EDC Tournament Preview
***Photo Credit: West Fargo Pioneer*** Playoffs?!? We talking about playoffs? We are in fact talking about the playoffs. The regular season is over at the Class A level in North Dakota. Now we turn our attention to the postseason where…
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Continue Reading***Photo Credit: West Fargo Pioneer***
Playoffs?!? We talking about playoffs? We are in fact talking about the playoffs. The regular season is over at the Class A level in North Dakota. Now we turn our attention to the postseason where the WDA and EDC conference tournaments will take place next week.
With four teams from each league getting spots in the state tournament, the competition will be fierce.
Here’s what you need to know about the EDC Tournament:
Favorite: Fargo Davies
The Eagles won the EDC regular season title despite dropping two games to West Fargo. If things go to seedings, those two teams will meet again in the tournament final game – and possibly once more in a state tournament setting – in which case, the Eagles wouldn’t be a favorite to win given they were swept in the regular season.
Braeton Motschenbacher has been terrific on both ends of the floor all year, providing excellent shooting and a steady floor game.
Cole Hage, Jaden Klabo and Cam VanDam give the Eagles a massive frontcourt capable of overwhelming a lot of good teas. Throw in Harrison Thom and Ty Satter and the Eagles have two capable two-way guards who can knock down shots from the perimeter.
Davies has all the pieces to win this tournament and win a state title even with two losses to their profile.
Contending: West Fargo, West Fargo Sheyenne
West Fargo was supposed to be rebuilding this year after losing as much as it lost from last year’s state-tournament team but the Packers have been terrific especially in the second half of the season.
Luke Lennon should be the Player-of-the-Year at this point after averaging 21 points and 10 rebounds during the season. He’s a force inside. He’s joined up front by Hunter Lyman who averages better than 12 points and seven rebounds. Matt Miller and Braxton Bruer have been great on the perimeter and the Packers have more young talent in the stable.
The Packers went 3-1 against Sheyenne and Davies this year and seem to be peaking at the right time of the year despite an upset loss to Fargo North last week.
Sheyenne was in the running to win the EDC until late in the year when the Mustangs lost back-to-back games to West Fargo and Fargo Davies but they’ve got the talent and experience to win this tournament. They don’t have the size of either of those other two teams which is what may ultimately haunt them, but Christian Kuntz, Blake Berg and Tyler Terhark represent an outstanding perimeter trio and they space the floor as well as any team in the state.
Fighting for a Spot: Grand Forks Red River, Devils Lake, Wahpeton
There isn’t a lot separating these three teams and it’s going to be tough for two of them to have any sort of chance given how much they’ve all struggled against the top three teams in the league.
Red River has a really good guard in Brady Dvorak who is one of the best scorers in the EDC and Will Obioha is a terrific inside presence, averaging 12.5 points and 6.5 rebounds. Bryce Enerson averages 11.4 points, giving the Roughriders a very good trio of scorers.
Devils Lake has a very good frontcourt, led by Grant Nelson who is averaging 17 points and 10 rebounds. Josh Dahlen and Leif Nelson give the Firebirds two solid seniors as well.
Wahpeton’s come on strong over the course of the second half of the season and the Huskies win with strong defense and a balanced attack. Bryce Rader and Josh Darwin have been excellent providing a solid one-two scoring punch.
Could Bust a Bracket: Fargo North
Fargo North just upset West Fargo last week and has been dangerous at other points this season. Cayden Rickard is one of the most dynamic scorers in the EDC and Keaton Hoeg is an experienced lead guard. The Spartans haven’t always defended at a high level, so their success is predicated on making shots and playing fast which makes it just as likely they’ll lose right away – but Rickard’s shown he can almost win a game on his own if he gets going.