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PAGE 8A: WINTER SPORTS 2016 PRESS & DAKOTAN VERMILLION PLAIN TALK

They graduated three players last season.

RETURNING: Ahna Van-derPol (Sr., 5-10, G/F), Shaylin Stotz (Sr., 5-9, G/F).

NEWCOMERS: Lily Flying Hawk (Jr., 5-3, G), Beulon Black Cloud (Jr., 5-8, F), Sidney Muckey (So., 6-1, C), McKenzie Muckey (8th, 6-0, C), Brianna Deurmier (So., 5-6, G), Meagan Mudder (Jr., 5-6, F), Annie Housemon (So., 5-6, G).

Avon COACH: Brad PoppeASSISTANT: Jody GittingsVITALS: Class B, District

12B, Little Missouri Valley Conference.

LAST YEAR: The Pirates � nished 19-7, winning District 12B and Region 6B titles. They � nished fourth at state. Heidi Cap, now at Minnesota State-Mankato, graduated from that squad.

RETURNING: Lauren Sees (So., 5-9, G, 13.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.5 apg, All-Conference), Cheylee Nagel (Jr., 5-7, G, 8 ppg, 6 rpg, 2.3 apg, All-Con-ference), Kacie Mudder (Jr., 5-10, F, 5 ppg, 5 rpg, 2 apg), Hanna Powers (Sr., 5-1, G, 5 ppg, 2 rpg, 2 apg), Ashley Cap (Sr., 5-5, G, 2 ppg, 1 rpg, 1 apg), Jill Bertus (Sr., 5-4, F, 2 ppg), Courtney Buchholz (Sr., 5-6, C, 2 ppg, 3 rpg), Hannah Reeves (Sr., 5-2, G), Livi Jur-rens (Jr., 5-11, F, 2 ppg, 2 rpg).

NEWCOMER: Tori Schryvers (So., 5-7)

BeresfordCOACH: Brent PalmerASSISTANTS: Kelly Knut-

son, Scott EbertVITALS: Class A, Region

4A, Dakota XII ConferenceLAST YEAR: The Watch-

dogs � nished 6-15 last season and graduated two seniors.

RETURNING: Katy Dief-endorf (Sr., 5-3, G), Alana Bergland (So., 5-4, G), Hannah Nelson (Jr., 5-7, G/F), Jillian Hansen (Jr., 5-10, C/F), Han-nah Ebert (Jr., 5-4, G/F), Cait Savery (Jr., 5-6, G/F).

NEWCOMERS: Angela Jensen (Sr., 5-7, C), Hope Johnson (Jr., 5-4, G/F), Sydney

Nelson (So., 5-8, F), Aubrey Twedt (So., 5-10, F)

Bon HommeCOACH: Tara RonkeASSISTANT: Ashley Arm-

strongVITALS: Region 5A, Little

Missouri Conference, South-east South Dakota Confer-ence

LAST YEAR: The Cava-

liers � nished 3-18 overall, and graduated � ve seniors.

RETURNING: Rachel Ses-tak (Jr., G), Brecken Bullard (Jr., F), Emily Cap (So., G), Macy Hajak (So., F), Desirae Sanders (Sr., F).

NEWCOMERS: Camile Sykora (7th, G), Skylar Garcia (8th, G), Cassidy Soukup (8th, G), Lacey Wittmeir (8th, G), Hannah Cuka (8th , G), Jenae Alberts (8th, G), MaKayla Kel-ley (8th, F), McKenzie Carson (8th, F), Kayli Jelsma (Fr., G), Ciera Himes (Fr., G), Lauren Bastermeyer (Fr., G), Abby Crites (Fr., F).

Dakota Valley COACH: Tammy Lilly ASSISTANTS: Will Bise-

nius and Kristin Hanson. VITALS: Class A, Region

4A, Dakota XII Conference LAST YEAR: The Panthers

� nished 16-6. They graduated

� ve players from that squad. RETURNING: Peyton

Wingert (Jr., 5-10, G, 15.6 ppg, 4 rpg, All-Conference, All-Region, Offensive player of the year), Anna Rasmussen (Sr., 5-8, G/F), Katie Soukup (Sr., 5-6, G/F), Shayla Johnson (Sr., 5-9, G/F), Alyssa Johnson (Jr., 5-7, G), Madisyn Heeren (Jr., 5-10, F), Emily Phillips (So., 5-6, G), Britney Schubert (Sr., 5-8, F), Natalie Full (Jr,. 5-8, G/F), Hope Carlson (Jr., 5-7, F).

