Class B North Dakota Rankings
Class B has been an adventure this season thus far with many of the elite teams showing there isn’t a great deal of separation at the top. With only two undefeated teams left in Class B (Grafton is also undefeated…
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Continue ReadingClass B has been an adventure this season thus far with many of the elite teams showing there isn’t a great deal of separation at the top. With only two undefeated teams left in Class B (Grafton is also undefeated against NoDak competition), there are a lot of teams vying for spots in the rankings. That makes any attempt to rank teams extremely fluid as things can change in very little time.
Here are the top 10 teams in Class B:
1. Grafton/St. Thomas
The Spoilers have been the dominant team in North Dakota Class A this winter as their only loss was to Stephen-Argyle – a borderline top-five team in small-school Minnesota – in overtime. Grafton allows less than 40 points per game to North Dakota competition and while the Spoilers’ offense can be inconsistent at times, their defense will carry them a long way. Big games are on the horizon.
2. Four Winds/Minnewaukan
The Indians have just two losses on the season and their only defeat by a Class B team was an eight-point loss against Carrington in late-December. Four Winds is powered by an elite offense and a pace that can overwhelm even some good teams.
3. Rugby
Here’s where the rankings get a little difficult as there is such a small margin between teams from about three to 10. Rugby just beat Velva, another high-end team at the Class B level and has just two losses – by a combined four points to teams ranked No. 2 and No. 6. At 14-2, no matter how you slice it, the Panthers are one of the state’s best.
4. Langdon/Edmore/Munich
Langdon has just one loss to a North Dakota team – a double overtime defeat at the hands of Thompson in early December – and has mostly dominated just about every team on its schedule to this point. The Cardinals host Four Winds and Grafton next week, so we’ll learn a lot about just how good this team can be.
5. Thompson
The Tommies’ only blemish is a nine-point loss to Grafton in Mid-January. Otherwise, this team has been among the best in the state. They’ve got several good wins including victories over Langdon/Edmore/Munich, Kindred and Dickinson Trinity and a staunch defense.
6. Carrington
Carrington’s only two losses are to Velva at the beginning of the year and LEM at the end of December. The Cardinals have some absolutely terrific wins though too including victories over Four Winds and Rugby.
7. Velva
Velva has only played two games that have been decided by 15 points or less and three decided by single-digits. The Aggies just lost to Rugby but also sport wins over Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood, Harvey/Wells County and Carrington.
8. Kidder County
One of the few remaining undefeated teams left in the state, it’s hard to get a true read on Kidder County because the Wolverines have absolutely steamrolled mostly inferior competition. Wins over Grant County – by 30 – and a recent nip-and-tuck win over Linton/HMB look good. Region 3 is a bear and this is one of the true contenders.
9. Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood
The Mavericks have just two losses on the year and a solid offense buoyed by one of the state’s best defenses. MLS is in an absolutely loaded Region as Region 6 has both Rugby and Velva as well, but the Mavericks have done well against the teams in their district.
10. Linton/HMB
Linton/HMB is 16-2 on the year with good wins over teams like Hettinger, Oakes and Shiloh Christian. An eight-point loss to Kidder County last week does nothing to change the calculus as this is a team that can compete for a spot in the state tournament, and do damage if it gets there.