North Dakota Preview: Hatton/Northwood
Hatton/Northwood went 17-8 in 2018-19, losing to Thompson in the Region 2 semifinals and Grafton in the Region 2 Third-Place game. Armed with a terrific defense and balanced group of scorers, the Thunder showed they can compete with the top…
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Continue ReadingHatton/Northwood went 17-8 in 2018-19, losing to Thompson in the Region 2 semifinals and Grafton in the Region 2 Third-Place game. Armed with a terrific defense and balanced group of scorers, the Thunder showed they can compete with the top teams in the state. And with just about every important player returning, the Thunder have the look of a borderline top-10 team in Class B.
KEY RETURNERS: Colton Konschak, Parker Vaagene, Avery Thorsgard, Alex Wolfe, Kelby Azure
The Thunder have a solid cast of experienced players back in the fold.
The best prospect of the bunch is junior guard Colton Konschak. At 6-foot-4, Konschak can do just about everything on the court. He’s a solid perimeter shooter, an excellent slasher and passer; he rebounds and can defend multiple guys. If he can be more consistent, he’s a potential all-state guy.
Alex Wolfe is arguably the Thunder’s best player. Wolfe is the closest thing the team has to a go-to scorer. He’s a solid athlete who can score in a variety of ways. He’s the team’s best perimeter shooter and does a great job utilizing screens and spacing to get his shot off.
Azure emerged as a solid inside presence last season. Despite lacking elite height, Azure is a skilled forward and can finish in traffic. He’s got good hands and does a great job being in good positions where he can do damage around the rim. And he’s got a soft shooting touch.
Vaagene and Thorsgard formed a steady backcourt tandem for the Thunder. Thorsgard has a solid end to the season, making the All-Region Team. He’s a feisty defender, knockdown shooter and a more-than-capable distributor. Vaagene is an athletic guard who defends at a high level and helps set the tone on the perimeter.
QUESTION: Can the Thunder contend with the upper-echelon teams?
The Thunder have won 17 games in back-to-back seasons and should be considered one of the contenders in Region 2 behind the favorite Hillsboro/Central Valley. With a really good group of returning pieces, the question for this group is if they can ultimately beat some of those teams viewed as above them. They lost eight games last season. Seven of those came to teams either above them in the Region 2 standings or eventual state-tournament clubs.
SEASON OUTLOOK
Hatton/Northwood has the look of a potential top-10 team in Class B going into this season. While Hillsboro/Central Valley is the likely heavy favorite going into the year to come out of Region 2, the Thunder may represent the Burros’ best competition. The Thunder already boast a terrific defense. If they can consistently generate points, they could challenge for 20 wins and be in the mix come March.