Way-Too-Early Preview: Devils Lake
The Firebirds were hit as hard as any team by COVID halting the season, as they were a day away from playing in their second straight state championship game. Devils Lake has been one of the two or three best…
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Continue ReadingThe Firebirds were hit as hard as any team by COVID halting the season, as they were a day away from playing in their second straight state championship game. Devils Lake has been one of the two or three best teams in the state each of the last two years and while the Firebirds are graduating some central pieces to that success, don’t expect them to drop off a whole lot yet.
Go-To Player: Jailyn Martinson Jailyn Martinson 5'9" | SF Devils Lake | 2021 State ND
Martinson led the Firebirds in scoring last year, averaging 13 points and more than five rebounds while earning all-EDC honors. She’s long, athletic and efficient. She’s got good touch in the mid-range and can beat primary defenders to the rim. Life might be a little tougher with the Firebirds graduating three solid seniors, but Martinson’s good enough to take on a bigger offensive load. She’s an early Player-of-the-Year candidate in the EDC.
Breakout Candidate: Rachel Dahlen Rachel Dahlen 6'2" | C Devils Lake | 2022 State ND
Dahlen saw sparing minutes off the bench last year and was productive in limited minutes, averaging about six points and six rebounds as a sophomore. She’s got great length, moves well and has the skill to produce at a high level. She will have a huge opportunity as the beneficiary of a lot of defenses devoting attention to Martinson and Ramsey Brown Ramsey Brown 5'10" | CG Devils Lake | 2021 State ND especially.
Question: Can the Firebirds Win Another EDC?
Devils Lake has been dominant in the EDC in recent years and while they are graduating three starters, they return two double-figure scorers in Martinson and Brown plus three bench players who saw double-digit minutes in the state tournament games last March. It won’t be easy to replace a player like Jes Mertens who was the catalyst on both ends of the floor for years, and the perimeter as a whole is turning over quite a bit, but there’s enough collective talent, length and athleticism for the Firebirds to continue churning out wins.
Season Outlook
Devils Lake may not have the same kind of overwhelming on-paper talent it’s had over the last few years, but the Firebirds are going to cause problems for teams because of their length, athleticism and experience. It’s a team still with players who have been around a program that has done nothing but win. Martinson and Brown give them one of the best duos in the EDC. It’s a team that, despite some questions, should contend in the league and be one of the 10 best teams in Class A.