District 5 - 2015-2016

[EHS1998]

Gearing up for what should be a competitive and entertaining season in District 5.

Edgeley Kulm Montpelier (EKM) enters the year as the favorite, returning its entire starting line up, lead by one of the best players in the District in Connor Entzi. EKM had a good summer and will be a tough team to beat this season. I see them getting out of the gate quickly as they will have the most cohesion to start the year, based on what they return. Tucker Knutson is willing and able to do the dirty work with Tanner Zahn and Josh Foley contributing scoring and defense. Look for sophomore Logan Hanson to emerge as a solid scoring option in the post. A couple of freshmen, Isaac Huber and a transfer from SD will also contribute.

I really don't have a lot of information on the Carrington Cardinals but I know they were hit hard by graduation but are sure to return a talented bunch alongside Bryce Edland, Connor Wendell, Garrett Bickett and others. I have a feeling that they will be very good once again.

Lamoure Litchville Marion (LLM), as always it seems, will be in the mix. They were hit hard by graduation but return a very talented core, lead by Drew Thielges, another in the long line of Thielges studs for the Loboes. Quinn Alo will be a force inside and Brady Warcken will provide tenacious D and a scoring punch. If last year teaches us anything, you can't count the Loboes out, ever.

Similar to LLM, Oakes was also hit hard by graduation but return a strong group of seniors in Ethan Zetocha, Matthew Kuipers and Brody Bartholomew who will be tough to beat night in and night out. Sophomore Tyler Voightman will be in the mix as well. This team won the District last year and will fight hard to remain on top.

After a tough end to their season last year, the Ellendale Cardinals enter the year with a new look that holds great promise. The Cards will have to figure out an identity early in the year and may have a rocky start but
they have the talent to compete with anyone. Junior guard Brennan Vance continued to emerge as a top player in the District and Region last year and will be asked to lead the southern Cardinals. Vance is a tough on ball defender who is great in transition. Junior forward Luke Wertz emerged last year as a defensive stopper and also has the ability to score. Junior Hunter White is very smart, savvy, experienced guard who shoots well from behind the arc and showed the ability to raise his game in critical moments last year. Senior Alex Dathe is a long, athletic forward who can score. Senior Dylan Young can provide perimeter scoring and will also provide tough defense. Senior Logan Schumacher stepped into the post late last year and showed great promise, his continued emergence this year will be key for the Cardinals. Senior Remington Thurber will provide a tough, athletic, strong presence inside. The Cards will also have several younger very talented players vying for time.

Barnes County North (BCN) and Midkota Kensal (MK) both have some promising young talent but may both be a year away. However, as last year showed us yet again, anything is possible.

Wishing a healthy, great year to all teams.

[Statguy7]

Edgeley only short coming is playoff experience. Teams like LLM and Oakes have that and that helps close the gap in my opinion. They have to get through S/Z but this could finally be Oakes year to close the deal and go to the state B after being so close the last few years.

[d_fense]

I don't know about Oakes. I guess I think they will take a pretty big step back this year with the loss of Brice M.

[d_fense]

EHS1998, how do you see district 5 playing out this year? Here is my guess without being very sharp about Carrington, BCN, and Ellendale.
1. EKM
2. Carrington
3. Ellendale
4. LLM
5. Oakes
6.BCN

[Run4Fun2009]

BCN is struggling with numbers and being very young. Have heard their first two games of the year have been cancelled.

[d_fense]

That's to bad. Is there any such thing as an emergency co-op after a season starts?

[EHS1998]

EHS1998, how do you see district 5 playing out this year? Here is my guess without being very sharp about Carrington, BCN, and Ellendale.
1. EKM
2. Carrington
3. Ellendale
4. LLM
5. Oakes
6.BCN

I honestly think that 5 different teams could win the Distict this year. EKM and Carrington are the frontrunners. EKM because of all they bring back and Carringtom will always contend. Hard not to put LLM in the conversation too, they always seem to find a way. Oakes graduated a lot but have talent. Can they find consistent scoring? Can teams get to their depth? Ellendale will be interesting as they are going to be different from the last 4 years. But the cupboard is far from bare. I think EKM is currently the team to beat with 5 other teams having the potential of winning the District.

