ND Class B: Week 3 Power Rankings

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we all know, the weather this past week was awful. What does that have to do with basketball? Everything! Many, many games were postponed, canceled, and/or rescheduled. There was not much action as far as games went. Most teams were lucky to just practice. I am guessing every team got in practice either Saturday or Sunday to help get ready for the week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Our Top 10 teams in the PHD Power Rankings stay the same this week with just a bit of movement. If you look at the NDAPSSA rankings for last week, there was a Top 10 team that took a loss. <strong>Kindred</strong> was beaten last Monday by <strong>HCV</strong> with a score of 77-71 in OT.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1676515,"width":297,"height":185,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><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" width="297" height="185" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size"><strong>#1 Four Winds-Minnewaukan (1-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">DNP this past week</span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Next Game</span>: 12/27 @ Minot State Dome vs. <strong>Dickinson Trinity</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Comments</span>: The Indians last game was on December 10th where they won at Oak Grove. It will be interesting to see how they come out on the neutral floor after a super long break. It will most likely feel like another season opener! Will 4Winds be rusty or will it look like they never missed a beat? I am guessing coach Smith &amp; Mertens will have their team ready to roll!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size"><strong>#2 Central Cass (1-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">DNP this past week</span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Next Game</span>: 12/20 home vs. <strong>Maple River </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Comments</span>: The Squirrels practiced yesterday (Saturday), had today off, have another practice on Monday, and then they open up Region 1 play with a rival matchup vs. Maple River. After a long week off, getting a Region 1 win would be a nice way to get things started again for the talented Squirrels. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size"><strong>#3 Bishop Ryan (1-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">DNP this past week</span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Next Game</span>: 12/28 @ Minot State Dome vs. <strong>Thompson</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Comments</span>: They picked up their 1 win on December 10th and now they have to wait until the 28th for their next game. They are in a very similar situation to 4Winds but Minot Ryan has to wait an extra day to get its next game. The Lions have plenty of firepower and they should be comfortable playing on the Minot State court. Bishop Ryan vs. Thompson will be a great game! Thompson has a few games this week, so they will not be near as rusty as Ryan. At the same time, the Lions will have plenty of time to prepare and watch film on the Tommies. This will be a fun Top 10 matchup. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size"><strong>#4 North Border (1-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">DNP this past week</span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Next Game</span>: 12/19 @ <strong>Thompson</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Comments</span>: This will be the game to watch tomorrow night! Two Top 10 teams faceoff and this is a huge Region 2 matchup! I am assuming [player_tooltip player_id='1126978' first='Ayden' last='Stainbrook'] will be guarding [player_tooltip player_id='1165392' first='Karter' last='Peterson']. This will be a fun matchup to watch. On the other side of the ball, I wonder who will guard Stainbrook? He can do damage all over the court, so I would think that Thompson would want to keep Peterson around the basket instead of running around with Stainbrook all over the court. I would not be surprised if [player_tooltip player_id='1145544' first='Jake' last='Starcevic'] ends up guarding Stainbrook for most of the game. Whoever ends up on [player_tooltip player_id='1050261' first='TJ' last='Cosley'], he should have the advantage, I am expecting a high-quality game from TJ who recently scored his 1,000th career point. I watched this matchup last year, and Thompson took it to North Border. Thompson out-hustled and out-toughed the Eagles. Will that happen again or will North Border take care of business? I know I will be watching and I can't wait to find out!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size"><strong>#5 Shiloh Christian (1-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">DNP this past week</span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Next Game</span>: 12/27 @ Minot State Dome vs. <strong>Thompson</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Comments</span>: They are in the same situation as 4Winds when it comes to how much time off. Shiloh will be the deeper team in this Skyhawks vs. Tommie matchup. Shiloh should have the advantage when it comes to depth. However, Thompson plays a couple of times this week, so they will have a chance to get knock off any rust and clean up mistakes before they meet the Skyhawks. This will be a fun one. [player_tooltip player_id='1165392' first='Karter' last='Peterson'] vs. [player_tooltip player_id='1138746' first='Jay' last='Wanzek'] will be one matchup to keep eyes on.