North Dakota First Look: Mandan
***Photo Credit: Bismarck Tribune*** The Mandan Braves looked like a state title contender for most of last season, serving as the only team to provide much resistance against Bismarck Century during the season. Things didn’t end on the highest of…
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Continue Reading***Photo Credit: Bismarck Tribune***
The Mandan Braves looked like a state title contender for most of last season, serving as the only team to provide much resistance against Bismarck Century during the season. Things didn’t end on the highest of notes as they lost to the Patriots in blowout fashion in the WDA Championship game and were upset by West Fargo Sheyenne in the first round of the Class A State Tournament. With their two best players gone to graduation, there will be questions that need to be answered for the Braves.
GO-TO SCORER: Lakyn Darras
Darras has been a double figure scorer each of the last two years for the Braves in a complementary role to Kennedy Harris and Megan Zander. She’ll step into a bigger role now and be expected to produce even more. Darras is a solid inside-outside player, and if she can continue to knock down outside shots, she can be a consistent double-double presence.
BREAKOUT CANDIDATE: Sydney Gustavsson
Gustavsson was a starting guard last year for the Braves as a sophomore and averaged better than five points per game. She showed that she can knock down perimeter jumpers and defend at a high level. If she can continue to improve her efficiency, she could be in for an all-league season.
QUESTION: How many players make big jumps?
Replacing players like Zander and Harris is impossible as those two were elite for a while. But if Mandan is going to stay afloat and compete at a high level in the WDA, young players will have to step up in a big way. Darras is proven at this point but Gustavsson, Piper Harris and Janie Berger will have big opportunities to step into more prominent roles.
OUTLOOK
Mandan’s season outlook changes from last year where the Braves went into the season on the short list of state title contenders, but that doesn’t mean this team isn’t expected to be successful. Despite heavy losses, the Braves have talent in the program to contend for a top spot in the WDA again. How high their ceiling is remains unknown because it is dependent on quite a bit of in-house growth. But the floor should be a team that competes in the second tier of the league.