By Matt Gade

605 Sports

SPEARFISH — Fresh off the Kernels’ first Class AA state championship since 2005, Gavin Soukup knew he wanted to go play college basketball at the highest level he could while having an impact. That led the Mitchell alum to Rapid City where he joined the Hardrockers at South Dakota Mines.

Also looking to join a basketball team that would fit her skill-set and at a high level, former all-stater Sawyer Stoebner joined the Yellow Jackets of Black Hills State University.

Despite a new coach at BHSU, Rachel Erickson, Stoebner was unwavering in her decision to join the team knowing she could have an immediate impact.

Time to step up

Heading into the fall, former Mitchell basketball standout Gavin Soukup was anticipating just learning and adjusting to basketball at the Division II level as the Kernel entered his first year with the South Dakota Mines men’s basketball team. 

But just a couple weeks into the season, circumstances changed. The Hardrockers suffered a setback with senior Cameron Cohn requiring a medical redshirt, and Soukup was thrown into the mix.

South Dakota Mines' Gavin Soukup passes the ball while on offense during a game on Feb. 1 at Black Hills State. (Matt Gade/605 Sports)

“We thought we were going to redshirt him,” Hardrockers head coach Eric Glenn. “So he's kind of gotten thrust into it, and he's had to learn by fire, and he's done a tremendous job. I mean, he's a great young man. He's got great poise about him, and, you know, and he's showing as a freshman, you know, that he's gonna have a really good career. And so we're excited about him. I was hoping that we could just use a year with him to kind of strengthen him up a little bit, put some weight on him. And, I mean, that's going to come, but we're gonna have to wait ‘til the season's over.”

So far this season, Soukup has appeared in 15 of South Dakota Mines’ 21 games this season averaging 16.9 minutes per game and 3.9 points per game. 

Soukup said the biggest adjustment in the game has been the physicality of it. 

“These guys — they're big and they don't look big, but they'll hit you hard,” Soukup said.

Despite being just a freshman on the team, Soukup and the Hardrockers have battled through adversity this season and it’s actually been the highlight of the season thus far for Soukup.

“They gave me an opportunity. And I took it,” Soukup said of burning his redshirt to play this season. “You don’t see very many teams who are on a losing streak and they just pop out three straight wins. It's just fun, all the adversity and just battling.”

Soukup’s willingness to battle and learn is what coach Glenn said are some of his biggest attributes.

“It's different. In college, you don't get as open as you do in high school. So you got to learn to have that quick trigger and know that window is probably a little bit smaller in college,” Glenn said. “There's games where he's kind of seeing it and stuff, you know. But that's a freshman deal, you know, and so, but we're really happy with him… 

“He's stepping up, he's learning. Every game's a great experience for him. And as you see he has a great attitude out there with it, and we just love the way that he's handled it.”

Soukup said the upperclassmen have been key in his transition to the college level.

“It doesn't feel like I'm a freshman out there with them,” he said.

Stoebner growing into the role

Just 45 miles down the road in Spearfish, the Black Hills State University women’s basketball team knew they would need their younger players to have an impact.

As Erickson took over for long-time coach and now athletic director Mark Nore, the BHSU women were left with just five players coming back this season.

Black Hills State's Sawyer Stoebner grabs a loose ball and saves it from going out of bounds during the Yellow Jackets game at South Dakota Mines on Dec. 4. (Matt Gade/605 Sports)

“This team is great. Nore recruits great people, and I didn't come into a dumpster fire at all. I came into a group that wants to work, that's willing to work, and it could have been the complete opposite,” Erickson said. “They could have totally stuck their nose up to me just not recruiting them. It's hard, like buying into somebody you don't really know. So building those relationships was huge right away, and just continuing to grow with them.”

While Erickson relies heavily on the upperclassmen and a pair of transfers, the freshmen class are getting their minutes on the floor.

Even when Nore stepped aside from his coaching post, Stoebner said she didn’t waver in her commitment to BHSU trusting Nore’s would hire a strong replacement.

“Sawyer is somebody, for sure, who can play at this level. She is somebody who can go get a bucket when you need her to get a bucket. She's somebody who is going to be aggressive to get there,” Erickson said. “This year is great for her to just see those seniors and just kind of what it, what it looks like to be locked in on both ends of the floor all the time. 

“I think she's really growing in that role. And she brings such a light off the floor too. She is the goofiest person of those freshmen. I'm excited for her to continue to get experience and to continue to grow in this program.”

Since joining the Yellow Jackets, Stoebner has appeared in 14 of Black Hills State’s 20 games this season while averaging 6 minutes per game. With a career-high 23 minutes in the Yellow Jackets first matchup against South Dakota Mines on Dec. 3.

“It was obviously a goal to get some playing time,” Stoebner said. “And as the season goes on, just keep putting in the work. I know there's a lot of work that still needs to be done, but I'm happy with the minutes I get, and I'm happy with the team I'm on.”

Stoebner said getting to work with the seniors has been a great learning experience and it’s been even better being welcomed into the BHSU family by them.

“They are our voices of the team, and they're seasoned — they've been through it all. So with the age difference, it's literally 18-year-olds and then a bunch of 22-year-olds. So they're very influential and very inspiring when it comes to hard work and setting the tone in practice. And I think they do a great job of leading our team.”

As Stoebner and Soukup continue to grow in their roles for their respective teams, they both said they’re appreciative of their family support who make regular trips west to see them play.

Black Hills State University Head Coach Rachel Erickson, center, along with bench including Stoebner, right, watch the action as the Yellow Jackets host South Dakota Mines on Feb. 1 in Spearfish. (Matt Gade/605 Sports)