White River Tigers: Season Rerun
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The Tigers made their 17th consecutive trip to the State Tournament this spring. White River is led by the man, the myth, the legend, Eldon Marshall. Making it to 17 straight State Tournaments is mind-boggling, beyond impressive, and quite the…
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Continue ReadingThe Tigers made their 17th consecutive trip to the State Tournament this spring. White River is led by the man, the myth, the legend, Eldon Marshall. Making it to 17 straight State Tournaments is mind-boggling, beyond impressive, and quite the accomplishment. The Tigers played a very tough schedule this season and they picked up 21 wins along the way. White River was not afraid to travel and compete against stiff competition. The Tigers finished the season with a quality win over Potter County to take home a 3rd place State Tournament trophy.
Read below for player stats, team stats, comments from coach Marshall, and the Tiger scores/schedule from this season.
Player Stats
Joe Sayler Joe Sayler 6'4" | SG White River | 2023 State #295 Nation SD (2023) |6-3 G| – 29.8 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 2.4 apg, 2.6 spg, 35 3FG%, 49.4 FG%, 84.4 FT%
Dylan Marshall Dylan Marshall 6'0" | PG White River | 2022 State SD (2022) |6-1 G| – 15.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 4.9 apg, 2.5 spg, 36.5 3FG%, 53.2 FG%, 85.2 FT%
Nic Marshall Nic Marshall 6'1" | PG White River | 2024 State SD (2024) |6-1 G| – 9.1 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 3.6 apg, 1.4 spg, 51.9 FG%
Bryson Morrison (2024) |6-2 F| – 2 ppg, 2.1 rpg, .7 apg, .8 spg, 80 FT%
Gavin Folkers Gavin Folkers 6'4" | SF White River | 2023 State SD (2023) |6-3 F| – 8.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1 apg, .6 spg, 41.7 3FG%, 48.3 FG%
Kendrell Cuevas Kendrell Cuevas 6'5" | SF White River | 2023 State SD (2023) |6-4 F| – 6.1 ppg, 5.3 rpg, .8 apg, .4 spg, 55.5 FG%
TJ Beardt (2023) |6-3 F| – 1.7 ppg, 3 rpg, .3 apg, .3 spg, 51.7 FG%
Team Stats
PPG: 73
RPG: 29.3
APG: 14.1
SPG: 9.3
BPG: 2.6
FG%: 49.6
FT%: 78.5
3FG%: 32.9
3’s MPG: 7.7
OPPG: 52.9
Tiger Talk with coach Eldon Marshall
PHD: What were some of the highlights of the season?
Coach Marshall: “Making it to LNI championship for the 4th straight year, winning Jones County tourney for the 4th straight year, The Classics, defeating Aberdeen Christian at Hoop City Classic, Sioux Valley at Heritage Classic (Pentagon), and Canistota at DWU Classic, defeating Harding County in SoDak16 to make it to 17th straight state tourney, and the State B tourney itself, semifinal vs Lower Brule was a 3 OT classic, and then bouncing back from the loss to defeat a very good Potter County team. Dylan Marshall Dylan Marshall 6'0" | PG White River | 2022 State SD scoring his 1,000th point. Joe Sayler Joe Sayler 6'4" | SG White River | 2023 State #295 Nation SD finished the year with 1,935 total career points.“
PHD: Who was your “go-to” player when you needed a basket?
Coach Marshall: “ Joe Sayler Joe Sayler 6'4" | SG White River | 2023 State #295 Nation SD was our go-to player when we needed a basket, Dylan Marshall Dylan Marshall 6'0" | PG White River | 2022 State SD was also more than capable as he was very good at scoring when we needed.”
PHD: Which players improved the most for you this season and what did they improve on?
Coach Marshall: “ Gavin Folkers Gavin Folkers 6'4" | SF White River | 2023 State SD really improved for us this season as he was one of our most consistent knock-down 3 pt shooters, Nic Marshall Nic Marshall 6'1" | PG White River | 2024 State SD improved as the year went along as well as he got better at asserting himself when needed, improved his defense and 3pt shot. Kendrell Cuevas Kendrell Cuevas 6'5" | SF White River | 2023 State SD improved his defense and rebounding and was a good paint presence for us. TJ Beardt also improved his defense and stepped up big for us when needed. Mackenzie Wike Mackenzie Wike 5'10" | SG White River | 2025 State SD also came in and played very solid defense when needed, he started vs Aberdeen Christian and played outstanding in that game.”
PHD: Who were a few of your hardest workers and what did they do well?
Coach Marshall: “ Dylan Marshall Dylan Marshall 6'0" | PG White River | 2022 State SD was our leader, he led by example with the effort he gave every day in practice. He was a physically strong defender that knew how to get in position and he loved to compete. Great kid off the court and in the classroom. Mackenzie Wike Mackenzie Wike 5'10" | SG White River | 2025 State SD was very quick and he did whatever the coaches asked of him defensively. Joe Sayler Joe Sayler 6'4" | SG White River | 2023 State #295 Nation SD was a very good leader for us also, leading scorer, leading rebounder, and he’s an excellent student in the classroom, and he’s very respectful off the court.”
PHD: Can you talk about a time when you and the team overcame adversity?
Coach Marshall: “When we lost in the semifinal at the State B tourney vs Lower Brule in 3 OT’s, it was a heartbreaker for us. Every one of them rallied and were responsible for getting themselves ready for the next game vs Potter County and we were able to defeat them in another battle. I’m really proud of our teams’ character and the fortitude we displayed overall at the State B tourney. Incredible effort by every one of our guys.”
PHD: Who was your best practice player and why?
Coach Marshall: “Kalan Collins, he’s a hard worker, he talks and he will sacrifice whatever is necessary to help the team succeed.”
PHD: Who were some of your key bench players?
Coach Marshall: “ Mackenzie Wike Mackenzie Wike 5'10" | SG White River | 2025 State SD , is a quick and hard worker. TJ Beardt is a very good post defender and rebounder. Bryson Morrison, got injured during the season (torn meniscus) but was able to rehab back into the lineup at end of the season.”
PHD: Who are some of your top players that will be back next season?
Coach Marshall: “We’ll return 4 starters: Joe Sayler Joe Sayler 6'4" | SG White River | 2023 State #295 Nation SD , Nic Marshall Nic Marshall 6'1" | PG White River | 2024 State SD , Gavin Folkers Gavin Folkers 6'4" | SF White River | 2023 State SD , Kendrell Cuevas Kendrell Cuevas 6'5" | SF White River | 2023 State SD ; plus TJ Beardt and Mackenzie Wike Mackenzie Wike 5'10" | SG White River | 2025 State SD will be needed to be big-time contributors next year.”
Tigers Scores/Schedule (21-3)
Pine Ridge W 71-32
Rapid City Christian W 65-52
Red Cloud W 63-41
Lower Brule L 57-60
Aberdeen Christian W 58-48
Kadoka Area W 75-43
Phillip W 75-52
Lyman W 58-36
De Smet L 49-69
St. Francis Indian School W 103-42
Wall W 81-49
Sioux Valley W 64-62
Bennett County W 95-52
Stanley County W 88-57
Canistota W 61-50
New Underwood W 75-38
Todd County W 81-60
Lyman W 66-56
Jones County W 86-61
Wall W 67-38
Harding County W 68-50
Freeman Academy-Marion W 75-70
Lower Brule L 83-86
Potter County W 83-74