Budding big man Owen Schelske provides scoring spark off Kernels’ bench

By Source / Published on Saturday, 21 Feb 2026 00:56 AM / No Comments / 14 views

Feb. 20—MITCHELL — When Owen Schelske steps on the basketball court, his physical presence alone is hard to ignore.

Just a sophomore, Schelske stands 6-foot-6, already the tallest player on the Mitchell High School boys basketball roster. Last fall, as the Kernels’ starting left tackle on the football field, he was listed at 265 pounds, giving Schelske the mass to match his broad-shouldered frame.

This winter, Schelske is proving he has ample skill on the hardwood to pair with his exceptional size, providing a big boost for the Kernels during his first season seeing major varsity action.

With Mitchell playing at Sioux Falls Washington on Tuesday night in a must-win game to keep the Kernels’ hopes of hosting a SoDak 16 playoff game alive, Schelske delivered his best performance yet.

The Warriors struggled to find an answer for Schelske, who posted his first career varsity double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds — leading the Kernels in both categories — off the bench in a 52-49 victory.

“We had the size advantage, and playing with (frontcourt-mate) Colton (Smith), a lot of attention is on him, so I just got a lot of rebounds and put up a lot of layups,” Schelske said of the performance.

For the season, Schelske averages a modest 6.1 points and 3.7 rebounds in 16 minutes per game, but his role is growing with each passing week. Including Tuesday’s big outing, Schelske has scored in double figures in three of the Kernels’ last seven contests. He’s even been turned to twice in starting duty based on matchups this season.

Schelske has quickly evolved into one of Mitchell’s key pieces to making a state tournament push, and opposing teams are already zeroing in on him as one of the most important players to stop.

“When I listen to other coaches talk about our team, it’s Colton (Smith), and then Schelske is usually the second one they talk about,” said MHS head coach Ryker Kreutzfeldt. “He’s just so hard to guard; so big and physical, and most of the time, he goes right at you.”

It’s one thing to be blessed with Schelske’s size. It’s another to use that size effectively on the basketball court, something Schelske has no problem doing.

He’s a bruiser — strong and scrappy — near the basket, consistently producing good looks at the hoop, rebounding misses or making opposing players foul him in the process.

That style was part of Schelske’s arsenal anyway, but it was refined and sharpened by a season of playing against former Kernel center Gavin Hinker, who graduated following last season and is now on the Dakota Wesleyan University men’s basketball team.

“I’m really confident in my skills and how I play. When I’m out there, I know what I can do, and I know what I’m good at,” Schelske said. “Playing against Big Gav (Hinker) last year and that varsity team, that really prepares you for what varsity basketball is like. Going against him really taught me how to be physical in the post and just get to your spot right away.”

According to MHS senior forward Colton Smith, who’s also familiar with the style of play required to succeed under the basket, Schelske’s play on the interior as an underclassman showcases a certain fearlessness and is a testament to his talent.

“He’s done a really good job at just embracing how physical it is down there,” Smith said of Schelske. “A lot of kids shy away because it’s just constant fighting for your shot, fighting for a rebound. You’ve just got to get in there and work as hard as you can, and that’s when he’s at his best.”

Schelske also said he’s fully committed to his role off the bench and to making the most of it, as time on the sideline helps him get a feel for the game before coming in to try to provide a spark.

That mindset has helped Schelske emerge as a go-to offensive option, and he’s still just scratching at his potential in Kreutzfeldt’s eyes. The Kernel coach said Schelske’s next step in development is to start converting at a higher clip. Plus, Kreutzfeldt said Schelske has an ability to stretch the floor with perimeter shooting, another skill he’s working on, but the Kernels aren’t asking that of him right now.

Currently, Schelske is shooting around 45% from the floor and 50% from the free-throw line, but every bump of those percentages will make Schelske that much more of an offensive threat.

“Offensively, we get better when he’s in the game. That’s why it’s nice to bring him off the bench because we get a little extra punch that most teams don’t have,” Kreutzfeldt said. “When he gets in there, we’re usually running a set for him as soon as possible. We want to get it in his hands.

“Once he takes that next step,” Kreutzfeldt later added, “he’s going to be a real load to handle inside.”