Region by Region: Who Stands Out?

Basketball season is right around the corner and most of the North Dakota Class B teams started practice on Monday. Here's a breakdown of one player in each region who is a level above their competitors. <strong>Region 1: Abigail Duchscherer, Fr.</strong> — Last season, Kindred guard Abigail Duchscherer earned first-team All-State honors and helped the Vikings to a 20-6 record and a sixth-place finish at the Class B state tournament. Duchscherer is a do-it-all type of player. The 5-foot-11 guard finished the 2017-18 season tied for fifth in the state for scoring with 18 points per game and hauled down 7 rebounds per contest. For an underclassman, Duchscherer is a tough matchup for teams because she has the ability to block shots but can dish the basketball when needed to. Last year, she finished with 30 blocks and 3.5 assists per game. <strong>Region 2: Carlee Sieben, So.</strong> — Another talented underclassman, Grafton's Carlee Sieben has a knack for disrupting opponents' offensive plans. The 5-foot-6 guard averaged close to four steals a game last season. Sieben led the Spoilers with 14.8 points per game and had 72 more assists than Grafton's second-leading passer. Sieben is slightly undersized but can create good space for any type of shot on the floor. <strong>Region 3: Katie Entzi, Sr.</strong> — Katie Entzi was one of the most efficient shooters on the floor last season. The 6-foot-0 Edgeley-Kulm-Montpelier forward shot 62 percent from the field and averaged 17 points per game and  9.6 rebounds. Entzi will have an even larger scoring role this season as the Rebels graduated four starters from their 21-4 team a year ago. It's a very high possibility that Entzi averages a double-double this season and should be a finalist for the Miss Basketball Award. <strong>Region 4: Kendra Prouty, So.</strong> — As a freshman, St. John guard Kendra Prouty led the state in rebounds per game (10.9), steals (193) and points (21.5). Prouty is a dominant player for the Woodchucks and anytime there is a big play on the court she's right in the middle of it. Along with finding success in the paint, Prouty can knock down the 3-point shot. <strong>Region 5: Astacia Conica, Jr.</strong> — Solen had a down year in 2017-18 but junior Astacia Conica did it all for the Lady Sioux. The 5-foot-5 guard averaged 21 points per game last season and doesn't shy away from the 3-point line. If Solen can limit offensive mistakes, Conica should be primed for another solid scoring year. <strong>Region 6: Karsyn Hager, Sr.</strong> — Karsyn Hager made huge improvements from her sophomore to junior season and doubled her scoring average. Last season she averaged 11.3 points per game and was deadly from the outside. The 5-foot-9 shooting guard finished second in the state with 63 made 3-pointers. Hager is one of the top long-range shooters in the state and knows Rugby's system well enough to be able to have another breakout season. <strong>Region 7: Abbie Kludt, Sr.</strong> — There are a handful of stand out players in Region 7 but senior Abbie Kludt leads the way. The 5-foot-9 Hettinger-Scranton guard is coming off a season where she averaged 10 points per game, 8.6 rebounds, 5 assists and 4.3 steals. Kludt isn't going to step back and nail a 3-pointer in your face but she will drive into the lane. <strong>Region 8: Kaity Hove, Jr.</strong> — Kaity Hove is a floor general every team needs. The 5-foot-7 guard is always thinking one step ahead of her opponents and has good court awareness. Last season Hove averaged 14 points per game, 7.7 rebounds and 6.3. Hove didn't have a ton of success shooting behind the arc during Trenton's 2017-18 campaign but she can beat anyone off the dribble and her scoring looks at the rim.