NEWCOMERS: Morgan Tritz (Fr., 5-6, G), Rachael Wente (Fr., 5-7, G)

Elk Point-Jefferson COACH: Gary Nebelsick ASSISTANTS: Adam Tim-

mins, Melissa CurryVITALS: Class A, Region

4A, Dakota XII Conference LAST YEAR: The Huskies

posted a 19-6 record and

were consolation champs at State A tournament. They lost � ve players from that team.

RETURNING PLAYERS: Karlee Shatswell (Sr., 5-9, C, All-Conference honorable mention), Elise Alseen (Jr., 6-1, F, All-Conference honor-able mention).

NEWCOMERS: Kylee Donnelly (Sr., 5-9, F), Addison Ludwig (Jr., 5-6, G), Anna Jallow (So., 5-6, C), Meghan Brewer (So., 5-6, G), Emily Mickelson (Sr., 5-6, G), Jill Donnelly (Jr., 5-6, G), Riley Donnelly (Fr., 5-6, G).

FreemanCOACH: Curtis SageASSISTANT: Chris Maske VITALS: Class B, District

9B, Cornbelt Conference LAST YEAR: The Fly-

ers � nished 17-6, losing to Irene-Wakonda in the Region 5B � nal. They graduated two players.

RETURNING: Erika Sage (Sr., 5-6, G, 18 ppg, 3 rpg, 3 apg, 1st team All-Conference, 1st team All-State), Karli Maske (Jr., 5-6, G, 8.3ppg, 3rpg, 3rd team All-Confer-ence), Ashley Glanzer (Jr., 5-9, F), Josie Fuhrmann (So., 5-6, G, 7.5 ppg, 2nd team All-Conference), Hannah Eberts (So., 5-8, F), Journey Mehlhaf (So., 5-9, F), Dayna Roth (Fr., 5-5, G), Jamie Glanzer (Fr., 5-4, G), Emily Miller (Fr., 5-9, F).

Freeman Academy-Marion

COACH: William MasseyASSISTANT: Lindsey

UnruhVITALS: Class B, District

9B, Tri-Valley ConferenceLAST YEAR: This is the

� rst year of the co-op. Free-man Academy went 12-12, while Marion was winless.

RETURNING PLAYERS: Michele Schoenwald (Jr., 5-9, G), Amy Ptak (Jr., 5-9, G), Annie Carlson (Jr., 5-10, F), Tiana Schroeder (Sr., 5-6, G), Andrea Wollman (So., 5-9, F), Destini Miller (So., 5-9, F).

Gayville-VolinCOACH: Matt MalloyASSISTANT: Jeremiah

DibleyVITALS: Class B, District

10B, Tri-Valley ConferenceLAST YEAR: The Raid-

ers lost in the � rst round of

districts last year to Irene-Wakonda.

RETURNING: Megan Hirsch (Sr., 5-10, F, All-Con-ference, 10 ppg, 9 rpg); Traia Hubbard (Sr, 6-1, C, All-Con-ference, 8 ppg, 8 rpg); Laura Nelson (Sr., 5-5, G, Honorable Mention All-Conference); Lanny Clark (Jr., 5-7, G); Abby Larson (So., 5-7, F)

NEWCOMERS: Sally Qua-tier (Fr., 5-7, F); Tori Gale (Fr., 5-5, G); Molly Larson (7th, 5-4, G)

Irene-WakondaCOACH: Stacy HuberASSISTANT: Colleen

O’MalleyVITALS: Class B, District

10B, Tri-Valley Conference LAST YEAR: The Eagles,

19-7, were the consolation champions of the Class B State Tournament. They graduated seven seniors.

RETURNING PLAYERS: Shannon Sokolowski (So., F, G), Maddie Mohr (Jr., 5-11, C), Ashley Emmick (So., 5-1, G), Gabby Hutchison (Sr., 5-6, F), Mikayla Heirigs (Sr., 5-5, G).

NEW PLAYERS: Shannon O’Malley (Jr., 5-6, G), Malloy O’Malley (Fr., 5-6, G), Nora O’Malley (7th)

MennoCOACH: Doug HallASSISTANTS: Glenda Bohl-

man and Kylee KesslerVITA LS: Class B, District

9B, Cornbelt Conference. LAST YEAR: The Wolves

posted a record of 11-13. They graduated one senior.

