Class B Region Championship Predictions

It has been a great year of hoops so far in this strange year with a pandemic altering everyone’s life. We are far enough along now that it is time to look at the Region Tournaments. Who will make it to the coveted Region Championship? Based on what we have seen so far this season here are our predictions: Region 1 Kindred (10-2) vs Enderlin (10-3) Venue: Fargo - SHAC (Sanford Health Athletic Complex) If this matchup happens it will look more like a college game compared to a Class B game. These two teams have extreme size compared to your average small-town school. This game is intriguing because the Vikings and Eagles are both full of gifted athletes, but they play a contrasting style of basketball. Enderlin likes to play fast, use the open court, and fire up 3-pointers. Kindred wants to slow the game down, take high percentage shots, and pound the ball inside. Which style will win? We will have to wait until Feb 26th to get a preview, they play in the last regular-season game of the season. This week’s Power Rankings has Enderlin ranked #6 and Kindred # 9. So far this season Enderlin is scoring 70.3 ppg and giving up 53.7 ppg. Kindred us putting up 60.5 ppg and allowing 43.2 ppg. Enderlin is led by [player_tooltip player_id="787658" first="Joe" last="Hurlburt"] (24.5 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id="812220" first="Gus" last="Hurlburt"] (17.6 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id="1050248" first="Carson" last="Bartholomay"] (11.6 ppg), and Alijah Dixson (9.2 ppg). Kindred is led by [player_tooltip player_id="731867" first="Gavin" last="Keller"] (13.5 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id="812227" first="Paul" last="Olson"] (12.9 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id="1123711" first="Max" last="McQuillan"] (9.5 ppg), and [player_tooltip player_id="1123710" first="Jaiden" last="Peraza"] (8 ppg). The Vikings are the only team in the region who can match up with the Eagles size. The bigger college court will be beneficial for the Eagles. This one will come down to the pace of the game and how hot the Eagles are from downtown. Region 2 North Border (10-2) vs Grafton/St. Thomas (12-1) Venue: Grand Forks - Betty Engelstad Arena These two-teams met earlier in the season on January 14th and it went in favor of North Border. The Eagles won 75-61 and shot the ball exceptionally well. Grafton has the more experienced and seasoned team. North Border has the size advantage in this match-up. Both teams have gifted athletes, and they shoot it well from beyond the arc. So far this season North Border is scoring 63.1 ppg and giving up 50.2 ppg. Grafton is averaging 66.6 ppg and allowing 42.7 ppg. The signature win on the season for the Eagles is over Grafton. The Spoilers are ranked #4 in our Power Rankings and have quality wins over fellow top 10 teams Kindred and Central Cass. The top players for North Border are [player_tooltip player_id="1126981" first="Jaden" last="Lee"], [player_tooltip player_id="1126978" first="Ayden" last="Stainbrook"], [player_tooltip player_id="1126979" first="Trenton" last="Cosley"], and Jaxen Johnson. Grafton will counter with [player_tooltip player_id="731907" first="Stevan" last="Garza"], [player_tooltip player_id="1046339" first="Justin" last="Garza"], Luis Balderas Jr., [player_tooltip player_id="1046345" first="Brandon" last="Albrecht"], and William Jiskra. If this matchup happens, we will be in for a treat. These two can put on a show on the offensive end, it will come down to who gets stops on the defensive side. Region 3 Edgeley/Kulm/Montpelier (13-1) vs Linton/HMB (11-3) Venue: Jamestown Civic Center I am predicting Edgeley/Kulm/Montpelier to win District 5 with a victory over Ellendale. For District 6 I am predicting Linton/HMB to take down Strasburg/Zeeland. Edgeley/Kulm/Montpelier and Linton/HMB met earlier in the season on January 26th. The Rebels won that game in a close contested matchup 62-55. Edgeley/Kulm/Montpelier has the height and size advantage in this potential matchup. Linton/HMB has the outside shooting advantage. Edgeley/Kulm/Montpelier is ranked #5 in our Power Rankings. The Rebels are scoring 58.6 ppg and are giving up 40.1 ppg. The Lions are putting up 64 ppg and are allowing 49.1 ppg. Edgeley/Kulm/Montpelier has twin-tower big men with [player_tooltip player_id="750172" first="Alex" last="Huber"] and Chayze Entzi. They are complimented by athletic guard Adam Nitschke. Linton/HMB has a pair of shooters who can light it up from beyond the arc with [player_tooltip player_id="531491" first="Lucas" last="Schumacher"] and [player_tooltip player_id="998915" first="Carter" last="Renz"]. I would like to see this game happen because the teams are familiar with each other it would be an intense contest. Region 4 Four Winds/Minnewaukan (12-1) vs Langdon/Edmore/Munich (11-1) Venue: Devils Lake High School I am predicting Four Winds/Minnewaukan to win District 7 with victory over New Rockford-Sheyenne. For District 8 I am predicting Langdon/Edmore/Munich to take down Dunseith in a tight game like they had earlier in the season. Four Winds/Minnewaukan and Langdon/Edmore/Munich played earlier this season on January 26th. The Indians overwhelmed the Cardinals early and dominated most of the game, Four Winds won by 25 points. Four Winds/Minnewaukan is ranked #1 Langdon/Edmore/Munich is ranked #7 in our Power Rankings. The Indians score 72.9 ppg and give up 45.3 ppg. The Cardinals score 67.1 ppg and allow 53.8 ppg. Four Winds has a talented group of players with [player_tooltip player_id="750159" first="Bronson" last="Walter"], [player_tooltip player_id="750170" first="Jaeshaun" last="Shaw"], [player_tooltip player_id="1046356" first="Jayden" last="Yankton"], [player_tooltip player_id="1115603" first="Keldon" last="Keja"], [player_tooltip