The Benson County girls’ basketball team comes together in a huddle before a game. (Photo by Mojo Hill)
The Division B basketball polls stayed somewhat stagnant for a large portion of this season. But, over the last couple weeks, there have been some shakeups.
In particular, Benson County has fallen from its throne at the top of the girls’ ranking.
The defending state champion Wildcats, who returned their entire starting five, were the preseason No. 1. They held that spot until last Wednesday. After a 15-0 start, they lost 52-50 in a state championship rematch with Kenmare/Bowbells. The loss slid them to No. 2 last week.
In the week since, Benson County fell 55-40 to then-No. 4 LaMoure-Litchville/Marion. In the latest polls released this Wednesday, as voted on by the NDAPSSA, Benson County dropped to No. 4 while L-L/M moved up to No. 2. The Loboes received two first-place votes, with the remaining 15 going to Flasher — which has now held the No. 1 ranking for two consecutive weeks. Flasher has a 19-0 record. For the first time all season, Benson County did not receive any first-place votes.
Central McLean, with a 16-1 record, is No. 3.
The Wildcats got back in the win column Tuesday against New Rockford-Sheyenne. The Rockets matched them in the second half, but the Wildcats still took the contest 52-39. It was their last regular-season district game, securing the No. 1 seed in District 4 with a 7-0 record. Benson County is 16-2 overall with one game left in the regular season.
After dominating the polls most of the season, the Wildcats have hit their first rough patch with the playoffs approaching. Late-season adversity isn’t necessarily new for Benson County; the Wildcats had their undefeated record spoiled in last year’s regular-season finale, then lost to Langdon Area/Munich in the region championship on their way to a state title.
Benson County will be hosting the District 4 tournament this year in Maddock. The games are scheduled for Feb. 13, 14 and 16. The Wildcats won the district championship last year when it was played in Northwood.
On the boys’ side in Division B, New Rockford-Sheyenne has now been unranked for two straight weeks. The Rockets were ranked No. 5 through a 7-1 start, but they’ve gotten off to an 0-2 start in district play. The only team receiving votes from District 4 is North Star. The Bearcats have a 10-game winning streak, as of Wednesday, and are 2-0 in district play.
NR-S and North Star are set to meet Thursday for a key district matchup. The Rockets, despite a 9-3 overall record, are still searching for their first district win. North Star will try to keep rolling and crack the poll for the first time this season.
In Division A, the boys and girls each had one swap in the top five this week. The rankings otherwise stayed the same.
Four Winds/Minnewaukan is still No. 1 on the boys’ side. The Indians have been at the top in three consecutive weeks now, and unanimous for the last two. They’ve won 11 in a row, including three straight region contests to improve to 7-0 in region play.
FW/M has key region games on Thursday (a two-pointer at Grafton) and next Tuesday, Feb. 10 (a one-pointer at Devils Lake).
Central Cass fell from No. 2 to No. 3 after losing 53-50 to Wahpeton. Kindred, previously No. 3, moved up to No. 2.
The Huskies are not ranked, with midseason losses to Kindred, Central Cass and Oak Grove holding them back. They beat FW/M by 20 back in December.
Wahpeton, Grafton and Devils Lake all received votes in the boys’ poll.
The Firebirds have won two in a row to improve to 9-5 overall. They’re 3-3 in region play, with a one-pointer against Hillsboro/Central Valley coming up on Thursday, then another one-pointer against FW/M next Tuesday. Devils Lake still has two-pointers against May-Port-C-G and Thompson left on its schedule.
On the girls’ side, South Prairie-Max unsurprisingly remained the unanimous No. 1 after beating Devils Lake 80-34 on Tuesday. The Royals have won 16 in a row.
Carrington, with an 11-game winning streak, inched up from No. 5 to No. 4. The Cardinals’ most recent win was a 54-47 victory against Devils Lake.
Region foe Thompson remained at No. 2.
Division A boys’ basketball
- Four Winds/Minnewaukan (17) – 85 points (Previous: 1)
- Kindred – 59 points (Previous: 3)
- Central Cass – 36 points (Previous: 2)
- Shiloh Christian – 32 points (Previous: 4)
- Beulah – 24 points (Previous: 5)
Received votes: Wahpeton, Grafton, Devils Lake
Division A girls’ basketball
- South Prairie-Max (17) – 85 points (Previous: 1)
- Thompson – 63 points (Previous: 2)
- Valley City – 47 points (Previous: 3)
- Carrington – 34 points (Previous: 5)
- Hazen – 28 points (Previous: 4)
Received votes: Turtle Mountain
Division B boys’ basketball
- Central McLean (17) – 85 points (Previous: 1)
- Our Redeemer’s – 61 points (Previous: 2)
- Ray – 46 points (Previous: 3)
- Hankinson – 45 points (Previous: 4)
- Bishop Ryan – 8 points (Previous: T5)
Received votes: Midway/Minto, Medina-Pingree/Buchanan, North Star, Oakes
Division B girls’ basketball
- Flasher (15) – 83 points (Previous: 1)
- LaMoure-Litchville/Marion (2) – 62 points (Previous: 4)
- Central McLean – 51 points (Previous: 3)
- Benson County – 33 points (Previous: 2)
- Hatton/Northwood – 16 points (Previous: 5)
Received votes: Tioga, Kenmare/Bowbells, Glenburn
