ND Class B: Week 6 Power Rankings

It was a wild week in Class B boys’ basketball. We had upsets, triumphs, blowouts, tight games, and about everything you can imagine. We had a big shake-up in the rankings with teams falling out and new teams jumping in. See below for our Week 6 Class B Power Rankings.

#1 Four Winds-Minnewaukan (6-0)

Games This Past Week: WIN 55-45 @ North Prairie, WIN 72-29 vs. Benson County, WIN 59-27 vs. Lakota, WIN 66-40 vs. North Star

Next Game: 1/13 @ Hillsboro/Central Valley

Info: It was a busy week for the Indians, they won 4 games and they were crowned the Ramsey County Invitational Champions! They played North Star in the Championship game and 4Winds game away with a convincing win. North Star was considered the main threat to 4Winds in Region 4, after the 26-point win, it looks like 4Winds is the heavy favorite in Region 4 once again. Stat leaders from the North Star win: Deng Deng Deng Deng 6'5" | SF Four Winds/Minnewaukan | 2024 State ND 25 pts, 1 ast, 10 reb, 5 stl, Kelson Keja Kelson Keja 5'7" | PG Four Winds/Minnewaukan | 2023 State ND 14 pts, 1 ast, 2 reb, 2 stl, Dalen Leftbear Dalen Leftbear 6'3" | SF FourWinds/Minnewaukan | 2024 State ND 11 pts, 1 ast, 9 reb, 2 stl, Wade Nestell Wade Nestell 6'0" | SG Four Winds/Minnewaukan | 2024 State ND 11 pts, 1 reb, 4 stl.

#2 Central Cass (6-0)

Games This Past Week: Idle

Next Game: 1/10 @ Wyndmere/Lidgerwood

Info: The Squirrels are a well-coached team with depth, athletes, and shooters. They like to press, pressure, and play fast. On offense, CC shares the ball and plays unselfishly. It looks like the Squirrels will have 3 All-Region players with Sam Kobbervig Sam Kobbervig 6'3" | SG Central Cass | 2023 State ND , Cole Holzer Cole Holzer 6'6" Central Cass | 2024 ND , and Carter Vrchota Carter Vrchota 6'0" | SG Central Cass | 2024 State ND .

#3 Bishop Ryan (4-1)

Games This Past Week: WIN 80-70 vs. Dunseith, WIN 68-59 at Kenmare-Bowbells, WIN 69-61 vs. Stanley

Next Game: 1/10 @ Velva

Info: The Lions cleaned up this past week with 3 solid wins. Bishop Ryan has a talented squad and scary “Big 3” that can compete with any team in the state. Brady Feller Brady Feller 6'2" | SG Bishop Ryan | 2023 State ND , Ian Johnson Ian Johnson 6'4" Bishop Ryan | 2023 ND , and Ramsey Walz Ramsey Walz 6'7" | PF Bishop Ryan | 2025 State ND are the Big 3 for the Lions. They are a matchup nightmare with size, skill, and athleticism.

#4 Grafton (6-0)

Games This Past Week: WIN 72-47 at Northern Cass, WIN 78-53 vs. Midway-Minto

Next Game: 1/13 @ Thompson

Info: The Spoilers took care of business with 2 more wins this past week. Braylon Baldwin Braylon Baldwin 5'11" | CG Grafton | 2024 State ND has looked like one of the top guards in Class B so far this season. He scored in the high 30’s against Northern Cass. The Spoilers will be tested in their next two games. They have Region 2 games with Thompson and HCV coming up. We will have a much better idea of how good the Spoilers are after those two games.

