With the WDA tournament starting this Thursday its time to discuss the match-ups and players we will be seeing hit the hardwood. #1 Minot v. #8 Jamestown 3pm Starting off Thursday we have Jamestown taking on the top team in…
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Subscribe Already a subscriber? Log inWith the WDA tournament starting this Thursday its time to discuss the match-ups and players we will be seeing hit the hardwood.
#1 Minot v. #8 Jamestown 3pm
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
Adam Kallenbach
Adam
Kallenbach
6'0" | SG
Jamestown | 2022
State
ND
,
Ryan Larson
Ryan
Larson
6'3" | SG
Jamestown | 2024
State
ND
, and
Luke Van Berkom
Luke
Van Berkom
6'8" | PF
Jamestown | 2022
State
ND
. 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
Darik Dissette
Darik
Dissette
6'4" | SG
Minot | 2023
State
#300
Nation
ND
,
Eric Wentz
Eric
Wentz
6'2" | SG
Minot | 2022
State
ND
,
Morgan Nygaard
Morgan
Nygaard
5'11" | PG
Minot | 2023
State
ND
, and
Logan Conklin
Logan
Conklin
6'5" | SF
Minot | 2024
State
ND
.
#4 St. Mary’s v. #5 Dickinson 4:45pm
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
Alex Dvorak
Alex
Dvorak
6'1" | PG
Dickinson | 2023
State
ND
,
Isaac Daley
Isaac
Daley
6'4" | SG
Dickinson | 2022
ND
, and
Britton Cranston
Britton
Cranston
5'10" | SG
Dickinson | 2022
State
ND
. For St. Mary’s we’ve got
Garrett Bader
Garrett
Bader
6'2" | SG
Bismarck St. Mary's | 2022
State
ND
,
Evan Gross
Evan
Gross
6'3" | SG
Bismarck St. Mary's | 2022
State
ND
,
Nate Fedorchak
Nate
Fedorchak
6'1" | SG
Bismarck St. Mary's | 2022
State
ND
, and Easton Hinnenkamp.
#2 Century v. #7 Mandan 6:30pm
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
Isaiah Schafer
Isaiah
Schafer
6'1" | CG
Bismarck Century | 2024
State
#246
Nation
ND
,
Anthony Doppler
Anthony
Doppler
6'4" | SG
Bismarck Century | 2023
State
ND
, and
Ryan Erikson
Ryan
Erikson
6'10" | C
Bismarck Century | 2023
State
ND
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
Aaron Grubb
Aaron
Grubb
6'3" | PF
Mandan | 2022
State
ND
,
Tahrye Frank
Tahrye
Frank
6'0" | SG
Mandan | 2023
State
ND
, and Luke Darras.
#3 Bismarck High v. #6 Legacy 8:15pm
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
Treysen Eaglestaff
Treysen
Eaglestaff
6'5" | SF
Bismarck | 2022
State
ND
,
George Gillette
George
Gillette
6'2" | SG
Bismarck | 2022
State
ND
, 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
Jaxon Kellogg
Jaxon
Kellogg
6'3" | PG
Bismarck Legacy | 2023
State
ND
,
Zander Albers
Zander
Albers
6'5" | PF
Bismarck Legacy | 2022
State
ND
,
Logan Wetzel
Logan
Wetzel
6'3" | SG
Bismarck Legacy | 2022
State
ND
, 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.