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The Pipestone Area Schools’ boys basketball team returns four letterwinners for the upcoming 2025-2026 season.
The Arrows will open up with Jackson County Central (fresh off winning the Class AA state football championship this past Saturday) on Tuesday, Dec. 2. The home opener is set for Friday, Dec. 5 against Blue Earth Area.
PAS split with BEA last season, and nearly beat the Huskies in the regular-season finale on Feb. 21 (falling 76-73).
Austin Musch, Matthew DeBates, Cayden Zephier and Blake Bosma bring varsity experience to the hardwood.
Pipestone Area Schools’ Blake Bosma works on a shooting drill during a Tuesday, Nov. 18, practice. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
Musch will play a post role at either center or forward. Bosma and DeBates can play either guard or forward spots. Zephier adds to the Arrow backcourt.
There are several newcomers for head coach Michael Slaba.
Jackson Post has reported out for basketball, and he’ll add size inside as a power forward. Others to watch are junior guards Nick Bruns and Luka Quist plus junior guard/forward combination Zayne Zollner and sophomore Jakob Dion (who will play either guard or forward).
Pipestone Area Schools’ Jackson Post looks at his form during the second practice of the season on Tuesday, Nov. 18. Post will give the Arrows additional frontcourt height and rebounding. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
The Arrows must find a way to replace point guard Tagon Woelber, current University of Minnesota-Morris player Makhi Winter, Landon Quist plus Max Taubert, Landon Johnson and Aiden Hiniker, the last three providing depth and minutes.
This is what PAS must replace.
• Woelber scored 408 points, grabbed 113 rebounds, distributed 104 assists and snagged 26 steals.
• Winter was a reliable perimeter shooter who canned 67 3-pointers (tops on the squad in accuracy, too, at .373 percent). He finished sixth in school history in 3-pointers (104).
• Landon Quist served as the Arrows’ chief rebounder with 238 caroms, 52 of which were on the offensive glass. He left PAS as the school’s all-time rebound king with 521.
Winter was a first-team all-Big South Conference selection, and Woelber honorably mentioned.
Musch will replace Quist in terms of rebounding prowess, finishing the 2024-25 campaign with 214 boards (113 offensive).
Zephier could fill the point guard role.
Matt DeBates works on his conditioning during a drill on Tuesday, Nov. 18. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
The Arrows regressed some last season (without Rysley Borman), posting a 10-16 record — eliminated in the opening round of the Section 3AA South subsection by Redwood Valley, 65-45, on Feb. 28.
However, PAS also had a pair of three-game winning streaks, which included conquests over Southwest Minnesota Christian, Russell-Tyler-Ruthton and St. James Area.
“This year, I believe, the team strengths are going to be our ability to communicate on both ends of the floor, and share the basketball,” said Slaba, the former Mayville State (N.D.) standout entering his fourth season piloting the Arrows.
“This group works extremely hard for each other and plays unselfish (basketball),” Slaba explained.
Even though PAS is undersized, Slaba admitted, the Arrows will make up for it with energy and effort.
The Big South Conference and Section 3AA, as usual, are filled with talented teams.
“I think the section is up for grabs this year,” Slaba said. “Like most years, anyone can beat anyone on any given night. We will need to put our best on the floor each night, and grow as a team.”
Slaba also noted a pair of goals for the squad.
Trevor Doppenberg is set for his senior season with the Arrows. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
“We want to become closer as a team, and find ways to win,” he said. “We want to hold opponents in the high 50s or low 60s points per game.”
Bosma has select experience playing for the Southwest Minnesota Stars based in Marshall. The Arrows also participated in the SW Minnesota Challenge tournament in Luverne during the middle of July.
The Arrows will play a pair of games at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, on Dec. 27 versus Minnewaska Area and Dec. 31 against Montevideo.
The coaching staff is intact for this season with assistants Tim Stotz and Cody Heidebrink.
The National Federation of High Schools. (Contributed graphic)
Rule clarification
The National Federation of High Schools during its summer meetings in Indianapolis approved a clarification to goaltending.
The new rule states that a ball is on its downward flight once it contacts the backboard.
This makes it automatically goaltending if a defensive player touches the ball after it hits the backboard while still with the possibility of entering the basket.
What’s more, offensive goaltending has been eliminated, meaning only players on defense can commit such a violation.
Carson VanHoecke participates in a shooting drill during practice on
Tuesday, Nov. 18, at PAS Gymnasium. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
INFORMATION
BOYS BASKETBALL
Pipestone Area Schools
Pipestone Area Schools logo. (Contributed graphic from the PAS school district)
2025-2026 Schedule
December
2, at Jackson County Central; 5, BLUE EARTH AREA; 8, MURRAY COUNTY CENTRAL; 12, at Redwood Valley; 16, LUVERNE; 19, at Fairmont; 22, at St. James Area; 27, vs. Minnewaska Area at Southwest Minnesota State University, R/A Facility, Marshall; 31, vs. Montevideo, at SMSU, Marshall
January
5, at Edgerton Public; 8, at Lac qui Parle Valley (Madison, Minn.); 9, WINDOM; 13, JACKSON COUNTY CENTRAL; 16, at Blue Earth Area; 19, at Southwest Minnesota Christian, Edgerton; 20, ST. JAMES AREA; 23, REDWOOD VALLEY; 27, at Luverne, Classic Gymnasium; 29, at Madison (S.D.); 30, FAIRMONT
February
2, SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA CHRISTIAN; 6, at Windom Area; 7, vs. TBA, at Flandreau, S.D.; 10, 14, RUSSELL-TYLER-RUTHTON; 16, at Minneota; 19, WORTHINGTON
Playoff Schedule
February
27, Section 3AA South first-round game; 28, Section 3AA South semifinal
March
3, Section 3AA South semifinal; 7, Section 3AA South championship, SMSU, Marshall; 12, Section 3AA championship; 24-28, Minnesota State High School League state tournament, Williams Area and Maturi Pavilion, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Gangelhoff Center, Concordia University, St. Paul
Editor’s Note: All home games are listed in ALL CAPS, and played at PAS Gymnasium. Games at 7:30 p.m.