Mid Season Thoughts

[CountryDelight]

Speaking for Region 2
The 3 class system has revived basketball in some of these small towns and it’s great to see.
Maybe someone can fill in on the other Regions.
It sure appears after North Star things are wide open.
1. North Star

2. North Border

3-7 in any order, they have all beaten each other.
Cavalier
Larimore
Midway-Minto
Nelson County
Langdon Area

8-11 just a step or 2 below but on any night could beat the next tier.
New Rockford-Sheyenne
North Prairie
Benson County
MPCG

12-17
Hatton-Northwood
Griggs-Midkota
Warwick
Park River-FL
Drayton-VE
St John

[ndlionsfan]

Speaking for Region 2
The 3 class system has revived basketball in some of these small towns and it’s great to see.
Maybe someone can fill in on the other Regions.
It sure appears after North Star things are wide open.
1. North Star

2. North Border

3-7 in any order, they have all beaten each other.
Cavalier
Larimore
Midway-Minto
Nelson County
Langdon Area

8-11 just a step or 2 below but on any night could beat the next tier.
New Rockford-Sheyenne
North Prairie
Benson County
MPCG

12-17
Hatton-Northwood
Griggs-Midkota
Warwick
Park River-FL
Drayton-VE
St John

I agree with your assessment for the most part on this region. Take out North Star, and I believe the rest of both districts are very balanced. Regular season matchups are going to be critical for seeding to see who has the best shot at making the region. I think District 4 is wide open. Larimore has some nice wins already and Nelson County has the ability to separate itself a bit from the pack, but can't take a night off. I honestly feel 1-8 can all beat each other on any given night.

[Flip]

What happened to Warwick?

[ndlionsfan]

What happened to Warwick?

Graduated their top player from last year, and lost their two dynamic guards to transfers. I know one went to FWM and not sure where the other went. Have lost a few close games by just a bucket or in OT. Could easily have a much better record.

[WalkingStick]

What happened to Warwick?

Graduated their top player from last year, and lost their two dynamic guards to transfers. I know one went to FWM and not sure where the other went. Have lost a few close games by just a bucket or in OT. Could easily have a much better record.

Figured transferring had to have played a role in the drop a bit...

[lakers24]

Region 4 looks to be pretty strong.
Westhope is dominating everyone
Ryan has been tested but looks like a top team in state
Our Redeemers is very solid squad
Surrey, TGU, MLS can all compete

And then on the other side Trinity Christian is playing good ball
Powerslake, Kenmare, Parshall, and Alexander have the abilities to compete with most teams.

1. Westhope
2. Bishop Ryan and Trinity Christian
I’d say that’s the top teams - and then

MLS
Our Redeemers
TGU
Powerslake
Parshall
Kenmare
surrey
Alexander

This would be my order but I think all are pretty equal.

[Flip]

North Star healthy when they played HCV?

[WalkingStick]

North Star healthy when they played HCV?

Depth came into play in a tightly called game in Hillsboro
Advantage HCV

[Flying Wallenda]

North Star healthy when they played HCV?

Depth came into play in a tightly called game in Hillsboro
Advantage HCV

Bunch of guys foul out? Game at Cando or Hillsboro? Live event or NFHS?

[BasketballMind]

North Star healthy when they played HCV?

Depth came into play in a tightly called game in Hillsboro
Advantage HCV

Bunch of guys foul out? Game at Cando or Hillsboro? Live event or NFHS?

Game was on Your Live Event, played in CV.

[Bison-Vikes #1]

North Star healthy when they played HCV?

Depth came into play in a tightly called game in Hillsboro
Advantage HCV

North Star has been battling injury all season. Were starting to get healthy and 2 more players went down and others still recovering. Because of weather they've had some make up games, so played 6 games in 11 days. Bearcat's shots were just not falling, legs seemed dead. Have to credit H-CV also, as have always been a good defensive team. Not making any excuses. IMHO, these 2 teams are pretty even. Last year, H-CV came up to Cando and got blown out. Very similar rosters to last year, so the swing in outcome was surprising. As they say, that's why they play the game.

[Class B]

Region 4 looks to be pretty strong.
Westhope is dominating everyone
Ryan has been tested but looks like a top team in state
Our Redeemers is very solid squad
Surrey, TGU, MLS can all compete

And then on the other side Trinity Christian is playing good ball
Powerslake, Kenmare, Parshall, and Alexander have the abilities to compete with most teams.

