Joran Lohnes backpedals while watching the ball during Four Winds/Minnewaukan’s win over Carrington on Thursday. (Photo by Mojo Hill)
MINNEWAUKAN — The Four Winds/Minnewaukan boys’ basketball team is putting together a stretch of success reminiscent of its Class B days.
At 14 consecutive wins after Thursday’s 60-30 victory over Carrington, the Indians have their longest winning streak since the 2022-23 season, when they won 18 in a row. They’re the unanimous No. 1-ranked team in Division A.
FW/M’s first two years in Division A went well enough: a 33-15 combined record between the two seasons. But, after seven Class B state appearances over the previous 11 years, a Division A state appearance eluded the Indians.
So, what’s been the difference for this year’s team?
“It truly is a team,” head coach Rick Smith said. “When certain guys aren’t stepping up, certain guys are chipping in. And that’s how you become a good team, is when you get the production from not only the starting five, but your next three guys.”
It almost seems like ancient history, but the season started with some of the same inconsistencies that held the Indians back over the last two years. Part of it was due to injuries. Key players were in and out of the lineup. But FW/M lost 76-56 to Wahpeton in the second game of the season. Smith later remarked that it was like they’d hardly gotten off the bus.
“After that Wahpeton loss, we knew we had to go harder,” junior guard Joran Lohnes said. “Whether it was in practice, games, anything. We just knew we had to get after it.”
The Indians grinded out a 55-52 win over then-No. 2 Beulah in Minot, just before the new year.
The Indians are still yet to lose in 2026. They beat ranked teams in Central Cass, Kindred and Devils Lake — the first two in thrillers, the third in more handily fashion.
They just swept a six-game stretch of region games worth 11 points in the standings. They’re now 12-0 in region play, and 15-1 overall after winning 14 straight.
Much could be said — and has been said — about the improvements each member of FW/M’s starting five has made. Marial Deng has blossomed into a full-blown superstar, averaging nearly 20 points while affecting the game in other ways with his length and size. Jonte Delorme has found consistency, roughly doubling last year’s points per game. He’s settled into a good offensive player, both inside and outside. Sonny Alberts has found more consistency, too, having only gotten stronger as a sophomore. Dayson Dubois and Tyler Black Jr. have played their roles well — Dubois with his passing and controlling the floor, Black Jr. with his physicality near the rim.
Not only is it a strong starting five, but it’s a versatile starting five. Each of those players has a distinctive skill set, whether Delorme is knocking down threes or Alberts is getting over guards with his jump-hook.
But it’s the players off the bench who have helped take this team to the next level.
“If Marial’s not going, or Jonte’s not going, or somebody else is not going, we’ve got guys that are picking them up,” Smith said. “And that’s key. That’s key when you can do that. We’re not relying on five guys that start the game. We’re relying on eight. And usually, everybody’s been chipping in all year long.”
Lohnes is the sixth man. Smith has repeatedly said he could be starting, but in his current role, Lohnes provides height, athleticism and shooting prowess off the bench. He’s averaging around 11 points per game.
His buckets and defense provided FW/M with a jolt Thursday during the win over Carrington.
“I usually just try to pick it up whenever things ain’t going our way,” Lohnes said. “I try to bring a spark however I can, whether it’s grabbing a rebound, scoring points, passing the ball, getting Marial the ball, getting our guys the ball.”
Lohnes, over the years, has often impressed with his three-point shooting.
Lately, he’s been taking it to the rim more often.
“Last year, I was one of the best three-point shooters. I think I was like 41%,” Lohnes said. “This year just hasn’t been that way for me. So I kind of started getting my shots inside.”
However he’s scoring, he’s found a way to bring value off the bench.
Dion Jackson Jr., meanwhile, has shown a penchant for three-pointers. He hit three on Thursday. He was the Indians’ third-leading scorer in the win.
Wambli Yankton is relatively less experienced, but he’s starting to get some good minutes on the defensive end. Smith praised his effort on Thursday.
Outside of Alberts, a sophomore, the core eight are all juniors or seniors.
“These guys, we’ve been playing with each other for seven, eight years,” Lohnes said. “These guys are my brothers. These guys are my family.”
The Indians’ bench went deeper last year in terms of pure numbers, but the main rotation this year is playing together better than it ever has.
And they’re having a lot of fun right now.
“It’s good vibes,” Delorme said after the Indians’ second win over Devils Lake this season. “Just focus on the next, game after game. … We know the end goal is to go win a state title.”
