Class A North Dakota Rankings
Basketball season is underway. With Class A schools jumping right into league play, there have already been a handful of impressive wins, surprising losses and results that require both reevaluation and measured sticktoitiveness. Here are this week’s Class A Rankings…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingBasketball season is underway. With Class A schools jumping right into league play, there have already been a handful of impressive wins, surprising losses and results that require both reevaluation and measured sticktoitiveness.
Here are this week’s Class A Rankings
1. Jamestown
The preseason No. 1 team did nothing over the course of the first week to dispel any notion that they are worthy of the top spot in Class A. Boden Skunberg is in for a monster year, but anybody thinking the Bluejays are a one-man outfit are mistaken. Carson Lamp is a name to get familiar with as a top-shelf player in the WDA and Jamestown’s got a number of solid role players including Max Anderson, Brooks Carrol and Jacob Hilgemann.
2. Fargo Davies
The Eagles earned an excellent season-opening win over Bismarck Century (without its starting center) and mostly cruised against mid to lower tier teams in the EDC the rest of the week. The balance has been a strength, as Owen Hekner is off to an excellent start averaging 15.7 points. Grayson Haman, Cam Van Damme and Cole Hage have been steady leading the way.
3. West Fargo Sheyenne
The Mustangs have two very good wins to start the year, beating both Mandan and Grand Forks Red River on the road. The perimeter trio of Blake Berg, Tyler Terhark and Zion Dettman has mostly carried the load, as all three guys are averaging double-figures in scoring while role players like Chuck Dubois, Jacksen Moni and Barika Kpeenu have provided solid complementary contributions.
4. Bismarck Century
The Patriots took a loss in their first game of the year in Fargo to Fargo Davies, but have earned two good wins last week, beating Dickinson and Mandan. Cade Feeney is a stud and one of the best players in the state. Ian Ely, Justice Coleman, Cody Sorenson and Jordan Lebeau have been a mixed bag through three games with all three having moments. If those guys, plus center Andrew Leingang, find consistency, the Patriots are a force to be reckoned with.
5. Grand Forks Red River
The Roughriders rebounded from a season-opening loss to West Fargo Sheyenne by beating West Fargo in West Fargo. Will Obioha is out for at least a month with an injury, which makes life more difficult for everybody but also gives guys like Cole Benson, Paine Parks and Kobe Springer extra opportunities. Benson scored 20 in the win over the Packers. Brady Dvorak and Bryce Enerson are the definition of solid.
6. Bismarck Legacy
The Sabers haven’t played any of the teams projected to finish at the top of the WDA yet, but they’ve taken care of business early in the year. Rhett Clements and Keagen Woodbury have been awesome, averaging a combined 41.3 points per game. Things get tough in the next week as Legacy takes on Jamestown and Minot.
7. Dickinson
Dickinson lost its season-opener to Bismarck Century in nip-and-tuck fashion but picked up a terrific win over Minot Friday before beating Turtle Mountain Saturday. The Midgets have gotten very good balance all around with Jaiden Wright and Kobe Krenz doing a lot of the heavy lifting. Jayden Hocker has been solid as well.
8. West Fargo
The Packers took a tough loss to Grand Forks Red River Friday but beat up on Fargo Shanley in the season-opener. Hunter Lyman has been terrific to start the year, averaging 17.5 points and 13 rebounds. Carter Birrenkott has stepped up too, averaging 14.5 points and 7.5 rebounds. The Packers get Sheyenne this upcoming Saturday.
9. Minot
The Magicians picked up a pair of blowout wins before losing Friday against Dickinson. Jaxon Gunville, Deonte Martinez and Easton Larson have been excellent thus far but the team struggled defensively against the Midgets. Minot takes on Bismarck Legacy and Jamestown this upcoming Friday and Saturday.
10. Mandan
The Braves have already taken two losses to start the year but both were to top-ranked teams in West Fargo Sheyenne and Bismarck Century. Elijah Klein has been a force but Jaxton Wiest is banged up and the young guys on the roster are naturally taking some lumps.