The end is near. Postseason is right around the corner and we’ll turn our attention to previewing district, conference and regional tournaments soon.
The Tommies have that one hiccup to Larimore a few weeks ago but that was clearly more fluke than sign of things to come. Thompson’s been the best team in Class B all year and it’s incorporated Cadyn Schwabe back into the lineup seamlessly.
It feels like we’re destined to get a third Thompson vs. Hillsboro matchup given how the first two have played out. If that does indeed happen, a trip to the state tournament will be on the line. The Burros have been outstanding all year as Carson Henningsgard and Landen Reed form one of the best duos in the state.
The Indians have been awesome all year and have played arguably the toughest schedule of any team in Class B. Yet they’ve got just two losses – to Thompson and Hillsboro – and wins over a handful of other elite teams in the state. Doug Yankton has emerged as a force and Jayden Yankton and Jaymison Jackson are excellent complementary players.
The Lions took a couple losses early in the season but have since been one of the dominant teams in Class B. Ben Bohl and Mason Hedberg form the best tandem in Class B as they both can score 30, rebound, defend and control the tempo of the game.
The Skyhawks haven’t had a lot of adversity this winter as they’ve been mostly dominant. A loss to Beulah a few weeks ago was answered with a blowout win over Region contender Flasher. Jaden Mitzel has been piling up big point totals all year and MaCauley Young is a consistent double-double guy at center.
Rugby just took one on the chin to Bishop Ryan this last week, falling behind big early before making the final score look respectable. The trio of Jace Goven, Jaden Hamilton and Devan Michels is still one of the best in Class B. The Panthers will likely get another crack at the Lions in the postseason – with a state-tournament berth at stake.
The Colts have been one of the best teams in Class B all season with just two losses and several solid wins. Armed with experience, shooting and an athletic group of finishers, this is a team that can beat anybody at its best.
The Miners started a little slow this year as they incorporated almost an entirely new group of players to the varsity level. But if the win over Shiloh was any indication, it’s that this team is legit. They play in a very tough region but Chad Morsette and Trey Brandt on the perimeter plus Jonah Larson inside, give the Miners a really good group.
The Vikings recent loss to Richland changes little with regards to their ultimate potential this season. This team is state-tournament caliber. With the way they defend, they’ll be tough for anybody to beat. A rematch with Richland feels likely given the separation between the top two teams in Region 1 and the rest of the field.
The Spoilers have a couple of big games at the end of the season against Hillsboro and Thompson and if there’s a team that can crash that two-team party at the top of Region 2, it’s Grafton. Dalton Albrecht is the best big man in the state and he can dominate a game in ways few other guys can.