2018 ND Class B: Region 7 Beach
Last year Beach made some noise in Region 7. They were the only team to pick up a Region 7 win over Beulah, last year’s Region 7 champs, and this year they are hoping to stay near the top of the region.
One of the big questions facing Beach is how will they replace two senior starters and four total seniors. Gunnar Farsveet is an offensive lineman at Dickinson State now and his 6-foot-7, 280-pound frame is won’t be there to clog the lane and grab boards.
Farsveet averaged nearly 16 rebounds a game last year and shot over 50 percent from the field. Beach head coach Al Swanson said Farsveet had a great season.
“Gunnar stepped up, and became one of the better posts in the state — knew his role, stayed around the basket, worked his butt off,” Swanson said.
Beach will also have to replace Josiah Orluck, a key guard on last year’s team. Orluck didn’t have huge stats and went a little under the radar recognition wise but he was a key player for the team.
“Josiah didn’t get a lot of accolades but he was probably the hardest working kid in the region. He got moved from playing a wing to point guard. Just didn’t get a lot of points out of the position,” Swanson said.
Beach fans know their seniors from last year will be tough to replace but they’re excited because they return the region’s top scorer and the No. 3 returning scorer in the state. Gage Swanson, the coach’s son, will come back hoping to build on his 24 ppg and 9 rpg sophomore campaign.
Last year, Swanson’s play at regionals was lacking because of a late-season injury. Swanson will join part-time starter Jhett Farsveet. Jhett Farsveet is a quick guard with a 6-1 frame.
Coach Swanson said this year’s team will bill looking for players from the JV ranks to step up. Brandon Schulte, a 6-footer, will be looked at for minutes this year. Last year he split time on JV and varsity. He’s a good shooter who can be trusted.
Freshman Tevin Dietz will take over the point guard spot. He can shoot the outside shot but is young, so he’ll go through some growing pains. Sophomore Blake Van Horn will come in and try to man the middle. He’s a 6-foot, 225 banger on the inside.
Coach Swanson said this group may start slow because of inexperience but that they have tremendous upside and skills.
“I have one of those teams that may start a little slow, but I think we’ll develop into a great team as the season develops,” Swanson said. “They can all shoot the ball really well, they are all good passers and ball handlers. “
Gameplan
Coach Swanson will be changing things up from last year. Last year Beach wanted to slow the pace and use their big guy to get inside scores. Beach will be smaller and faster this year, so Swanson wants to go with a faster pace.
“We are definitely going to try to trap and press more. We have some speed, which we didn’t have in the past. I feel like we have some of the quicker kids in the region and we are going to try to push the ball a lot more,” Swanson said.
“We couldn’t afford to push the ball last year with Gunnar on the floor. We’re weren’t going to leave back our biggest asset. I preached and harped to the kids to slow it down and play that kind of basketball. We are going to look like a totally different team playing style wise.”
Swanson said it might be a tough adjusting from slow it down basketball to speed it up basketball for Gage Swanson and Jhett Farsveet because their minds will remember slowing it down so much last season.
Coach Swanson said he expects to have a rotation close to 10 on the varsity this year. Beach has some talent this year but they have no varsity experience.