2012-13 Region 3 Predictions

[EHS1998]

LLM's two losses are to Maple Valley (who they have also beaten) and Carrington, both in competitive games. I don't think SZ has faced anyone yet this year that is as quality as these two teams. It will be interesting to see these two teams match up, if they do, in the Regional tournament. Both are athletic teams who defend well. Neither have a lot of size.

[Sportsrube]

I would rank LLM over SZ simply based on the schedule they have both played so far this season. SZ has only beaten 1 team with a winning record I believe (Linton). Either way, the Regional Tourny should be a good one and it may come down to who gets hot at the right time. I have not seen LLM yet this year but they always play well on defense and right now SZ is playing well on defense, that carries teams a long way when the offense has an off night and could very well be the difference come tourny time.

[EHS1998]

Linton-HMB over Kidder County in tight one tonight 59 to 58 and South Border with a convincing win over Napoleon.

Top 5 in the Region at this point would be:
1. LLM
2. SZ
3. LHMB
4. SB
5. KC

[Sportsrube]

I think you have to have Edgeley-Kulm over Kidder County, I think they are more athletic and deeper than KC. Also, I want to give some props to the Napoleon boys, they have lost their top 2 players to injury (Weigel - knee, Hilzendeger - broken hand/fingers) and they had very little depth to begin with but they just keep working and hustling and playing ball. It would be very easy for them to hang their heads and quit but they won't. The same goes for their JV, which is made up almost entirely of Junior High kids. Props to the players and the coaches for not making excuses and just playing ball.

[EHS1998]

I gave KC the nod based on their recent win over EKM. I agree that EKM has the athletic edge. 20+ point loss by the Rebels to LHMB tonight, which is probably an aberation. KC lost to LHMB by 1 the night before. I think we all know that EKM will get it together and be in the mix in February.

[baller269]

Does anyone know what happened to South Border last night against Linton-HMB?

[Sportsrube]

Does anyone know what happened to South Border last night against Linton-HMB?

They got beat.

[EHS1998]

Linton HMB really seems to have things rolling at this point. Big return game vs SZ on Tuesday. This will be a good game. I still think SB is as talented as any team in the Region, still seem to be getting things figured out.

[vb4life]

How long are we going to keep SB up on that pedestal? They were suppose to be the team to beat this year and guess what that's what is happening, they are getting beat even with the return of Jacobson. I know they have lots of talent but I think its time we take them off of that pedestal, they are obviously not delivering.

[EHS1998]

vb4life - I didnt mean to put them on a pedestal with my last comment. I was clearly wrong in my earlier projections, at least up to this point of the season. South Border's season obviously hasnt turned out to be what I expected it to be, up to this point. My last comment was just in reference to the talent they have on their team, which is still pretty darn good. One of the best freshmen in the Region in Pinke, one of the better overall players in the state in M. Jacobson and Adam Jacobson is an above average player as well. Plus some nice supporting players in Kretchmar, Saylor and others.

LLM, SZ and to a lesser extent LHMB have distanced themselves from the field thus far. However, any team could get hot and make a run, this year maybe more than any year.

[vb4life]

I agree, they do have all the talent, but are just not pulling it together. I'm sure SB as a team and a community are baffled by this as well since they were the favorites coming into the season. And tournament time is always different- I think it will be an interesting tournament. I believe S-Z will go undefeated until regionals and then will get upset, kind of reminiscent of LaMoure last year, although S-Z has kinda flown under the radar all year unlike LaMoure of last year. Linton always pulls it together and they have been as of late, Dan Carr is an exceptional coach who always has his kids ready for tournament time.

[EHS1998]

Hard to argue with any of your points. I am going to call the upset of Linton HMB over SZ on Tuesday in a close and well played game. Kleinsasser is no slouch on the sideline either but Dan Carr is Dan Carr.

[EHS1998]

Here is how I would rank the Region at this point, given recent results:

1. LLM - Have played the toughest schedule in the Region, with 2 losses to ranked teams.
2. SZ - Undefeated but have not played as tough a schedule as LLM. Big return game vs LHMB this Tuesday in Strasburg.

3. LHMB - Seemingly getting better week after week, no surprise. Will be a factor as always.

4. KC - Play hard, have good defense and are well coached. Can't be taken lightly.
5. EKM - Losing Nitshke hurts but still have a lot of offense with Hanson and Entzi.

6. BCN - Coming off a big win vs SB, seem to be hitting their stride.
7. Ellendale - When they have balanced scoring they can play with a lot of teams.
8. South Border - Still as talented as any team in the Region but struggling to put it all together.
9. Napoleon - Decimated by injuries but have the shooters to keep them in games.
10. PBK - Losing Blaiskowski really hurts but still have some guys that can and will make it tough on other teams.
11. Central Prairie - This team needs a leader to step up. There is talent there but someone needs to help pull them together.

[Lakeerie]

Here is how I would rank the Region at this point, given recent results:

1. LLM - Have played the toughest schedule in the Region, with 2 losses to ranked teams.
2. SZ - Undefeated but have not played as tough a schedule as LLM. Big return game vs LHMB this Tuesday in Strasburg.

3. LHMB - Seemingly getting better week after week, no surprise. Will be a factor as always.

4. KC - Play hard, have good defense and are well coached. Can't be taken lightly.
5. EKM - Losing Nitshke hurts but still have a lot of offense with Hanson and Entzi.

