Region 7 Players to Watch
The postseason is upon us. With the Class A state tournament field set, Class B region tournaments will be wrapping up in the next week. Here are some players to watch in Region 7: Trey Brandt, Beulah One of the…
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Continue ReadingThe postseason is upon us. With the Class A state tournament field set, Class B region tournaments will be wrapping up in the next week.
Here are some players to watch in Region 7:
Trey Brandt, Beulah
One of the best guards in Class B, Brandt has elevated his game in a big way as a sophomore, averaging 21 points, six rebounds and nearly four assists. He’s a terrific 3-point shooter, strong in the mid-range and has the craftiness and ability to separate and create his shot in the paint. He plays beyond his years at the point guard spot and gets after people on the defensive end of the floor. He’s arguably the best player in the region and the catalyst for a team that is good enough to win multiple games in the state tournament if it gets that far.
Gage Swanson, Beach
Arguably the best player in the region, Swanson has had a monster season for the Buccaneers and his ability to dominate a game on both ends of the floor is the reason Beach should be considered a darkhorse to win the region. The 6-foot-3 swingman is a true scoring machine, as he can knock down shots from deep and he is a hoss getting downhill and to the rim. He’s a tenacious rebounder and a foul-drawing machine as well.
Caleb Duffield, Bowman County
Duffield might be the best pure scorer in the region. The 5-foot-11 junior guard is a terrific 3-point shooter with seemingly limitless range and quick trigger. He’s adept in the mid-range and a crafty finisher around the rim. He can create his own shot, he’s good off the ball and he has proven to be capable of making plays for his teammates.
Tanner Soehren, Dickinson Trinity
Dickinson Trinity is a tough team to prepare for because the Titans don’t have a traditional pecking order when it comes to offense. It is equal opportunity and the balance and depth makes it so there can be a different combination of guys stepping up on a nightly basis. A guy who has really emerged this year is junior forward Tanner Soehren. The 6-foot-4 junior has routinely scored double-figures, excelling as a rim-runner, finisher around the rim and he’s got a soft shooting touch.
Jonah Larson, Beulah
Larson’s been a consistent interior force all year for the Miners, averaging 14 points and 9.5 rebounds. His ability to dominate in the paint on both ends of the floor gives the Miners an advantage every night. He’s a strong screener, rolls hard to the rim and finishes at a high rate inside.
Nathan Battest, Beulah
Battest has been really solid for the Miners all season. The junior guard stuffs the stat sheet to the tune of 5.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists. His ability to take on ballhandling responsibility has allowed Brandt to focus more on scoring and he’s a rock-solid defender all over the floor.
Jacob Svihovec, Bowman County
Svihovec is one of the best forwards in the region and capable of dominating a game with his ability to score and rebound. His athleticism is a cut above and he’s got the size and skill to score against anybody. He’s a matchup nightmare because of that combination and his consistency makes Bowman County a threat to make a run.
Matthew Stafford, Dickinson Trinity
Stafford has been a catalyst for the Titans each of the last two years. His offense tends to come and go but when he’s on, he’s capable of popping off multiple 3-pointers and piling up points in a hurry. Where his presence is really felt is on the defensive end where he’s one of the best defenders in the region and plays with a physicality on the perimeter that few guys can defeat.
Isaac Doll, Hazen
One of the best all-around players in the region, Doll does a little bit of everything and has been a steadying presence all year for the Bison. He’s a consistent double-figure scorer, rebounds at a solid rate, can guard up or down a lineup and he makes plays for his teammates. If the Bison are going to make a run, Doll is going to have his fingerprints all over the success.
Garrett Ward, Hazen
Ward’s been one of Hazen’s best players for a while now and his ability to take over stretches of a game give the Bison a chance to beat anybody. He’s a consistent multi-level scorer who can hit shots from the perimeter, finish around the rim, take guys off the bounce and score from the mid-range.
Tevin Dietz, Beach
Dietz is a talented sophomore guard who has emerged as a really solid No. 2 scorer for the Buccaneers. He’s a good long-range shooter, has the quickness to get to the paint and the explosiveness to finish in traffic.