SIOUX FALLS S.D. (KELO) –Two teams heading into the Class B semifinal have two generations of one family that are set to face off.
Shane Warwick is the head coach for the Viborg-Hurley Cougars. His son, Walker Warwick, plays for the St. Mary’s Cardinals. The family will go head-to-head in Friday’s Class B semifinal game.
Shane said while there might be some bragging rights on the table with tonight’s game, he is just thankful they both were able to make it to the semifinals.
“At the end of the day, we’re both really thankful that we’re both playing on Friday night and have that opportunity to play in the Big B on on a Friday night semifinal,” Shane Warwick said.
Shane has coached Walker for almost all his life. He’s thrilled for both his team and his son.
“I had coached him for all the years, growing up and everything,” Shane said. “To be honest, I really just feel like we’re both really happy for each other, we’re not really just talking about the game. I think we’re both just thrilled and happy that we’re both getting the opportunity to play in a semifinal, I’m thrilled for him and his team, and I’m thrilled for my own team.”
Shane is looking ahead to the game and said that his team has its work cut out for them.
“Saint Mary’s has had an outstanding season, they’ve only got one loss on the year and that was to Castlewood,” Shane said. “So, we know that we’ve got a big challenge in front of us, but that’s the way it’s supposed to be in a semifinal game. They have just been lethal offensively throughout the whole year.”
Walker said he knows coming into the game that both have a goal they have to accomplish.
“It’d be fun for me to get the win to have some bragging rights, but also, we both have a job to get done. We both want to win the game,” Walker said. ” We have to come out there and win and try and beat each other, and obviously, that’s not probably how you’d want it to be, but at the end of the day, we both play the same tournament and we’re both playing in a semi-final game.”
Walker said while he’s excited for the game, facing off against his dad is an unusual feeling.
“Seeing your dad on the other side is a different feeling, but we both made it to the state tournament, we both fully support each other 100%, and we both made a state tournament, and we both have an opportunity to make to the state championship game,” Walker said.
Walker said he owes his love for basketball all to his dad.
“He was coaching me since I was out of the womb, basically, he’s been there, he’s coached my teams,” Walker said. “We shoot all the time at night, we have conversations about it, I mean it’s really everything to me.”
Playing under his dad for years hopefully gives him a leg up in tonight’s game, Walker said.
“I played for him for a lot of years, so I’m expecting a lot of the same stuff and obviously, I’m gonna try and use that to my advantage to win the game,” Walker said. “There’s a lot of nerves seeing my dad on the other side and having a ton of family there, but I think once the ball goes up, it’s gonna be good.
The semi final game will be held at 7:45 p.m. Friday.
