North Dakota Catchup: Region 2
The season is quickly winding down. With region tournaments starting up in the next few weeks, we turn our attention to the postseason. Here are some things to know about Region 2: The team that represents Region 2 may be…
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Continue ReadingThe season is quickly winding down. With region tournaments starting up in the next few weeks, we turn our attention to the postseason.
Here are some things to know about Region 2:
The team that represents Region 2 may be the state title favorite
It’s entirely possible that the two best teams in Class B reside in Region 2. Thompson has been perhaps the best team in the state throughout the winter and is only getting better now that it is healthy while Hillsboro/Central Valley – the defending state champions in Class B – has one of the best players in the state plus an elite defense.
Thompson’s got one of the best one-two punches in the state in senior guard Cadyn Schwabe and senior forward Hayden Overby. Schwabe missed the first eight games of the year but has since returned to the lineup and is getting stronger and stronger. Overby’s been terrific, averaging 18 points and 7.7 rebounds on the year. The Tommies have gotten really good years from senior guard Marcus Hughes (11 points and 3.6 assists) and junior forwards Chance Danner (7.5 ppg, 8.1 rpg) and Clay Odenbach (9.6 ppg, 6 rpg).
Hillsboro/Central Valley hasn’t suffered any sort of drop off this season despite incorporating a bunch of new faces to the varsity level. Carson Henningsgard has been dominant and his ability to control the game is unparalleled at the Class B level. He’s joined on the perimeter by junior guards Oscar Benson and Landen Reed and a solid cast of contributors. The Burros play excellent defense and have only one loss on the year to North Dakota competition.
Grafton/St. Thomas remains dangerous
The Spoilers started the year a little slow, suffering a blowout loss to Found Winds/Minnewaukan, a loss to Kindred and winning several tight games. They’ve won 12 straight since that Kindred loss and are winning by more than 25 points per game. Dalton Albrecht is one of the best players in the state and a dominant inside presence. He’s joined up front by Beau Feltmann, giving the Spoilers an elite interior tandem. Few teams have the kind of size Grafton can bring to the table, which makes them a scary opponent in a one-and-done setting.
The depth of the region is strong
Larimore, Cavalier and Hatton/Northwood all have solid records and have enjoyed varying degrees of success this winter.
Cavalier started hot, winning its first nine games. The Tornadoes have since struggled, going 3-5 but four of those five losses are to the top three teams in the region and with the exception of a blowout loss to Thompson, three have been hotly-contested. Andre Carrier is a player to watch for them.
Larimore upset Thompson two weeks ago and has been solid this year, going 12-5 thus far. But the Polar Bears have also shown vulnerability against teams in a higher tier than them, losing by 46 to Four Winds, 32 to Hillsboro/Central Valley and 27 to Grafton. Luke Tupa is a strong inside scorer and Jacob Schempp, Ryan Sletten and Jamie Kava form a solid perimeter trio.
Hatton/Northwood is 13-5 on the year and with the exception of a 33-point loss to Hillsboro early in the season, the Thunder have been excellent. They score as well as anybody in the region and lean on a very good perimeter trio of juniors Avery Thorsgard and Alex Wolfe and sophomore Colton Konschak.