WDA Tournament First Round Preview

<p>With the WDA tournament starting this Thursday its time to discuss the match-ups and players we will be seeing hit the hardwood. </p> <p>#1 Minot v. #8 Jamestown 3pm</p> <p>Starting off Thursday we have Jamestown taking on the top team in the West. This game won’t be easy for the Blue and White as the Magicians are 19-2, but an important thing to note is that one of those loses came at the hands of the Bluejays. If anyone were to have confidence coming in as the eight seed with the match-up it would be coach Jacoby Lloyd and his crew. As a team Jamestown has been respectable in their field goal percentage, points allowed per game, rebounding, and steals. All things that will come in handy in such an important game. Players that will be key in their playoff success are [player_tooltip player_id="1135496" first="Adam" last="Kallenbach"], [player_tooltip player_id="1144483" first="Ryan" last="Larson"], and [player_tooltip player_id="1131172" first="Luke" last="Van Berkom"]. On the Minot side they were successful in points per game, field goal percentage, and points allowed per game. Their strength has definitely been holding teams to low scoring affairs and there’s no doubt that they will try to keep that going in the postseason. Magicians that will contribute highly in the tournament are [player_tooltip player_id="1050246" first="Darik" last="Dissette"], [player_tooltip player_id="1111173" first="Eric" last="Wentz"], [player_tooltip player_id="1393889" first="Morgan" last="Nygaard"], and [player_tooltip player_id="1168194" first="Logan" last="Conklin"]. </p> <p>#4 St. Mary’s v. #5 Dickinson 4:45pm</p> <p>Next we’ve got the two teams with the closest seeding, the Midgets and the Saints. In the regular season St.Marys swept Dickinson with the last game only being a two points affair. When it comes to points per game and free throw percentage, the Orange and Black take the cake. But in the categories of field goal percentage, 3pt field goal percentage, points allowed per game, rebounding, assists, steals, and blocks, the Saints were better. Players for the Midgets that will have an impact are [player_tooltip player_id="1050249" first="Alex" last="Dvorak"], [player_tooltip player_id="1135885" first="Isaac" last="Daley"], and [player_tooltip player_id="1133066" first="Britton" last="Cranston"]. For St. Mary’s we’ve got [player_tooltip player_id="1135509" first="Garrett" last="Bader"], [player_tooltip player_id="1046359" first="Evan" last="Gross"], [player_tooltip player_id="1046367" first="Nate" last="Fedorchak"], and Easton Hinnenkamp. </p> <p>#2 Century v. #7 Mandan 6:30pm</p> <p>In the third slot we’ve got the high scoring Century Patriots facing off with the Mandan Braves. This game won’t be easy for the latter because of the Red and Blue’s ability to put up points, shoot a good percentage from the field and arc, hold their opponents to a low scoring night, rebound the ball, and move the rock. They’ve also got star players in [player_tooltip player_id="1111175" first="Isaiah" last="Schafer"], [player_tooltip player_id="1048689" first="Anthony" last="Doppler"], and [player_tooltip player_id="1050245" first="Ryan" last="Erikson"] who will be hard to stop. The Braves on the other hand shoot a respectable percentage from the field, move the ball really well, and are decent from the stripe. Guys for them who will make an impact are [player_tooltip player_id="1046360" first="Aaron" last="Grubb"], [player_tooltip player_id="1139257" first="Tahrye" last="Frank"], and Luke Darras.</p> <p>#3 Bismarck High v. #6 Legacy 8:15pm</p> <p>Lastly we will see the highest scoring team in the West, Bismarck High, take on a Legacy squad who is second in opponents points per game. When you watch the Demons you are guaranteed to get lots of points, tough rebounding, a high assist total, plenty of steals, and a few big rejections. They are a confident squad who knows how to get high numbers, and it will be interesting to see if their style bodes well. Players to watch for them include [player_tooltip player_id="1046352" first="Treysen" last="Eaglestaff"], [player_tooltip player_id="1136404" first="George" last="Gillette"], and Kyler Scott. The Sabers counter with being a top three point shooting team, tough defensive squad, and an unselfish group. Guys on this team that will contribute in the postseason are [player_tooltip player_id="1050251" first="Jaxon" last="Kellogg"], [player_tooltip player_id="1046353" first="Zander" last="Albers"], [player_tooltip player_id="812225" first="Logan" last="Wetzel"], and Brayden Weidner. To beat this Bismarck High team Legacy will have to bring that defensive presence that they did all year, and hope that things fall their way. </p>