The Mount Vernon/Plankinton Titans have made a tremendous run to the state tournament. We spoke to Coach Preston Kristensen about his squad before their matchup with Sisseton.
First off, what are your overall thoughts on making state?
You know we’re excited and it’s something that it feels like we’ve been working on for a long time. We’ve come up short so to finally get over that hump it’s just a testament to the kids that we have.
Going through this year you guys have had a great season. What do you think has been the key to your success on the court?
I’d start that off with our leadership. We have eight seniors this year and you know they’ve been through that roller coaster the past couple of years, so their leadership is key as a whole. We’re buying into our roles that each player has and then defensively we’ve really come on strong here as of late.
Now obviously the big game that everyone wants to talk about is that Wagner game. What went well for you guys?
Note: MV/P took down last year’s state runner-up, Wagner, 49-28 in regional play.
They have a couple really skilled players. Macy [Koupal] and Ashlyn [Koupal] are really good basketball players and you know our kids meant that challenge.
It’s a team that knocked us out last year. They were determined, they were focused. They kind of understood being the four seed things really didn’t go our way for regions, but that was fine. They just embraced the opportunity to go out and compete.
Yeah and then just talk to me about those feelings about going into that SoDak 16 game against Roncalli?
You know Huron Arena was a pretty cool experience for the kids and the kids were excited. They’ve been working so hard to get to the SoDak 16 and we all felt like we had an opportunity in front of us and we were able to go out and execute.
Roncalli, you know that’s another tough team. So again, it came down to defense in the end and we kind of stalled out there in the fourth quarter, we didn’t have a field goal, but we were able to knock down some free throws late.
I don’t know if I’ve asked you this yet but when that buzzer went off in Huron what were just your feelings as a coach?
I was so proud and happy for this group and I know the work that all those kids put in. You know there are stories out there with Emilee [Fox] about her work ethic and they’re all true. I mean she’s in the gym before school starts, she’s in the gym after practice, after school, summer, you know putting in the work.
But we also have other kids that follow that same path. They’re putting in extra work and all that just shows how determined and how bad they wanted it in the end.
You also mentioned that senior class. Talk to me about your seniors and just more of your leaders on your team?
So we have eight and Emilee kind of leads that list. She’s been starting since a seventh grader for us, so she kind of understands the ins and outs of each season.
And the rest of our seniors, I have four other ones besides Emily who are playing a little bit and you know they’ve been through the ringer too. We’ve had a tough schedule this year and that experience is paying off.
Yeah talk to me a little bit more about Emilee and how have you seen her progress as a player.
She stepped on the floor her seventh grade year and you just saw it like she was going to be a special player and she brought something every single year. It’s crazy when you see a highly skilled player play like Emilee and just how they grow over the years.
You know each year depending on who is on our roster her role was different. She had to take on more of a leadership role the past couple seasons. We lost some height over the years and she kind of had to take on a different defensive approach and being one of our leading rebounders for instance.
She’s really evolved into being not only a great basketball player but leading our team.
You have two girls and Reagan [Rus] and Berkeley [Engelland] I’ve had really good success on the track, how does that athleticism help you guys in your games?
Oh man, that’s kind of a coach’s dream when you have kids who are multi-sport athletes. They bring different levels to the game.
You know Berkeley’s a very fast trackster and then you throw Reagan in the mix too with being involved with track and they’ve had success in that too so you know I think that carries over.
They have been in some intense moments at state track and you know that follows them. They’ve had success and they’ve continued to work for that so that work ethic, that determination, just transfers over.
You mentioned your defense a couple times now and how they’ve been really good as of late, what do you think’s been the key on the defensive end?
Whether it’s regions or the SoDak 16, people are just heightened with understanding the urgency of every possession and working together. I just feel like we’re playing as one unit right now and that’s what any coach can ask for is that you’re playing your best basketball region time and can carry that forward and I think we’ve been able to do that as a whole.
Now going ahead to the state tournament you guys have a tough draw, everybody’s a tough draw this year but an especially tough draw with Sisseton, what can you say about that matchup?
You know Sisseton, their record speaks for themselves. They’ve got some height and we’re going to have to work around that. They’ve got some skilled guards, so it’s just going to be another defensive battle for us. We’re going to have to come out, we’re going to have to execute and look to try to take away some things they like to do and then offensively you know we just have to be a team that has everyone contributing.
Kyia Schmidt, for example, stepped up big time for us this year and throughout regions and in the SoDak [16] hitting some big shots. Vanessa Hoffman, same thing, that’s another one of our starters. You know those two bring a lot to our team and when they’re hitting shots that just gets everybody going.
What are you as a coach most looking forward to this weekend in Brookings?
As a coach you know I’m excited for, one, the experience for the kids.
Like I mentioned before we put ourselves in this position so as a coach I want the kids to enjoy this process but also we’re coming to compete. So I think that was the resounding goal talking to the girls yesterday at practice, we’re not happy with just making it. Obviously we’re enjoying it we’re glad, but also we’re trying to compete at our highest ability.
This article is our part of our coaches’ interview series presented by The Move Group. To see the complete list, check out our website below.
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