Class B State Tournament Preview: Top Players to Watch
The Class B State Tournament is set to kick off Thursday. The best teams in the state will all be in Grand Forks, which means a big collection of the top players in the state will be on hand to…
Access all of Prep Girls Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe Class B State Tournament is set to kick off Thursday. The best teams in the state will all be in Grand Forks, which means a big collection of the top players in the state will be on hand to lead their teams one final time.
Here are some of the top players to watch:
Kaity Hove, Trenton
The Trenton Tigers are undefeated on the season and the biggest reason why is Hove. The senior all-state point guard stuffs the stat sheet on a regular basis, scoring at will, rebounding as well as any guard and creating easy buckets for her teammates. Hove gets it done on both ends of the court, routinely putting pressure on opposing ball-handlers and even if she doesn’t put up huge point totals, her impact on the game is as all-encompassing as any player in the tournament.
Sam Oase, Hettinger/Scranton
Oase is working on another all-state season and has been incredibly productive despite being at the top of every team’s scouting report. The 6-foot junior post averaged 16 points and 12 rebounds in the regular season and picked it up even more in the playoffs, averaging 23.7 points and 14.3 rebounds in the region tournament. She’s one of the most dominant players in the state and if the Night Hawks are going to have more success this year in the state tournament, she’ll have to be a big factor.
Callie Ronningen, Langdon/Edmore/Munich
Ronningen’s been a starter for five years for the Cardinals and the catalyst on a lot of winning teams. She’s looking to put an exclamation point on a terrific high school career with a state title. The senior wing is a strong perimeter shooter, solid playmaker and an excellent slasher. She’s an excellent defender, who can guard up or down a lineup and her leadership has been invaluable for a team that hasn’t lost since last year’s state tournament.
Carlee Sieben, Grafton/St. Thomas
Sieben’s been a force for the Spoilers for a while now and is working on another all-state season as a junior. She averaged 19 points per game in the region tournament and is one of the best guards in the state and creating her own shot. She’s a strong perimeter shooter and a dependable decision-maker. She’s instinctual on the defensive end of the floor, routinely putting pressure on opposing ball handlers and the passing lanes. She might be the best player in the tournament and the catalyst for the Spoilers’ hopes for a state title.
Julia Dusek, Grafton/St. Thomas
The Spoilers are heading into the tournament with state title aspirations and Dusek’s the second head in the team’s dynamic duo. She’s a versatile wing who can do it all on both ends of the floor. She’s been excellent all year, but picked her play up in the postseason, averaging 18.3 points per game in the region tournament and was the best player on the floor in the Spoilers’ win over Thompson in the region championship game.
Grace Kelly, Shiloh Christian
Kelly’s emerged as a do-it-all threat for the Skyhawks, averaging better than 15 points per game in the postseason and stuffing the stat sheet in the process. The 5-foot-11 sophomore scores inside and out, teaming with center Jacie Hall to form a terrific duo up front. Her ability to space the floor and make plays for herself present problems for a lot of teams and her ability to defend and rebound her position make her a player to watch in the future too.
Mykell Heidlebaugh, Rugby
Heidlebaugh’s been a breakout star for the Panthers, averaging 11.5 points and 5.0 rebounds per game while leading one of the state’s elite defenses. The freshman guard has been terrific especially lately, averaging 12.7 points per game over the last 10 games and 14.8 points and 6.0 rebounds in the postseason. On a team that struggles to score consistently, Heidlebaugh is the one who has proven she can produce against high-end competition.
Ellie Holen, LLM
Holen is a legitimate two-way force for the Loboes and her fingerprints have been all over their success in the postseason. She shut down Carrington’s Kiera Eli in LLM’s win in the District 5 Championship game. She scored 17 points and carried the Loboes offensively in the second half of their win over Kidder County in the Region 3 Championship game. She’s been their most consistent offensive player – she can shoot, create her own shot and make her teammates better.