ND Class B District Predictions
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It is officially the playoffs! District Play-In games happened this past Saturday and the brackets are now set for the upcoming District Tournaments. (We still have one Play-In game to go in District 7) The Quarterfinals of the 8 District…
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Continue ReadingIt is officially the playoffs! District Play-In games happened this past Saturday and the brackets are now set for the upcoming District Tournaments. (We still have one Play-In game to go in District 7)
The Quarterfinals of the 8 District Tournaments tip-off across the state on Friday 2/23/24.
Where are the District Tournaments played?
District 1 – Valley City State
District 2 -Jamestown Civic Center
District 3 – Langdon Area High School
District 4 – Larimore High School
District 5 – Bowman County High School
District 6 – White Shield High School
District 7 – New Town Event Center
District 8 – Minot Auditorium
PHD is pulling out the glass ball and making predictions for the upcoming District Tournaments.
Best of luck to everyone in the playoffs! It is the best time of the year for basketball fans!
District Predictions
District 1
Quarterfinal Winners: Sargent County, Wyndmere/Lidgerwood, Hankinson, Barnes County North
Semifinal Winners: Sargent County, Hankinson
Champions: Sargent County
We went chalk on all but one of the Quarterfinal games. The Warbirds from Wyndmere/Lidgerwood lost by 11 to Oakes in late January. PHD thinks Todd Hosford is a good coach, he will learn from the earlier loss, and the Warbirds will pull the early upset. W/L always plays hard and they give maximum effort. After that, Sargent County & Hankinson are the favorites to make the District Championship and that is who we are going with. The Bulldogs beat the Pirates earlier this season by 2 points in a low-scoring game. I think Sargent County’s size with Luke Martinson Luke Martinson 6'4" | PF Sargent County | 2024 State ND and Josh Wittich Josh Wittich 6'5" | PF Sargent County | 2024 State ND will be too much for Hankinson. However, the bigger college court will be an advantage for Raeshaun Earl Raeshaun Earl 5'11" | SG Hankinson | 2026 State ND and the Pirates. I like Andrew Jean Andrew Jean 6'2" | PF Hankinson | 2025 State ND from Hankinson, he could be an X-factor. Bulldogs vs. Pirates in the Championship at Valley City State will be a barn burner and could easily come down to a one-possession game once again.
District 2
Quarterfinal Winners: EKM, LLM, Linton/HMB, Ellendale
Semifinal Winners: EKM, Linton/HMB
Champions: EKM
We are going with chalk all the way through the District Tournament. District 2 has many teams that could get hot and make a run to the Championship game, however, I don’t see it happening. EKM & Linton will win big in the first round of games. I like LLM over MPB because of Max Musland Max Musland 6'4" | SG LaMoure-Litchville/Marion | 2024 State ND and his tough teammates. Ellendale vs. South Border will be a tough one but I see the Cardinals winning behind solid performances from Anton Geller Anton Geller 6'1" | SF Ellendale | 2024 State ND , Mason Molan Mason Molan 6'3" | SG Ellendale | 2024 State ND , and Kade Schimke Kade Schimke 6'9" | SF Ellendale | 2024 State ND . In the Semifinals, EKM will have too much firepower for the Loboes, and Linton will outscore Ellendale by a splashy performance from Jace Jochim Jace Jochim 6'2" | SG Linton/HMB | 2024 State ND . In the Championship game, I see the Rebels taking down the Lions in a tightly contested game. EKM beat Linton by 4 earlier this season in a physical battle, the Rebels are currently on an 11-game win streak, and the Rebels have more size & depth, and Jacob Nitschke Jacob Nitschke 6'5" | PF Edgeley/Kulm/Montpelier | 2024 State ND will perform impressively under the bright lights.
District 3
Quarterfinal Winners: North Star, North Border, Cavalier, Midway/Minto
Semifinal Winners: North Star, Cavalier
Champions: North Star
North Star will dominate in game 1, North Border will pull the upset over Langdon behind impressive performances from Kaden Moore Kaden Moore 5'9" | PG North Border | 2027 State ND & Grant Cosley Grant Cosley 6'0" | SG North Border | 2025 State ND , Cavalier will cruise past PRFL, and Midway-Minto will shoot their way to a victory over North Prairie. However, I still see Langdon & Rayce Worley Rayce Worley 6'4" | SF Langdon Area/Edmore/Munich | 2024 State ND making Regions by getting hot on the back side of the bracket. In the Semi’s, I think the Bearcats size, strength, and upperclassman will be too much for the young Eagles. On the bottom half of the bracket, I see the Tornadoes taking down Midway-Minto. Ryan Pelletier Ryan Pelletier 6'5" | PF Cavalier | 2026 State ND and the other Tornadoe athletes impressed me earlier this season. Cavalier has beaten them twice, but it is tough to beat a team 3 times, so who knows! North Star will win the Championship behind strong performances from Dane Hagler Dane Hagler 6'4" | SG North Star | 2024 ND , Parker Simon Parker Simon 6'4" | SF North Star | 2024 State ND , and Karsen Simon Karsen Simon 6'5" | SF North Star | 2024 State ND . It is hard to bet against the #1 team in Class B.
