Way-Too-Early Preview: Fargo Davies
The Fargo Davies Eagles have been one of the three best teams in the state over the course of the last two years and were one of the final four teams standing when the Class A State Tournament was canceled…
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Continue ReadingThe Fargo Davies Eagles have been one of the three best teams in the state over the course of the last two years and were one of the final four teams standing when the Class A State Tournament was canceled in March after going 23-2 to that point. The Eagles graduate seven seniors including four double-figure scorers and all-league guys. Despite the heavy turnover, the Eagles should be talented enough to be one of the best teams in the EDC next winter.
Go-To Guy: Owen Hektner
Hektner was excellent in a specific role last year for the Eagles, averaging 11.9 points and 4.9 rebounds for a loaded Eagles team a year ago. He knocked down 47 percent of his 3-pointers and shot 50 percent from the field overall. He’s one of the top prospects in North Dakota’s 2021 class and one of the top returning players in the EDC. But he’ll be stepping into an entirely different role on next year’s team and it remains to be seen how he’ll adapt to that. Is he better served as a catch-and-shoot guy who does his best work off the ball filling in the gaps? Or can he take on a bigger role in the halfcourt creating his shot against teams gearing up to slow him down?
Breakout Candidate: Ian Motschenbacher
If Hektner is better served in that utility role, the guy who may have the most on his plate when it comes to initiating and driving offense for the Eagles next year might be Motschenbacher, the 6-foot junior guard. Motschenbacher saw sparing minutes last year at the varsity level, playing in blowout wins, but he’s got the ability to step into a starring role for the next two years. He’s smooth off the dribble with the ability to score from all over the floor and create for his teammates. There are a number of guys who will have to step into big roles quickly, but Motschenbacher has the highest upside of all of them.
Question: How Quickly Can The Newcomers Acclimate to Varsity Basketball?
The Eagles are graduating a massive senior class including four starters and the top three bench guys from a year ago. That turnover, even in an EDC that is turning over quite a bit, is radical and makes for a lot of unknown heading into next winter. The Eagles have developed one of the deepest and most talented programs in the state and there’s little doubt that there are talented players simply waiting for the opportunity to get varsity time, but until they do it, it’s fair to wonder what it’ll look like.
Outlook
Fargo Davies is in an interesting spot at this point in that the Eagles are almost entirely replacing the players at the core of an outfit that reached the state championship two years ago and the state semis (with a great shot at winning a championship) this past March. It’s a team full of unknown, yet simultaneously I’m confident that they’ll be one of the best teams in the EDC.