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size"><strong>#6 Des Lacs-Burlington (2-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">DNP this past week</span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Next Game</span>: 12/20 @<strong> North Star</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Comments</span>: This is a monster matchup. Two Top 10 teams from our Power Rankings. [player_tooltip player_id='1324683' first='Dane' last='Hagler'] is the super-athlete from North Star and the Lakers will have to find a way to slow him down. I am guessing that [player_tooltip player_id='1184440' first='Rylan' last='Olson'] will start on Hagler. The Lakers have the advantage of having a 6'9" [player_tooltip player_id='1138816' first='Carson' last='Yale'] as a rim-protector to help deter Hagler. On the other side of the ball, how will North Star match up with Des Lacs? I hope we get the chance to see [player_tooltip player_id='1138816' first='Carson' last='Yale'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1324683' first='Dane' last='Hagler'] go at each other. That will be a must-watch basketball!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size"><strong>#7 Thompson (1-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">DNP this past week</span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Next Game</span>: 12/19 home vs. <strong>North Border</strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Comments</span>: We commented on this game above when talking about North Border. [player_tooltip player_id='1165392' first='Karter' last='Peterson'] should have the advantage down low against Stainbrook, but Stainbrook will have the advantage on the perimeter. I am not so sure that Peterson will guard him. I think the X-factors for the Tommies will be [player_tooltip player_id='1371547' first='Brayden' last='Wolfgram'] and <strong>Drew Overby</strong>. If they can minimize [player_tooltip player_id='1050261' first='TJ' last='Cosley'], shoot the ball well from deep, and take care of the ball. The Tommies could pick up this win on their home court. Tomorrow night at this time, we will have all those answers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size"><strong>#8 North Star (2-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Games this past week</span>: WIN vs. <strong>Drayton/Valley-Edinburg</strong> <em>71-39</em> and WIN <strong>Cavalier</strong> <em>53-38</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Next Game</span>: 12/20 home Vs. <strong>Des Lacs-Burlington</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Comments</span>: Last week, We had North Star at #9 but Hagler was so impressive that we had to move the Bearcats up a spot. [player_tooltip player_id='1324683' first='Dane' last='Hagler'] put up 41 points and 4 super athletic dunks vs. DVE. I am not sure how many Hagler went for against Cavalier, but he had to be in the 30's. The Bearcats only go 7 deep in their rotation and so do the Lakers from DLB. This is going to be an amazing game to watch on Tuesday. See the Des Lacs Burlington comments for more info on Bearcats vs. Lakers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size"><strong>#9 Bowman County (0-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">DNP this past week</span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Next Game</span>: 12/19 @ Dickson Trinity vs. <strong>Richardton-Taylor</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Comments</span>: It seems hard to believe that tomorrow will be the first game of the season for the Bulldogs. They should come out with plenty of enthusiasm after not playing a single game for this long amount of time. [player_tooltip player_id='1144932' first='Bohden' last='Duffield'], [player_tooltip player_id='1144931' first='Bishop' last='Duffield'], and Aidan Thompson are the top players to watch. I am interested to see what else the Bulldogs have and how much size they bring to the court. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size"><strong>#10 Linton-HMB (2-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">DNP this past week</span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Next Game</span>: 12/20 home vs. <strong>Beach</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Comments</span>: In the Beach matchup, Linton will have better guard play and superior shooters. The Bucs will have the best BIG on the floor with [player_tooltip player_id='1203556' first='Trey' last='Swanson']. The Lions have some good scoring options but [player_tooltip player_id='1146180' first='Jace' last='Jochim'] is the biggest scoring threat. I am interested to see if he can continue with his hot start and help the Lions pick up another win to start the year 3-0. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->