North Dakota Preview: Oakes
The Oakes Tornadoes won 16 games last season, reached the Region 3 Tournament and finished third. They beat the eventual region winners in district play and may go into this winter as the perceived favorite. Oakes returns four starters led…
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Continue ReadingThe Oakes Tornadoes won 16 games last season, reached the Region 3 Tournament and finished third. They beat the eventual region winners in district play and may go into this winter as the perceived favorite. Oakes returns four starters led by two of the best guards in the state.
Key Returners: Steele Hansen Steele Hansen 5'10" | SF Oakes | 2021 State ND , Garret Meehl Garret Meehl 5'11" | PG Oakes | 2021 State ND , Ashton Biesterfeld, Dalton Schmit
Hansen and Meehl represent the best duo in Region 3 and one of the best tandems in the state after combining to average better than 36 points and 17 rebounds per game last year.
Hansen put up double-double numbers last year, averaging 19 points and 11 rebounds while shooting nearly 60 percent from the field (plus 36 percent from the 3-point line). He’s a beast off the bounce and uses his strength to bully opposing guards on both ends of the floor.
Meehl is a tone-setter at the point guard spot coming off a junior year in which he put up better than 17 points, six rebounds and four assists. He’s another staunch defender who can get to the rim, beat teams from deep and make plays with ease.
Biesterfeld averaged just less than 10 points and eight rebounds per game while providing top-notch interior defense. He’s a physical presence inside who is the anchor for a team that wins consistently because of excellent defense.
Schmit returns after averaging five points per game last year. He’s another positive defensive player and if he can improve as a perimeter shooter, he’ll give the Tornadoes another dynamic that they didn’t have last season.
Stepping Into New Roles: David Schmitz, Alex Muggli, Joseph Heim, Xavier Vossler
Schmitz and Muggli were complementary role players last year but both had their share of struggles on the offensive end of the floor. Both bring solid energy on the defensive end of the floor and will be needed for the Tornadoes to fulfill their potential.
Heim and Vossler saw spot minutes as freshmen last year and could be in line to earn larger roles as sophomores. On a team with so many seniors, finding minutes for underclassmen will be simultaneously challenging and critical.
Season Outlook
Expectations for Oakes should be sky-high heading into the 2020-21 season. Coming off a 16-win campaign that ended with a third-place finish in the region, and returning their top four players including three potential all-region players gives the Tornadoes an experience and a balance that few others have. If they can score a little more efficiently outside of Hansen and Meehl, they’ve got state tournament upside.