Region 7 Preview
Hettinger/Scranton cruised through Region 7 a year ago on its way to the state tournament. There’s a lot more parity in this region this year, as six teams have winning records this year. There’s a lot of unpredictability with this…
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Continue ReadingHettinger/Scranton cruised through Region 7 a year ago on its way to the state tournament. There’s a lot more parity in this region this year, as six teams have winning records this year. There’s a lot of unpredictability with this region this year because all the top teams have enjoyed success and endured struggles against the rest of the perceived contenders. So much of it is going to depend on matchups, which should make for a lot of intrigue.
Here’s a look at Region 7
Favorite: Hettinger/Scranton
The Night Hawks are the reigning region champs, and while they haven’t been nearly as dominant this year, they are still formidable and appear to be rounding into form heading down the stretch. Sam Oase is one of the best post players in Class B and she’s a double-double machine. She’s averaging better than 16 points and 10 boards on the year and can control the paint in ways few other players particularly in this region can. Alyssa Andress has proven that she can take over a game from the perimeter. Those two provide a punch that few teams can match and there’s a solid cache of complementary pieces in place around them.
Contenders: Beach, Heart River
The Buccaneers earned the No. 1 seed in the region thanks in large part to an elite defense and excellent balance on the offensive end of the floor. Sam Oech anchors the defense and can score on the interior. Rachel Bosserman joins her up front to form a terrific tandem. Madi Wilhelmi is one of the better lead guards in the region and Alyvia Braden and Kennady Myers are solid two-way players as well.
Heart River finished the regular season with 15 wins while allowing just 40 points per game. The Cougars can get stuck at times on the offensive end (they average just 48 points per game) but their defense has been a constant all year and they’ve beaten Hettinger/Scranton and shown they can hang with elite teams throughout the year. They have a healthy amount of experience with multi-year starters and capable pieces in Afton Shypkoski, Laken Jacobson and Caylee Wilke.
In The Mix: Bowman County, Dickinson Trinity
Bowman County turned over almost the entire roster from a year ago yet the Bulldogs have been solid again. Sitting at 12-9 on the year, Bowman County earned the No. 4 seed in the region – and a first round bye – and will likely face Dickinson Trinity. Freshman forward Ellie Powell has been terrific inside and is a player to watch going forward. Jill Svihovec and Abby Smyle have been steady hands as well.
Dickinson Trinity is another solid squad that has found a way to win despite being offensively challenged. Abbey Kubas is one of the top post players in the region and can deliver a double-double routinely.