North Dakota Class B Rankings
The end is near. Postseason is right around the corner and we’ll turn our attention to previewing district, conference and regional tournaments soon. But first, here are some rankings for Class B: Langdon/Edmore/Munich The Cardinals have been dominant for much…
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Continue ReadingThe end is near. Postseason is right around the corner and we’ll turn our attention to previewing district, conference and regional tournaments soon.
But first, here are some rankings for Class B:
Langdon/Edmore/Munich
The Cardinals have been dominant for much of the season, suffering just one loss – a double overtime affair to Thompson – to North Dakota competition. Wins over Four Winds/Minnewaukan, Grafton, Carrington and Shiloh Christian boost a strong resume as LEM heads into the postseason as the favorite to win a state title.
Four Winds/Minnewaukan
The Indians are right up there with the state’s elite, losing just twice to Class B competition. Those losses are a close loss at LEM and early in the season against Carrington. Four Winds is in the same region as LEM, which means at least one of the two best teams in the state won’t be in the state tournament. If those two teams do meet in a regional final game, what a game it could be.
Grafton/St. Thomas
The Spoilers have been dominant all year, only suffering one loss – to top-ranked LEM – while winning more than half their games by 30-plus points. They’ve beaten a number of very good teams, providing evidence that they are absolutely on the short-list when it comes to state title contenders.
Velva
Armed with one of the state’s stingiest defenses, the Aggies are going to be an awfully tough out for anybody. They allow just 33 points per game and while they can struggle at times to score, they have amassed 20 wins on the season and are the favorite from Region 6 because of great defense and the ability to control the tempo of a game.
Thompson
The Tommies have just two losses all year. They are to Grafton by nine and Four Winds/Minnewaukan by six. Thompson’s as good as anybody and has shown they are capable of beating the best teams in the state all year. A matchup with Grafton in a regional final would be exciting.
Carrington
The Cardinals just lost in the district final game to LaMoure/Litchville-Marion but remain the favorite to win Region 3. They’ve had a terrific season, with fantastic wins over some elite teams. Region 3 is shaping up to be one of the toughest in the state, but Carrington’s got the goods to win it.
Trenton
One of the few undefeated teams left in Class B, Trenton mostly mopped up soft competition early in the season but has since picked things up as the quality of opponent has improved in recent weeks. The Tigers have shown they are capable of winning in multiple ways too.
Kidder County
One of two remaining undefeated teams left in Class B, Kidder County hasn’t been tested a whole lot this winter but has been absolutely dominant more often than not. The Wolves allow just 35 points per game.
Rugby
The Panthers lost 32-30 to Velva in the district final game but remain a threat out of Region 6 thanks to a staunch defense – just like Velva. Allowing just 34 points per game, the Panthers have four losses to elite teams and several wins over excellent clubs as well. Region 6 may be the best one in the state, so in order to advance, they’ll have to play their best.
Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood
Yet another contender out of Region 6, MLS is like Velva and Rugby in that it plays phenomenal defense but can be prone to lapses on the offensive end of the floor. The Mavericks have 20 wins on the year and in the hunt for many more thanks to that defense though. They’ll be a tough out for anybody.