By Leola/Frederick head boys Coach Brock Pashen and Aberdeen Roncalli’s head girls coach Derek Larson were both named Region Coaches of theYear by the South Dakota Basketball Coaches Association (SDBCA).
Pashen, garnering the award for Region 1, guided the Titans to a school-record 22 wins and led the team into the Class B Boys state tournament for the first time since 2004. Leola/Frederick would finish in eighth place. Senior Brayden Sumption was named to the all tournament team.
Former Aberdeen Roncalli boys head coach Todd Neuendorf was named the Boys Region 2 coach of the Year. Neuendorf led Hamlin to the Boys Class A state title.
Groton Area’s Kyle Gerlach earned the Boys Region 1 Assistant Coach of the Year while Faulkton Area’s Brice Cunningham earned the honors in Region 3.
Aberdeen Roncalli head coach Derek Larson calls out instructions during a Region 1A game against Groton Area. Aberdeen Insider photo by Robb Garofalo
Larson picked up the Region 1 Girls Coach of the Year award after leading Roncalli to 19-4 record and into the SoDak 16. The Cavaliers were knocked off by Elk Point/Jefferson. Roncalli had one of the stingiest defenses in Class A, allowing 35.3 points per game this past season.
Groton’s Trent Traphagen was named the Girls Region 1 Assistant Coach of the Year.
Boys Region Coaches of the Year
Region 1 Boys’ Basketball Coach of the Year
- Head Boys: Brock Pashen Leola/Frederick High School Assistant Boys:
- Assistant Boys: Kyle Gerlach Groton Area High School
Region 2 Boys’ Basketball Coach of the Year
- Head Boys: Todd Neuendorf Hamlin High School
- Assistant Boys (Tie): Travis Wadsworth Hamlin High School; David Carmon-Sioux Valley
Region 3 Boys’ Basketball Coach of the Year
- Head Boys: Tim Buddenhagen Huron High School
- Assistant Boys: Brice Cunningham- Faulkton Area
Region 4 Boys’ Basketball Coach of the Year
- Head Boys: Travis Grueb Faith High School
- Assistant Boys: Adam Courtney Rapid City Christian
Boys Coach Region 1-4 Lower Level Coach of the Year
- Bill Clemens : Northwestern
Region 5 Boys’ Basketball Coach of the Year Head Boys:
- Nick Koepsell Howard High School
- Assistant Boys: Ryan Spader-Howard High School
Region 6 Boys’ Basketball Coach of the Year
- Head Boys: Scott Langerock Harrisburg High School
- Assistant Boys (Tie): Dave Nour Harrisburg High School; Jacob Hinker Lennox High School
Region 7 Boy’s Basketball Coach of the Year
- Head Boys: Jeff Determan Gregory High School
- Assistant Boy’s: Lonnie Klundt Gregory High School
Region 8 Boys’ Basketball Coach of the Year Head Boys:
- Casey Means Pine Ridge High School
- Assistant Boys: Ben Connot Winner High School
Boys Lower Level Region 5-8 Coach of the Year
- Kenedy Koepsell, Howard
Girls Region Coaches of the Year
Region 1 Girls’ Basketball Coach of the Year
- Head Girls: Derek Larson Aberdeen Roncalli High School
- Assistant Girls: Trent Traphagen Groton Area High School
Region 2 Girls’ Basketball Coach of the Year
- Head Girls: Tara King Arlington High School
- Assistant Girls: Brian Relf Flandreau High School
Region 3 Girls’ Basketball Coach of the Year
- Head Girls: Krista Robinson James Valley Christian High School
- Assistant Girls: Eric Hasart James Valley Christian High School
Region 4 Girls’ Basketball Coach of the Year
- Head Girls: Dakota Johnson Spearfish High School
- Assistant Girls (Tie): Jaime Bentley Spearfish High School; Josie Dirksen Sturgis Brown High School
Girls Region 1-4 Lower Level Coach of the Year (Three way tie)
- LeAnn Bartholow: James Valley Christian; Wade Stobbs: Huron; Cooper Heiser: Arlington
Region 5 Girls’ Basketball Coach of the Year
- Head Girls: Jim Bridge Hanson High School
- Assistant Girls: Barry Matthies Bishop O’Gorman High School
Region 6 Girls’ Basketball Coach of the Year
- Head Girls: Jon Brooks Vermillion High School
- Assistant Girls: Danna Bigge Harrisburg High School
Region 7 Girls’ Basketball Coach of the Year
- Head Girls: Preston Kristensen Mt Vernon-Plankinton High School
- Assistant Girls: Becky Haenfler Avon High School
Region 8 Girls’ Basketball Coach of the Year
- Head Girls: Matt Rama Maȟ pi’a Lu’ta High School
- Assistant Girls: Amanda Carlow Maȟ pi’a Lu’ta High School
Girls Lower Level Region 5-8 Coach of the Year
- Tera Koupal Wagner