North Dakota Catchup: Region 7 Preview
The Postseason is upon us. With region tournaments set to start in the next week, it’s time to turn our attention to the postseason. Region 7 is one of the more competitive and unpredictable ones in Class B this season…
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Continue ReadingThe Postseason is upon us. With region tournaments set to start in the next week, it’s time to turn our attention to the postseason.
Region 7 is one of the more competitive and unpredictable ones in Class B this season as the three top teams have all, at certain points of the year, looked like the potential favorite. There doesn’t seem to be much separation between any of the top teams down as far as possibly seventh.
Here’s what you need to know about Region 7
Favorite: Beulah
The Miners are the team peaking at the right time as they’ve won six in a row including several big ones. The defending region champs have a very strong defense, allowing just 43 points per game and a combination of talented guards and size up front. Chad Morsette has been awesome particularly over the course of the second half of the season and freshman point guard Trey Brandt has shown flashes of being a big time player. Jonah Larson is steady in the paint as well.
Contenders: Dickinson Trinity, Glen Ullin/Hebron
The Titans started the season hot then faded a bit and have seemingly stagnated on ‘solid but unspectacular.’ Matthew Stafford has been really good for the Titans most of the season and he’s one of the best off guards in the state. Cole Fitterer and Aric Knopik are high-quality pieces as well and while the team struggles to score consistently, their defense is going to keep them in a lot of games.
Glen Ullin/Hebron has 16 wins on the year and are one of the most improved teams in the state. The Bearcats have a senior-heavy lineup but not a lot of experience in this kind of setting as the team won just five games last year and 11 the year before.
In the Mix: Bowman County, Hazen, Mott-Regent
Bowman County is going into the postseason with some positive momentum and looking like a team that’ll give a high seed fits. The Bulldogs play terrific defense all around.
Hazen won 14 games in the regular season and has proven capable of competing against the top teams in the region though to this point – final game against Beulah still on the schedule – the Bison are 1-4.
Mott-Regent has been solid this year and the Wildfire are dangerous because they are tough inside and have one of the best players in the region in senior forward Cody Perkins.