North Dakota Catchup: Region 1
The season is approaching its end. With less than a month left in the regular season, teams all across the state are hoping to be rounding into form and playing their best ball. With two months worth of interesting development…
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Continue ReadingThe season is approaching its end. With less than a month left in the regular season, teams all across the state are hoping to be rounding into form and playing their best ball. With two months worth of interesting development to this point, now is a good time to take a quick look at the landscape of hoops in North Dakota ahead of the postseason.
Here’s where things stand in the Region 1:
Kindred Heating Up
After a slow start to the season, Kindred has won 11 games in a row and sits atop the Region 1 standings. The Vikings play elite defense and have great balance inside and out. Gavin Keller is the focal point around which the operation orbits, as he’s a terrific inside and out scorer who can screen, run the floor, finish in the paint and step away from the rim and shoot/pass. He’s an excellent all-around defender, using his length to protect the rim – and his presence allows the rest of the Kindred defenders to apply more pressure. Dawson Schaffer and Andrew Freier have been excellent providing consistent scoring and playmaking, and give the Vikings stable, solid, veteran guards the team can trust in big games. Kadin Olson, Paul Olson and Max McQuillan have filled in well around those guys. This group is playing its best ball now and has all the component pieces to win the region.
Hurlburt’s Leading Enderlin
Enderlin was viewed as a team that could take a step forward this season. So far, the Eagles are 14-1 and winning by almost 19 points per game. Joe Hurlburt is putting together an all-state type of season, averaging 23 points and 15 rebounds. He’s improved his efficiency, cut down the turnovers and is having immense impact on games on both ends of the floor. Gus Hurlburt isn’t putting up the same kind of scoring numbers, but he’s been consistently solid too, averaging 12.6 points and 7.4 rebounds. This team is young in age but has plenty of talent and varsity experience. We’ll learn more about this team over the final few weeks as their schedule is incredibly backloaded with the rest of the high-end outfits in the region on the horizon.
Richland Still Strong
The Colts went into the year ranked in the top-five after returning four starters from a team that won 23 games and earned a third-place finish at the state tournament a year ago. To this point, the Colts haven’t exceeded expectations, but it also isn’t fair to say they’ve been a disappointment. They’ve lost to the two best teams they’ve played (Kindred and Hillsboro/Central Valley) and haven’t looked as dynamic through a lot of this season. Gavin Reiland hasn’t been as impactful on the wing, as his scoring is down five points per game and he’s not getting out in transition as often. Cole Myers has been steady and Carter Lingen has picked his play up in recent weeks. Colten Evenson went down with an injury in the team’s loss to Kindred at the end of January. If he’s out, a thin Richland team gets even thinner.
Central Cass and Northern Cass In the Mix
The top three teams in the region are separated by very little. After those three, there are a handful more teams in the next tier that are more than capable of knocking someone off on any given night.
Central Cass is just 8-6 on the year, but has a two-point loss to Kindred and a one-point loss to Richland in recent weeks. Losses to Hillsboro/Central Valley, New Rockford-Sheyenne, Grafton/St. Thomas and Thompson are nothing to be ashamed of either. Josh Dixon is a steady presence inside. Max Kobbervig, Christian Lietz and Owen Warry have all been solid with another year of varsity experience as well.
Northern Cass handed Enderlin its only loss and have one of the most dynamic guards in the state in Jase Crockett. The junior point guard is strong, explosive and can score from all three levels on the floor.
Maple Valley has flown under the radar to this point in the year but has 10 wins. The Raiders have taken some lopsided losses to the upper-echelon teams, but also have solid seniors in Jacob Johnson, Carson Hovelson and Adam Punton.
Oak Grove doesn’t have a good record, but the Grovers have the kind of talent to put a scare in teams, as junior big man Noah Swenson is one of the elite players in Class B. Mayson Bolme is a solid all-around swingman too.