Size has always been a factor on the basketball court, and the six players selected to the South Dakota Basketball Coaches Association’s Class AA boys’ All-State first team are no exception. All six players stand taller than 6-2, with a first-team average height of better than 6-5.
What the tape measure tells about the team’s height, though, does not tell the whole story on what made them the best players in the state. It was their length, as in the ability to shoot from long range. All six players made at least a dozen three-pointers on the season, with three of them — 6-7 Matthew Mors of Yankton, 6-4 Jaron Zwagerman of Sioux Falls O’Gorman and 6-5 Diang Gatluak of Sioux Falls Lincoln — shooting 40 percent or better from deep. Peyton Zabel (6-6) of Pierre, Cole Bergan (6-7)of Aberdeen Central and Kaleb Walton-Blanden of Rapid Central, the “little guy” at 6-2, round out that elite list.
Welcome to the modern age of South Dakota basketball.
“You’ve certainly seen it at our level the last few years,” said Pierre head coach Terry Becker. “As a coach, I love seeing that. I love having guys that can do a little bit of everything.”
Becker’s player on the first team, Player of the Year winner Zabel, did just that. Besides averaging just under 20 points per game (19.8), hauled in 11 rebounds per game, averaged 2.7 assists per game, and had 48 steals and 39 blocked shots. A second-team all-state selection a year ago, he also hit 34 three-pointers on the season, a skill he did not use for the Governors until this season.
“We primarily needed him in the post last year,” Becker said. “This year’s team was so different: we needed him to bring the ball up, play inside and outside, do a little of everything.
“At times he could take over a game. It was a spectacle to watch. He has that will to win.”
Zabel’s versatility extends beyond the basketball court. He was an all-state quarterback for the Class 11AA champion Governors, and will head to Augustana on a baseball scholarship.
Mors, believed to be the first freshman boy to earn first-team all-state honors in South Dakota, earned that honor by averaging 24 points and 6.8 rebounds per game in leading the Bucks to their first state title in 40 years.
“He didn’t play like a freshman. But he has the experience of an upperclassman, and the expectations of an upperclassman,” said Yankton head coach Chris Haynes. “He can flat-out score. When you can shoot from the perimeter, put it on the floor, score with your back to the basket and are a great free throw shooter, it’s a deadly combination.”
Mors, a second-team all-state selection a year ago, averaged 28.7 points per game in the state tournament, including a 38-point performance against Rapid City Central in the semifinals. He set the Bucks’ single-game scoring record with 42 points earlier in the season. He already ranks second on the Bucks’ career scoring chart (1,173) and first in career three-pointers (121).
“The exciting thing for us with Matthew is that he has a whole other notch to go athletically,” Haynes said. “He has shown every year that he is willing to put in the time to elevate his game. He still has things that he can do to improve.”
Bergan, the lone returning first-team selection, averaged 15 points and 7.6 rebounds per game, as well as 2.6 assists and 1.0 steals. He hit better than a third of his three-point attempts, going 12-35.
“Cole is a very skilled player,” said Aberdeen Central head coach Brent Norberg. “He was dominant down low. He has all the skills to be a dominant offensive player.”
Those skills for the recent University of Northern Colorado recruit include the ability to both start and lead the break.
“He was definitely one of the better rebounders around,” Norberg said. “He got our fast break started. He helped us play a lot better in the second half of the season.”
Zwagerman, a Mount Marty recruit, averaged 17.2 points and 4.9 rebounds per game for O’Gorman. He hit 36 of 89 from three-point range during the regular season.
PHOTO BY MIKE CARROLL/PLAINSMAN
Huron’s Kobe Busch puts up a jumper during a game against Spearfish on Feb. 2 at Huron Arena.