North Dakota Catchup: Class B
The season is approaching its end. With less than a month left in the regular season, teams all across the state are hoping to be rounding into form and playing their best ball. With two months worth of interesting development…
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Continue ReadingThe season is approaching its end. With less than a month left in the regular season, teams all across the state are hoping to be rounding into form and playing their best ball. With two months worth of interesting development to this point, now is a good time to take a quick look at the landscape of hoops in North Dakota ahead of the postseason.
Here’s where things stand in Class B:
Kindred, LEM, Trenton undefeated
Heading into the season, Kindred was pretty much the consensus No. 1 team in the state and Langdon/Edmore/Munich was, by all accounts, the easy No. 2 team in the state. It’s stayed that way all the way through as the Vikings and Cardinals are both undefeated and looking dominant with each passing test.
There are a lot of similarities between the two teams; both are equipped with a bevvy of long, athletic kids who are comfortable making decisions with the ball and taking a shot when called upon. Depth has been a strength for both groups, as has defense. And the high-end talent has never been a question for either group. Abby Duchsherer is arguably the best player in the state despite being just a sophomore. She’s on another level when it comes to two-way ability, shooting, passing, rebounding – she does it all. Terryn Johnson is one of the best post players in the state. Kristina Freier is a capable shot-maker and Jordyn Burner has shown she can come through in big moments. LEM certainly isn’t lacking for high-quality players either. Callie Ronningen is an all-state guard who stuffs the stat sheet on a regular basis. Kaitlyn Scherr and Morgan Freije have proven to be legitimate scorers and Lexi Olson and Kaylee Lowery are terrific two-way players. These two teams appear to be on a collision course in the state tournament.
Despite being undefeated, Trenton is getting slept on a little bit. It’s fair to say the Tigers have not been tested in ways Kindred and LEM have, but that doesn’t mean this group hasn’t been as dominant. Trenton wrapped up its regular season last week with 20 wins – and the Tigers are winning by an average of nearly 40 points per game. Kaity Hove is one of the best players in Class B and is capable of putting up huge numbers when her team needs it. Alyssa and Alexa St. Pierre are solid, experienced wings who can knock down shots, defend and play in transition and Jacee Turcotte is a rock-solid interior presence.
Regions 2, 3 and 6 Will Be Dog Fights
While Kindred and Trenton appear to be head-and-shoulders better than the rest of the fields in Region 1 and 8, many of the other region tournaments are shaping up to be multi-horse races.
Starting with Region 2: Grafton/St. Thomas is on track to earn the top seed in the region and is ranked in the top-five with just three losses on the year (to the top-three teams in the state). Julia Dusek, Cassie Sieben and Carlee Sieben form an elite trio and the Spoilers are young in years but old in varsity experience. They’ll likely have to go through Thompson if they are getting to state. The Tommies are 15-4 with losses to Kindred, LEM, Carrington and Grafton and there is little doubt that their defense will keep them in games no matter what their offense is generating. The offense can sag at times, but McKenzie Hughes is one of the best guards in the state.
Region 3 also houses a pair of top-10 teams as the defending region champ Kidder County is strong again while Carrington has been one of the five or so best teams in Class B. The Cardinals have been on a tear in recent weeks, earning hard-fought wins over Rugby, Thompson, Shiloh Christian, LaMoure/Litchville-Marion and Oakes. Kiera Eli has emerged as an elite player and the Cardinals have a terrific group of defenders, playmakers and shot-makers. The Wolverines finished the regular season at 17-2 and will be the top seed in District 6. And with Madelyn Schmidt and Brittany Rath form an elite tandem inside and out. Oakes, LLM and Medina/Pingree-Buchanan have also proven to be terrific outfits.
The Rugby Panthers were supposed to be rebuilding after turning over a big chunk of a roster that played in the state title game a year ago, but here they are, ranked in the top-10 and looking like the favorite out of Region 6. Brooke Blessum and Mykell Heidlebaugh have been excellent and while the Panthers lack experience (they don’t have a senior), they don’t lack talent. And their defense has been arguably the best in the state. They’ll have to grind their way through a tough region as Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood, Glenburn and four other teams have winning records.
Even LEM will have a battle to get through Region 4. Four Winds/Minnewaukan has been one of the best teams in the state for years despite being seemingly incapable of beating the Cardinals. The Indians have excellent balance offensively and a bevvy of capable shot-makers on the perimeter and in the paint. St. John and Benson County are looming in the early rounds for someone too.
Region 5 & 7 Look Wide Open
Many of the top teams from a year ago are top teams again this year and the gap between the top and even the middle appears significant again.
Regions 5 and 7 don’t have the elite teams at the top of the food chain as defending region champs Shiloh Christian and Hettinger/Scranton have been good not great. Both teams are in the mix heading into the postseason, but picking a favorite in both regions is difficult.
Flasher and Grant County are right in the mix with Shiloh at the top of Region 5. The Skyhawks have taken the most losses, but their schedule has undoubtedly been the most challenging. Grant County has beaten Shiloh Christian, which has beaten Flasher, which beat Grant County twice this year. There’s very little separation between those three teams.
Hettinger/Scranton dominated Region 7 last year, winning by 22 and 30 before beating Dickinson Trinity in the region championship game by seven. The Night Hawks have the talent to make another run, but there’s no doubt that they haven’t been nearly as dominant. Heart River and Beach have already beaten them this year and both look poised for lengthy postseason runs in the coming weeks. This region is up for grabs for a number of teams.