Class B Power Rankings: Update
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It is Super Bowl Sunday, but it is also basketball season! Let’s look at the all-important Class B Power Rankings. When glancing at the NDAPSSA State Polls from last week, the #2, #3, and #4 teams took a loss. This…
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Continue ReadingIt is Super Bowl Sunday, but it is also basketball season! Let’s look at the all-important Class B Power Rankings. When glancing at the NDAPSSA State Polls from last week, the #2, #3, and #4 teams took a loss. This updated version of the PHD Power Rankings will shift around quite a bit. District and Region Tournaments are creeping closer and the post-season will be here before we know it. How does the Top 10 look this week?
CLASS B POWER RANKINGS
#1 Four Winds/Minnewaukan (16-0)
FWM was great once again this week. I watched them on Monday vs. Harvey-Wells County and was overly impressed. 4 Winds beat the Hornets 79-52. Next, they beat Rugby 71-54. Last Night FWM hammered Hatton-Northwood 81-24. Points leaders for the Indians last night: Deng Deng Deng Deng 6'5" | SF Four Winds/Minnewaukan | 2024 ND 21, Kelson Keja Kelson Keja 5'7" | PG Four Winds/Minnewaukan | 2023 State ND 15, Jacolby Pearson Jacolby Pearson 6'4" | SG Four Winds/Minnewaukan | 2022 State ND 14, Jayden Yankton Jayden Yankton 6'1" | SG Four Winds/Minnewaukan | 2022 State ND 13, and Dalen Leftbear Dalen Leftbear 6'3" | SF FourWinds/Minnewaukan | 2024 State ND 13 with points. This week 4 Winds plays Warwick, Dunseith, and Shiloh. If I was you, I would catch FWM in at least one of these games. The Friday/Saturday matchup with Dunseith/Shiloh is very intriguing.
#2 Enderlin (13-4)
Enderlin’s win over Central Cass earlier in the season looks better and better every week. The Eagles had a couple of easy wins this past week. The Eagles routed Richland 85-47 and they won by 34 over Wyndmere-Lidgerwood. This week Enderlin plays Hankinson and Tri-State, I do not imagine they will have any trouble with either team. On February 3rd, Joe Hurlburt Joe Hurlburt 6'10" | PF Enderlin | 2022 State #147 Nation MN became the All-Time Leading Rebounder in North Dakota History. This week, Joe Hurlburt Joe Hurlburt 6'10" | PF Enderlin | 2022 State #147 Nation MN went over 2,000 career points scored. The Colorado commit is putting together quite the resume.
#3 Central Cass (13-2)
Calling this past week fantastic, would be an understatement for the Squirrels. The red and white had Top Ten wins against #2 and #3. These two victories jumped them all the way up to #3 this week! CC started the week out with a monumental win over rival Kindred by a score of 69-60. In the Region 1 victory CC, was led by Carter Vrchota Carter Vrchota 6'1" | SG Central Cass | 2024 State ND with 26 points and Cole Holzer Cole Holzer 6'7" | PF Central Cass | 2024 State ND with 21 points. On Saturday, the Squirrels beat Ellendale 74-66. In that huge road win, CC was led by Carter Vrchota Carter Vrchota 6'1" | SG Central Cass | 2024 State ND & Eli Buhr Eli Buhr 6'2" | SG Central Cass | 2024 State ND with 18 points and Mason Bosse Mason Bosse 6'0" | SG Central Cass | 2023 State ND with 17 points. Coming up, the Squirrels play Richland and Tri-State, both are favorable matchups for CC.
#4 Powers Lake (16-0)
The Ranchers did it again, they had another perfect week. Powers Lake had two comfortable victories. First, the Ranchers beat Tioga 66-50, and next they beat Burke County 63-31. Coming up, the Ranchers will finish up their regular season with three games against Glenburn, Divide County, and Parshall. If things go as planned, Powers Lake will head into post-season play with an undefeated record. You have heard me talk about the star guard for the Ranchers, Tyson Enget Tyson Enget 5'11" | PG Powers Lake-Burke Central | 2023 State ND . In the two games this past week, Enget averaged 23 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 4.5 apg and two made triples.
