State Tournament

[october23sp]

Because all the talk in here is about sophomore basketball or Joe Hanstad, I think we should talk about something real or that people actually care about: The State Tournament.

In the West: Century, Minot, Bismarck and Mandan are all going with the Championship yet to be played.

I don't know any East results so someone could post them here if they know.

[Home Run]

Couldn't agree more. However, I understand everyone is entitled to post on whatever they wish to post on; yet I am a little disappointed though on the lack of coverage/insight in regards to future state tournament games. Again, I just live too far away to attend and the newspapers haven't been very good at getting the scores out from the East. The WDA tournament website is awesome. I wish the EDC had this up and running. Can someone please post soon in regards to EDC Tournament? Thanks in advance.

[Baller]

East will be south shanley north and west Fargo

[Run4Fun2009]

W #1 Bismarck vs. E #4 Fargo South
E #2 ?? vs. W #3 Bismarck Century

E #1 ?? vs. W #4 Minot
W #2 Mandan vs. E #3 Shanley

[Baller]

W #1 Bismarck vs. E #4 Fargo South
E #2 Fargo North vs. W #3 Bismarck Century

E #1West Fargo vs. W #4 Minot
W #2 Mandan vs. E #3 Shanley

[october23sp]

So, as a member of the BHS student section I like balla45 aka Mauer. I think he likes the BHS student section too with some of the looks he gives us.

[roundem6]

First Round games
WF vs. Minot
North vs. Century
Bismarck vs. South
Mandan vs. Shanley

[Indy5]

First Round games
WF vs. Minot
North vs. Century
Bismarck vs. South
Mandan vs. Shanley

My predictions:

First round:
West Fargo over Minot- 2 solid defensive teams but West Fargo plays it better.
North over Century- Savageau and Co. just too much for a slumping Century
Bismarck over South- South has improved throughout the year, but Bismarck just has too many weapons.
Mandan over Shanley-No answer for BK. He will have it his way

Semis:
Bismarck over West Fargo- This is a tough one. Bismarck plays good D but West Fargo is still tougher on that end. I just don't think the have enough weapons to hang this one out over a talented Bismarck team.
Mandan over North- Could this be a game to compare the future Souix Falls teammates? Both will need to step up in this one.

Championship:
Mandan over Bismarck- Rematch of the WDA championship. I think Mandan flips the script this time.

[roundem6]

Bismarck and WF are both one seeds so you need to switch up your 2nd round matchups.

[squeak63]

First Round games
WF vs. Minot
North vs. Century
Bismarck vs. South
Mandan vs. Shanley

My predictions:

First round:
West Fargo over Minot- 2 solid defensive teams but West Fargo plays it better.
North over Century- Savageau and Co. just too much for a slumping Century
Bismarck over South- South has improved throughout the year, but Bismarck just has too many weapons.
Mandan over Shanley-No answer for BK. He will have it his way

Semis:
Bismarck over West Fargo- This is a tough one. Bismarck plays good D but West Fargo is still tougher on that end. I just don't think the have enough weapons to hang this one out over a talented Bismarck team.
Mandan over North- Could this be a game to compare the future Souix Falls teammates? Both will need to step up in this one.

Championship:
Mandan over Bismarck- Rematch of the WDA championship. I think Mandan flips the script this time.

I haven't seen WF play this year so i am asking are they really better then bhs... this years BHS team is one of if not the best defensive teams i have ever seen play high school basketball... if WF is in their league or even better then BHS then they must be very very good!

[roundem6]

WF is absolutely not better at defense than Bismarck. On offense WF really doesnt have a go to guy either, last night I think they had like 4 guys in double figures which is good balance but I dont know who would take the shot if the game was on the line.

[Schmidty22]

In the opening round Century is going to upset Fargo North taking Darin Matterns team to the semi-finals where they will play and finally beat the Bismarck Demons.

[roundem6]

Century almost lost to Williston opening round WDA then got destroyed by Bismarck 2nd round, scoring 34 points. I dont see Century beating North and if they do, definitely will not beat Bismarck.

[balla45]

Williston was not a below average basketball team by any means. I can say with confidence that if they were from the EDC they would have made state.

[roundem6]

The best team they beat all year was Jamestown, a sub .500 team.

[balla45]

So? South and Shanley are both sub .500 teams. Making me think that Williston would have made state in the EDC.

[roundem6]

Right now, I think South and Shanley could beat anyone in the WDA besides Mandan or Bismarck. Jacobson and Rodenbiker have been playing well now add Dunn who has picked it up and they are a solid team. And South beat WF, the EDC champs, two weeks ago so I am confident that they would beat Williston.

[balla45]

State will tell a lot, but I completely disagree with you. I see no team other than North having over a 50% chance of winning their first round game.

Bismarck will crush South.
Mandan will crush Shanley.
Century and North will be an interesting game. Seeing that they beat Hanstad, I think Century has a chance, but I give North a slight advantage here, probably 60-65% chance they win.
Minot and West Fargo are very similar teams and this should be a grind out.
Minot

[roundem6]

Didn't I just say South and Shanley can not beat Bismarck or Mandan, who they play 1st round. I think all top seeds will win the 1st round games.

[balla45]

Oh. I should have been more specific. I disagree with your statement that South or Shanley could beat anyone other than BHS or MHS. I don't think they would beat anyone that was in the WDA tournament other than MAYBE Saint Mary's.

[roundem6]

So out of 8 teams the only team that Shanley/South have a chance against is St Mary's? South did beat Red River and Luke Schreiner who you said "could lead his team to a state title," and West Fargo. Same with Shanley. I know Shanley and South dont have much of a chance against Mandan or Bismarck but to me that is ridiculous that you think they are only capable of beating 1 WDA team.

[balla45]

In my opinion, they would have had a chance to beat Saint Mary's and Belcourt, who was not at the tournament.

Neither program has ever played Hanstad, and he is impossible to prepare for. No one will be successful in their first attempt.
Jamestown has 3 6'4'' kids in the starting line up that can handle and shoot, plus a 4 year varsity point guard.
Williston has 2 kids who would just go off. Who on either team would contain Eiken or Vinger? They are most likely both going to be all staters, Eiken has a very good chance at being first team.

[balla45]

Basketball does not have a commutative property. South beat Red River, Red River beat North, will South beat North because of this?

Schreiner's team had a chance if they got a good seed, won their first round game, and some upsets occurred.

[roundem6]

My point was South is capable of beating good teams, as is Shanley.

[balla45]

Let's be realistic here, the "good" teams are Mandan, Bismarck, Century, North, and West Fargo. I think we can agree on this, as they are the only teams left with winning records.

The WDA and EDC were both extremely top heavy this year, and that is why there were only 6 teams in the state with winning records, and I do not think South or Shanley can beat any of the 5 teams that are left. I think the state results will back me on this.