Four Winds-Minnewaukan: 22 Win Season

Today we are checking out a POWERHOUSE in Class B basketball. 4Winds spent the majority of the year ranked #1 in the State Polls but had some injuries late in the season that derailed their State Championship goal.

The Indians have some high-level talent with Deng Deng Deng Deng 6'5" | SF Four Winds/Minnewaukan | 2024 State ND , who should be a household name for high school basketball fans in ND by this point. They also have another All-State caliber player with Dalen Leftbear Dalen Leftbear 6'3" | SF FourWinds/Minnewaukan | 2024 State ND .

Take a look below for much more info on the Four Winds-Minnewaukan program, this was their last season in Class B.

In the 2023-24 season, FWM will be moving up to Class A in the new “NDHSAA 3-Class System”. The Indians will be in Region 2 along with: Devils Lake, Grafton, HCV, Carrington, and Thompson.

2022-23 Season Review

Team: Four Winds-Minnewaukan

Mascot: Indians

Enrollment: 263

Head Coach: Rick Smith

Class: B

Region: 4

Record: 22-2

Playoffs: Lost in Region Semifinals to North Star 51-46

Wins Against: Oak Grove, Dickinson Trinity, North Prairie, Benson County (x2), Lakota (x3), North Star (x2), HCV, Dunseith, St. John, Langdon Area, Rugby, Warwick, Thompson, Dakota Prairie, New Rockford-Sheyenne, Harvey-Wells County, Beulah, North Prairie.

Team Stats

PPG: 69.4 RPG: 31.1 ORPG: 9.8 APG: 14.6 SPG: 14.1 BPG: 2.6

FG%: 46 2FG%: 56 3FG%: 25 FT%: 60 3FGM: 124 FTM: 174

Stats Leaders

Deng Deng Deng Deng 6'5" | SF Four Winds/Minnewaukan | 2024 State ND – 22.8 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 2.3 apg, 55 FG%

Dalen Leftbear Dalen Leftbear 6'3" | SF FourWinds/Minnewaukan | 2024 State ND – 16 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 2.2 apg, 55 FG%

Kelson Keja Kelson Keja 5'7" | PG Four Winds/Minnewaukan | 2023 State ND – 8.2 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 3.2 apg, 38 FG%

Wade Nestell Wade Nestell 6'0" | SG Four Winds/Minnewaukan | 2024 State ND – 7.8 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.9 apg, 46 FG%

Keyshawn St. Pierre Keyshawn St. Pierre 5'8" | SG Four Winds/Minnewaukan | 2024 State ND – 5.3 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 1.8 apg, 49 FG%

Q&A with Coach Rick Smith

PHD: How would you sum up the season for your squad?

Coach Smith: “We had a great season, that ended in a bit of a heartbreak. The team played extremely hard on the defensive end all year. I thought that we were a bit inconsistent on the offensive end and just couldn’t find that third consistent scorer for us. I thought we struggled at times to shoot the ball, especially from the 3-point arc. Our defense kept us in every game and most of the time our defense led to our offense. The last week and a half of the season was a nightmare for our team, losing 3 to knee injuries, and the one to Dalen Leftbear Dalen Leftbear 6'3" | SF FourWinds/Minnewaukan | 2024 State ND we just couldn’t overcome in the Regional Tournament. Finishing 22-2, being ranked #1 almost all year, and winning 45 games in a row dating back to last season, is still something to be very proud of.“

PHD: What were some of the highlights on the hardwood that stick out?

Coach Smith: “45 consecutive winning streak.“

“ Deng Deng Deng Deng 6'5" | SF Four Winds/Minnewaukan | 2024 State ND & Dalen Leftbear Dalen Leftbear 6'3" | SF FourWinds/Minnewaukan | 2024 State ND ‘s highlight dunks.“

“Winning the last Ramsey County Invitational that we will play in.”

“ Deng Deng Deng Deng 6'5" | SF Four Winds/Minnewaukan | 2024 State ND – 1 st team All-State“

PHD: How did your team overcome adversity?

Coach Smith: “Being the defending State Champions and winning 18 more consecutive games to start the season, the team played with a lot of passion and were only focused on one thing and that was winning games. I thought we were really refocused heading into the Regional Tournament to get back to the State Tournament and we just ran into injuries that were out of our control and we just didn’t have time to overcome that. We really thought we were going to compete for another State Title.“

PHD: What are a few things your team improved on over the course of the season?

