted with an injury. Sam has had a solid summer and looks to make a big impact at the varsity level. Sam can play multiple positions for the Comets and they will look for him to be a solid perimeter scorer. Most of all he has great competitiveness on the court.
Wilson Kieffer (2024) |6-2 G|
Wilson was a player who saw some backup time at the Varsity level last season. Wilson is a long athletic wing who has a lot of upside. Wilson can play multiple positions for the Comets and he defends and rebounds very well. If he can take care of the ball well and shoot a solid percentage from outside this season he will make a real impact.
Key Newcomers
Elijah Hoyt (2023) |6-5 F|
Elijah has the ability to make an immediate impact on the varsity team this year. He is a long and lanky wing player. He has the ability to defend, run the floor, and shoot. The Comets think he is primed to really help the squad and to have a solid junior year.
Benson Kieffer (2025) |5-8 G|
Benson comes from a basketball family and is a very heady player for a freshman. Benson is a driven young man and he puts in the time to get better every day. He is a competitor and will push the older players every day in practice. The Comets anticipate Benson to find a way to earn some minutes in the rotation.
Julius Frog (2025) |6-3 F|
Julius is another gifted freshman that should make a push to see some varsity minutes this year. His footwork and feel in the post have the Comets excited for his future. If he continues to stay hungry to improve they think he could play some backup minutes at the varsity level this year.
Ethan Samuelson (2023) |6-3 F|
Ethan is another JV player from last season that has improved over the summer and hopefully can work to give some depth at the post position. Ethan has the ability to be a solid defender and rebounder. He has also shown the ability to step out and stretch the floor a little from mid-range.
Comet Schedule
December 11 (home) vs Douglas
December 15 Lakota Nation Invitational vs. Marty @ Rushmore Civic Center
December 16 Lakota Nation Invitational vs. White River @ Rushmore Civic Center
December 17 Lakota Nation Invitational vs. TBD @ Rushmore Civic Center
December 18 Lakota Nation Invitational vs. TBD @ Rushmore Civic Center
January 3 @ Wall
January 7 New Year’s Classic vs Dickinson Trinity (ND) @ Shiloh Christian
January 8 New Year’s Classic vs Shiloh Christian (ND) @ Shiloh Christian
January 11 (home) vs Sturgis Brown
January 15 Sacred Hoops West River Classic vs Newcastle (WY) @ Black Hills University
January 22 @ Red Cloud
January 25 (home) vs Custer
January 28 (home) vs St. Thomas More
February 1 @ Lyman
February 4 (home) vs Chadron (NE)
February 8 @ Belle Fourche
February 15 @ Spearfish
February 17 (home) vs Hill City
February 21 (home) vs Lead-Deadwood
February 25 @ Hot Springs