ND Class B Region Predictions
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First of all, best of luck to all the players and teams this week in the Class B Region Tournaments! The games get started this afternoon and carry on into the late evening. It is going to be an epic…
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Continue ReadingFirst of all, best of luck to all the players and teams this week in the Class B Region Tournaments!
The games get started this afternoon and carry on into the late evening. It is going to be an epic week of hoops in North Dakota.
PHD is pulling out the glass ball for this article and making predictions & comments on the first round of the Class B Region Tournaments.
*Remember, we have 3 Classes now in ND. You do not necessarily have to win the Region Tournament to get to State! There are Challenge Games/Play-In Games on Saturday, March 9th. Region 1 & 2 meet at the SHAC in Fargo and Region 3 & 4 meet at the New Town Event Center. The runner-up finishers will play the 3rd place finisher from the opposite Region for the right to play at the State Tournament.
Where are the Region Tournaments played?
Region 1 – Jamestown Civic Center
Region 2 – Devils Lake High School
Region 3 – Bismarck St. Mary’s
Region 4 – New Town Event Center
Class B Regionals
Region 1
Quarterfinal Winners: Hankinson, Ellendale, Edgeley-Kulm-Montpelier, Linton-HMB
Semifinal Winners: Hankinson, Edgeley-Kulm-Montpelier
Champion: Edgeley-Kulm-Montpelier
The first game of the day has Star Power written all over it with Raeshaun Earl Raeshaun Earl 5'11" | SG Hankinson | 2026 State ND & Max Musland Max Musland 6'4" | SG LaMoure-Litchville/Marion | 2024 State ND . Both players will likely be All-State. These two teams did not play in the regular season. Both squads will play hard, are well-coached, and play with grit. We have to give the edge to the 18-3 Pirates. I like the combination of Raeshaun Earl Raeshaun Earl 5'11" | SG Hankinson | 2026 State ND and Andrew Jean Andrew Jean 6'2" | PF Hankinson | 2025 State ND . When you add in a cast of quality role players, I think the Pirates come out with a W. Expect coach Thielges to have the Loboes ready to go, Max Musland Max Musland 6'4" | SG LaMoure-Litchville/Marion | 2024 State ND will certainly put on a show, and this one should be a dawg fight. Who wins? PHD is rolling with the Pirates.
Game 2 of the day should also be a close one. Ellendale lost on February 10th at Barnes County North 51-46. PHD is going with the birds in this one, the Cardinals will have revenge on their mind and take down the Bison. I have watched Ellendale play well on this court in the past and PHD is expecting a huge game from Anton Geller Anton Geller 6'1" | SF Ellendale | 2024 State ND . We are predicting Kade Schimke Kade Schimke 6'9" | SF Ellendale | 2024 State ND as the X-factor, his 3-point shooting will give Ellendale a close win.
In game 3, we are going with EKM in a double-digit victory. The Rebels played at Wyndmere on Feb 13th and won 67-31. Coach Hosford’s teams always play hard and give full effort. However, EKM has too much size, athleticism, and versatility. Look for this one to be a battle in the first quarter and then the Rebels will pull away. Keep track of Zeke Barnick Zeke Barnick 6'5" | PF EKM | 2024 State ND , he could get loose for a show-time DUNK! Expect Jacob Nitschke Jacob Nitschke 6'5" | PF Edgeley/Kulm/Montpelier | 2024 State ND to be the best player on the court. I am interested to see/hear how Joseph Kramlich Joseph Kramlich 6'1" | CG Edgeley/Kulm/Montpelier | 2025 State ND & Brogan Young Brogan Young 6'1" | SG Edgeley-Kulm-Montpelier | 2027 State ND play, are they ready for a Region Championship run?
This one should be the best game of the day/night. Both teams were ranked in the top 10 most of the season and each squad had 3 All-District players. The Lions and Bulldogs played on January 6th and Linton won 53-41 in a hard-fought game. I believe Sargent County was without stud Josh Wittich Josh Wittich 6'5" | PF Sargent County | 2024 State ND in that game. We are leaning towards the Lions to win in this matchup. Linton has a ton of experience on this court in the past and PHD thinks they are going to be sharp tonight at the Civic Center. We are predicting Jace Jochim Jace Jochim 6'2" | SG Linton/HMB | 2024 State ND to have a hot hand and score big points to carry the Lions. At the same time, 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 not go down without a fight and keep this one close. Linton-HMB wins in a barn-burner by 1 or 2 points. It is tough to pick a winner in this one!
Region 2
Quarterfinal Winners: North Star, Langdon Area-Edmore-Munich, North Border, Midway-Minto
Semifinal Winners: North Star, Midway-Minto
Champion: North Star
In game 1, North Star should dominate with 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 . I have heard reports that Hunter Hagler Hunter Hagler 6'3" | SF North Star | 2026 State ND is playing well, which makes the Bearcats even scarier!
In game 2, it looks like these two teams did not play in the regular season. Rayce Worley Rayce Worley 6'4" | SF Langdon Area/Edmore/Munich | 2024 State ND will be the top player on the court and we expect a splashy performance. Worley is averaging a Double-Double on the season and is looking like he will be an All-State player. The Cardinals are playing better as a team and it might be all coming together at the perfect time. PHD is picking the Cardinals to win.
The Patriots had a hot run in the District Tourney but that will end when they meet the Eagles from North Border. Dan Moore will have his birds of prey flying high in the opening round. Looked for Grant Cosley Grant Cosley 6'0" | SG North Border | 2025 State ND and Kaden Moore Kaden Moore 5'9" | PG North Border | 2027 State ND to set the table and shoot/score North Border to the victory.
