by Mandan » Tue Sep 08, 2015 3:06 pm
I believe one factor long term has been that the largest schools have had quite a few one-way players that play only offense and defense, while the smaller schools (Dickinson, Jamestown, Williston, Mandan, etc) rely on more two-way players, so they get tired out. Any "evening-out" will come from the new schools opening taking players from those bigger schools, so they have less depth and less of an advantage in that area.
You have to go back to 1997 to find a championship for one of those four teams, which was Dickinson.
For eastern teams outside of the big 2, there is Fargo North in 2000 and Grand Forks Central in 2005. Other than that, it is all Bismarck, Fargo South and West Fargo winning.