Class B State Tournament: X-Factors
The North Dakota Class B State Tournament starts Thursday in Minot. Though the star power certainly isn’t lacking, these teams have proven throughout the year that they are much more than one or two players. Here are some of the…
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Continue ReadingThe North Dakota Class B State Tournament starts Thursday in Minot.
Though the star power certainly isn’t lacking, these teams have proven throughout the year that they are much more than one or two players.
Here are some of the X-Factors that will play key roles in their teams’ fate.
Chance Danner/Clay Odenbach, Thompson
Danner and Odenbach have been key cogs in Thompson’s defensive effort all year. Neither guy is going to dominate a game offensively through usage but if the two can combine to give the Tommies a typical 14-20 points and 12-15 rebounds, they’ll be tough to beat. Thompson, for all its strength, doesn’t shoot the ball particularly well. So a big key will be on the defensive end of the floor, and on the glass where both Danner and Odenbach can change a game by creating extra scoring chances, and by simply being around the rim ready to finish.
Carter Lingen, Richland
Lingen is the third leading scorer for the Colts, so by no means does he fly under the radar. But with a lot of attention being devoted to guys like Cole Meyers and Gavin Reiland, Lingen could have an opportunity to put his imprint on games in the tournament. Averaging 13.3 points and 4.7 assists on the year, Lingen is very good at getting his teammates involved, but he’s also a deadly shooter if given time and space.
Matthew Reep, Shiloh Christian
Shiloh Christian has a dominant frontcourt pairing in Jaden Mitzel and MaCauley Young but in order for the Skyhawks to win a state title, they’ll need their guards to play well. Reep has probably been the most consistent one of the bunch and he bears significant responsibility on both ends of the floor. He’ll likely be tasked with defending the opposition’s top scorers for chunks at a time and with all the attention opposing teams figure to dedicate towards shoring up the paint, he’ll have ample opportunity to light up the scoring column.
Hunter Thorpe, Ellendale
An explosive scorer on a team that can struggle offensively. Thorpe struggled for big chunks of the region tournament before going off in the fourth quarter of the championship win over Carrington. He’s a volatile shooter who can get hot. With so many Class B games historically being hotly contested, a guy who can swing a game in a matter of possessions with 3-point shooting is dangerous.
Chinaza Udekwe, Bishop Ryan
Bishop Ryan’s two stars – Ben Bohl and Mason Hedberg – demand an inordinate amount of attention and the Lions face a fair amount of junk defense because of that pairing. Udekwe’s emergence as a legitimate third scorer has been critical for a team that hopes to play for a state title again. His ability to create his own offense could be a key factor as he’ll likely have a lot of space to work.
Tucker Longnecker, New Rockford-Sheyenne
Another talented scorer on a team that can fill it up in a hurry. Longnecker is an excellent outside shooter and played well throughout the regional tournament. The Rockets push the pace and put up points better than any team in this tournament and since it is generally easier to slow teams down than speed teams up, his ability to potentially break a tight game open at any time makes him a threat.