WHITE — Deubrook Area’s Chance Schoenfeld is a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses.

At 6-foot-9, the senior forward/guard has guided the Dolphins to a 5-1 start and No. 10 on the latest Class B boys prep media poll.

“I think we’re playing as a team really well,” said Schoenfeld. “Individually I know I can work on a couple things defensively, but we’re just playing some good basketball right now.”

Schoenfeld, a two-year starter, has been a focal point in the ‘Phins success averaging 23.2 points per game this season. Coming off a junior season averaging 13 points and eight rebounds per game, Schoenfeld says the confidence he gained over the summer has been the biggest factor.

“I just gained a lot of confidence over the summer and used it to help our team out,” Schoenfeld added. “It’s definitely a lot of offseason work.”

And that confidence has already been put on display this season. On Dec. 30, Schoenfeld broke DA’s school record for most points in a single game with 40 points in the 76-57 win over Garretson. The previous record of 39 was set by Maurice Petersen the 1986-87 season vs. Hamlin.

“It was an awesome accomplishment,” Schoenfeld said. “Coming into the game I knew I was going to get a lot of touches and my teammates really helped out in making sure I did get a lot of touches. We get to halftime, noticed I had about 20 points and was like ‘OK, it could be in reach here.’ It was one of those things that was stuck in the back of my mind, maybe I could get it one day, but it happened to be that day.”

Schoenfeld scored all 40 points in that game around the rim and at the free-throw line, but has the ability to stretch the floor and shoot from long range, a skill he’s developed over the years that has helped round out his skillset.

Deubrook Area's Chance Schoenfeld shoots a three-pointer during a boys basketball game against De Smet on Dec. 12, 2025, in White. (Jon Akre / 605 Sports)

“I grew up on the thinner side so I kind of had to stay out just a little bit,” said Schoenfeld. “But as I grew up I continued to work on playing both outside and inside to develop into who I am now.”

DA head coach Jared Gass added to Schoefeld’s versatility, saying “It’s a luxury to have Chance’s height and his length”.

“His height is one thing, he’s got super long arms too and so he really stretches the floor when he closes out on kids. 

“But Chance is a kid that can score 30 or 40 on the perimeter too because he’s a really good 3-point shooter and he stretches the floor and runs the floor really well which is a benefit of him being lean,” Gass said.

Schoenfeld and the Dolphins play in Region 2B with plenty of heavy hitters, including four other teams receiving votes in the prep media poll and has had at least one team play for the Class B state championship each of the past five years.

Most notably Class B No. 2 De Smet, powered by 6-foot-10 center Grant Wilkinson, handed Deubrook Area its only loss of the year in a 48-45 loss to open the season.

“Some of those tough matchups help me realize where I need to work on,” Schoenfeld said of the De Smet loss. “Of course playing against Grant Wilkinson, it makes you kind of step out and rethink about going into the post every once in a while. But then there’s other guys who I may be taller or bigger than that allows me to just play inside but just kind of focusing on who my matchup is that day makes me know what skillset I need to have.”

And despite the loss, both Schoenfeld mentioned the confidence from this team that lost just one senior from last season will make a difference going down the stretch and into the postseason.

Deubrook Area's Chance Schoenfeld plays defense on Waverly-South Shore's Spencer Ries during the Dolphins' 58-36 win over the Coyotes on Dec. 31, 2026, at the Entringer Classic in Brookings. (Jon Akre / 605 Sports)

“As a team, we definitely have a lot more confidence than we did last year,” Schoenfeld said. “I know going in a lot of us didn’t have a whole lot of playing time on varsity so just getting that experience and working together, pushing each other every day at practice is making sure everyone is getting better every day.”

Schoenfeld signed as a preferred walk-on to North Dakota State University after committing to the Bison back in July. He had received interest from other schools in the area such as Dakota Wesleyan, Briar Cliff, Mount Marty and Black Hill State, but knew right away he wanted to play Division I basketball when he got the offer.

“It was kind of one of those things, NDSU was Division I and would really like to play there. They said ‘Hey, we want you to come up here. Call us tomorrow and let us know what your thoughts are’, and I just kind of went with it.”

Schoenfeld and the Dolphins are back in action on Jan. 8 against Dakota Valley Conference for Iroquois/Lake Preston in White.