North Dakota Catchup: Region 8
The season is approaching its end. With less than a month left in the regular season, teams all across the state are hoping to be rounding into form and playing their best ball. With two months worth of interesting development…
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Continue ReadingThe season is approaching its end. With less than a month left in the regular season, teams all across the state are hoping to be rounding into form and playing their best ball. With two months worth of interesting development to this point, now is a good time to take a quick look at the landscape of hoops in North Dakota ahead of the postseason.
Here’s where things stand in the Region 8
Powers Lake Poised to Defend Region Title
The reigning region champs – the Powers Lake Ranchers – will go into the postseason with a great shot at returning to the state tournament. Powers Lake is 13-3 on the year combining one of the best offensive units in the region with one of the best defenses. There’s plenty of experience from last year on this team and it shows as Powers Lake executes at a high level and has shown it can win close games. Noah Frederickson has been excellent with more offensive responsibility. Isaac Nordloef is a tough cover inside and out and juniors Carter Rysted and Noah Schroeder provide size and athleticism in the frontcourt.
New Town Tracking Towards Top Seed in District 15
New Town was a middling team a year ago, winning 12 games before bowing out of the Region 8 tournament against Powers Lake. The Eagles will go into this postseason with different expectations, as they are 14-6 and in position to earn the top seed in District 15. Armed with a balanced offense and experience playing in tough games thanks to a challenging non-region schedule, the Eagles are a legitimate contender to Powers Lake to represent Region 8 in the state tournament. It’s a senior-heavy group led by Tristen Williams and while they don’t have elite size, the Eagles are tough, physical and smart.
Lewis and Clark – North Shore Riding High-Powered Offense
Another middling team a year ago that has enjoyed a much-improved 2019-20 season is Lewis and Clark – North Shore. The Wildcats average better than 71 points per game which is the best number in the region. They do it thanks in large part to an elite inside-outside duo of Hayden Andes and Ty Edwards. Andes is a double-double machine inside and may be the best big man in the region while Edwards is a talented perimeter scorer.
White Shield, Ray, Stanley In The Mix
After the top three teams in the region, there’s a heavy mix of average and decent teams. White Shield was the team that went into the year with high expectations but hasn’t had a ton of success. The Warriors can’t be slept on going into the postseason though because Jesse White is one of the best guards in the state and Chontay LaCroix and Jace Dickens are solid complementary pieces.
Ray is in the hunt for the No. 2 spot in District 16 and since a blowout loss to Powers Lake a month ago, the Jays are 6-2 and seem to be playing better. Brock Viall and Logan Ray are up there as one of the best guard-forward duos in the region.
Stanley got off to a solid start this year, going 6-4 in its first 10 games. But the Bluejays have struggled in February and are 1-5 in their last six games. Rhett Hanson is one of the best bigs in the region. Ty Gorder, Trystan Johnson and Jace Wenger have had good moments throughout the year. If this team can put things together, it’s going to be one nobody wants to see in a single-elimination setting.