Four Winds-Minnewaukan: 27-0 State Championship Season

The Indians played one of the most difficult schedules in Class B North Dakota this season, and they won them all! Four Winds-Minnewaukan was perfect in the 2021-2022 season. Kindred beat FWM last year in the State Semifinals, so it was only fitting that this year they met in the Championship game. Four Winds-Minnewaukan won the Class B Crown and they picked up the revenge win from last season all on the same night. I knew they would be talented this year, but man they were phenomenal! FWM is no stranger to winning a ton of games, yet this was only the second State Championship in school history. The Four Winds-Minnewaukan & Ft. Totten area lives and breathes basketball. The State Championship was a monster deal to the players, school, staff, and the surrounding community. Congratulations to Four Winds-Minnewaukan on a perfect year and a State Championship, 27-0!! <img class="wp-image-1421230 aligncenter" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/04/4winds-crop-700x460-1649186089-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="185" height="122" /> <h4>Player Stats</h4> [player_tooltip player_id="1046356" first="Jayden" last="Yankton"] (sr) |6’1 G| - 25.8 ppg, 3.1 apg 4.6 rpg, 3.5 spg, 49 FG%, 33 3FG% [player_tooltip player_id="1185116" first="Jacolby" last="Pearson"] (sr) |6-3 G| - 15.6 ppg, 3.4 apg, 5.2 rpg, 3 spg, 1.1 bpg, 50 FG%, -35 3FG% [player_tooltip player_id="1144580" first="Deng" last="Deng"] (soph) |6-5 F| - 16.8 ppg, 1.9 apg, 7.6 rpg, 2.9 spg, 2.3 bpg, 61 FG%, 32 3FG% [player_tooltip player_id="1144581" first="Dalen" last="Leftbear"] (soph) |6-2 G/F| - 11.4 ppg, 2.3 apg, 5.5 rpg, 2.7 spg, 1 bpg, 55 FG% [player_tooltip player_id="1138899" first="Kelson" last="Keja"] (jr) |5-7 PG| - 5 ppg, 4.1 apg, 2.1 rpg, 2.6 apg, 44 FG%, 34 3FG% [player_tooltip player_id="1185124" first="Wade" last="Nestell"] (soph) |5-9 G| - 2.1 ppg, 1.6 apg, 2.2 rpg, 1.4 spg, 45 FG% <h4>Team Stats</h4> GP: 27 PPG: 80.3 RPG: 30.5 APG: 17.4 SPG: 17.6 BPG: 4.9 FG%: 51 2FG%: 58 3FGM: 150 3FG%: 31 FTM: 249 FT%: 68 <h4>Q & A w/ head coach Rick Smith and assistant Travis Mertens</h4> PHD: What were some of the highlights this season? Coach Smith: "I think number one was the first game of the year against a very experienced and highly ranked Enderlin team. It was a game where we had a lot of new faces and a lot of question marks about our team. That game showed us that we were going to be a pretty good team. The next two games against Beulah and Dickinson Trinity would show us if that Enderlin game was a fluke or not. We answered that question also." "Postseason was answered when we won the District 7 title, (the last one ever because of our Super Regional next year) and winning the Region 4 Tourney to advance to the state tournament." "Winning the State “B” tournament for the 2nd time in school history and finishing the season with an undefeated season." "Having two players on the All-State Team and our players winning several awards this year." PHD: Who was your “go-to” player when you needed a basket? Coach Mertens: "[player_tooltip player_id="1046356" first="Jayden" last="Yankton"] was the go-to guy when we needed a basket, that is the type of player he has always been when the pressure is on, he wants the ball in his hands and it’s not only to shoot but to make the right play, he was a great leader for this team. [player_tooltip player_id="1144580" first="Deng" last="Deng"] also was a special sophomore for us that seemed to be able to make a big play for us when we needed." PHD: Which players improved the most for you this season and what did they improve on? Coach Smith: "With all the new players that we had this year you can say they all did. [player_tooltip player_id="1046356" first="Jayden" last="Yankton"] improved on his leadership and maturity, [player_tooltip player_id="1185116" first="Jacolby" last="Pearson"] improved on taking over games when he needed to and attacking the rim and not settling all the time. [player_tooltip player_id="1144580" first="Deng" last="Deng"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1144581" first="Dalen" last="Leftbear"] improved on their strength to play in the post and guard the post players. [player_tooltip player_id="1138899" first="Kelson" last="Keja"] on improving on running the team and accepting his role, because this kid can score the basketball. [player_tooltip player_id="1185124" first="Wade" last="Nestell"] and Kylon Keja for being reliable bench players and gaining the confidence in playing in big spots." PHD: Who were a few of your hardest workers and what did they do well? Coach Smith: "To have a successful season as we did, it took a lot of hard work and dedication. [player_tooltip player_id="1046356" first="Jayden" last="Yankton"] would stay after practice and shoot on the shooting machines until his arms fell off. [player_tooltip player_id="1185116" first="Jacolby" last="Pearson"], [player_tooltip player_id="1144580" first="Deng" last="Deng"], and [player_tooltip player_id="1144581" first="Dalen" last="Leftbear"] for always being in the gym, even on off days. [player_tooltip player_id="1138899" first="Kelson" last="Keja"], [player_tooltip player_id="1185124" first="Wade" last="Nestell"], and Kylon Keja for their hard nose play that we needed so much for the dirty hard nose play." Coach