#5 Kindred (13-2)
The Vikings only played one game this past week because of the poor weather on Friday and the game being canceled with North Border. Coming up, the Vikings play Northern Cass and Oak Grove. The Vikings are long, athletic, physical, and deep. They are one of the top defensive teams in the state. Paul Olson Paul Olson 6'3" | SF Kindred | 2022 State ND is a highlight player for Kindred and he is one of the best dunkers in ND regardless of class.
#6 North Border (14-1)
The Eagles had a sweet Top 10 matchup with Kindred canceled this past week due to weather and they will not be rescheduling it. Earlier in the week, North Border took care of business vs. May-Port CG and Park River-Fordville-Lankin. On Tuesday, the Eagles play Hatton/Northwood at home. On Thursday the Eagles host HCV and on Saturday they head to LLM for a Top Ten matchup. If the Eagles can win out this week, they will slingshot themselves up these rankings. This week is going to be a good litmus test for North Border. TJ Cosley TJ Cosley 6'0" | PG North Border | 2023 State ND and Ayden Stainbrook Ayden Stainbrook 6'5" | SF North Border | 2023 State ND are the dudes for the Eagles and they are a couple of the most talented players in Class B.
#7 LaMoure/Litchville-Marion (14-2)
The Loboes played well this past week and they picked up four victories. LLM had double-digit wins over Richland, EKM, MPB, and Glenburn. This coming week the Loboes have three games vs. Maple River, South Border, and North Border. The Saturday game vs. North Border will be a Top 10 matchup and fun test for both teams. Corban Potts Corban Potts 6'3" | PG LaMoure/Litchville-Marion | 2022 State ND is the man for the Loboes and he is having a heck of a season. I highly recommend checking out the Loboes on Saturday afternoon.
#8 Ellendale (15-1)
The Cardinals took their first loss of the season this week. Early on, Ellendale beat down Linton-HMB. On Saturday, the Cards go upset by the red hot CC Squirrels by a score of 74-66. This coming week, the Cardinals should pick up two wins in games over Kidder County and Strasburg/Zeeland. Ellendale is led by BIG Scott Wagner Scott Wagner 6'8" | C Ellendale | 2022 State ND . The top guards for the Cardinals are Riley Thorpe Riley Thorpe 6'1" | SG Ellendale | 2023 State ND and Levi Reis Levi Reis 6'0" | SG Ellendale | 2023 State ND .
#9 Shiloh Christian (15-2)
The Skyhawks are on a terror, they have won 12 straight games. This past week they crushed Des Lacs Burlington and they had a key win over Flasher. On Tuesday, the Skyhawks play Region 5 foe New Salem-Almont on the Road. On Saturday the Skyhawks head Northeast to play the #1 ranked 4 Winds Indians. By next Friday night, we will have a better idea of how good Shiloh really is. The top players to watch and look out for on the Shiloh team are Carter Englund Carter Englund 6'7" | PF Shiloh Christian | 2022 State ND and Jay Wanzek Jay Wanzek 6'7" | PF Shiloh Christian | 2023 State ND .
#10 (tie) Flasher (15-1)
The Bulldogs only played one game this week and they lost to Region 5 rival, Shiloh Christian. Flasher was up by 14 in the 3rd quarter but a key Bulldog went down with an injury and Shiloh went on to win by a score of 55-47. Flasher will stay busy this coming week with games against Wilton-Wing, New England, and Max. Jace Friesz Jace Friesz 6'3" | SF Flasher | 2022 State ND is the top dog, leader, and monster producer for Flasher.
#10 (tie) Beulah (14-4)
The Miners started the year banged up and under the weather. Beulah is finally healthy and they have been very impressive as of late. This past week the Miners took down Our Redeemer’s by 19 points, Grant County-Mott-Regent by 17 points, and Bowman County by 33 points. Coming up this week, coach Jeremy Brandt’s team plays Bishop Ryan and Beach. Every Class B fan has heard of the Miner All-Star, Trey Brandt Trey Brandt 6'1" | PG Beulah | 2022 State ND . He is averaging 27.5 ppg, 6 rpg, 3.5 apg, 3 spg, 41 3FG%, and has 84 made FT’s. Trey also went over 2000 career points this week. Brandt broke the scoring record that was set back in 1976. Get ready for a memorable run from Trey Brandt Trey Brandt 6'1" | PG Beulah | 2022 State ND in the next two months.