ND Class B: Week 12 Power Rankings

It was a wild week in class B. Five of the Top10 teams from last week’s NDAPSSA Poll took a loss! That does not happen very often. We are getting down to the wire and most teams only have 1 or 2 regular season games left. Some schools have even completed their regular season schedule. It is a great time of year to be a basketball fan! See below for PHD’s updated Power Rankings, we do not have many of these rankings left this year…

#1 Central Cass (19-0)

Recent Games: WIN 80-41 at Richland, WIN 86-53 vs. Tri-State

Next Game: Feb 24 vs. Sargent County

Info: The Squirrels are the only undefeated team left in Class B! The number 1 seed is still up for grabs in Region 1. The top seed will be decided on Friday when Sargent County travels to Casselton, both squads are undefeated in Region play. The Squirrels won two more games this past week, both were blowouts. Stats leaders from the Tri-State game: Carter Vrchota Carter Vrchota 6'0" | SG Central Cass | 2024 State ND 17 pts, 8 reb, Cole Holzer Cole Holzer 6'6" Central Cass | 2024 ND 15 pts, 12 reb, 1 ast, Eli Buhr Eli Buhr 6'2" | SG Central Cass | 2024 State ND 11 pts, 6 reb, 2 ast, Sam Kobbervig Sam Kobbervig 6'3" | SG Central Cass | 2023 State ND 11 pts, 4 reb, 7 ast, Chase Bachmeier Chase Bachmeier 5'11" | PG Central Cass | 2024 ND 11 pts, 3 ast.

#2 Four Winds-Minnewaukan (18-1)

Recent Games: WIN 80-27 vs. Dakota Prairie, WIN 81-26 at New Rockford-Sheyenne, LOSS 59-51 at #5 Shiloh Christian

Next Games: Feb 24 vs. Harvey Wells County, Feb 25 vs. Beulah

Info: The Indians took their first loss of the season and their long win streak comes to an end. 4Winds plays a challenging schedule against top teams from across the state because they want to be tested by the time they get to tournament time. Taking a non-region loss might be a good thing for 4Winds, I am sure that coach Smith will have many teaching points for his team after the Shiloh game. Deng Deng Deng Deng 6'5" | SF Four Winds/Minnewaukan | 2024 State ND and Dalen Leftbear Dalen Leftbear 6'3" | SF FourWinds/Minnewaukan | 2024 State ND looked really good again yesterday. They are talented, athletic, and two of the most entertaining players in ND to watch.

#3 Bishop Ryan (17-2)

Recent Games: WIN 48-43 at Rugby, WIN 82-72 at #8 Beulah, WIN 61-56 at Powers Lake-Burke Central

Next Game: District Tournament

Info: You could not ask for a better week of basketball. First, they take down a solid Region 6 team that they could easily see in the postseason. Next, they beat a fellow top team with Beulah. Lastly, they finish the week against a Region 8 power in Powers Lake-Burke Central. Picking up three wins like that shows you how serious of a team the Lions are! It was a great wy to end the regular season. Lions stats from the Powers Lake win: Brady Feller Brady Feller 6'2" | SG Bishop Ryan | 2023 State ND 25 pts, 5 reb, 5 ast, 4 stl, Ramsey Walz Ramsey Walz 6'7" | PF Bishop Ryan | 2025 State ND 11 pts, 13 reb, Ian Johnson Ian Johnson 6'4" Bishop Ryan | 2023 ND 9 pts, 7 reb, Jett Lundeen Jett Lundeen 6'0" | SG Bishop Ryan | 2025 State ND 9 pts.

#4 Sargent County (18-1)

Recent Games: WIN 52-45 vs. Lisbon, LOSS 57-47 vs. Kindred

Next Game: Feb 24 at Central Cass

Info: The Bulldogs suffered their first loss of the season at the NSDCS Bonanza on Saturday to Region 1 foe Kindred. The Bulldogs beat Kindred earlier in the season. Saturday’s matchup was a non-counter game and had no bearing on Region standings. However, I am sure that it was good to get a game on the college court and to play on the same floor where the Region Tournament will be played. As it stands, Sargent County and Central Cass are both undefeated and the top seed will be determined on Friday night!

#5 Shiloh Christian (16-4)

Recent Games: LOSS 58-49 at Des Lacs-Burlington, WIN 59-51 vs. #1 Four Winds-Minnewaukan

Next Game: Feb 24 @ Wilton-Wing

Info: The Skyhawks lost to the Lakers but DLB is a darn good team with a really good coach. The Lakers could make a run and get to State. The Skyhawks must have chalked that one up as a learning experience because, on Saturday, they took down #1 Four Winds-Minnewaukan! It was a lower-scoring game and that is what it takes to beat 4Winds. Kyler Klein and Jay Wanzek Jay Wanzek 6'7" | PF Shiloh Christian | 2023 State ND played very well in the win over 4Winds.

