Power Ranks Update: ND B

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It is 2024, which means this is the first Power Rankings of the year for Class B in North Dakota. What's new, how did the week go, and who moved around in the Rankings? See below for information on Class B hoops in ND.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1606306,"width":"305px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/NorthDakota.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/NorthDakota.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-1606306" style="width:305px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"x-large"} --> <p class="has-x-large-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">B Power Rankings</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size"><strong>#1 Bowman County (6-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>This Past Week:</strong> W 78-39 New England, W 55-50 LaMoure-Litchville-Marion</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bulldogs took care of business against the Tigers and they had a low-scoring dog fight against the Loboes. [player_tooltip player_id='1144932' first='Bohden' last='Duffield'] scored 28 points in the win over LLM.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size"><strong>#2 Westhope-Newburg (6-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>This Past Week:</strong> W 70-52 Hazen, W 82-37 Powers Lake-Burke Central</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was a good week for the Sioux. I was impressed with the 18-point win over Class A Hazen. Westhope-Newburg works fast, they share the rock, and play an entertaining brand of basketball. In Westhope-Newburg's blowout win over Power Lake, [player_tooltip player_id='1169145' first='Walker' last='Braaten'] led the way with 31 points, 8 rebounds, 6 steals and was 7/11 from 3-point land.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size"><strong>#3 North Star (5-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>This Past Week:</strong> W 43-42 Our Redeemer's </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was not the prettiest game of basketball that the Bearcats have ever played, but they found a way to get the W. The good news is, [player_tooltip player_id='1632620' first='Hunter' last='Hagler'] is back playing but the bad news is that [player_tooltip player_id='1324683' first='Dane' last='Hagler'] is injured and he missed the game against ORCS. Let's hope that North Star gets healthy soon, I am looking forward to watching them at 100%.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size"><strong>#4 Sargent Central (4-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>This Past Week:</strong> L 58-54 Hillsboro-Central Valley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bulldogs lost this past week but it was to a Class A team and HCV is looking like a legitimate squad. The Burros also took down Central Cass last week. In the HCV game, SC was led by [player_tooltip player_id='1145108' first='Luke' last='Martinson'] with 17 points, [player_tooltip player_id='1551198' first='Josh' last='Wittich'] 15 points, and [player_tooltip player_id='1694357' first='Nick' last='Hansen'] 12 points. [player_tooltip player_id='1551198' first='Josh' last='Wittich'] had a great challenge while going up against a guy like [player_tooltip player_id='1144488' first='Jacob' last='Brandt'] for the Burros and he did very well. Josh's scoring was a bit down in this game, but so much of his energy went into worrying about stopping Brandt. [player_tooltip player_id='1145108' first='Luke' last='Martinson'] has blossomed into the scorer that Bulldogs fans have always known he could be. Luke can create his own shot, has sharp basketball instincts, and he knows the game well. Against HCV, [player_tooltip player_id='1694357' first='Nick' last='Hansen'] had his best game of the season. Nick scored his season-high and he set the tone for for the Bulldogs on defense. Hansen is as quick as they come and his ability to get to the bucket is an issue for many teams. After this game, look for Hansen to continue to grow as a scorer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size"><strong>#5 Bishop Ryan (6-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>This Past Week:</strong> W 57-29 North Prairie</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lions picked up another large-margin victory this past week. Ryan is averaging 68 ppg and they are holding their opponents to 39.5 ppg.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size"><strong>#6 Linton-HMB (6-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>This Past Week:</strong> W 66-43 New Salem-Almont, W 63-56 Standing Rock, W 65-54 Bottineau</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lions are hot, they just won the Championship at the Mandan Holiday Tournament. They won 3 games and 2 of them came against A teams. In the opening round game vs. NSA, [player_tooltip player_id='1144603' first='Gentry' last='Richter'] was named MVP and scored 12 points. In the semifinal game vs. Standing Rock, Richter was MVP again with 24 points. In the Championship game vs. Bottineau and [player_tooltip player_id='1144617' first='Carson' last='Haerer'], smooth-shooting [player_tooltip player_id='1146180' first='Jace' last='Jochim'] was named MVP and dropped a cool 21 points in the big game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size"><strong>#7 Washburn (4-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>This Past Week:</strong> W 67-37 Grant County-Mott-Regent</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Cardinals have certainly started the year on a high note. In their last game against GCMR, [player_tooltip player_id='1326981' first='Alex' last='Retterath'] led all scorers with 25, [player_tooltip player_id='1632628' first='Parker' last='Jacobson'] had 19 points and 5 triples. <strong>Carter Knutson</strong> did a fantastic job fighting with [player_tooltip player_id='1144987' first='Weston' last='Zacher'] while giving up 10 inches. He had to take the brunt of it with <strong>Justin Scheresky</strong> not being able to play because of illness. Knutson really stepped up while being put in as a starter. Washburn did a great job of not allowing the GCMR shooters to get open looks. Beware of the Cards!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size"><strong>#8 Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood (3-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>This Past Week:</strong> Idle</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size"><strong>#9 Williston Trinity (3-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>This Past Week:</strong> Idle</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size"><strong>#10 Hankinson (5-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>This Past Week:</strong> W 62-56 #5 Edgeley-Kulm-Montpelier</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Pirates picked up their signature win of the season this past week against the Rebels from EKM. [player_tooltip player_id='1559968' first='Raeshaun' last='Earl'] led the way with 20 points, followed by <strong>David Round</strong> with 13 points, <strong>Cooper Boll</strong> 11 points, <strong>Andrew Jean</strong> 9 points, and <strong>Parker Hubrig</strong> rounded things out with 8 points. Earl The Pearl came up big late in the game and went 4-4 from the charity stripe to help ice the game. It looks like the Pirates are the real deal and rookie head coach <em>Carter Mauch</em> is doing a great job down in Hankinson.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1676515,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/11/PowerRankings.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/11/PowerRankings.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-1676515" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->