#5 Beulah (4-1)

Games This Past Week: WIN 51-41 vs. Des Lacs-Burlington, WIN 70-44 vs. Hazen

Next Game: 1/10 vs. Hettinger/Scranton

Info: The Miners have one of the best coaches in North Dakota, they have a balanced team, and they won two high-quality games this past week. Beulah is tough up front with Tarren Larson Tarren Larson 6'3" | SF Beulah | 2023 State ND and Bennett Larson Bennett Larson 6'7" | C Beulah | 2026 State ND . They are both physical forwards and they wear down the opposing team’s BIGs. In the DLB win, Braylen Schirado Braylen Schirado 5'11" | SG Beulah | 2026 State ND led the Miners with 14 points and he hit some huge 3’s. Bennett Larson Bennett Larson 6'7" | C Beulah | 2026 State ND did a fantastic job on Carson Yale Carson Yale 6'9" | PF Des Lacs Burlington | 2023 State ND . In the Hazen win, Trace Beauchamp Trace Beauchamp 6'4" | SG Beulah | 2024 State ND led the Miners with 25 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, and 4 steals. Jack Koppelsloen Jack Koppelsloen 5'9" | SG Beulah | 2023 State ND also played well on defense vs. Hazen, he held Wick to 5 points. Beulah has Shiloh Christian on the 13th, that will be a great measuring stick for the Miners.

#6 Sargent County (6-0)

Games This Past Week: WIN 61-31 vs. Lisbon, WIN 60-33 at Hillsboro-Central Valley

Next Game: 1/10 @ Maple River

Info: Gaven Christianson Gaven Christianson 6'0" | PF Sargent County | 2023 State ND and Fletcher Willprecht Fletcher Willprecht 5'9" | PG Sargent County | 2023 State ND had a great week for the Bulldogs. Luke Martinson Luke Martinson 6'4" | PF Sargent County | 2024 State ND is another nice player for SC. The Bulldogs are playing solid all-around basketball right now. They have a big week ahead of them with Region 1 games against Maple River and Kindred. If they can stay undefeated this coming week, I will be even more impressed and the Bulldogs are better than everyone thought. The Sargent Central vs. Kindred game will be a must-watch matchup on Friday.

#7 Shiloh Christian (4-2)

Games This Past Week: LOST 71-68 vs. Oak Grove, LOST 84-81 vs. Rapid City Christian

Next Game: 1/13 @ Beulah

Info: This team is too talented to be moved any lower. The Skyhawks have 2 losses but all four wins have come against solid opponents. Atticus Wilkinson Atticus Wilkinson 6'6" | PF Shiloh Christian | 2024 State ND has been phenomenal as of late. Against Rapid City Christian, the athletic junior scored 30 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. The upcoming Skyhawk vs. Miner game will be a great test for both squads.

#8 Kindred (3-2)

Games This Past Week: WIN 72-40 @ Tri-State, WIN 71-60 vs. Thompson

Next Game: 1/10 vs. Northern Cass

Info: On New Year’s Eve, the Vikings showed how good they are by having Shiloh Christian on the ropes, but they came up 3 points short. They bounced back this week and took care of business vs. Thompson who was ranked #5 at the time. Presley Peraza Presley Peraza 6'6" | PF Kindred | 2025 State ND was a stud on Saturday in the win over the Tommies. The stud soph poured in 24 points.

#9 North Star (6-1)

Games This Past Week: WIN 64-30 vs. Larimore, WIN 64-36 vs. Devils Lake (JV), LOST 66-40 vs. 4Winds

Next Game: 1/12 @ Rugby

Info: The Bearcats are a big team with Dane Hagler Dane Hagler 6'4" | SG North Star | 2024 State ND , Karsen Simon Karsen Simon 6'5" | SF North Star | 2024 State ND , and Parker Simon Parker Simon 6'4" | SF North Star | 2024 State ND . They are athletic and they can crush on the offensive glass. I am interested to see how Hagler and company bounce back against Rugby.

#10 Oak Grove (3-2)

Games This Past Week: WIN 71-68 @ Shiloh Christian, LOST 61-51 vs. Dickinson Trinity

Next Game: 1/10 @ Richland

Info: They had an outstanding game at Shiloh on Friday for the upset. Too bad they could not follow it up with a win over Trinity. However, the Grovers have now shown that they have what it takes to be considered one of the best in Class B. They have two impressive wins over Shiloh Christian and HCV. In the Shiloh win, Trey Hatfield Trey Hatfield 6'5" | SG Oak Grove | 2023 State ND went off for 30 points and Rylee Bakkegard Rylee Bakkegard 5'11" | CG Oak Grove | 2023 State ND scored 14 points. The Grovers will go as far as Hatfield and Bakkegard can take them this season.