Devils Lake ranked No. 2 in first boys’ basketball poll

Just like the girls, who kicked off their season Monday night, Devils Lake boys’ basketball is ranked No. 2 in the NDAPSSA preseason poll.

The Class A poll, released Monday, put the Firebirds only behind Kindred, the team they beat in the state championship back in March. Kindred received 14 first-place votes, while Devils Lake received the remaining three.

The ranking is rounded out by Shiloh Christian, Devils Lake’s region foe Grafton and Wahpeton.

Four Winds/Minnewaukan was one of four additional teams to receive votes. The Indians lost their Mr. Basketball, Deng Deng, along with Dalen Leftbear. They were consistently in the top five last year before eventually losing to Devils Lake and Grafton in the region tournament.

In the preseason Class B boys’ poll, New Rockford-Sheyenne came in at No. 9. The defending champion, Westhope/Newburg, is No. 1. North Star, last year’s runner-up, also received votes despite losing most of its core players.

Over in the girls’ Class A poll, the Firebirds remained No. 2 ahead of Monday’s game, which they won 64-50 over Turtle Mountain. FW/M, 1-1 to start the year, also received votes in the girls’ poll.

Benson County remained at No. 6 in the Class B girls’ poll after a 4-0 start. The Wildcats received one first-place vote. Langdon Area/Munich fell from No. 7 to out of the top 10 after a 53-52 loss to Edgeley/Kulm/Montpelier.

The full polls are listed below.

Class A boys’ basketball

1. Kindred (14) – 82 points
2. Devils Lake (3) – 67 points
3. Shiloh Christian – 42 points
4. Grafton – 32 points
5. Wahpeton – 13 points

Received votes: Killdeer, Four Winds/Minnewaukan, Des Lacs-Burlington, Stanley

Class A girls’ basketball

1. South Prairie-Max (17) – 97 points (Previous: 1)
2. Devils Lake (3) – 79 points (Previous: 2)
3. Shiloh Christian – 46 points (Previous: 4)
4. Thompson – 43 points (Previous: 3)
5. Kindred – 17 points (Previous: NR)

Received votes: Bottineau, Valley City, Wahpeton, Four Winds/Minnewaukan

Class B boys’ basketball

1. Westhope/Newburg (15) – 166 points
2. Bishop Ryan (2) – 146 points
3. North Border – 101 points
4. Wilton-Wing – 101 points
5. Edgeley/Kulm/Montpelier – 91 points
6. Hankinson – 64 points
7. Our Redeemer’s – 62 points
8. Bowman County – 54 points
9. New Rockford-Sheyenne – 47 points
10. Linton/HMB – 24 points

Received votes: North Star, LaMoure-Litchville/Marion, Sargent County, Glen Ullin/Hebron, Midway/Minto, Velva, Garrison, Maple River, Central McLean

Class B girls’ basketball

• Central McLean (15) – 193 points (Previous: 1)
• Bowman County (4) – 173 points (Previous: 2)
• Maple River – 142 points (Previous: 4)
• Sargent County – 128 points (Previous: 5)
• Kenmare/Bowbells – 120 points (Previous: 3)
• Benson County (1) – 116 points (Previous: 6)
• LaMoure-Litchville/Marion – 59 points (Previous: 8)
• Grant County/Mott/Regent – 49 points (Previous: 10)
• Edgeley/Kulm/Montpelier – 44 points (Previous: NR)
• Tioga – 35 points (Previous: 9)

Received votes: Hatton/Northwood, Langdon Area/Munich, Garrison, TGU