#6 Bowman County (16-2)

Recent Games: WIN 75-69 vs. Beach

Next Games: Feb 24 at South Heart, Feb 25 vs. Hettinger-Scranton

Info: We missed this last week, Bohden Duffield Bohden Duffield 6'1" | SG Bowman County | 2024 State ND scored his 1,000th CAREER POINT on February 11th against Beulah. Congratulations Mr. Duffield! The Bulldogs are putting together a very nice season and their only two losses come from Region 7 teams (Dickinson Trinity & Hazen). Region 7 is the deepest and most talented Region in Class B this season. Whoever comes out of 7, will have earned their trip to State! Can the Bulldogs do it again?

#7 Beulah (16-3)

Recent Games: WIN 64-40 vs. Grant County-Mott-Regent, LOSS 82-72 vs. #4 Bishop Ryan, WIN 70-53 vs. Beach

Next Games: Feb 24 at Hazen, Feb 25 at Four Winds-Minnewaukan

Info: The Miners certainly have a tough end to their schedule. They play at their rival Hazen on Friday and they have to make the trek up to Four Winds on Saturday. This past Tuesday, Braylen Schirado Braylen Schirado 5'11" | SG Beulah | 2026 State ND scored 20 pts and grabbed 4 reb, he was hot from deep and went 6-8 from 3pt. Bennett Larson Bennett Larson 6'7" | C Beulah | 2026 State ND also had a nice game with 14 pts and 5 reb. On Thursday against Minot Ryan, Trace Beauchamp Trace Beauchamp 6'4" | SG Beulah | 2024 State ND scored 25 (5 triples) and snagged 4 reb. Champ Hettich Champ Hettich 6'3" | SG Beulah | 2024 State ND put in 13 pts. Last night against Beach, Trace Beauchamp Trace Beauchamp 6'4" | SG Beulah | 2024 State ND went for 18 pts, 8 reb, and 5 ast. The Miners had 4 guys in double figures and two more with 8 and 7 pts.

#8 North Prairie (18-2)

Recent Games: WIN 55-43 vs. North Star, WIN 73-42 vs. Lakota

Next Game: Feb 24 at St. John

Info: The Cougars are putting together a fantastic season! Their only losses have come from North Border and Four Winds-Minnewaukan. After the North Star win, it looks like North Prairie is the biggest threat to 4Winds in Region 4. Scoring from the Lakota win: Mitchell Leas Mitchell Leas 6'0" | PG Rolla | 2023 State ND 25, Blake Mattson Blake Mattson 6'2" | SF North Prairie | 2024 State ND 21 (career high), Nate Tastad Nate Tastad 6'5" | PF North Prairie | 2024 State ND 11, Jeffry Rosinski Jeffry Rosinski 6'4" | SF North Prairie | 2025 State ND 4, Nic Mears 4, Montgomery Grant 3.

#9 Thompson (13-6)

Recent Games: LOSS 73-59 at Sacred Heart (EGF, MN), WIN 59-56 vs. Carrington

Next Games: Feb 24 at Hatton-Northwood, Feb 27 vs. Hillsboro-Central Valley

Info: The Tommies did not lose to a ND team this week and Sacred Heart from East Grand Forks is a very good team. The Tommies play a super tough schedule! Let’s take a look at some of the stats leaders for Thompson this season. Drew Overby Drew Overby 6'1" | CG Thompson | 2024 State ND 17.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.6 apg, 2.5 spg, Jake Starcevic Jake Starcevic 6'2" | SG Thompson | 2025 State ND 16.3 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 4.3 apg, 2.7 spg, Karter Peterson Karter Peterson 6'6" | PF Thompson | 2025 State ND 12.6 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 1.5 apg, .8 spg, Brayden Wolfgram Brayden Wolfgram 5'10" | PG Thompson | 2024 State ND 6.1 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 5.1 apg, 2.3 spg.

Tied 10th Ellendale (16-3)

Recent Games: WIN 51-17 at Kidder County, WIN 52-26 vs. Strasburg-Zeeland

Next Games: District Tournament

Info: The Cardinals did not magically lose two games, they had to forfeit two wins from earlier in the season. It sounds like Ellendale used an ineligible player in varsity and he should have only been playing in the JV games. They forfeited the Enderlin and Griggs-Midkota wins.

Tied 10th North Border (17-2)

Recent Games: WIN 84-60 vs. Hillsboro-Central Valley, WIN 71-45 vs. Park River-Fordville-Lankin, WIN 73-47 at Medina-Pingree-Buchanan

Next Games: Feb 24 at Drayton-Valley-Edinburg, Feb 27 at Midway-Minto

Info: The two losses this season for the Eagles are to Thompson and Grafton, other than that, all the Eagles do is win! North Border has two studs on their team and they are both worthy of being All-State Players. Check out these impressive stats: TJ Cosley TJ Cosley 6'0" | PG North Border | 2023 State ND 25.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 4.5 apg, 2.9 spg and Ayden Stainbrook Ayden Stainbrook 6'5" | SF North Border | 2023 State ND 21.3 ppg, 11.6 rpg, 2.9 apg, 1.6 spg. Look out for the Eagles, they are ready to make some noise in the Region Tournament!