Postseason Report: EDC Wrap Up
Unless something unforeseen occurs, the basketball season has come and gone. There’s a lot to unpack from the last four months of hoops though and before we turn our attention to the AAU and offseason scene, let’s look back at…
Access all of Prep Girls Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingUnless something unforeseen occurs, the basketball season has come and gone. There’s a lot to unpack from the last four months of hoops though and before we turn our attention to the AAU and offseason scene, let’s look back at the season that was.
Devils Lake Was Dominant…Again
A year after going undefeated until the championship game, the Firebirds cruised through the EDC again this winter, losing just once before the state tournament. Devils Lake went undefeated in the regular season, lost to Fargo Davies in the EDC Tournament Semifinals and beat Bismarck Century and Fargo Davies in the Class A State Tournament. The Firebirds were going to be favored in the state championship against Fargo Shanley.
Armed with excellent depth led by Jes Mertens and Jailyn Martinson, the Firebirds overwhelmed EDC competition pretty much all year with their ability to defend, get in the passing lanes, space the floor and attack the rim. Their offense was balanced and efficient all year and had the season lasted one more night, they looked like the team that would’ve won a state title.
Fargo Davies Made a Huge Jump
Fargo Davies was viewed as a team expected to be improved and the Eagles were that and then some this winter. Leaning on its star duo of Taylor Fey and Ryleigh Wacha, the Eagles won the EDC Tournament Championship and reached the state semifinals. The Eagles went from 13-12 the previous year to 18-8 with a chance to win another game.
They’ll head into next season ranked in the top-five in the preseason and with Wacha, Fey, Ava Wild, Marissa Burian and Brooklyn Koenig all back in the fold.
The League Is Losing an Excellent Senior Class
The EDC is going to be competitive going forward, but there are some terrific seniors that teams will have to find a way to replace.
Reile Payne and Hadley Huber were two of the best players in the league for Fargo Shanley. Jes Mertens and Abby Johnson were stalwarts in the Devils Lake lineup.
Shelby Frank and Claire Leach were catalysts for Grand Forks Red River.
McKenna Becher was the all-everything for West Fargo.
Some of the top teams are losing key players from this past season. Players that were key pieces in state tournament runs. The two teams that reached the state championship were driven in large part because of excellent seniors.
West Fargo Schools Look Strong Going Forward
Looking ahead to the 2020-21 season, the West Fargo schools are positioned to contend at the top of the league.
West Fargo graduates its best player in McKenna Becher but returns four starters including Chloe Pfau and Brynn Giesen in the backcourt. Pfau averaged nine points, five rebounds and four assists as a freshman and could be a breakout player as a sophomore. Giesen is one of the best shooters in the league. Ashlyn Diemert was solid as a junior and watch out for sophomore-to-be forward Miriley Simon.
West Fargo Sheyenne was supposed to be way down after losing a huge chunk of its team a year ago but the Mustangs were one of the surprise teams in the EDC thanks in large part to the play of junior Jaiden Feist. Alivia Manson, Karson Sanders and Peyton Breidenbach were all solid pieces last year as underclassmen.