MM & NRS did not play in the regular season. We are picking coach Robinson and the Mustangs to win this one. I think Midway-Minto has too many shooting/scoring options for the Rockets. PHD predicts splashy games from Riley Robinson Riley Robinson 5'11" | SG Midway/Minto | 2024 State ND & Ben Gudajtes Ben Gudajtes 6'1" | SG Midway/Minto | 2025 State ND , 9th grader Trenton Sitzer Trenton Sitzer 5'10" | SG Midway-Minto | 2027 State ND is our X-factor.
Region 3
Quarterfinal Winners: Bowman County, Wilton-Wing, Garrison, Washburn
Semifinal Winners: Wilton-Wing, Garrison
Champion: Garrison
Game 1 should be a double-digit victory for the Bulldogs. Aiden Hanson Aiden Hanson 6'2" | SG Central McLean | 2026 State ND is a quality player for the Cougars but the trio of Bohden Duffield Bohden Duffield 6'1" | SG Bowman County | 2024 State ND , Bishop Duffield Bishop Duffield 6'2" | SG Bowman County | 2024 State ND , and Aiden Thompson Aiden Thompson 6'0" | CG Bowman County | 2024 State ND will be overwhelming. These two did not play in the regular season.
Game 2, we are picking the Miners from Wilton-Wing. Javin Friesz Javin Friesz 6'2" | CG Flasher | 2024 ND is one of the best in B but Wilton-Wing has too much firepower and skill with Bradon Wallace Bradon Wallace 6'3" | SG Wilton-Wing | 2025 State ND , Hunter Wolff Hunter Wolff 5'10" | CG Wilton-Wing | 2025 State ND , Dontaye Fetzer Dontaye Fetzer 6'0" | SG Wilton-Wing | 2025 State ND , and Teigen Earsley Teigen Earsley 5'11" | CG Wilton-Wing | 2025 State ND . The Bulldogs and Miners did not play in the regular season. There could be a ton of three-pointers made in this game. If you like shooters, watch this one!
In game 3, we are picking the Troopers. Gairrson beat Hettinger-Scranton 62-51 on February 3rd. Coach Folk is one of the top coaches in Class B and the Troopers will be ready! Braxton Iglehart Braxton Iglehart 6'1" | PG Garrison | 2024 State ND is one of the best backcourt players in Class B, he will lead the Troopers today. Expect Little Hail Perkins Little Hail Perkins 6'4" | SF Garrison | 2025 State ND to build off his strong District Championship performance and for Avery Klein Avery Klein 6'4" | C Garrison | 2024 State ND to be the interior X-factor. Blake Larson Blake Larson 6'5" | PF Hettinger-Scranton | 2025 State ND & Maddox Pierce Maddox Pierce 5'11" | SG Hettinger/Scranton | 2024 State ND will put up a strong fight for the Night Hawks but it will not be enough.
In game 4, we expect Washburn to put on an impressive offensive display behind splashy performances from Parker Jacobson Parker Jacobson 6'2" | CG Washburn | 2026 State ND and Alex Retterath Alex Retterath 6'1" | SG Washburn | 2024 State ND . New England has interior size that will give the Cardinals some problems, but I think Washburn will be able to out-score the Tigers.
Region 4
Quarterfinal Winners: Williston Trinity Christian, Westhope-Newburg, Bishop Ryan, Our Redeemer’s
Semifinal Winners: Williston Trinity, Bishop Ryan
Champions: Williston Trinity
In game 1, Sage Hanson Sage Hanson 6'8" | SF TGU | 2026 State ND will make some impressive plays but the Crusaders will prevail. Kai Thomas Kai Thomas 6'6" | SF Williston Trinity | 2024 State ND is a special player with length and super talent. I will not be surprised if he puts up a Triple-Double today. Expect Kale Nix Kale Nix 6'2" | SG Williston Trinity | 2027 State ND to shoot it well from 3-point land and for All-District Player James Richards James Richards 6'1" | CG Williston Trinity | 2024 State ND to be the X-factor. Williston Trinity & TGU did not play in the regular season. Looked for Thomas grade the headlines today as the top performer.
Westhope ran roughshod over the Honkers back on December 15th by a score of 85-57. It will be fun to see Jack Zimmer Jack Zimmer 6'1" | PG Kenmare/Bowbells | 2024 State ND and The Texas Ranger go at each other. However, Walker Braaten Walker Braaten 6'4" | CG Westhope/Newburg | 2025 State #278 Nation ND is just too talented and he will have a monster game to lead the Sioux.
In game 3, we are picking the Lions to win. Ramsey Walz Ramsey Walz 6'7" | PF Bishop Ryan | 2025 State #313 Nation ND is just too much to handle for most Class B teams and today will be no different. The Ranchers will play hard but come up short. Look for Hayden Seay Hayden Seay 5'9" | PG Bishop Ryan | 2026 State ND to feed the beast known as Ramsey Walz Ramsey Walz 6'7" | PF Bishop Ryan | 2025 State #313 Nation ND and for Jett Lundeen Jett Lundeen 6'2" | SG Bishop Ryan | 2025 State ND to do damage from the 3-point arc.
The last game of the day should be a good one. They did not play in the regular season. Alexander has an impressive record and some good-sized players. However, PHD thinks the young bucks from ORCS will step up big and shoot well in the palatial palace known as the New Town Event Center. Wyatt Weekley Wyatt Weekley 6'0" | SG Our Redeemers | 2027 State ND and Nolan Schmidt Nolan Schmidt 6'2" | SF Our Redeemers | 2027 State ND are Knights to watch.