Four WDA teams have eye on boys' basketball top prize

FARGO – Tip off for the Division AA boys’ basketball tournament will be Thursday, March 13 in Fargo. The last WDA team to win the tournament was Minot High in 2022. The conference certainly has some strong candidates to capture the title this season. The quarterfinals have (4W) Dickinson taking on (1E) West Fargo. (3W) Mandan meets (2E) G.F. Red River. (2W) Bismarck High faces (3E) Fargo Davies and (1W) Century meets (4E) Fargo North.  Tournament website

Here’s a look at the WDA’s four participants.

(1W) Bismarck Century (23-1)
Points Per Game: 81.4
Points Allowed Per Game: 55.9
Record against state tournament teams: 6-1
The Patriots have been ranked first or somewhere in the top five the entire season. And with just one loss, they are a strong favorite to earn their fourth state crown, and first since 2018. 
Why Century will win the title? You don't play three-plus months of basketball with just one loss unless you do a lot of things well. And the Patriots do a lot of things well. It can play a run-and-gun, or a disciplined half-court game. It’s a deep, talented roster that prides itself also on good defense. The Pats have four players averaging 13 or more points a game. It’s quickness and structure on defense has held opponents to just 55 points a game. Offensively, senior standout Drew Kempel leads the way with 18.4 ppg. Kempel provides senior leadership and a well-rounded player. Sophomore Gibson Kinnebrew averages 17.0 and juniors Garrett Nissley (13.4) and Camden Kraemer (11.8) round out the scoring leaders. 
But the team has other contributors, including senior Joey Kraljic, who averages 6.7 rebounds and does a lot of the dirty work in the paint to create second-chance points.
What may trip them up? Century heads into the tournament on a 12-game win streak, but there have been some close calls. The team won a nail biter at Moorhead, MN on a last-second shot in February. It needed to overcome a late deficit to defeat visiting Minot High in overtime. And it was in a dogfight with rival Bismarck High in the region title game, winning by a point. Winning close games is a sign of a strong team, but sometimes your number is up.

(2W) Bismarck High (18-6)
Points Per Game: 82.6
Points Allowed Per Game: 64.2
Record against state tournament teams: 6-3
The Demons are making their second consecutive trip to the tournament, and fifth appearance in the last six years. But getting past the quarterfinals has been a struggle. Just once in those five years has the squad won its quarterfinal. And it didn’t get a chance to reach the title the year it did (2020) due to COVID shutting down the remainder of the tournament.
Why Bismarck High will win the title? They are due. The Demons last won a crown in 2010, but have been one of the most successful programs over the past six seasons. It’s up-tempo style which focuses on ball pressure in the backcourt and quick transition into offense has caused problems. It relies on a number of players contributing and that also poses problems for opponents. And the use of multiple players will prove beneficial on day three of a three-day tournament. BHS’ top player is senior Andre’ Austin. He averages 18.2 points per game and 7.1 rebounds as well as 2.4 steals, so he is quite a handful for the opposition. But the team has other contributors, including freshman Khaliq Austin (12.0 ppg). And a handful of Demons average five or more points a game. If BHS can get perimeter scoring to go along with its ability to attack the basket, it’s going to be a tough out this weekend.
What may trip them up? A slow tempo of play. When teams have been successful in overcoming the Demons’ pressure and create a half-court style of play it has had more success. And BHS will see teams this week that have ball handlers who can make quick decisions.

(3W) Mandan (17-7)
Points Per Game: 77.9
Points Allowed Per Game: 65.9
Record against state tournament teams: 4-3
After two seasons in a row of losing a state-qualifying game, the Braves cracked that nut this year, defeating a very good Minot High team to reach the state tournament. Mandan’s resume includes wins over Bismarck High, Dickinson and Fargo North, so it’s battled-tested.
Why Mandan will win the title? The Braves have proven they can string wins together. The squad won its first eight games and that wasn’t against sub-par competition. And in a three-day tournament, a team that can get hot and stay hot can be dangerous (See Fargo North, 2023). Mandan has a dynamic player in senior Hudsen Sheldon. His playmaking and quickness are impressive. Sheldon averages 23.1 points and 6.4 assists per game, but also forces 4.3 steals. So he is just as impactful without the ball. But the Braves have many contributors. Senior TJ Brownotter (11.9 ppg), and juniors Brylee Bearstail (11.6) and Rylee Bearstail (10.5) provide perimeter weapons. And seniors Doug Sheldon and Tristan Ulmer have size and strength near the basket. 
What may trip them up? Slow starts. Ten times this season the Braves have trailed at the half. The good news is six times they came back to win. Playing catch up is not something the squad wants to do against quality competition.

(4W) Dickinson (12-9)
Points Per Game: 76.8
Points Allowed Per Game: 71.1
Record against state tournament teams: 0-7
The Midgets last qualified for the state tournament in 2020. And despite a sixth place finish in the WDA, it has proven it is a top-flight team. The fairly young team posted a pair of wins over Minot High and played other teams strong throughout the season.
Why Dickinson will win the title? The squad is getting contributions from several players and playing better defense right now. Four players average double figures led by junior Boston Cranston (18.6 ppg). He has a knack to get the hoop with his ball handling and quicknesss. Senior Nolan Weidner (14.4) and juniors Dylan Glasser (10.6) and Cameron Wolf (10.2) round out DHS’ top scorers. Another impactful player is sophomore Nathan Stevenson. He is averaging just shy of 10 points, but is one of the top rebounders (7.4 rpg) in the conference. Wolf is also one of the top WDA shot blockers 1.5 bpg).
What may trip them up? Inconsistency. And that is often a sign of a young team. When things are firing on all cylinders the team is tough to handle. If it’s not, can players step up and find ways to overcome challenges and get back in a game?

Photo courtesy of Jon Jablonski