1. Westhope
2. Bishop Ryan and Trinity Christian
I’d say that’s the top teams - and then

MLS
Our Redeemers
TGU
Powerslake
Parshall
Kenmare
surrey
Alexander

This would be my order but I think all are pretty equal.

Velva is on a 4-game heater with Harvey, Berthold, Glenburn and Drake left to play for district games.
Velva owns head to head over ORCS and Surrey.
Mohall still has ORCS, BR, Surrey and TGU to play. MLS owns head to head over Velva.
HWC still has Velva, Surrey and TGU.
TGU has Westhope, MLS and Harvey left.
BR and Westhope still need to play.

This district is a long ways from being sorted out...

[WalkingStick]

BR and W-N play this thurs

[Class B]

Mohall has got to have a pit in their stomach. Win all 4 and they have a Top 3 seed. But with Velva’s remaining schedule you’d have to think Mohall has to win all 4.

If Mohall goes 2-2 in that stretch, it’s very possible they end up in that play-in game, depending who they lose to, etc.

TGU is always a perennial “trap game” for teams. They are talented enough to win every night if a team lets them. I think Bishop Ryan would agree from last week. I see them winning 2 of 3.

Madness, friends!

[WalkingStick]

Mohall has got to have a pit in their stomach. Win all 4 and they have a Top 3 seed. But with Velva’s remaining schedule you’d have to think Mohall has to win all 4.

If Mohall goes 2-2 in that stretch, it’s very possible they end up in that play-in game, depending who they lose to, etc.

TGU is always a perennial “trap game” for teams. They are talented enough to win every night if a team lets them. I think Bishop Ryan would agree from last week. I see them winning 2 of 3.

Madness, friends!

The girls district came down to some interesting games/results...I'd expect no less from the boys district.
Velva had the 4 'tougher' district teams right away, played two competitive games with MLS & BR and found a way to get an OT win over ORCS. Big one tonight for Velva with HWC...after that Velva gets the 3 bottom teams and you'd have to expect 3 wins.

[bk1990]

BR and W-N play this thurs

That should be a fun one, #2 vs #4. Braaten is worth the price of admission. Walz from Ryan has been dealing with some early season injuries, if he is at full strength, could be a interesting game.

[DayByDay]

BR and W-N play this thurs

That should be a fun one, #2 vs #4. Braaten is worth the price of admission. Walz from Ryan has been dealing with some early season injuries, if he is at full strength, could be a interesting game.

Will this game be streamed anywhere online?

[WalkingStick]

BR and W-N play this thurs

That should be a fun one, #2 vs #4. Braaten is worth the price of admission. Walz from Ryan has been dealing with some early season injuries, if he is at full strength, could be a interesting game.

Will this game be streamed anywhere online?

PSP Network on youtube

[Class B]

Bishop Ryan lives and breaths through Walz. I don't mean to take away from BR's supporting cast, but If Walz not 100%, there is a big gap between W/N and BR.

That might be a freezing cold take at 10pm on Thursday night, but I will own it if so.

[Class B]

BR 56-53. Walz with 22, but he fouled out early in the 4th. That supporting cast that I was a little harsh on the other day had to go out and win it for BR. Congrats to them.

Freezing cold take on my part!

[tigertown35]

In region 4, district 8 looks significantly stronger than district 7. Powers Lake, Kenmare, Alexander and Trinity Christian are all quality teams but I just don't see any of them getting past the first night of regionals. Kenmare, to me, looks the strongest of the bunch from District 7 with their win last night, but also lost to Powers Lake earlier this year so anything could happen. District 8 is just a madhouse right now. Its looking like Ryan, Westhope-Newburg, Velva and ORCS will be top 4. TGU is very strong as well so I could see them getting into regionals over one of those teams. MLS will definitely be in a play-in game unless they somehow surprise Ryan. By my math, they could end up as low as the 8 seed, which speaks to the balance and quality of this district. It will be fun to watch this play out over the coming weeks!

[balla45]

Your take was good.

Bishop Ryan was, I believe, +12 with Walz on the floor and -9 with him off the floor. Firmly disagree with 3 of the fouls called on him but thought he got away with 1. I feel they deserved to win the game by more than they did based on how they played. *This is not me throwing shade at the supporting cast. Walz just changes so much with his length at the rim defensively.*

Would have liked to see W-N be more patient offensively as they went through long stretches without Braaten touching the ball. It could beneficial for them as a group, Braaten included, to realize they have limited upside in a tournament format if he goes through significant stretches not getting involved offensively.

Hope to see that matchup a few more times this season.