Mertens: "That was a great thing about this team, they all worked their tails off, but I think a player that might go unnoticed or maybe his impact didn’t show up on the stats sheet was [player_tooltip player_id="1138899" first="Kelson" last="Keja"], Kelson wasn’t the biggest guy on the court (5’7) but he always seemed to play bigger, he would make it difficult on opposing teams point guards and harasses and hound in the full court for the full game. He was willing to sacrifice his body and came up with some big offensive and defensive plays for us all year long." PHD: Can you talk about a time when you and the team overcame adversity? Coach Smith: "I think the first 3 games of the season proved that we were going to be a pretty good team. In the semi-final of the regional tournament when Dunseith pushed us to the limit. Even though we were the number 1 seed, many people doubted us against Lamoure and especially Kindred. They thought we were not built to beat that team." PHD: Who was your best practice player and why? Coach Mertens: "We had a group of practice players, and it was our JV ([player_tooltip player_id="1185124" first="Wade" last="Nestell"], Keyshawn St. Pierre, Maize Two Bears, Kylon Keja, Brayden Thomas, Michael Alex, Ty Dauphanais, Kashton Keja Jr., Keenan Keo, Keilan Longie, [player_tooltip player_id="1363917" first="Marial" last="Deng"], Greyson Delorme) every practice they pushed our varsity and helped prepare them for each game and they took their lumps, but they also gave their share of them as well." PHD: Who were some of your key bench players? Coach Smith: "We tried to get as many of our bench players in play especially when we had blowout games to gain the experience that we would eventually need from them and going into the following season. [player_tooltip player_id="1185124" first="Wade" last="Nestell"] was always our first man off the bench, where he would take over point guard duties and defensive duties. He is extremely quick, with very quick hands. Kylon Keja was our 7th man. He is like a swiss army knife that can do multiple things. He brings strength and smarts to our team. A very streaky shooter, when one goes in he will follow it up with several more. Brayden Thomas and Keyshawn St. Pierre saw some valuable minutes throughout the year." PHD: Can you make a few comments about the seniors that you are losing? Coach Smith: "[player_tooltip player_id="1046356" first="Jayden" last="Yankton"]: Jayden always had the talent and the “no-fear” attitude to play the game at a very young age. What he never had to do was be a true leader. His leadership and maturity on and off the court were superior. It was what this team needed to be successful, and he delivered. He had an outstanding year and deserved all the accolades that he received. I am so proud of him that he finished his career with so many special memories, from becoming our All-Time Leading Scorer, 1st Team All-State, SOY awards, State undefeated Champion, Lion’s All-Star team, and what I am most proud of is he is a District 7 Academic team member and an “A” Honor Roll student." "[player_tooltip player_id="1185116" first="Jacolby" last="Pearson"]: “Smooth as Silk and Cooler than the other side of the Pillow” For a player that should have been playing full-time last year, but played behind a bunch of good seniors, to being one of the best players in the state. Playing his best down the stretch and in the State Tournament. Another “A” honor roll student/athlete, who is a better student off the court. Jacolby just stuck to his objective and waited his turn and he really showed up and showed out this year." "What an amazing year for our two seniors. I am so proud of them and so happy that they will have lifetime memories from their senior year. They will be missed and very hard to replace because they did so much on and off the court." PHD: Who are some of your top players that will be back next season? Coach Smith: "Well, you must start with our two “Super Sophomores” in [player_tooltip player_id="1144580" first="Deng" last="Deng"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1144581" first="Dalen" last="Leftbear"]. They have all the tools to play both sides of the ball and they are only going to get better. [player_tooltip player_id="1138899" first="Kelson" last="Keja"] will be able to play the two-guard more next year, where he has no problem putting the ball in the hoop. [player_tooltip player_id="1185124" first="Wade" last="Nestell"], Kylon Keja, Brayden Thomas, Ty Dauphinais, Keyshawn St. Pierre, Kashton Keja, [player_tooltip player_id="1363917" first="Marial" last="Deng"], Keilan Longie are just some of the young names that you will hear next year." <h4>Four Winds-Minnewaukan Scores/Schedule</h4> Enderlin W 82-79 Beulah W 82-67 Dickinson Trinity W 76-56 Rolette W 94-46 Devils Lake W 90-52 North Star W 98-74 HCV W 81-50 New Rockford-Sheyenne W 85-37 Benson County W 102-28 Oak Grove W 82-62 Langdon W 88-44 Dakota Prarie W 84-29 Lakota W 91-44 Harvey/Wells County W 79-52 Rugby W 71-54 Hatton/Northwood W 81-24 Warwick W 82-26 Shiloh Christian W 75-55 Dunseith W 92-69 Harvey/Wells County W 69-43 (Districts) Rolla W 70-46 (Regions) Dunseith W 83-72 (Regions) Harvey/Wells County W 61-34 (Region Championship) Stanley W 68-28 (State) LaMoure-Litchville/Marion W 52-36 (State) Kindred W 69-49 (State Championship)