DCC Men's Basketball Season Outlook
The Buccaneer basketball team started practice on the first of October. Head Coach Joe Peterson returns 8 players from a team that won 20 games last season. The Bucs have 70% of their scoring back from last year and 77.2% of their rebounding. Leading scorer Marcus Stephens has transferred to Sheridan Junior College, but their next eight top scorers are back to make another run, led by guards CJ Nelson who averaged 11.4 ppg and Camron Dunfee who averaged 10.9 ppg. They also return the leading rebounder in the league from last year, Devin Collins, who pulled down 15.1 rebounds per 40 minutes; as well as the league leader in assists and steals, Man Man Baker. Baker averaged 7.9 assists and 4.1 steals per 40 minutes.
Other key returners are big men Beau Santistevan and Jaron Masis, along with defensive stoppers Kolten and Kayden Hitt. Two red-shirts are going to give the Bucs even more experience with the athletic Romeo Parker and sharpshooter Jayce Griffith joining the mix. Coach Peterson also added three freshman who will contribute this season. Big Timber’s Kell Schwers is a proven scorer while Utah’s Roulervee Vann brings quickness, ball-handling and deft passing. 6’11” Center Charles Lampten adds a different dimension with his length. Lampten will provide good finishing on the offensive end and rim protection on the defensive end.
In Coach Peterson’s four years at the helm, the Bucs have finished second twice and third once. They have reached the Regional Semifinals all four years and made it to the Regional Championship Game twice. Coach Peterson is hoping to build on the success from previous years, “We have guys who can score inside and guys who can score from the outside. There’s good balance to this team. I really enjoy coaching this group of guys and being around them on and off the court. Our strengths will be our pressure on the defensive end and the way we shoot the ball on the offensive end. Just about every guy on our team can fill it up from the outside. We have excellent depth this year and we have a group that is remarkably unselfish. If they keep playing with the same effort and sacrificing for each other, then it should be a good year.”
The Bucs are busy preparing for the start of the regular season November 1st when the Mon-Dak Preseason Tournament tips off in New Town, North Dakota.
