BBE is back for more this season

Jaguars return Pieper, Dingmann from a state Class A runner-up team

BY JOE BROWN | West Central Tribune

BELGRADE — After being on the cusp of a championship last season, Belgrade-BrootenElrosa is hoping for a return to form in 2022-23.

Sure, the path to another Class A state championship berth will be tough after losing Ashton Dingmann, Will VanBeck, Gavin Kampsen and Gannon Walsh to graduation. But the Jaguars are preparing to be one of the best small-school teams in Minnesota.

“We are looking forward to who will step up and fill those gaps,” BBE head coach Chris Anderson said about filling in for his quartet of outgoing players.

He continued, “Our team had a great summer filled with skill work, weight lifting and tournaments. We have a challenging nonconference and conference schedule that we hope will prepare us for the playoffs.”

Two vital cogs to last season’s state run are back for the Jaguars.

BBE junior Kaden Pieper passes to an open teammate against Osakis on Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021, in Brooten.

West Central Tribune file photo

Kaden Pieper is back after being named the 2022 Central Minnesota Conference Player of the Year and an All-Tournament showing in the Class A tournament. In ‘21-’22, Pieper averaged a team-high 19.3 points on 49.6% shooting. He also hauled in 6.1 rebounds per game and had a team-high 69 steals.

Then there’s junior Luke Dingmann. A 6-foot3 guard/forward, Dingmann was named AllTournament as well as a CMC first-teamer. He averaged 11.2 points along with a team-best 7.4 rebounds per game and 25 blocks.

BBE sophomore Luke Dingmann charges to the bucket against Osakis on Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021, in Brooten.

West Central Tribune file photo

A player Anderson looks to make a leap in ‘22’23 is 6-2 senior forward Tanner Shelton.

“(Tanner) brings a ton of energy on both sides of the floor,” Anderson said. “He provides great leadership to our team and is a very unselfish player. He does the little things that not many players are willing to do but make a huge impact in the game.”

The Jaguars open the season ranked second in Class A. They are behind defending state champion Hayfield, which beat BBE 51-49 in the state championship last season.

“With many new faces playing different roles, it might take us some time to find our identity,” said Anderson, who is heading into year nine with the Jaguars.

“We have a great group of players who are fun to coach and most importantly, great student-athletes.

As a coaching staff, we are extremely excited for the start of our season and the journey ahead.”