How White River High School developed its winning basketball tradition
ne of the unique qualities of the BFS program is that once a coach starts it, they tend to stick with it. The reason: It helps them win – just ask Eldon Marshall. In 2003 Coach Marshall took over as head coach at White River High School in White River, South Dakota. In 2004 he attended a BFS clinic conducted by BFS clinician Jim Brown, and the following year he implemented the program with the Tigers. Has the change been successful? A big yes: Their overall record for the past eight years is 159-35, and these numbers contributed to two state championships and these victories: s 3TATE "
TH PLACE *# 4OURNEY #HAMPIONS WGP Conference Champions O Eldon Marshall, head coach, boys basketball s 3TATE " RD PLACE JC Tourney Champions, WGP Conference Champions s 3TATE " #HAMPIONS LNI Tourney Runner-up, JC Tourney Champions s 3TATE " ND PLACE LNI Tourney Champions, JC Tourney Champions, WGP Conference Champions s 3TATE " #HAMPIONS LNI Tourney Champions, JC Tourney champions, WGP Conference Champions s 3TATE " ND PLACE JC Tourney Champions, WGP Conference Champions 4HE SEASON DESERVES a note.
In the state championship GAME THE 4IGERS WERE DEFEATED TO n JUST ONE POINT AWAY FROM three straight state championships. Further, in the 2010-2011 season the Tigers started the season by winning only four of their first seven games, but displayed exceptional in-season conditioning by winning 15 of the REMAINING GAMES AND THE 4IGERS again made it back to the state championship game!
!S FOR INDIVIDUAL HONORS IN Louie Krogman was awarded South Dakota Mr. Basketball and Gatorade Player of the Year. He also finished his high school career by establishing South Dakota’s all-time career scoring record with 3,521 points. The following year Matthew Bartlett earned first-team all-state, and in 2010 Jake Krogman made first team all-state and RJ Estes made second-team all-state. “After winning the State B chamPIONSHIP IN AND LOSING ,OUIE Krogman, I believe there was a belief that in our state the success we had was due solely to the great talent of Louie, and White River would not be back at the State B tournament,” says Marshall.
“Louie, of course, was a huge part of our success, but the BFS program was also a big part of his success and the team’s success. “Following Louie’s example, the kids after him continued their commitment to get better, use the BFS program and work on their basketball skills, and we were able to get back to the state championship game in 2009. Again, after losing Matthew Bartlett in 2009, there was a feeling White River would not be back. However, the kids continued working in the gym and in the weightroom, and we were able to not only get back to the state tournament but also win the whole thing in a great state championship game in 2010.”
The Tigers lost six seniors from that championship team and looked like they were headed for a rebuilding year. “This year we started four SOPHOMORES AND ONE JUNIOR AND OUR first sub was a freshman. Our boys continued working in the off-season, in practice and in the weightroom, and we improved and got stronger as the year progressed.” Despite their youth, White River clawed their way into their fourth straight state championship game, a feat not accomplished in 3OUTH $AKOTA SINCE Asked about his success at White River, Marshall says he has been blessed to get talented athletes, but that talent has to be combined with hard work and a love for the game.
As for next year, Marshall says he is excited to know this year’s championship game experience will only help the Tigers in the coming years, and he hopes that with BFS, history will repeat itself.
In the past eight years the Tigers have achieved a 159-35 overall record and two state championships.
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12: DEDICATED TO HELPING ATHLETES SUCCEED SINCE 1976
From BFS Magazine — May/June 2011. Part of the BFS Magazine Archive (1980–2014).
