North Dakota Girls Preview: Mandan

<em>***Photo Credit: Grand Forks Herald***</em> <span style="font-weight: 400">The Mandan Braves were the second best team in the state last season, going 20-7 while losing to Bismarck Century in the state title game. The Braves went 0-4 against the Patriots but steamrolled the rest of the competition throughout the season. Mandan won 14 games by double figures and return perhaps the best player in the state along with a very strong core. </span> <span style="font-weight: 400"><strong>Must Be Replaced:</strong> Courtney Olson, Elizabeth Leingang, </span> <span style="font-weight: 400">While Mandan has a cupboard full of excellent players back in the fold, the Braves will have to replace a couple of valuable seniors from last year’s team. Courtney Olson averaged 10.6 and 5.8 rebounds per game last year while proving to be one of the best offensive rebounders in the state. Her ability to create extra possessions proved invaluable for a team that while successful, struggled to shoot at times. Leingang was the team’s best 3-point shooter by percentage and was a pest defensively. </span> <span style="font-weight: 400"><strong>Key Returners:</strong> Megan Zander, Lakyn Darras Kennedy Harris</span> <span style="font-weight: 400">This is where the Braves can make a case a legitimate state title contender as they’ve got arguably the best players in the 2019 and 2020 class. Megan Zander averaged better than 20 points and 12 rebounds while blocking 2.3 shots and knocking down more than 50 3-pointers. She’s an extremely tough cover and a dominant player at times. Darras averaged better than 12 points per game as a sophomore and was one of the best defenders on the team. If she can take that typical sophomore-to-junior step (particularly with her perimeter shooting), the Braves have two legitimate all-state and player-of-the-year candidates. Kennedy Harris averaged 13.5 points per game as a junior and led the team in assists. </span> <span style="font-weight: 400"><strong>Stepping Into New Roles:</strong> Janie Berger, Aleah Clarke</span> <span style="font-weight: 400">A lot of the offensive burden for the Braves will fall on the aforementioned trio but there’s more to the mix than just those Zander, Darras and Harris. Janie Berger and Aleah Clarke both saw extensive time last year as underclassmen and should have every opportunity to take the next step. Teams will almost certainly focus a lot of their attention on slowing down at least one or two of the Braves’ top three options, leaving a lot of room to work for Berger and Clarke in complementary roles. </span> <strong>Season Outlook</strong> <span style="font-weight: 400">Mandan was the second best team in the state last year and there’s no reason to think the Braves can’t back that up with another year on par with that, or improve. In Zander, they’ve got a dominant inside player who changes games on both ends of the floor. They’ve got experienced - and talented - guards and they’ve been through practically every situation. There isn’t going to be much this group hasn’t seen before. A return trip to state is expected and they should be one of the top two or three teams favored to win a state championship. </span>