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2017-18 NDHSAA Class B Boys Basketball Preview

By Tom Mix
NDHSAA Media Specialist

VALLEY CITY, N.D. – The 2017-18 North Dakota High School Activities Association Class B boys basketball season begins Friday, December 8.

On the heels of one of the best Class B State Tournament championship games in recent memory, the 2017-18 season starts with some intriguing questions.

– Will the teams that played in the thrilling 2017 state title game – Hillsboro/Central Valley and Four Winds/Minnewaukan – excel again this winter?

– Which programs will emerge as state tournament contenders in late February/March?

– Will any dark horse teams put it all together come regionals and make a state tournament run?

– Which players will burst onto the statewide scene similar to Stanley swingman Wyatt Hanson in 2016-17? … If you need a basketball fix before games start this year look up Hanson’s highlight videos on YouTube.

All these questions and more make NDHSAA Class B boys basketball entertaining the entire season.

The North Dakota Hoopster Magazine has Stanley ranked No. 1 in its preseason power poll and a big reason is the Blue Jays’ 6-foot-4 forward Wyatt Hanson (24.4 points per game, 8.0 rebounds per game, 4.0 assists per game). Hanson – a all-state second team selection a year ago – finished with 657 points a year ago and is committed to play college basketball at Minnesota State Moorhead next year.

Stanley finished seventh at state a year ago and is the Hoopster’s preseason favorite to repeat as Region 8 champions. The Blue Jays also return 6-foot-6 senior center Kaedyn Hanson (14.0 ppg, 9.0 rpg).

Region 1: Oak Grove made it to to the state tournament a year ago and enter this season with a big boost having senior Andrew Christianson back on the court. Christianson averaged 22.3 ppg and 6.2 rpg a year ago. The Grovers will be counting on him to generate offense for himself and others this winter. 

Region 2: This will be a competitive region and perennial power Hillsboro/Central Valley will be in the season long conversation of who will come out of the Northeast. The Burros return senior Jack Camrud (10.0 ppg, 14.3 rpg) who is one of the better defenders and rebounders in the state. Hillsboro/Central Valley will lean on his defense in its quest to defend its 2017 state championship. 

Region 3: Carrington was Region 3 runner up a year ago and will be looking to build off of last season. The Cardinals return the senior combo of Garrett Brickett (19.8 ppg) and Kolton Vetter (10.3 ppg), which should keep Carrington toward the top of the Region 3 standings this winter.

Region 4: St. John and Four Winds/Minnewaukan met in the Region 4 championship last year in Devils Lake. Four Winds came away victorious and made another state tournament run. St. John ended its season 23-1. A Woodchucks-Indians matchup could be the Region 4 final again this year as St. John returns Kyler McGillis (24.6 ppg). The Indians lost a lot of talent from its recent run of state tournament teams, but don’t count them out in March.

Region 5: A lot of teams emerged in this region a year ago and it should be highly competitive again. Washburn returns a nice squad and does Bismarck Shiloh Christian and Solen. Turtle Lake-Mercer/McClusky – last year’s surprise team – also returns a good group led by junior Trapper Jacobs (20 ppg).

Region 6: Minot Ryan came out of this Region a year ago and should contend again with senior Anthony Vetter (16 ppg, 8 rpg) and junior Ben Bohl (15 ppg) returning. Our Redeemer's and Bottineau also have some preseason buzz so stay tuned as Region 6 should feature some highly competitive games this winter.

Region 7: Beulah was runner up to Dickinson Trinity a year ago in the Region 7 Tournament. The Miners bring back a solid group led by seniors Logan Miller (13 ppg), Derek Ferebee (15 ppg) and Jacob Weigel (10 ppg). That trio will be a good starting point for the Miners this winter.

The Top 10 returning scorers in Class B are:

Kyler McGillis, St. John (24.6)
Trent Marquardt, Glenburn (24.5)
Wyatt Hanson, Stanley (24.0)
Dylan Scott, Bowman County (22.5)
Andrew Christianson, Oak Grove (22.3)
Shayden Luna, TGU (22.0)
Lane Hanson, Edgeley-Kulm-Montpelier (22.0)
Hunter Sand, Dakota Prairie (20.9)
Hart Andres, Lewis & Clark North Shore Plaza (20.0)
Trapper Jacobs, Turtle Lake-Mercer/McClusky (20.0)

2017-18 NDHSAA Class B Boys Basketball Important Dates:

Region Tournaments (Quarterfinals-Finals): March 5-6, 8

State Tournament: March 15-17 at Bismarck Event Center

NDHSAA BOYS BASKETBALL TEAMS

NDHSAA BOYS BASKETBALL PAST CHAMPIONS

NDHSAA BOYS BASKETBALL SCHEDULE PAGE

NDHSAA BOYS BASKETBALL STATE TOURNAMENT INFO PAGE

Follow NDHSAA on Twitter at @NDHSAA and visit www.ndhsaanow.com for the latest NDHSAA sports and activities news from around the state.

 

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