North Dakota Preview: Region 4 Top Guards

<span style="font-weight: 400;">It’s never too early for too-early-season. With fall sports and school underway, it’s only a matter of time before the winter sports season is upon us. </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">With that in mind, here’s a look at some of the top guards in Region 4</span> <strong>Myona Dauphinais, Four Winds/Minnewaukan</strong> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Dauphinais has been one of the best scorers in the region each of the last two years and averaged better than 14 points per game as a sophomore - the leader of five double-figure scorers for the Indians. She’s a terrific 3-point shooter and can create her own shot as well as any player in the area. With Four Winds graduating two of its top perimeter players from a season ago, expect her to have the ball in her hands a lot this winter.</span> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="14185" first="Rozalind" last="Strong"], Dunseith</strong> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Strong is one of the best guards in the state, let alone the region. She stuffed the stat sheet for a decent Dunseith team last winter, to the tune of 21 points, six rebounds and four assists. She’s capable of dominating games like few other players in the area can, as her ability to score from all over the floor is nearly unmatched and her influence on the offense is vast. She’s got the size and length to abuse smaller, quicker defenders, but also the skill and athleticism to make easy work of bigger, slower counterparts. Look for Dunseith to do big things this winter.</span> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="198994" first="Danielle" last="Hagler"], North Star</strong> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Hagler is one of the best wing players in the region and coming off a season in which she averaged better than 16 points and nearly six rebounds per game. She’s got the size and athleticism to get wherever she wants on the floor and her ability to start plays for others or finish them for herself makes her one of the toughest players to contend with in the area. </span> <strong>Kendra Prouty, St. John</strong> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Prouty averaged a double-double last year, putting up 17 points and 12 rebounds (plus four assists) for a solid St. John team as a junior. She’s a menace on the defensive end of the floor too, as she averaged better than five steals per game, and her ability to convert defense into easy offense is a big key for the Woodchucks. She’s one of the best two-way players in the state.</span> <strong>Natalie Decoteau, St. John</strong> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Decoteau stuffed the stat sheet for the Woodchucks as a freshman, averaging 14 points, 11 rebounds and four assists while supplying high-level perimeter defense and quality shot-making ability. She’ll join Prouty to form one of the best one-two punches in the region, making St. John a legitimate darkhorse in one of the most loaded regions in the state. </span> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="98645" first="Zoe" last="McKinven"], Harvey/Wells County</strong> <span style="font-weight: 400;">McKinven’s been a double-figure scorer each of the last two years and while her efficiency could stand to improve, her ability to generate shots and make plays while supplying high-end perimeter defense makes her an all-region caliber player. </span> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="199970" first="Quinn" last="Neppl"], Benson County</strong> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Neppl has been an all-district/all-region performer each of the last two years for a Benson County team that has won 25 games combined. She’s a consistent scorer who does a great job breaking down defenders and getting to the rim. She’s long, athletic and skilled. And she’ll be the go-to score for a Benson County team that should be competitive in the region.</span>