North Dakota Catchup: Region 6
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 6:
Rugby a Contender?
The team to beat going into the season was the Rugby Panthers and with a few weeks left in the season, it’s tracking in that direction still. The Panthers are 15-2 on the year and have one of the most explosive offenses in Class B. Rugby’s been ranked in the top five all year and while it’s been mostly smooth sailing, there are some legitimate questions as to how this team will do in tight games and when the competition picks up. The Panthers haven’t been tested much since the early part of the year and in the games against Shiloh Christian and Four Winds/Minnewaukan, they struggled. Jaden Hamilton and Trace Goven are having all-state type seasons and the ancillary pieces fit really well, but can they get over the hump if the offense isn’t humming? Rugby has the talent to win a state title, but the Panthers are not a complete runaway favorite in the region like it might’ve seemed earlier in the season.
Our Redeemers Enjoying a Strong Season
The team that ended Rugby’s season a year ago was Our Redeemers. And after ending what was a down season on a solid note, there were questions whether that was a flash in the pan or a prelude for future success. It’s been the latter, as the Knights are 13-3 on the season with a handle on the top seed in District 12. Zach Hendrickson has been terrific all year on the wing and William Sanders has been steady at the point guard spot, playing superb defense and controlling the tempo offensively. Landon Lang has been solid in the frontcourt, anchoring the defense and finishing in the paint.
Velva Winning With Defense
The Aggies are sitting at the No. 2 spot in District 11 and winning thanks in large part to an elite defense. Velva allows less than 45 points per game and is 12-5 on the season. The only offense that cracked the Aggies’ defensive code was Rugby, which scored 76 points in early February. The winning formula is simple for Velva: slow the game down and grind out wins in the 40s and 50s. Velva’s set up to be good again next year as it doesn’t have a senior on the team. Sophomore big man Kaden Chadwick has been productive inside. Juniors Jersey Selzler, Hunter Suckut and Adam Schepp have all had strong years as well.
Five More Teams With Winning Records
There aren’t a lot of great teams in Region 6 – if any – but there aren’t a lot of bad teams either. After Rugby, Our Redeemer’s and Velva, there are five more teams with winning records at this point in the season. Drake-Anamoose, Bishop Ryan, Lewis and Clark – Berthold, South Prairie and Glenburn. Throw in teams right around .500 in Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood, TGU and Nedrose and there’s a lot of unpredictability in the middle of this region.