[EHS1998]

My take on the best players from each team:
EKM: Entzi, Zahn, Foley, Knutson, Hanson
LLM: Thielges, Warcken, Alo, Good, Hirshkorn
Carrington: Wendell, Bickett, Mehring, Edland, Fandich
Oakes: Zetocha, Bartholomew, Kuipers, Voightman
Ellendale: Vance, Wertz, White, Thurber, Young, Dathe, Schumacher, Goehring
BCN - Contreras, Wilson, Beddow, Rudolph
MK - M Smith, Vollmer, G Smith, Wells

[YMCMB]

Oakes will be hurting with post depth if bartholomew gets into foul trouble. I'm very impressed with Ellendale, I watched them play this summer and they looked good. Vance will be a player to watch this year.

District 5
1. Carington
2. LLM
3. Edgeley
4. Ellendale
5. Oakes
6 BCN
7. Midkota

[Chaoticforce]

I think Midkota will surprise many this year. BCN will struggle this year sounds like lost some players from last year not just seniors. My ranking is 1. EKM 2. LLM 3. Oaks 4. Carrington 5. Ellendale 6. Midkota 7 BCN. There will be some fun games to watch this season and I think there will be plenty of surprises!

[KHS33]

Why do people think midkota is going to finish behind BCN?

[Run4Fun2009]

Here's my take on District 5:

1. Edgeley-Kulm-Montpelier
2. Ellendale
3. Carrington
4. LaMoure-LM

5. Oakes

6. Barnes County North
7. Midkota/Kensal

[heimer]

Valley City should be pretty good.

[EHS1998]

Valley City should be pretty good.

That's what I hear.

[heimer]

It should be fun to see how they stack up against the rest of District 5.

Wait.............

[EHS1998]

It should be fun to see how they stack up against the rest of District 5.

Wait.............

Give it a little more time and they will be back.

[heimer]

Its just too bad that they didn't fit in. They don't really fit in where they are at either.

Do you know what would be a great idea? What if we.......

Oh, wait........

[EHS1998]

Do you know what would be a great idea? What if we.......

Oh, wait........

No arguments here.

[EHS1998]

As expected, EKM got off to a quick start last night and cruised to an 82 to 48 win over NGS. The Rebels appear to be clicking on all cylinders.

Ellendale struggled a big part of the night but put enough together in the 4th to come away with a double digit win vs South Border. Side note - Hunter Pinke from SB looked really good last night.

Carrington with an 8 point win over New Rockford-Sheyenne. Unsure how NRS is expected to be this year.

LLM plays MNS tonight in Gwinner. Very interesting early season match up between 2 teams that will more than likely contend for a state birth in their respective Regions.

[EHS1998]

District 5 win by the Ellendale Cardinals over the Oakes Tornadoes tonight 64 to 38 Brennan Vance with 23 and Dylan Young with 17 (5 for 7 from 3, unoffically).

[d_fense]

EHS1998, how do you see district 5 playing out this year? Here is my guess without being very sharp about Carrington, BCN, and Ellendale.
1. EKM
2. Carrington
3. Ellendale
4. LLM
5. Oakes
6.BCN

I'm wondering if I put Carrington to high. They recently beat 0-4 Benson County 50-48. Benson County's other losses were by 9, 15, and 47 points. I think I'll move them down to #4.
1. EKM
2. Ellendale
3. LLM
4. Carrington
5. Oakes
6. Midkota/K
7. BCN

[EHS1998]

In the Dakota Holiday Tournament tomorrow and Wednesday in Ellendale, both EKM and Ellendale will get all they want against a very good Britton Hecla (SD) team that took Aberdeen Roncalli, #1 ranked and defending SD State Champs to the wire a couple weeks ago. Leola Frederick (SD), also in the mix, has historically played well against both squads as well. Really good, early season tests.

Just a note that this really isn't a tournament anymore, just 2 ND teams playing 2 SD teams on both the boys and girls sides. Used to be a really good 8 team tourney but no more.

[EHS1998]

EKM with a dominant win over Leola Frederick today in the Dakota Holiday Tourney. Connor Entzi with a big day. Ellendale squeaked by a very good Britton Hecla team 40 to 39.

[bequickdonthurry]

Just a note that this really isn't a tournament anymore, just 2 ND teams playing 2 SD teams on both the boys and girls sides. Used to be a really good 8 team tourney but no more.

Never was an 8 team tourney. Started as 3 ND vs. 3 SD.

[EHS1998]

Just a note that this really isn't a tournament anymore, just 2 ND teams playing 2 SD teams on both the boys and girls sides. Used to be a really good 8 team tourney but no more.

Never was an 8 team tourney. Started as 3 ND vs. 3 SD.

Thanks. I stand corrected. Used to be a really good 6 team tourney. Now it is a good 4 team showcase. Still gets good crowds and the competition is solid.