The final Division A boys’ basketball poll happens to be one of the most interesting in weeks.
Four Winds/Minnewaukan has been ranked No. 1 since Jan. 21. It had been unanimous since Jan. 28.
The Indians are still No. 1 going into the postseason, but it’s no longer unanimous.
FW/M had its 17-game winning streak stopped last Friday. The Indians lost 51-48 to Hillsboro/Central Valley, quietly one of the better teams in Region 2 this season. FW/M almost climbed out of a 16-5 first-quarter hole but fell just short.
The Indians went on to conclude their regular season with an 81-62 win over Turtle Mountain. They’ll go into the playoffs with a 19-2 overall record. And they’ll still be the No. 1 seed in the Region 2 tournament with a 12-2 region record.
But the loss to H/CV (13-8, No. 3 seed in Region 2) made some voters change their minds on who the best team is in Division A boys’ basketball. In the latest poll voted on by the NDAPSSA, the Indians were ranked No. 1 with 49 points and six out of 11 first-place votes.
No. 2 Beulah received 46 points and four first-place votes.
Devils Lake also received a first-place vote for the first time since early in the season.
Beulah is 19-2 — with the only losses coming to Devils Lake and FW/M. Beulah has won 16 in a row since that brief two-game skid.
Devils Lake has gotten it together with four consecutive wins after a rocky middle of the season.
The Firebirds are ranked No. 3 in Division A despite only being the No. 4 seed in the upcoming region tournament.
In the final two spots of the top five, Wahpeton and Central Cass switched spots, with the Huskies overtaking the Squirrels for No. 4. Wahpeton is only five points behind Devils Lake in the ranking.
Central Cass lost two of its last three games of the regular season — to Devils Lake and Oak Grove.
Kindred and Oak Grove also received votes. That makes four teams from Region 1 in the mix.
Oak Grove actually ended up as a higher seed in the region than Wahpeton.
H/CV also received votes after its win over FW/M. The Burros have lost some close games to good teams this season — they took Kindred to overtime, and they lost twice to Devils Lake, by margins of eight and one.
Five teams, in total, received votes outside of the top five.
The division is as wide open as it’s been all season — in perfect time for the region tournaments.
Central McLean remained unanimous in the final Division B poll.
The B teams recently wrapped up their district tournaments. Langdon Area/Munich, St. John, Nelson County and North Star are still alive in District 4. No local teams are ranked or receiving votes.
Division A boys’ basketball
- Four Winds/Minnewaukan (6) – 49 points (Previous: 1)
- Beulah (4) – 46 points (Previous: 2)
- Devils Lake (1) – 25 points (Previous: 3)
- Wahpeton – 20 points (Previous: 5)
- Central Cass – 15 points (Previous: 4)
Received votes: Kindred, Dickinson Trinity, Shiloh Christian, Hillsboro/Central Valley, Oak Grove
Division B boys’ basketball
- Central McLean (11) – 55 points (Previous: 1)
- Our Redeemer’s – 41 points (Previous: 2)
- Ray – 36 points (Previous: 3)
- Oakes – 21 points (Previous: NR)
- Hankinson – 8 points (Previous: 4)
Received votes: Midway/Minto, Bowman County, Wilton/Wing
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