RETURNING: Courtnee Edelman (Sr., 5-7, G), Marissa Buechler (Sr., 5-4, G), Paige Heckenlaible (Jr., 5-10, F, All-Conference honorable mention), Breanna Mehlhaf (Jr., 5-5, F), Ashton Vaith (Jr., 5-7, G), Haily Fergen (Jr., 5-5, G), Eisley Sayler (So., 5-6, F), Jeedyn Oplinger (So., 5-6, F), Klara Nusz (So., 5-8, C), Mor-gan Edelman (8th, 5-5, G).

NEWCOMERS: Haley Handel (So., 5-5, F), Jesse Munkvold (8th, 5-5, G), Trin-ity Kocourek (Fr., 5-6, G).

ParkerCOACH: Tami Jurgens ASSISTANT: Lance Jur-

gens

BY ROGELIO RODRIGUEZ sports@yankton.net

FREEMAN – Erika Sage, of Freeman, stands 5-6. She is a basketball player with good ball-handling skills, shooting ability, and is aggressive both defen-sively and offensively.

It is no surprise then that she has earned various individual honors. In the 2015-2016 season she: scored her 1,000th point, averaged 18 points per game, was named � rst team All-Confer-ence, and was named � rst team All-State.

However, despite all of her individual success on the court, she said that in end she would rather be remembered as a good person and not just a good bas-ketball player.

“That’s not why I play the game,” Sage said, “I’m part of a team and we win and lose to-gether, those awards don’t mean as much to me as the success of the team.”

All of that success and she has one season left to play for the Freeman Flyers basketball team. Last season, her team ended with an overall record of 17-6, losing to Irene-Wakonda in the championship of the Region 5B tournament.

Freeman is coached by Curtis Sage, Erika’s father. He � rst coached her when she was on a traveling team in � fth grade, he � lled in until they found a perma-

nent coach. Sage was also an as-sistant coach when former coach Ryan Mors, now the activities director at Yankton, brought her up to the high school team when Erika was a seventh grader.

Having a parent as a coach may seem daunting or an added pressure, but the success of the Freeman team and Sage’s indi-vidual success, says otherwise.

“In most cases she accepts that pressure and is willing to work hard to improve her skill,” coach Sage said, “Do I demand more from her I am her father? The answer is yes.”

Aside from being a good bas-ketball player, Erika is a leader to her team and in the community. She is the only senior on this year’s squad so her team looks to her for guidance.

“I have embraced that [leader] role,” Sage said, “I want to be an example for my team and even to the younger kids in my community.”

Both father and daughter agree that the team success is far more important than the individual accolades that Erika has earned in her career.

“Our team as a whole, including Erika, does not set goals involving scoring points or becoming an all-conference player, but rather the develop-ment and growth as a person who represents those attributes that people will remember when they think of you in the future,”

said Coach Sage. Freeman has missed out on

a state appearance the last two years, losing to Viborg-Hurley and Irene-Wakonda the previous two years in the Region 5B � nal.

“I think that we learn more from losing,” Sage said.

There is no denying that Sage is a vital part of her team on and off the court. However, when one player makes such a difference, other teams take note.

“Some teams will make it a priority to deny her the ball,” coach Sage said, “In those cases, she [Erika] knows that we are blessed in other players who can score double � gures.”

Those players are Karli Maske, Ashley Glanzer, Josie Fuhrmann, and Hannah Eberts. Fuhrmann was named second team All-Conference and Maske was named third team All-Con-ference.

There is no doubt Erika Sage is a well-rounded player and person. She does plan on playing basketball in college but has not made any decisions yet.

“I’ve looked at many area schools and have ruled some of them out,” Sage said.

No matter where Sage ends up, that team will bene� t from her work ethic and her attitude both on and off the court. For now, she is focused on � nishing up her senior year and doing all she can for the good of the team.

Follow @RogelioUlisesR on Twitter.

Sage Looks To Add State Trip To Impressive Resume

Freeman’s Erika Sage, center, was congratulated after scoring her 1,000th ca-reer point in the 2015-16 season. Sage wants to add a state tournament berth to her resume before she graduates this coming spring.

Freeman All-Stater Has Played For Region Title Four Straight Seasons

S.D. GirlsFROM PAGE 7A

Lauren Sees, Avon

Maddie Mohr, Irene-Wakonda (left)

S.D. GIRLS | PAGE 9A

SPORTS PRE-A8