ND Class A: Updated Power Rankings

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We had another fabulous week of North Dakota Class A Basketball. PHD's Power Rankings remain the same as last week. We did not have any upsets, a Top 5 team took a loss but to #1. I just took a look at the schedules and teams only have 7, 8, or 9 games remaining in the regular season. It seems like football just ended and we are only a few days away from February. The Postseason will be here before we know it, I assure you that! Enough chatter, let's take a look at the Power Rankings...</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1676515,"width":"419px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/11/PowerRankings.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/11/PowerRankings.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-1676515" style="width:419px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Class A</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"25px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:25px"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">#1 Kindred (14-0)</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Recent</span>:</strong> W 67-48 Wahpeton, W 74-68 #4 Grafton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Next</span>:</strong> 1/3024 @ Northern Cass</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Undefeated, good coach, great length &amp; size, freak athletes, shooters, hustlers, and depth, the Vikings have it all! In the Grafton game, [player_tooltip player_id='1484338' first='Brooks' last='Bakko'] was the best player for much of the game and then [player_tooltip player_id='1169144' first='Karson' last='Ouse'] took over in the 4th and led the Vikings to the win. Kindred has too many weapons when you add in [player_tooltip player_id='1169146' first='Presley' last='Peraza'], [player_tooltip player_id='1145544' first='Jake' last='Starcevic'], [player_tooltip player_id='2101349' first='Jack' last='Davis'], [player_tooltip player_id='1218749' first='Riley' last='Sunram'], and Oen Hoyme. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"25px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:25px"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">#2 Four Winds-Minnewaukan (10-3)</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Recent</span>:</strong> W 62-31 Thompson</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Next</span>:</strong> 2/1/24 @ Grafton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Indians lost a few early in the year with [player_tooltip player_id='1144580' first='Deng' last='Deng'] sitting out to get healthy. Since he has come back, their only loss is to #1 Kindred. The Indians signature win on the season is over Devils Lake, which is why they are sitting a the #2 spot. We all know about [player_tooltip player_id='1144580' first='Deng' last='Deng'], he will likely be nominated as a Mr. Basketball candidate. [player_tooltip player_id='1144581' first='Dalen' last='Leftbear'] is also a stud and easily one of the top defenders in North Dakota. [player_tooltip player_id='1363917' first='Marial' last='Deng'] is another impressive player for the Indians. I am intrigued with his game and need to watch a 4Winds game soon.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"25px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:25px"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">#3 Devils Lake (12-1)</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Recent</span>:</strong> W 77-31 Carrington, W 89-82 Grand Forks Central</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Next</span>:</strong> 1/30/24 @ Turtle Mountain</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Firebirds had a great week with two more wins. As expected, they blew out Carrington and then they beat Grand Forks Central who has been in the Top 5 Rankings for most of the year in AA. [player_tooltip player_id='1411320' first='Wylee' last='Delorme'] is having a rockstar season, he should be in the discussion at the end of the season as a Mr. Basketball candidate. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"25px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:25px"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">#4 Grafton (10-2)</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Recent</span>:</strong> W 65-56 Hillsboro-Central Valley, L 74-68 #1 Kindred</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Next</span>:</strong> 2/1/24 home vs. Four Winds-Minnewaukan</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1168246' first='Braylon' last='Baldwin'] showed me on Friday that he is an All-State player. He is not the biggest baller on the court but he is intense, smart, persistent, and he plays with a ton of heart. We have to give Baldwin another shoutout for scoring his 1,000th career point on Friday! [player_tooltip player_id='1632630' first='Brody' last='Lillemoen'] also impressed me in the Kindred game. Brody is long at 6'6" and he can shoot the rock from deep.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"25px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:25px"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">#5 Beulah (11-2)</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Recent</span>:</strong> W 68-56 Dickinson Trinity, W 72-59 Wahpeton, W 74-55 Valley City</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Next</span>:</strong> 2/2/24 @ Dunseith</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1355920' first='Braylen' last='Schirado'] &amp; [player_tooltip player_id='1144977' first='Trace' last='Beauchamp'], can you name a better shooting combination in Class A? Add in [player_tooltip player_id='1144979' first='Champ' last='Hettich'] &amp; [player_tooltip player_id='1186854' first='Aidan' last='O'Brien'] and you have a skilled, talented, and athletic backcourt. [player_tooltip player_id='2333717' first='Simon' last='Buchfinck'] rounds out the starting lineup and he brings toughness, hustle, and unselfishness. </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 -->