Player Capsule: Mason Hedberg
With time winding down in the 2017-18 North Dakota Class B state tournament, Mason Hedberg hit the biggest shot of his life.
The Bishop Ryan junior nailed a three-pointer with 5.5 seconds left in regulation to tie the game against Hillsboro-Central Valley, 63-63.
Hedberg and the Lions scored 10 points in the final 1:10 of the game to push the championship game to overtime but a game winning three-pointer by H-CV lifted the Burros to their second straight title.
“It would’ve been nice to win it obviously but it feels good to know that we made it there,” the Lions guard told Prep Hoops Dakota’s last week. “(We) gave it our all. It just didn’t end up the way we wanted.”
Hedberg finished the state tournament with 19.3 points per game, 5.0 rebounds, shot 50 percent from beyond the arc and 85.7 percent from the free throw line.
Courtesy: Minot Daily NewsHe also hit seven three-pointers against St. John in Bishop Ryan’s semifinal matchup.
At 6-foot-1, Hedberg is a wing scorer and can make about any shot on the hardwood. He’s quick and has a high basketball IQ. For a guard, Hedberg has a knack for rebounding as he finished with 15 in three state tournament games.
Hedberg said isn’t sure of one specific weakness his game has but added his ball handing, shooting off the dribble, rebounding and finishing at the rack can also get better.
“I feel like my strengths are shooting and scoring in general,” Hedberg said. (But) I don’t really think I have a weakness there’s just things I could definitely improve on.”
In the upcoming months Hedberg will get ready for his final season in a Bishop Ryan basketball uniform. He plays for the North Dakota Phenom 17s and plans to follow a summer workout schedule.
The Lions lose six seniors but bring back two experienced guards in Hedberg and senior Ben Bohl.
“We lost some key guys but I feel like our young guys will come in and work hard everyday,” Hedberg said about Bishop Ryan’s 2018-19 season expectations.
By the Numbers
448: Hedberg averaged 16.4 points per game this season and came 52 points short of the 500-point mark.
63: Throughout the season Hedberg took shots from all over the court. He had the green light from about anywhere on the floor and it clearly paid off as his field goal percentage was 63 on the year. That was the highest on the Lions team.
1.7: Hedberg wasn’t alone active on the offensive side of the basketball. He finished with 42 steals this season and averaged 1.7 per game during the regular season.
What’s Next:
Hedberg is focused on his senior season with the Lions. However, playing college basketball is always in the back of his mind. A few universities in North Dakota have talked to Hedberg. That list includes his hometown school and Northern Sun team in Minot State. National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics team in Jamestown has also been in contact with Hedberg.