North Dakota Catchup: Region 3
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…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
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 3:
EKM’s For Real
Edgeley/Kulm/Montpelier won 15 games and was the top seed in District 5 a year ago. And with three starters returning, there was plenty of cause for optimism heading into this year. But the Rebels have been even better than expected. They are 13-2 on the season and well on their way to winning District 5 again. Alex Huber has emerged as one of the best forwards in Class B, teaming up with senior guard Cale Matthern to form one of the best one-two punches in the state. Chayse Entzi is solid inside. Jace Hansen provides stability on the perimeter. This team plays solid defense, they rebound, they have the athleticism to play uptempo and the firepower to win in multiple ways.
Strasburg/Zeeland In Control Of District 6
EKM is running away with District 5. Strasburg/Zeeland is doing the same in District 6 and if the seedings ultimately hold, these two teams playing for a trip to the state tournament would be quite entertaining. The Clippers beat EKM by three earlier in the season and are 13-4 on the year with a pair of losses to South Dakota schools. Juniors Jake Wagner and Mac Kramer are excellent on the perimeter. Jordan Huizenga joins them to form a terrific trio in the backcourt. Hunter Haak is a steady producer up front.
Region 3 is Deep With Potential Winners
Region 3 is one of the least represented in the rankings over the course of the season. EKM moved into the most recent weekly rankings but there isn’t a runaway favorite team in this region. That unpredictably was real last year, as Ellendale went to state despite winning just 10 games throughout the regular season. There are a number of teams that have the requisite talent to win in March this year.
Barnes County North has a great shot to eclipse 15 wins and will likely head into the postseason as either the No. 2 or 3 seed in District 5. The Bison have one of the best offenses in the region thanks to excellent balance, one of the best guards in the state in Tristin Roaldson and an uptempo style of play.
Oakes has a tough remaining schedule as the Tornadoes will face two of the top teams from Region 1 and solid teams in Linton/HMB and Lisbon, but they’ve got the kind of talent that nobody is going to want to see come the postseason. Steele Hansen and Garrett Meehl form one of the best duos in the state.
Ellendale won the region last year and have been better this year to this point. Hunter Thorpe has taken his game to another level as a senior, providing terrific shooting and consistent perimeter scoring while Scott Wagner is one of the best bigs in Class B. Wagner had his breakout in the region tournament last year.
Linton/HMB has fallen on hard times in recent weeks, losing three games in a row and falling to 10-7 on the year after a 7-1 start. Lucas Schumacher is one of the best players in the state and one of the most dynamic scorers, so you can’t count the Lions out of anything.
Kidder County is 12-4 on the year and in the mix in District 6. The Wolverines’ four losses are by a combined 16 points to other top teams in the Region. They have terrific depth and balance offensively with guys like Jayden Rath, Peyton Cauthon, Isaiah and Jonah Harter and Elijah Fallgatter.