Coach Smith: “We will have to get healthy again, losing two of our top future prospects with knee injuries and we don’t have the timetable on their return, other players will get the opportunity to step up and step in. The young guys have a year under their belt and will have to play a larger role next season which will deepen our bench play going into next year. We have our nucleus back but will have to improve our shooting and get an upgrade on consistent play from our other players. The young guys will have to get stronger because every game next year will be physical and we have to be ready for that.“

PHD: Who are a couple of role players that stood out for you?

Coach Smith: “ Keyshawn St. Pierre Keyshawn St. Pierre 5'8" | SG Four Winds/Minnewaukan | 2024 State ND stood out the most this year with his consistent play off the bench. He was a non-stop hustle player and also scored in double-figures a few games for us, which was a nice surprise. Kylon Keja, Jonte Delorme Jonte Delorme 5'10" | SG Four Winds-Minnewaukan | 2026 State ND , Keilan Longie Keilan Longie 5'11" | SG Four Winds-Minnewaukan | 2025 State ND , Marial Deng Marial Deng 6'2" | SF Four Winds/Minnewaukan | 2026 State ND , and Kashton Keja are all very capable of playing big minutes for us, but with their inexperience they were inconsistent. 2 were lost to injuries at the end of the year and we won’t know when we will have them back next year.“

PHD: Can you talk about the seniors and what will be missed?

Coach Smith:

Coach Smith: “Besides Kelson Keja Kelson Keja 5'7" | PG Four Winds/Minnewaukan | 2023 State ND and Ty Dauphinais, we really did have much senior participation on the floor this year. We had 4 seniors, and they were all top-notch kids that wanted to come along for the ride of a successful team. Kelson Keja Kelson Keja 5'7" | PG Four Winds/Minnewaukan | 2023 State ND ‘s toughness will be missed. Being only 5’5 he didn’t back down from anyone. He was a true warrior and the toughness and leadership that he brought will always be missed.“

PHD: Who are some up-and-comers to look for in the future?

Coach Smith: “We have a lot of young talent on this team. Next year’s juniors: Keilan Longie Keilan Longie 5'11" | SG Four Winds-Minnewaukan | 2025 State ND – 5’10 SG“

“Kashton Keja – 5’4 PG (injured fractured knee cap)“

“ Ron McKay Ron McKay 6'3" | SF Four Winds-Minnewaukan | 2025 State ND – 6’3 F (played only JV last year – transfer)“

“Greyson Delorme – 6’0 SG”

“Next year’s sophomores: Jonte Delorme Jonte Delorme 5'10" | SG Four Winds-Minnewaukan | 2026 State ND – 5’7 SG“

“ Marial Deng Marial Deng 6'2" | SF Four Winds/Minnewaukan | 2026 State ND – 6’2 G/F (injured ACL)“

“Clayton Dubois – 5’7 G“

“Rich Cavanaugh – 6’1 F“

“ Tyler Black Jr. Tyler Black Jr. 6'1" | SF Four Winds-Minnewaukan | 2026 State ND – 6’1 F”

“Dion Jackson – 5’9 G“

“Next year’s freshmen: Joran Lohnes Joran Lohnes 6'1" | SG Four Winds-Minnewaukan | 2027 ND – 6’0 G/F“

“ Dayson Dubois Dayson Dubois 5'7" | PG Four Winds-Minnewaukan | 2027 ND – 5’6 PG“

PHD: What are your off-season plans?

Coach Smith: “We have 3 players that will need to heal up from injuries, one can be back this summer the other two, only time will tell. Deng Deng Deng Deng 6'5" | SF Four Winds/Minnewaukan | 2024 State ND , Jonte Dlorme, Tyler Black Jr. Tyler Black Jr. 6'1" | SF Four Winds-Minnewaukan | 2026 State ND will all be involved in “Bearstail Basketball” AAU basketball this summer. We usually have a busy June planned for team camps and possible leagues, but it will be mainly working on individual work and the weight room.“

PHD: Did any of your guys receive awards?

Coach Smith: “ Kelson Keja Kelson Keja 5'7" | PG Four Winds/Minnewaukan | 2023 State ND – All-Region, Dalen Leftbear Dalen Leftbear 6'3" | SF FourWinds/Minnewaukan | 2024 State ND – All-Region, Deng Deng Deng Deng 6'5" | SF Four Winds/Minnewaukan | 2024 State ND – All-Region & 1st Team All-State“