2017-18 NDHSAA Class A Boys Basketball Preview

By Tom Mix
NDHSAA Media Specialist

VALLEY CITY, N.D. – The 2017-18 North Dakota High School Activities Association Class A boys basketball season is off and running and heats up statewide Tuesday, December 5 with a slate of seven games.

Minot High is coming off a third-straight NDHSAA Class A state championship making the Magicians the first team to three-peat in Class A since Bismarck (1957-59).

Minot graduated a lot of talent a year ago, but begins the 2017-18 campaign on firm footing with the return of 6-0 senior All-Western Dakota Association guard Peyton Lamoureax (12.3 points per game). Lamoureax is the state’s top returning 3-point shooter making 85 treys last season.

The Magicians also return 6-2 junior forward Alex Schimke (10.2 ppg, 4.7 rebounds per game).

The Magicans opened the 2017-18 season with a 93-36 non-conference road victory against Grand Forks Red River.

Minot is the preseason pick to win the West Region this season according to the ND Hoopster Magazine.

Out East, Fargo Davies is the ND Hoopster’s preseason pick to win the East Region. Davies has won the last two East Region Tournament titles and took fourth place at last year’s state tournament losing to Minot in the semifinals.

Like Minot, Davies lost a talented group of seniors and will enter this winter looking for new leaders to emerge.

The Eagles top returning scorer is junior guard Jaden Klabo (8.8 ppg).

In addition to Davies, Fargo Shanley and West Fargo should be strong. The Deacons and Packers return a good core of players that got state tournament experience a year ago.

Shanley returns 6-3 senior forward Jake Kava, who poured in 545 points (21.0) for the Deacons as a junior. Joining Kava will be 6-5 senior Cam Saville (8.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg).

West Fargo returns the senior combo of Joe Pistorius (19.3 ppg) and Abdi Sufi (8.7 rpg). Pistorius was a second team all-state selection last season.

Minot will have plenty of competition out west this winter.

Mandan returns second team all-state 6-4 center Trae Steckler (20.9 ppg, 9.4 rpg) and 6-6 senior Camren Steckler (16.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg).

Bismarck Century, state runner up in 2017, brings back a good group led by senior Josh Sipes (13.5 ppg, 5 rpg).

The Top 10 returning scorers in Class A are:

Jake Kava, Fargo Shanley (21.0)
Trae Steckler, Mandan (20.9)
Joe Pistorius, West Fargo (19.3)
Cole Gendreau, Bismarck St. Mary’s (18.0)
Cam Steckler, Mandan (16.8)
Luke Kambietz, Bismarck St. Mary’s (16.8)
John Horgan, Jamestown (13.8)
Josh Sipes, Bismarck Century (13.6)
Jordan Polynice, Grand Forks Red River (13.5)
Boden Skunberg, Jamestown (13.4)

2017-18 NDHSAA Class A Boys Basketball Important Dates:

East Region Tournament: Feb. 27, March 1-3 at Sanford Health Athletic Complex in Fargo

West Region Tournament: March 1-3 at Bismarck Event Center

State Tournament: March 8-10 at Sanford Health Athletic Complex in Fargo

NDHSAA BOYS BASKETBALL TEAMS

NDHSAA BOYS BASKETBALL PAST CHAMPIONS

NDHSAA BOYS BASKETBALL SCHEDULE PAGE

NDHSAA BOYS BASKETBALL STATE TOURNAMENT INFO PAGE

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