District 4
Quarterfinal Winners: Nelson County, New Rockford-Sheyenne, Larimore, Griggs-Midkota
Semifinal Winners: Nelson County, Larimore
Champions: Larimore
Nelson County will take care of business in the opening round, the Rockets will pull an upset led by youngsters Easton Benz Easton Benz 6'3" | CG New Rockford-Sheyenne | 2026 State ND & Easton Simon Easton Simon 6'0" | PG New Rockford | 2026 State ND , the Polar Bears will maul the Patriots, and Griggs-Midkota will win with their size & experience. Nelson County will win in the Semis behind Ross Thompson Ross Thompson 6'4" | SF Nelson County | 2024 State ND , Jaxon Baumgarn Jaxon Baumgarn 6'3" | CG Nelson County | 2024 ND , and Zach Gibson Zach Gibson 6'0" | PG Nelson County | 2024 State ND . Larimore has what is takes to make the big game behind a gritty group of players and a young up-n-coming coach. We are predicting the Polar Bears win Region 2 behind standout performances from Jace Collison Jace Collison 6'0" | CG Larimore | 2025 State ND and Michael Myers Michael Myers 6'8" | C Larimore | 2024 State ND .
District 5
Quarterfinal Winners: Glen Ullin/Hebron, Belfield, Bowman County, Flasher
Semifinal Winners: Glen Ullin/Hebron, Bowman County
Champions: Bowman County
The Bearcats should have no trouble in the first two games of the tourney, the young Bantams will pull an upset in the opening round, the Bulldogs dominate, and Javin Friesz Javin Friesz 6'2" | CG Flasher | 2024 ND will put up 30+ in the opening round. Bowman County vs. Flasher in the Semifinals will be an awesome matchup but I don’t think Flasher has enough help to keep up with the Duffield brothers. Look for Friesz and Flasher to make Regions and be a big problem in the first found. In the District 5 Championship, Bowman will get revenge for the earlier loss, Bishop Duffield Bishop Duffield 6'2" | SG Bowman County | 2024 State ND & Bohden Duffield Bohden Duffield 6'1" | SG Bowman County | 2024 State ND will be a bit too much to handle for the surging Bearcats.
District 6
Quarterfinal Winners: Garrison, Washburn, Wilton-Wing, New-Salem-Almont
Semifinal Winners: Washburn, Wilton-Wing
Champions: Wilton-Wing
We are going with chalk in the first round. In the Semifinals, we think the Cards will upset the Troopers behind splashy performances from Parker Jacobson Parker Jacobson 6'2" | CG Washburn | 2026 State ND & Alex Retterath Alex Retterath 6'1" | SG Washburn | 2024 State ND . Washburn won earlier in the season and we think they will do it again. Look for Garrison to battle back and for Braxton Iglehart Braxton Iglehart 6'1" | PG Garrison | 2024 State ND to lead the Troopers to the Regional Tournament. Wilton-Wing is a tough squad with many guys that shoot the rock hot. We have them winning District 6. NSA has turned it on lately but the Miners will not be stopped with impressive play from Hunter Wolff Hunter Wolff 5'10" | CG Wilton-Wing | 2025 State ND , Bradon Wallace Bradon Wallace 6'3" | SG Wilton-Wing | 2025 State ND , Teigen Earsley Teigen Earsley 5'11" | CG Wilton-Wing | 2025 State ND , and Dontaye Fetzer Dontaye Fetzer 6'0" | SG Wilton-Wing | 2025 State ND . Wilton-Wing beat Washburn by 18 earlier in the season and we give them the nod in the Ship.
District 7
Quarterfinal Winners: Kenmare/Bowbells, Alexander, Williston Trinity, Powers-Lake-Burke Central
Semifinal Winners: Kenmare/Bowbells, Williston Trinity
Champions: Williston Trinity
We do not know who the Honkers will play in the opening round, but it should not matter, they will be heavily favored. In fact, we think all the high seeds will win until we get to the District 7 Championship game. Kenmare/Bowbells vs. Williston Trinity will be an exciting matchup. Kenmare recently beat the Williston Trinity by 18 but we think the Crusaders will use that loss as fuel. Kai Thomas Kai Thomas 6'6" | SF Williston Trinity | 2024 State ND and Jack Zimmer Jack Zimmer 6'1" | PG Kenmare/Bowbells | 2024 State ND will be the top two players to watch in the Championship game. Both are All-State caliber players. For the X-factor, we are going with 9th grader Kale Nix Kale Nix 6'2" | SG Williston Trinity | 2027 State ND from Williston Trinity. He is averaging double-digit points this season and we predict he comes up big when it matters most.
District 8
Quarterfinal Winners: Westhope/Newburg, Velva, Bishop Ryan, TGU.
Semifinal Winners: Westhope/Newburg, Bishop Ryan
Champions: Westhope/Newburg
The only upset in the quarterfinals I see happening is TGU over Our Redeemer’s. ORCS has talent but they are young and Sage Hanson Sage Hanson 6'8" | SF TGU | 2026 State ND is a stud & a tough matchup for anyone. I like MLS but they have a bad draw and face Westhope/Newburg first round. I still think MLS will make the Regional Tournament as they win on the backside of the bracket. Ramsey Walz Ramsey Walz 6'7" | PF Bishop Ryan | 2025 State #313 Nation ND will be too much to handle for everyone until they reach the Championship game. Walz was a dominant force when they beat Westhope/Newburg earlier in the season, I think the Sioux will have that loss on their minds when they meet in the District 8 Championship. I have a hunch that Walker Braaten Walker Braaten 6'4" | CG Westhope/Newburg | 2025 State #278 Nation ND will have a monumental playoff run and take down the Lions in the District Championship. However, I see these two meeting up in the Region Championship down the road. Walker Braaten Walker Braaten 6'4" | CG Westhope/Newburg | 2025 State #278 Nation ND vs. Ramsey Walz Ramsey Walz 6'7" | PF Bishop Ryan | 2025 State #313 Nation ND in the Region Championship sounds like fun to me!