6. BCN - Coming off a big win vs SB, seem to be hitting their stride.
7. Ellendale - When they have balanced scoring they can play with a lot of teams.
8. South Border - Still as talented as any team in the Region but struggling to put it all together.
9. Napoleon - Decimated by injuries but have the shooters to keep them in games.
10. PBK - Losing Blaiskowski really hurts but still have some guys that can and will make it tough on other teams.
11. Central Prairie - This team needs a leader to step up. There is talent there but someone needs to help pull them together.

South Border beat BCN 54-53. So BCN did not win.

[Run4Fun2009]

Here is how I would rank the Region at this point, given recent results:

1. LLM - Have played the toughest schedule in the Region, with 2 losses to ranked teams.
2. SZ - Undefeated but have not played as tough a schedule as LLM. Big return game vs LHMB this Tuesday in Strasburg.

3. LHMB - Seemingly getting better week after week, no surprise. Will be a factor as always.

4. KC - Play hard, have good defense and are well coached. Can't be taken lightly.
5. EKM - Losing Nitshke hurts but still have a lot of offense with Hanson and Entzi.

6. BCN - Coming off a big win vs SB, seem to be hitting their stride.
7. Ellendale - When they have balanced scoring they can play with a lot of teams.
8. South Border - Still as talented as any team in the Region but struggling to put it all together.
9. Napoleon - Decimated by injuries but have the shooters to keep them in games.
10. PBK - Losing Blaiskowski really hurts but still have some guys that can and will make it tough on other teams.
11. Central Prairie - This team needs a leader to step up. There is talent there but someone needs to help pull them together.

South Border beat BCN 54-53. So BCN did not win.

Papers reported BCN won...

[EHS1998]

Yeah, sorry, I was going with what I saw reported. My bad. I'll revise.

[Run4Fun2009]

Yeah, sorry, I was going with what I saw reported. My bad. I'll revise.

I guess SB did win. Media messes up again...

[EHS1998]

Revising due to the correction on the SB vs BCN game.

1. LLM - Have played the toughest schedule in the Region, with 2 losses to ranked teams.
2. SZ - Undefeated but have not played as tough a schedule as LLM. Big return game vs LHMB this Tuesday in Strasburg.

3. LHMB - Seemingly getting better week after week, no surprise. Will be a factor as always.

4. KC - Play hard, have good defense and are well coached. Can't be taken lightly.
5. EKM - Losing Nitshke hurts but still have a lot of offense with Hanson and Entzi.

(6 through 10 could be in any order on any given night)
6. Ellendale - When they have balanced scoring they can compete with a lot of teams. Very important game vs BCN this Friday.
7. South Border - Still as talented as any team in the Region, coming off a win over a tough BCN team, may be starting to put it all together.
8. BCN - Lost a close one last night to SB. Big match up with Ellendale coming up on Friday.
9. Napoleon - Decimated by injuries but have the shooters to keep them in games and beat teams.
10. PBK - Losing Blaiskowski really hurts but still have some guys that can and will make it tough on other teams.

11. Central Prairie - This team needs a leader to step up. There is talent there but someone needs to help pull them together.

[pump]

I agree, they do have all the talent, but are just not pulling it together. I'm sure SB as a team and a community are baffled by this as well since they were the favorites coming into the season. And tournament time is always different- I think it will be an interesting tournament. I believe S-Z will go undefeated until regionals and then will get upset, kind of reminiscent of LaMoure last year, although S-Z has kinda flown under the radar all year unlike LaMoure of last year. Linton always pulls it together and they have been as of late, Dan Carr is an exceptional coach who always has his kids ready for tournament time.

Maybe they do not have as much talent as was thought to be.?

[EHS1998]

Maybe they do not have as much talent as was thought to be.?

Maybe. But they do definately have one of the better big men in the Region in Pinke and a top 3 player (minimally) in the Region in Michael Jacobson (although he was hurt for the first half of the year and may not yet be at 100%). Additionally, Adam Jacobson is one of the better athletes in the Region. Not many teams in Region 3 can boast such talent.

[pump]

Maybe they do not have as much talent as was thought to be.?

Maybe. But they do definately have one of the better big men in the Region in Pinke and a top 3 player (minimally) in the Region in Michael Jacobson (although he was hurt for the first half of the year and may not yet be at 100%). Additionally, Adam Jacobson is one of the better athletes in the Region. Not many teams in Region 3 can boast such talent.

Generally in class B basketball, if you have one really good player and 4 average players there is success. This South Border team you speak of has a really good, possibly the best big man (pinke?) and a possible top 3 player in the REGION (Mike J.) and one of the better athelets in the region (Adam J)(is Mike and Adam possibly brothers?) shouldn't they be really, really good? So what gives?

[EHS1998]

Pinke is in the upper tier of big men in the Region.

Yes, Adam and Mike are brothers.

[Lakeerie]

They are improving, getting a lot better, and as they all say it's not how you start but how you finish. Should be a fun region 3 tournament.

[EHS1998]

...it's not how you start but how you finish. Should be a fun region 3 tournament.

Well said. Agreed!

[EHS1998]

The District tournaments are going to be interesting too!