Mandan Holiday Tournament: The Match-Ups
There is one spot to watch high school basketball in North Dakota today and that’s the Mandan Holiday Tourney. Who is playing in the event over the next three days? We give you the rundown.
Shiloh Christian vs Bottineau
The Skinny: Shiloh Christian has played as tough of a first three games as any small school team I’ve covered in the five state area. They defeated a top team in Bishop Ryan, lost a close game to Trinity, and lost in overtime to one of the better teams in Minnesota (undefeated Ada-Borup). Now the Skyhawks face Bottinueau, a non pushover themselves as Shiloh looks to build some wins.
Top Match-Up: 6-3 veteran big Bailey Burcham vs Macauley Young/Jaden Mitzel, a combo that has logged many minutes together in the frontcourt.
Top Prospect: Macauley Young is an old school low post big that mans the low block, collects boards, forces people to shoot over length inside, and is tough to move at 6-foot-9.
Prediction: This feels like a game that Shiloh Christian brings everything at Bottineau in a big way winning by 14.
Hettinger-Scranton vs Flasher
The Skinny: These two teams have combined to play ten games this year and have gone 4-6. Flasher won all of their games, Hettinger-Scranton has lost every game they have played. These teams are moving in very opposite directions with Flasher being a veteran team.
Top Match-Up: Hunter Frederick vs Jacob Dix. Dix is the only Night Hawks player that has the size and veteran toughs to battle Frederick.
Top Prospect: Hunter Frederick is a four year starter who plays like a veteran: tough and consistent.
Prediction: Flasher by 34.
New Salem/Almont vs Wilton/Wing
The Skinny: The Miners and Holsteins are playing for the second time this year already. New Salem-Almont won the first game 67-41. Both teams are now 2-1 on the young season.
Top Match-Up: Tayden Soupir vs Tate Dickson. Tayden is a skilled, playmaking artist who has faced Dickson several times in his life. Dickson is one of the top 50 seniors in the state but Soupir has been able to best him creating for himself and guys like Wyatt Hoger, a senior shooter.
Top Prospect: Forward Evan Henke puts up a lot of points as a small forward physically scoring on the move. Henke is a point producer. One interesting player he will guard is 6-foot-4 WIlton-Wing sophomore Owen Conoly who is a top runner in the state and a developing hooper.
Prediction: This game should be somewhat closer. We saw New Salem-Amont by 16
Turtle Lake-Mercer/McClusky vs Grant County
The Skinny: Both teams enter the game at 2-1 on the season. There are similarities to these teams that should make this the most competitive game of the day, although last year it was anything but (TLMM won 69-34).
Top Match-Up: Let’s talk young players. Gunner Jacobs is a six foot shooting wing while Josh DenBoer is a 5-foot-9 young guard with the skills to play up. Jacobs is a sophomore while Den Boer is a freshman.
Top Prospect: Trapper Jacobs, a 6-foot-2 guard. Trapper is one of the most explosive guards in the state of North Dakota, and a guy that with a good season could make a run at several wards.
Prediction: TLMM by 10.