SEASON PREVIEW

The Lancers have made strides over the past two recruiting years to improve the talent level and overall numbers and depth on the squad. In addition they will have valuable experience in the junior and senior classes to go with this depth. The combination should put the Lancers back on track for a competitive season.

The Lancer’s will be led by a core group of seniors and juniors. Justin Peters and Dan Harmon return as starters and were double figure scorers and leading rebounders off last year’s team. Justin was an Honorable Mention All-Conference selection. Bo Bruckner made great strides last year and was a spark coming off the bench in all 31 games. Trey Krier only played in 13 games after coming out the second semester but provided much needed outside scoring and was instrumental in a late season surge by the Lancers.

Juniors Weston Kusser and Jared Wall will also return as starters. Weston is the floor leader and Honorable Mention All-Conference and Jared steadily improved making contributions in rebounding and scoring and set single season records for blocked shots. They will be joined by some sophomores who saw extensive action as freshmen. Spencer Yackley showed great hustle and steady improvement through the season, Stephen Klekas backed up at the point and shooting guard and Isaac Parsons saw valuable minutes at the wing with each of them having several big games . Another sophomore, Jeff Viereck, was in the playing rotation until an injury ended his season at 9 games. He is healthy and ready to pick up where he left off. Other returners poised to make their mark are Junior Andy Glascodine, and sophomores Jaron Finkbeiner, Peter Janssen, Tom Kahler and redshirt freshman Trevor Lopour.

For the first time in several years the Lancers went the transfer route adding junior college guard Cody Ball. His experience and leadership as well as skill will add to the perimeter game. Marvin Veasy and Alden Greene have both been in college but haven’t played. Their strength and quickness will add to a strong forward crew. They are joined by 7 freshmen all with potential to contribute in the future and some expected to push for playing time right away. They are Dylan Brown, Jacob Dawson, Austin Harms, Joe Hieb, Jeff Larsen, Casey Nelson, and Weston Swanson.

The Lancers again face a tough non-conference schedule facing NCAA II and nationally ranked NAIA teams on the road and the GPAC will be the usual challenge. A highlight will be a trip to Oakland, CA and 2 game Classic at Holy Names University in December. The Lancers showed promise a year ago losing 11 games by 10 points or less and either being ahead or within 4 points at halftime in 14 games that eventually were lost. With a years experience and maturity, the fact that several players stayed in Yankton and worked at improving their game all summer, and the addition of this year’s recruits all point towards getting the program back on its winning ways.