Class B State Matchups Breakdown and Predictions

<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: #999999;">Photo Credit: Savannah Blake // Journal Star</span></p> <p>As State Basketball begins Thursday, March 12th, we take a look at the opening round matchups in Class B. </p> <p><strong><span style="color: #f75617;">(#1) Skutt vs. (#8) Norris | 9:00am Pinnacle Bank Arena</span></strong></p> <p>The 1st seed vs. 8th seed game is a rematch from February 13th that saw Skutt outlast Norris 41-31. Norris is 1 of 4 teams that has been within ten points of beating undefeated Skutt this year, joining a list of Sergeant Bluff-Luton, IA, Roncalli, and Lincoln Pius X. Norris enters this matchup 18-5 and is lead by a physical, veteran group that will not see themselves as an underdog even though they are the 8 seed. This will be a must-watch game that features <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/tyson-gordon/">Tyson Gordon</a> (Skutt), <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/andew-merfeld/">Andrew Merfeld</a> (Skutt), <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/charlie-fletcher/">Charlie Fletcher</a> (Skutt), and Trey Deveaux (Norris).</p> <p><strong><span style="color: #f75617;">(#4) Wahoo vs. (#5) Mt. Michael | 10:45am Pinnacle Bank Arena</span></strong></p> <p>The 4th vs 5th seed game is another matchup that we actually saw in sub-districts, as (21-5) Mt. Michael was able to beat Wahoo 69-58 behind 22 points from <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/brad-bennett/">Brad Bennett</a> and 11 points from <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/kyle-pelan/">Kyle Pelan</a>. Wahoo will be sure to have a short memory however, as they enter this game 23-2 and are lead by two NAIA signees <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/trey-scheef/">Trey Scheef</a> and <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/thomas-waido/">Thomas Waido</a>. Both teams are coming off double digit wins in their sub-state qualifier, and will have good crowds at PBA.</p> <p><span style="color: #f75617;"><strong>(#2) Scottsbluff vs. (#7) Alliance | 7:00pm Devaney Center</strong></span></p> <p>The 2nd vs 7th seed state matchup in Class B is also a rematch from earlier this season. As of late, (20-6) Alliance has been one of the toughest outs in Class B going 8-2 in their last 10 games but with both losses coming to…. Scottsbluff. Scottsbluff enters this game 24-3, having beaten Alliance three times this season by an average margin of 11. If the saying rings true that it’s hard to beat a team three times, I can’t imagine what four times might mean. We’ll see if Alliance, lead by <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/joel-baker/">Joel Baker</a>’s 17ppg, is up for the challenge against Scottsbluff’s pair of 6’6 players Chance Parker and Sam Clarkson, as well as Jasiya DeOllos and Dawson Mohr.</p> <p><strong><span style="color: #f75617;">(#3) Hastings vs. (#6) Roncalli | 8:45pm Devaney Center</span></strong></p> <p>The 3rd vs. 6th seed game is probably the best opening round matchup we will get in Class B and is the only one that isn’t a rematch from earlier this season. Hastings enters this game 21-3, and Roncalli 21-4. Roncalli’s last loss was on January 25th against Omaha Skutt by 1 point, and Hastings has lost just one game this season to a class B foe, against Mt. Michael more than a month ago. Roncalli is lead by <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jack-dotzler/">Jack Dotzler</a>, <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/taiden-red/">Taiden Red</a>, and <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jake-orr/">[player_tooltip player_id="890575" first="Jake" last="Orr"]</a> while Hastings is lead by leading scorer <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/connor-creech/">Connor Creech</a>, and 6’9 Adams Central transfer <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/haggan-hilgendorf/">Haggan Hilgendorf</a>.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><span style="color: #f75617;">Champion Prediction: #1 Omaha Skutt</span></strong></p> <p>Skutt is the easy answer here, as they enter the State Tournament undefeated, have won four games against teams in the field already, and they are lead by North Dakota State football signee <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/tyson-gordon/">Gordon</a>. They are far from a one man show however as they have multiple guys who can score double digits, and the athleticism needed to win a title.</p> <p><span style="color: #f75617;"><strong>Darkhorse: #6 Roncalli</strong></span></p> <p>Roncalli is our darkhorse team who could make a run at the Title, after just falling short last season as runner-ups. They have won 12 straight games, and their last two losses have come to Skutt, one of those losses by 1 point. Not to mention they have probably the best player in the tournament, Morningside Signee <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jack-dotzler/">Dotzler</a>, who along with <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/taiden-red/">Red</a> will make sure they are ready to go. </p>