Opening Day: Best Player Matchups

The 2018-19 North Dakota girls basketball season begins Monday with three games. Here are the top player match-ups for day one. <strong>Rolla (Region 4) @ North Border (Region 2)</strong> Two teams that struggled last season will open up the 2018-19 season at 7 p.m. North Border finished 6-14 last year but welcome back three solid players that includes leading point scorer Lexi Irving. The 5-foot-6 senior guard averaged 13.1 points per game a year ago and will have a tough matchup with Kyleigh Wilkes of Rolla. Wilkes had a impressive sophomore season and averaged 10.2 points per game and 1.9 rebounds but the Bulldogs finished 3-18. The 5-foot-2 junior guard has a consistent 3-point shot and it'll be needed to help Rolla put points on the scoreboard. Irving does have the height advantage over Wilkes and they both shoot the basketball well, however, experience is going to play a big role in this game. <strong>Standing Rock Community (Region 5) @ Turtle Lake-Mercer/McClusky (Region 5)</strong> Last season these two teams also played each other on opening day and Standing Rock Community won the early season contest, 55-48. The Warriors had a few seniors on their team last year but this season it'll be the Kya Crow Ghost show. The 5-foot-4 point guard has quick hands and will be a interesting matchup for senior Morgan Reiser of Turtle Lake-Mercer/McClusky. Reiser averaged 17 points per game last during her junior season for the Trojans and has been playing varsity for the last few years. The 5-foot-7 guard has more basketball knowledge and should be able to use that to find holes in Standing Rock's defense tonight. Crow Ghost is a young player that has the skills to become a top prospect in the state with her speed and defensive ability. Trying to shut down Reiser and TL-M/M will be step one in that process. <strong>Benson County (Region 4) @ Rugby (Region 6)</strong> The only Top 10 team in the state in action tonight is No. 4-ranked Rugby. The Panthers are led by senior Karsyn Hager who averaged 11.3 points per game, 1.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists last season. The 5-foot-9 can stretch a defense out and has the ability to beat a team from the 3-point arc. Hager and Rugby will have a challenge trying to slow down Benson County's underclassmen. The Wildcats are paced by freshmen Desidy Schwanke and Quinn Neppl as they combined for close to 15 points per game during their eighth-grade seasons. Benson County is a young team and this matchup does favor Rugby but Schwanke and Neppl will have a chance to learn from upperclassmen in Hager and senior Anni Stier.