Way-Too-Early Season Preview: Bismarck Legacy
Bismarck Legacy was the No. 1 team in Class A pretty much all season, before losing to Fargo Shanley in the first round of the state tournament. They won the WDA Tournament championship and went 22-3 before the season was…
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Continue ReadingBismarck Legacy was the No. 1 team in Class A pretty much all season, before losing to Fargo Shanley in the first round of the state tournament. They won the WDA Tournament championship and went 22-3 before the season was canceled. The Sabers graduate several key players, but return two starters plus several key rotation players – and look equipped to contend in what figures to be a strong WDA.
Go-To Player: Arianna Berryhill
Berryhill’s been a key player for the Sabers for a few years and was perhaps their most valuable player last year, averaging 12.5 points and 3.3 assists while keying the best defense in the state. She’s a good 3-point shooter and offset suboptimal shooting percentages by getting to the free throw line frequently and converting 80 percent of her attempts. She’ll have more offensive responsibility this season with the Sabers losing a number of perimeter pieces. If she can shoot a little better, she’ll be up there among the league leaders in scoring.
Breakout Candidate: Alayna Hill Alayna Hill 5'4" | PG Bismarck Legacy | 2021 State ND l
Hill came off the bench last year in a limited role but should ascend into the starting lineup as a senior, and with the Sabers graduating a lot of their perimeter players, they’ll need her to produce. She’s capable of putting the ball in the basket, as she’ll be one of the team’s top shooters. And with opposing teams likely devoting a lot of attention to Berryhill and Jaiden Baker, she’ll have plenty of room to work.
Question: Can The Sabers Score Enough?
Defense is never going to be the question for the Sabers, as they’ve consistently been among the best teams in the state on that end of the floor. That should be the case again this year, as they’ve got solid defenders plus plenty of experience. How good can the offense be? That may be what decides ultimately how good this Bismarck Legacy team can be. Berryhill and Jaiden Baker are both double-figure scorers from a year ago, but both can certainly improve from an efficiency standpoint. And more than one half of the team’s made 3-point field goals are gone to graduation, so they’ll need players to step up and provide shot-making.
Season Outlook
The Sabers return a solid core from last year’s 22-win team and while they might have some question marks, there’s enough talent to contend in the WDA and be one of the five best teams in Class A. Beryhill and Baker give them a strong duo. Hannah Stymeist and Alyna Hill should be solid as seniors too. The floor is there for a team that can finish in the top-four in the WDA. How high the ceiling is depends largely on individual development.