North Dakota Duos to watch in 2018-19
There’s a lot of talent in North Dakota right now and both class A and B figure to be extremely competitive. Here are some of the top duos to watch during the 2018-19 winter season:
Bismarck Century: The Patriots won the state title last season and while they lose several key guys including Josh Sipes and Kade Amundson, they return one of the best players in the state in point guard Treyton Mattern. He’s joined in the backcourt by senior Cade Feeney who emerged as an ace defender and intangibles guy. Mattern had a terrific summer with ECI and averaged better than 12 points and four assists last year while Feeney put up right around nine per game. Expect both guys to see production increases.
Jamestown: The Bluejays could be one of the top teams in the WDA this season and the duo of Mason Walters and Boden Skunberg up front is a big reason why. Walters — a University of Jamestown recruit — averaged 16 points and eight boards last year while Skunberg put up 14 points and about six rebounds as a sophomore.
Thompson: The Tommies won 19 games last season and could push for more this winter as they are led by a very good inside-outside duo in Cadyn Schwab and Hayden Overby. Schwab’s a grizzled varsity veteran and averaged 15 points and better than five assists last year while Overby was one of the more consistent interior players, averaging 13 points and nine boards. Both guys were productive this summer with ND Attack.
Bishop Ryan: Bishop Ryan went to the state title game a year ago and if the Lions are going to go on a deep run and contend again this year, they’ll need big senior seasons from Ben Bohl and Mason Hedberg. Perhaps the top duo in the state, the two combined for better than 37 points per game a season ago. Bohl stuffed the stat sheet to the tune of 20 points, eight rebounds and three assists while Hedberg put up 17 points a night.
Shiloh Christian: Shiloh loses several key starters but returns a very good inside-out duo in senior center McCauley Young and junior guard Jaden Mitzel. Young averaged 16 points and 12 rebounds while Mitzel put up better than 13 points per game as a sophomore.
Mandan: Mandan loses a lot with the Stecklers graduating but the cupboards are far from bare. Elijah Klein averaged better than 14 points and nine rebounds as a junior while Trey Wiest was one of the more impressive guards over the course of the summer. Both are poised for big senior years.
West Fargo Sheyenne: The Mustangs finished as the state runner-ups a year ago and while they lose a big senior class, Christian Kuntz is back and he’s one of the best players in the state. The 6-foot-1 senior put up 18 points and better than four assists per game as a junior and was very good over the summer with ECI. He’s joined in the backcourt by Tyler Terhark, who averaged about eight points per game a year ago but could conceivably double his scoring average this winter.