By Rich Winter

605 Sports

Following an eighth-place finish in the 2021 Class A state tournament, and with the loss of four seniors, including 1st-team, all-stater Brady Fritz (Dakota Wesleyan), few figured the Winner boys would reach this year’s state tournament. 

And yet, after a 22-1 regular season the Warriors find themselves back in the big dance as a No. 3 seed. 

“I thought we were going to be as good as last year,” Blake Volmer, Winner junior and leading scorer and rebounder said. “This year we don’t have the star power but we have a pretty good defense and play with a chip on our shoulder.” 

For a school known more for their prowess on the football field this trip to the Class A state tournament is becoming a regular occurrence. Brett Gardner took over as Winner coach eight year ago. Since then the Warriors have been to four state tournaments (2015, ‘16, ‘21 and now ‘22). 

Gardner talked about his 2022 team as having unique relationships on and off the court. 

“After practice they sometimes sit in the locker room and just chit-chat for like 30 minutes,” he said. “I have to get after them a bit and tell them, ‘Hey guys we gotta get out of here.’ “

With seven seniors and a bond that glues this team together Gardner often hears those relationships come alive on bus rides on the way home from games.

“I can hear them and they are talking about life and college and basketball and girls,” he said. “That camaraderie is what separates this team from others. They are a fun group and some great kids.” 

Those friendships translated to a 22-win season and a team that has each other's back. 

“We all look each other in the eye and know that we trust one another,” Volmer said. “We have a lot of trust and we know that whomever is on the floor will put forth their best effort to help the team.” 

Volmer, a 6-foot-3 guard, emerged as Winner’s top player this season. The son of Todd and Rona, Volmer averages 16 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 4 apg and 2.1 steals per game. 

While Volmer is the only double-figure scorer on the 2021-22 squad Gardner said the team balance is one of the things that makes this year’s team so special. 

“We have seven guys averaging between four and 17 points,” Gardner said. “That balance has really helped us and it is hard for other team’s to game plan for us. If someone is having an off night other guys step up and a different guy might be the top scorer on any given night.” 

Other Winner players and season stats:

• Slade Cournoyer - 9.8 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 4.1 apg.

• Ethan Bartels - 8.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg

• Shawn Hammerbeck - 6.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg

• Elijah Peterson - 5.9 ppg, 3.5 rpg

• Jack Vesely - 4.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg

• Aiden Barfull 4 ppg, 1.8 rpg

While Volmer expected to be good he didn’t think Winner would have 22 wins heading into the state tournament. 

“About half way through the year, after a tough schedule and through our first ten games it clicked,” he said. “We beat some good teams and I think that’s when we realized we had a chance to be good.”

Winner’s lone loss of the season, Gregory 69-60, came on Jan. 31. That was the only night this season that Winner has been outrebounded. For a team that won’t beat you with first impressions the Warriors hang their hat on rebounding and defense.

“I would say we are very tough minded,” Gardner said. “We lost four seniors so we knew we would have to get it done on the defensive end this year. I felt like last year we could outscore other teams but this year we have to hold teams to a certain number of points scored.” 

Freshman Shawn Hammerback fights for a rebound in a game with Platte-Geddes earlier this season.

Volmer said one of the things that helped Winner this season was underclassmen getting experience at the 2021 state tournament. Gardner called the 2022 Winner team experienced at multiple levels. 

“We have a great group of seven seniors that have been in the program,” he said. “Ethan and Blake are our two junior starters and we get contributions from a sophomore and a freshman. We have all three levels of maturity and experience.”

Winner opens this year’s state tournament against No. 6 seeded Sioux Valley. 

“When you get to state you just kind of do what you do,” Gardner said. “Oliver Vincent is one of the top players in the state and coach Vincent has over 450 wins. We’ll have our work cut out for us and we hope to give ourselves a chance in the fourth quarter.”