The final tickets have been punched after a fantastic Saturday of State qualifiers, Oakes, New Rockford-Sheyenne, Bishop Ryan, and Westhope/Newburg each qualified to join Midway-Minto, Our Redeemer’s, North Border, and Hankinson to officially fill out the bracket for a chance at the Class B State Title in Minot, at the Minot State Dome.
The following matchups will be in the Quarterfinal round of the Class B Boys State Tournament:
1. #2 Our Redeemers (Knights) D6R3 vs. #7 Oakes (Tornadoes) D1R1
- This matchup features the Region 3, and District 6 Champion, taking on the District 2 Champion and State Qualifier.
- Our Redeemer’s is having a great season at 23-2 and is the only team in the tournament with a District title AND a Region Title. The team is making its second straight trip to state, trying to shake off a first round loss to Bowman County in 2024. Our Redeemers features a couple of returning players from last years run including Jace Weekly, Bryce Vibeto, and Colin Swenson who average about 68 points per game as a team and allowed 42 points per game in a tough District 6.
- Oakes is making their first trip to the State Tournament since 1995, while also having a great season at 22-4, Oakes got a win in the State Qualifiers over Final Class B Poll team Midway-Minto, and features both offensive and defensive talent from Star Sophomore Beau Thorpe, as well as the defensive presence of Roddeck Schmitt, and the towering physical play from Eddie Garza and Jyles Meier. Oakes averages around 57 points per game and allows around 43 points per game.
2. #3 Bishop Ryan (Lions) D6R3 vs. #6 Hankinson (Pirates) D1R1
- This matchup will feature a State Qualifier versus the Region 1 Champion.
- Bishop Ryan fell short of both a District 6 title and a Region 3 title, trying to get an edge over Our Redeemers who is #2 in this tournament, defeating Garrison in the state qualifiers. Despite being in the loaded District 6, Bishop Ryan enters the tournament for a second straight year at 22-3, trying to improve off a Semifinal round exit last year to North Star. Returning for this years tournament will be Jett Lundeen, Boden Erck, and the towering 6’7″ Ramsey Walz. Bishop Ryan as a team averages 67 points per game while allowing 43 points per game.
- Hankinson fell short of a District 1 title against fellow state tournament team Oakes, but would exact their revenge getting the Region 1 title earning an automatic spot in the playoff. Hankinson enters the tournament as a Dark Horse putting together a 21-4 record, with 2 of their losses being to higher Classification teams including Class A’s Wahpeton, and Class AA’s Fargo Davies, with the other two being to Oakes. Hankinson features a special player in Junior Guard Raeshawn Earl who can do it all on both sides of the court, as well as Parker Falk, and Mason Mauch. Hankinson as a team averages 67 points per game, and allows around 49 points per game.
3. #1 Midway-Minto (Miners) D8R4 vs. #8 New Rockford-Sheyenne (Rockets) D4R2
- This matchup will feature the Region 4 Champion as well as the #1 Team in the state according to the Final Class B Poll versus a State Qualifier who is also District 4’s Champion.
- Midway-Minto has rolled through the ’24-’25 season only losing 1 game in the District 8 Title Game to Central McLean, Wilton Wing would get their revenge and defeat them in the following Region 4 Title game. Midway-Minto was the States number 1 team all but 1 week right at the start of the season, and features a trio of players who have lead the Miners to the top spot in the tournament William Bergquist, Hunter Wolff, and Teigen Earsley. Wilton-Wing as a team averages around 74 points per game, the tournaments high, while allowing, 54 points per game.
- New Rockford-Sheyenne is coming off a good season where they finished 22-4, and were crowned District 4’s Champion but ran into North Border the #4 team in this tournament in the Region 2 Title Game. New Rockford-Sheyenne survived a 3 point shootout with Lamoure-LM to advance to the tournament. New Rockford-Sheyenne features the same 4 superstars that brought its 9-man football team a State Championship, Easton Simon, Easton Benz, Bennet Meier, and Kage Wolford and enter the tournament averaging 65 points per game, and allowing 53 points per game.
4. #4 North Border (Eagles) D3R2 vs. #5 Westhope/Newburg (Sioux) D6R3
- This Matchup will feature the Region 2 Champion vs a State Qualifier team.
- North Border enters the tournament off a underwhelming, underrated season, having the same record as #1 Wilton Wing at 24-1, the only blemish on the season for the Eagles was an early round loss in the District Tournament, but would gain the momentum back, defeating fellow tourney team #8 New Rockford-Sheyenne in the Region Title. North Border enters as a team averaging 62 points per game, and allowing around 48 points per game, featuring the Senior Guard Grant Cosley, Brody Berg, and Garret Willits.
- The defending Class B Champs Westhope/Newburg enter the tournament looking for a repeat, but took a different path to get here. In a loaded District 6, Westhope/Newburg kept pace with both Our Redeemors and Bishop Ryan, but could not gain an edge in the District, or Region tournaments. Westhope/Newburg defeated Central McLean who was a thorn in the side of Wilton Wing in the playoffs portion of the season 60-36, and feature superstar guard, and future NDSU Bison Walker Braaten, as well as Will Artz, and Treyton Lesmann. Westhope/Newburg can also score the basketball averaging the second highest points per game in the tournament at 73 points, with a defense that averages allowing 49 points per game.
Our coverage of Class B State tournament begins on Thursday (March 20th), will all 12 games being broadcasted on KSJB 100.1 FM, and 600 AM beginning at 12:40 p.m.
You can catch all the results, analysis, and schedules on our website ksjbam.com, and check out our full preview video on the KSJB Youtube Channel!
Photo Credit: NDHSAA
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