The Rotation: Enderlin
Enderlin went 8-14 last season, losing in the second round of the Region 1 Tournament to Wyndmere/Lidgerwood. With a number of talented players back in the fold, the Eagles should be much improved in 2018-19.
Must be Replaced: None
Enderlin didn’t have a senior on its roster a year ago, thus it returns every key contributor. Furthermore, the Eagles had more eighth graders and freshmen than juniors. It was an incredibly young basketball team and it stands to reason that they’ll only get better with more experience.
Key Returners: Chance Bye, Joe Hurlburt, Austin Glarum, Cameron Yantis
Bye was one of the top scorers in Class B last season, averaging 20.9 points per game while knocking down nearly three 3-pointers per game. He’s got deep range but also attacks relentlessly and gets to the free throw line with great frequency. Hurlburt averaged 12.8 points and 10 rebounds as just an eighth-grader. At 6-foot-7, he’s one of the best young players in the entire state and could blossom into an absolutely dominant player as he gets stronger and more experienced. Glarum and Yantis both averaged better than nine points per game.
The Future: Gus Hurlburt, Dawson Lemma
Hurlburt and Glarum could fit into this class as well given they both have multiple years left at the varsity level but a few guys who may not necessarily put up big numbers this year but will likely factor into their school’s success down the road are freshman forward Gus Hurlburt and sophomore guard Dawson Lemma. Both guys saw spot varsity minutes last year and figure to see an uptick in minutes this season. Hurlburt is 6-foot-4 already.
Season Outlook
Enderlin has a chance to a real breakout team in Class B this winter. The Eagles won eight games last year but lost seven by eight points or less. With guys growing physically and mentally in the game, some of those close losses should be converted to wins. They’ve got a terrific inside-outside duo in Chance Bye and Joe Hurlburt. If those two both get better plus the complementary guys get better, Enderlin could contend in Region 1.