By Jacob Wuertz

605 Sports

ABERDEEN — The old wedding rhyme goes, “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.”

For the Aberdeen Christian boys basketball team, the part about something old and something new is relatable this season.

The Knights return old players, six seniors, that have several years of experience behind them, while also bringing in a new head coach, Matt Rohrbach, to lead the team. However, the relationship between the players and Rohrbach is nothing new to the Knights basketball program.

“I’ve been a part of the program ever since I graduated, just kinda being around it, watching these guys play, and going to my brother’s games,” Rohrbach said.   

Rohrbach’s connection to the Knights basketball program goes far beyond going to basketball games the past few seasons. He is a former player and the program’s all-time leading scorer, and his brother, David, was the former head coach. This past spring, David left Aberdeen Christian to become the boys basketball coach for Brookings, which left a major hole in the Knights coaching staff. Rohrbach decided to step in, knowing he had prior experience with the current group of players at Aberdeen Christian.

“I was the assistant coach in my brother's first year, so that would’ve been 2015-2016, and then (helped) with the moratorium stuff,” Rohrbach said. “So basically, I just took over the fall, spring, and summer league stuff.”

Despite the changes in the coaching staff, the transition has been seamless, both for Rohrbach and the players. 

“I would say it’s probably been as smooth a transition as possible in such a weird scenario just because I know the kids so well,” Rohrbach said. “There wasn’t a kid on the team I didn’t know, and hadn’t really worked with as far as working on their skills, so definitely a lucky scenario for a first-year coach to pretty much know every kid on the team before they even step on the floor.”    

The Knights will be hoping the camaraderie between the coach and players continues to help build a program that has been on the rise over the past few seasons. Aberdeen Christian has qualified for the past three Class B boys basketball tournaments. After their inaugural state tournament berth in 2020 was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Knights came back to finish runner-up in the 2021 state tournament, losing to De Smet. Last season, the Knights seemed to go backwards, finishing in seventh place at the 2022 state tournament.

However, the 2022 team had no seniors on the roster, and the expectations set by the players, as well as coach Rohrbach, are high this season.

The team has several members that played in the state championship game two years ago, and the team will be the most versatile it has been in recent memory.

“I think we can really play different styles, different brands of basketball,” Rohrbach said. “You know we have some really good guards, and some really good guys that can bang down low.”

Rohrbach also noted that the style of play will be dictated by who the Knights’ opponent is each time they take the court.

Aberdeen Christian's Malek Wieker drives to the basket against Freeman Academy/Marion's Donte Butler during the seventh place game at last season's Class B state tournament. (Photo courtesy of SDPB)

The versatility begins with the six seniors, with guards Malek Wieker, Jackson Isakson, and Andrew Brennan leading the backcourt, while Kaden Clark will be the anchor down low. Ethan Russell will be a factor all over the court, while Abe Holscher will see significant time off the bench. All six seniors have played four or more years of varsity basketball, with Jackson Isakson entering his sixth season at the varsity level.

Rohrbach noted that the senior class has plenty of experience, and that the passion trickles down to the underclassmen on the team during practice.

“(The seniors) bring it in practice,” Rohrbach said. “They’re focused, they bring a lot of energy, and it’s really not difficult to keep them energized and focused because they know it’s their last year. That trickles down to the sophomores and juniors that we have playing.”

The Knights entered the season ranked third in the preseason poll, although Rohrbach said the team is looking to make some noise and make it back to the state championship. Aberdeen Christian won its season opener over James Valley Christian, 74-45, but had its next three games postponed or canceled due to last week’s statewide winter storm. The Knights (2-0) earned their second win of the season over Britton-Hecla, and will play at home against Mobridge-Pollock on Tuesday.

Sayler continues climb on all-time scoring list 

White River’s Joe Sayler passed a host of players on the South Dakota boys basketball all-time scoring list over the weekend. 

The all-state guard pumped in 105 points at the four-day Lakota Nation Invitational and scored his 2,000th career point in the opener on Wednesday.

He now sits at 2,079 career points and is No. 26 on the state’s all-time boys basketball scoring list. Sayler passed a number of players on the scoring list, including former Mr. Basketball winners Zach Horstman (Winner), Eric Kline (Aberdeen Central), Brent Lindskov (Isabel) and Denver TenBroek (McIntosh). 

Sayler, a South Dakota State University signee, averaged 26.5 points per game at the tourney. White River (4-1) will play Bridgewater-Emery at the Hoop City Classic on Dec. 28 in Mitchell. 

Dakota Valley’s Isaac Bruns pumps in 39 points

Isaac Bruns powered No. 1 Dakota Valley with another high-scoring performance over the weekend.

The senior shooting guard erupted for 39 points in Dakota Valley’s 88-53 win over Minneapolis North at The Arena Invitational in Sioux City on Dec. 17. Bruns, a University of South Dakota signee, is averaging 28.6 points per game through the first three games. 

Randy Rosenquist Jr., and Jaxson Wingert scored 19 and17 points, respectively, for the Panthers. Dakota Valley (3-0) will play in the Parkston Classic on Dec. 30. 

Tiospaye Topa’s Kris Meeter breaks Louie Krogman’s LNI scoring record

Tiospaye Topa’s Kris Meeter shot his way into the Lakota Nation Invitational record books.

The Thunderhawk sophomore broke the boys tournament record for most points with 145 through the four games. The previous mark was set by Louie Krogman with 137 points in 2007. 

Meeter, a 6-foot-3 guard, averaged 36.25 points during the four-game tournament and had 30 or more points in three games. Meeter’s tournament was highlighted by a 54-point outburst in a 117-72 loss against Santee, Nebraska, on Thursday. In the defeat, Meeter connected on seven 3-pointers and made 15 of 25 shots and went 17 of 22 from the free-throw line.

He started the tournament with a 30-point performance against Wakpala on Wednesday. He scored 28 against Takini and 33 points against Dupree in the final two games.