High Expectations
That’s what many in the state have for St. Thomas More, believing that the Cavaliers are the best team in Class A.
The Cavaliers pay these words no mind, however, as the only expectations they are striving for, is there own.
“I think we just keep playing. It’s hard to assess that we might be the best team in the state. There are other good teams out there,” Head Coach Brandon Kandolin said. “We don’t talk about being the best in Class A, we just focus on ‘hey we have another tough game coming up’. “
Indeed, St. Thomas More needed to focus on the next “tough game”, as the Cavaliers had the most difficult schedule in the state. Their opponent’s average record this season was 12-6 in games that didn’t include St. Thomas More.
“I’m fortunate enough that we were able to choose some games…Once we started to get good, we were able to get into classics,” Kandolin said. “When you’re winning games, you’re able to play the best. You get to figure out what you’re good at, and what you need to work on in those situations.”
In their 20 wins, Belle Fourche, Winner, Sioux Falls Christian, and Hill City where all Sodak 16 teams that the Cavaliers played, as well as top-rated Class AA Washington and Class B #3 Corsica-Stickney, but the Cavaliers defeated them all.
“I am really surprised at some of the players that stepped in this year,” Kandolin said. “Their aggressiveness and desire has pushed us to be way better than I thought we were going to be.”
Even with the all of the great wins that the Cavaliers have had this season, like most teams, they faced setbacks along the way. After defeating Winner, Rapid City Stevens, and Sioux Falls Christian in a seven-day span, St. Thomas More lost 60-58 to West Central. But it was a good learning experience for the team, according to Coach Kandolin.
“In that nine-day stretch we had four tough games. They were all great teams. We had a lead and we had a chance, we had an opportunity…there were just times we didn’t take the opportunities. “
But that tough span of games has prepared the Cavaliers for a state tournament that Coach Kandolin is glad his team is in.
“I am very happy,” Kandolin said. “We’ve got 8 solid teams. They’re all competitive and they all bring something different.”
Even after the regular season, St. Thomas More’s schedule won’t get any easier, as they will have to face McCook Central/Montrose in the first round at noon today. The Fighting Cougars have made the state tournament three of the last four years, so McCook Central/Montrose is no stranger to the stage.
“It’s a team that obviously has some experience,” Kandolin said. “They have the knowledge and experience to get there…They’ve got some great role players that do what they do really well. And to contain them, it starts with rebounding and not giving them second chance shots.”
This article is part of our new series of State Tournament Previews.
