North Dakota Preview: Four Winds/Minnewaukan
Four Winds/Minnewaukan has been one of the best teams in Class B over the course of the last three years and while the Indians are graduating two solid starters, they’ve got the firepower back to be one of the best…
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Continue ReadingFour Winds/Minnewaukan has been one of the best teams in Class B over the course of the last three years and while the Indians are graduating two solid starters, they’ve got the firepower back to be one of the best teams in the state next winter.
Go-To Girl: Myona Dauphinais
Dauphinais has been the leading scorer for the Indians each of the last two years, averaging 15 and 18 points per game. She’s one of the best scorers in Class B and while she’s been inconsistent as an underclassman, she’s capable of piling up points like few other players around the state. She’s a terrific 3-point shooter, slippery getting to the paint and an excellent finisher. She’ll have to take on more of a playmaking role with Latasha Bellile gone to graduation, but she’s a player who can take over a game in a way very few can.
Breakout Candidate: Mallory Yankton
The Indians are graduating two double-figure scorers in Bellile and Riah Littleghost. Perhaps more importantly, Bellile and Littleghost combined to average more than 10 assists per game. That’s a lot of playmaking out the door and while the shot distribution is easy to figure with Dauphinais, Ezura Rainbow Ezura Rainbow 5'11" | C Four Winds-Minnewankan | 2022 State ND and Maphiya Jackson all taking on bigger loads, there will be a lot of minutes available in the backcourt. Yankton should be up next. As a sophomore, Yankton was a solid role player off the bench, routinely supplying complementary scoring and defense. She’s athletic, tough defensively and can get to the paint and finish.
Question: Can the Indians Win District 7 Again?
Four Winds/Minnewaukan won the District 7 title for the second year in a row last year before being eliminated by Langdon/Edmore/Munich for the third year in a row. With the players returning, the Indians will be the favorite to win District 7 and contend in Region 4. They’ve got one of the best lead guards in Class B and definitely one of the best interior duos in the state. A third District 7 title is definitely possible.
Outlook
The Indians should go into next season ranked in the top-10 with the potential to contend in their region and win multiple games in a state tournament setting. Few teams have the talent up front like Four Winds does with Jackson and Rainbow. The two combined to average 24 points and 16 rebounds last year as sophomores and should only get better. Few teams have an individual player who can light it up like Dauphinais. That trio gives them a high floor. If the complementary players like Yankton and Lanehya Malnourie can take a step forward with another year of experience, this team can be elite.