ND State Class B Boys’ First Round Preview
(Featured Image: HCV’s Ben Dryburgh and Four Winds’ Tronis McKay – Photo by Corey Erickson-Hillsboro Banner)
It is time for the basketball fans of North Dakota to make one final pilgrimage to see the best basketball the state has to offer. This year the Mecca is Minot, and the time is now. The Class B Boys’ Basketball State Tournament is the granddaddy of them all for sports in North Dakota, and it’s time to find out who can run the gauntlet and claim their spot in ND history.
First, the seedings. The eight coaches at the state tournament rank the top five teams to determine who will be where in the bracket. The 6-8 teams’ match-ups are randomly drawn the rest of the way.
Seeding:
#1 Four Winds-Minnewaukan (23-1) Region 4
#2 Dickinson Trinity (22-2) Region 7
#3 Hillsboro-Central Valley (21-3) Region 2
#4 Fargo Oak Grove (19-4) Region 1
#5 Minot Bishop Ryan (23-2) Region 6
Ellendale (20-5) Region 3
Turtle Lake-Mercer-McClusky (17-7) Region 5
Stanley (19-6) Region 8
First Round Predictions
Game One: #2 Dickinson Trinity vs. Ellendale
Shawn Stoltz (Sr., DT) is the catalyst for this game. If he is eating rebounds on both ends and working his game inside out this could be a long day for Ellendale. Ellendale has some decent size they can throw at him starting, but not ending, with seniors Luke Wertz and Brennan Vance. Ellendale starts and finishes with Vance. If he can handle the constant pressure Trinity will be applying with Kendall Jones, Lucas Jones, and Noah Sickler they’ll have a chance to pull off the upset. Trinity likely wins by 10 in a game that might not see either team go over 60 points.
Game Two: #3 Hillsboro-Central Valley vs. Turtle Lake-Mercer-McClusky
TLMM is coming out of Region 5, where they along with Washburn upset the two favorites to take the region (Solen and Shiloh Christian) in the semifinals. They will be riding high, and matchup fairly well against the Burros from Hillsboro-Central Valley. Both teams rely heavily on their guards; HCV with seniors Austin Reed and Kyle Henningsgard, TLMM with sophomore Trapper Jacobs and senior Blake Anderson. The secondary role players will be what decide this game. HCV has seen big games from guys like junior Jack Camrud and senior Ben Dryburgh, and I’d expect them to step up in what is likely to be an extremely physical contest. The depth of HCV will prove too much for TLMM who only plays five guys and the Burros will come away with a win by 10-15 points.
Game Three: #1 Four Winds-Minnewaukan vs. Stanley
Four Winds was ranked #1 throughout the entire season, even after suffering their only loss to Hillsboro-Central Valley. ND Mr. Basketball candidtate Tronis McKay leads the Indians back to state to defend their 2016 State Championship. FWM has a depth that is particularly atypical of Class B basketball in North Dakota. Head Coach Rick Smith won’t hesitate to play every player on his bench, and every one of them are capable of scoring 10+ if they’re on. Stanley is a year away from possibly sitting where FWM is. Junior Wyatt Hanson is an early pick to be a Mr. Basketball candidate next season, and his cousin of the same age Kaedyn Hanson stands 6’6” and provides a talented physical presence inside. If Stanley is to stand a chance Kaedyn Hanson has to be the MVP and take advantage of a smaller FWM team whose tallest player is McKay at 6’3”. Just as was said before, though, Stanley is a year away. FWM wins by 20.
Game Four: #4 Fargo Oak Grove vs. #5 Minot Bishop Ryan
These are the two most similar teams in the tournament. They both start their offenses from the outside and in transition; Oak Grove runs with senior Bryce Bakkegard and junior Andrew Christianson, Bishop Ryan with sophomore Ben Bohl and senior Eli Stewart. When the transition game isn’t there both teams have a confidant forward with a sneaky post presence and great rebounding, Oak Grove’s senior Devon Foster and Bishop Ryan’s junior Anthony Vetter. Bishop Ryan seems criminally underrated at #5, but there isn’t really anyone to put them above. Ben Bohl is only a sophomore but is already making the short list of the best guards in the state. This game has the potential to be very high scoring, and I’d expect Bishop Ryan to come away with the “upset” by single digits in a game where both teams will score 70+.
Players to Watch (Not already mentioned)
Steve Redfox, Four Winds-Minnewaukan, Sr.
Jaylen LaRock, Four Winds-Minnewaukan, Sr.
Alex Scherr, Dickinson Trinity, Sr.
Carson Henningsgard, Hillsboro-Central Valley, Fr.
Justin Berg, Oak Grove, Sr.
Jace Pulst, Oak Grove, Sr.
Mason Hedberg, Bishop Ryan, So.
Tanner Freeman, Turtle Lake-Mercer-McClusky, Sr.
Lucas Hofer, Ellendale, Jr.
Logan Aadnes, Stanley, Sr.