Way-Too-Early Class B Rankings
Fall sports are right around the corner. Assuming there are no hiccups, that means the winter sports season isn’t as far off as it might feel. Here’s a way-too-early look at the top teams in Class B Grafton The Spoilers…
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Continue ReadingFall sports are right around the corner. Assuming there are no hiccups, that means the winter sports season isn’t as far off as it might feel.
Here’s a way-too-early look at the top teams in Class B
Grafton
The Spoilers will head into 2020-21 with state title aspirations after reaching the championship game last spring. Carlee Sieben Carlee Sieben 5'8" | PG Grafton | 2021 State ND is one of the best guards in the state. Julia Dusek Julia Dusek 6'0" | CG Grafton | 2021 State ND is a matchup nightmare and multi-year all-region player. Cassie Sieben and Reagan Hanson Reagan Hanson 5'8" | SG Grafton | 2022 State ND have been excellent and Walker Demers Walker Demers 6'3" | C Grafton | 2023 ND has a chance to be a force in the middle after showing what she’s capable of during their state tournament run.
Kindred
The Vikings were the favorite to win the Class B state title last year until an upset in the Region 1 Tournament and they’ll head into next winter on a very short list of legitimate state title favorites. The junior duo of Abby Duchscherer Abby Duchscherer 6'1" | CG Kindred | 2022 State ND and Terryn Johnson Terryn Johnson 6'1" | C Kindred | 2022 State ND gives the Vikings two all-state players. Duchscherer may be the best individual player in the state regardless of age or class. Tina Freier Tina Freier 5'9" | SG Kindred | 2022 State ND and Kacie Burner Kacie Burner 5'8" | CG Kindred | 2023 State ND are both back as well.
Rugby
The Panthers were one of the five or so best teams in the state, finished with two wins at the state tournament in what was supposed to be a rebuilding season and get a chance to run it back. They’ve got an elite defense and terrific tandem in Mykell Heidlebaugh and Brooke Blessum, the Panthers will be the favorite in Region 6 and a potential title contender. Sarah Blessum and Tesha Sobolik Tesha Sobolik 5'6" | CG Rugby | 2021 State ND give the Panthers solid backcourt options.
Four Winds/Minnewaukan
The Indians have been one of the best teams in Class B in recent years and could go into the 2020-21 season as the favorites in an always loaded Region 4. Myona Dauphinais could be one of the top scorers in the state and the duo on the interior of Ezura Rainbow and Mahpiya Jackson is as good as any.
Langdon/Edmore/Munich
LEM is coming off a state championship run and while the Cardinals are losing two terrific seniors including an all-stater, don’t expect a precipitous drop. Morgan Freije was excellent as a sophomore and should transition into a featured role. Kaylee Lowery and Lexi Olson are both multi-year starters up front and excellent particularly on the defensive end of the floor. And watch out for Jaya Henderson.
Central Cass
The Squirrels upset Kindred to reach the state tournament last year, but there’s a legitimate chance that they are even better this upcoming winter. Central Cass returns eight rotation players including sophomore forward DeContee Smith. She should be one of the top forwards in the region. Kailee McKinnon Kailee McKinnon 5'8" | SG Central Cass | 2022 State ND , Rylie Holzer Rylie Holzer 5'4" | PG Central Cass | 2022 State ND and Morgan Lee are all back after starting as sophomores and a healthy Jaylin Cotton Jaylin Cotton 5'11" | PF Central Cass | 2022 State ND could be a game-changer inside.
Shiloh Christian
The Skyhawks won the Region 5 Tournament for the second straight season and should be even better this upcoming season. Their frontcourt figures to be one of the best in the state, as Grace Kelly Grace Kelly 6'1" | SF Shiloh Christian | 2022 State ND and Jacie Hall are both all-region caliber players. Hannah Westin, Kennady Walth and Aliya Schock round out a rock-solid rotation.
Trenton
The Tigers are losing an elite player in Kaity Hove Kaity Hove 5'6" | CG Trenton | 2020 State ND – and replacing her will change the entire team’s identity – but are returning three starters including all-region talents in Alyssa St. Pierre and Jacee Turcotte. Alexa St. Pierre should take on more ballhandling and playmaking responsibility and Raquel Archer was a weapon off the bench last year.
Kidder County
The Wolves have been among the top teams in Class B in recent years and should be strong again next year, as they return two-time all-state lead guard Madelyn Schmidt Madelyn Schmidt 5'5" | CG Kidder County | 2021 State ND . Hailey Pfaff was solid on the wing and Avery Rath and Kennedy Harter Kennedy Harter 6'0" | PF Kidder County | 2023 State ND should both ascend into more featured roles.
Thompson
The Tommies were one of the best teams in the state last year, losing to eventual state runner-up Grafton in the Region 2 championship. They’ll turn over a big chunk of their roster but return all-state guard Kenzie Hughes. Jade Welke is back in the frontcourt and there’s a solid host of complementary talent waiting to emerge in the likes of Libby Koerber, Bailey Munson Bailey Munson 5'5" | CG Thompson | 2022 State ND , Olivia Dick and Sydney Schwabe.