player_id="1115651" first="Caelen" last="Lohnes"], [player_tooltip player_id="1115652" first="Jonah" last="Jackson"], and Jacob LaRock. The top players for Langdon are [player_tooltip player_id="750183" first="Simon" last="Romfo"] and [player_tooltip player_id="750173" first="Grant" last="Romfo"]. If the Cardinals can keep it close in the first half, they may have a chance. However, anything can happen when you get on a neutral and play in a game with so much on the line. If this matchup happens and if you live in the area, you do not want to miss it. Region 5 Shiloh Christian (9-6) vs Garrison (11-3) Venue: Bismarck St. Mary’s I am predicting Shiloh Christian to win District 9 over Flasher. In District 10 I predict Garrison to take down Central McLean. If the matchup between Shiloh Christian and Garrison happens these teams will not have played each other beforehand. On paper, they do match up well with each other. Both teams have athletic backcourts and players that can shoot from outside. Shiloh has the size advantage inside. The Skyhawks are averaging 66.9 ppg and are giving up 58.4 ppg. The Troopers are scoring 62.6 ppg and are giving up 47.5 ppg. If this game happens the matchup to watch with be Shiloh’s 6’6” [player_tooltip player_id="1046366" first="Carter" last="Englund"] and Garrison’s 6’-4” [player_tooltip player_id="1125689" first="Jack" last="Bright"]. They are both All-Region players who are exceptional on offense, solid defenders, and great rebounders. With the game being played in Bismarck and with Shiloh’s experience in big games, they have the edge. However, Garrison is getting better every day and have the horses to match Shiloh. Region 6 Drake/Anamoose (11-3) vs. Our Redeemers (10-3) Venue: Minot State Dome I am predicting Drake/Anamoose to win District 11 and upset Rugby. In District 12 I predict Our Redeemers to beat Bishop Ryan. This would be a fun matchup to see because they do not play each other in the regular season. The Raiders are scoring 64.7 ppg and are giving up 54.4 ppg. The Knights are putting up 60.1 ppg and are allowing 52.3 ppg. Drake/Anamoose has the size advantage. Both teams have stud point-guards with Martin and Hendrickson. The Raiders have one of the best dynamic-duos I have watched this year. [player_tooltip player_id="1046342" first="Payton" last="Martin"] is a precision passer, has great handles, and is an efficient scorer. [player_tooltip player_id="1046333" first="Hunter" last="Fletschock"] is a 6’5” pure shooting wing, has a perfect pull-up, and can finish at the rim athletically with both hands. The Knights go-to guy is [player_tooltip player_id="1046357" first="Zach" last="Hendrickson"] who is a top-flight shooter, a quick slasher, and a smooth ball handler. It would be fun to see these PG’s go at each other on the big stage and see what happens. Region 7 Beulah (10-4) vs Dickinson Trinity (14-1) Venue: Dickinson Trinity There are no Districts in this Region and it looks like Beulah and Dickinson Trinity will be #2 and #1 seeds. Bowman could throw a wrench in that, but for now, we have Beulah and Trinity in the big game. To call a matchup between these teams a “rivalry” would be an understatement. Since 2010 these two have played 8 times in the region championship game (2010 Beulah, 2012 Beulah, 2013 Trinity, 2016 Trinity, 2017 Trinity, 2018 Beulah, 2019 Beulah, 2020 Beulah). I think it is fair to say that these two are familiar with success and know what it is like to play in the big game. They play each other tomorrow February 4th at Dickinson Trinity. Beulah scores 67.6 ppg and gives up 47.7 ppg. The Titans are ranked #2 in our Power Rankings. Trinity puts up 64.1 ppg and allows 42.7 ppg. Beulah is led by All-State guard [player_tooltip player_id="812226" first="Trey" last="Brandt"] who is a one-man press break, a stellar shooter, an excellent decision-maker. Trey is complimented by [player_tooltip player_id="1126988" first="Dawson" last="Zuroff"], [player_tooltip player_id="1126989" first="Nathan" last="Battest"], and [player_tooltip player_id="1126983" first="Trapper" last="Skalsky"]. Trinity’s top players are [player_tooltip player_id="1126984" first="Jacob" last="Daniel"], [player_tooltip player_id="1126987" first="Cole" last="Fitterer"], [player_tooltip player_id="1126985" first="Tanner" last="Soehren"]. The Titans have the advantage inside with post play, they have a deeper bench, and the game would be on their home court. With all that said it is tough to count out a well-coached, unselfish team with phenomenal point-guard. Region 8 White Shield (7-4) vs Powers Lake (11-1) Venue: Williston State College I am predicting White Shield to win District 15 over Trenton. In District 16 I have Powers lake taking down Burke County. White Shield and Powers Lake played on January 4th and the Ranchers won 66-59. White Shield scores 60.5 ppg and gives up 48.9 ppg. The Ranchers are ranked #8 in this week’s Power Rankings. Powers Lake averages 66.8 ppg and allows 47.1 ppg. If this game happens, we will have the treat of watching two of the best guards in North Dakota faceoff White and Fredrickson. White Shield has [player_tooltip player_id="750166" first="Jesse" last="White"] who is a human highlight reel. He is an unconscious shooter with unlimited range, an electric passer, and an exceptional leader. [player_tooltip player_id="1126990" first="Jace" last="Dickens"] is a great 3-point shooter who spots up around the arc when White penetrates. The Ranchers have [player_tooltip player_id="731893" first="Noah" last="Fredrickson"] who is one of the best shooters in ND and a high-level scorer. [player_tooltip player_id="1050257" first="Tyson" last="Enget"] is a nice compliment in the backcourt for Powers Lake. I am hoping this game happens, it would be ideal to see these two senior guards play in the big game each other.