North Dakota Preps

1ST POLL
December 15th, 2014

1. Rugby (7) 0-0 114
2. Oak Grove (1) 0-1 83
3. Shiloh Christian 1-0 73
4. North Star (2) 0-0 68
5. Cavalier 0-0 67
5. Four Winds-Minnewaukan (2) 1-0 67
7. New England 0-0 59
8. Central Cass 1-0 23
9. New Town 1-0 22
10. Beulah 0-0 19
Others Receiving Votes: LaMoure-LM (0-0), Our Redeemer's (1-0), Griggs County Central (1-0), Hillsboro-Central Valley (0-0), Dickinson Trinity (0-1), May-Port-CG (0-0), Larimore (0-0), Linton-HMB (1-1), Hettinger-Scranton (2-0), Hatton-Northwood (0-0), Hazen (2-0).

6 Region 2 teams

With the injuries, North Star just can't be considered a top 10 team can they?

4mrnative wrote:With the injuries, North Star just can't be considered a top 10 team can they?

That was my thought, too, but early polls really don't mean much. I was especially surprised that they received two first place votes. I think some voters probably don't even know that they have players out with injury. I'm surprised FW-M was as low as they were with two first place votes. Some voters must have them pretty low.

ndlionsfan wrote:

4mrnative wrote:With the injuries, North Star just can't be considered a top 10 team can they?

That was my thought, too, but early polls really don't mean much. I was especially surprised that they received two first place votes. I think some voters probably don't even know that they have players out with injury. I'm surprised FW-M was as low as they were with two first place votes. Some voters must have them pretty low.

IDK, maybe they still can be I don't see many losses on their schedule I see them in another Region Championship maybe they are ranked a little high but they are still going to be good. I think 4 winds will climb.

STATE POLL #2
December 22nd, 2014

1. Rugby (9) 4-0 116
2. Oak Grove 2-1 91
3. Four Winds-Minnewaukan (3) 3-0 81
4. Cavalier 3-0 78
5. North Star 2-0 74
6. Shiloh Christian 2-0 71
7. Central Cass 3-0 44
8. New Town 4-0 30
9. Dickinson Trinity 3-1 21
10. Our Redeemer's 4-0 16
Others Receiving Votes: Berthold (3-0), Hettinger-Scranton (5-0), New England (2-1), Grafton (1-1), Hillsboro-Central Valley (2-0), Hazen (4-0), Beulah (0-1).

STATE POLL #3
December 29th, 2014

1. Four Winds-Minnewaukan (10) 5-0 114
2. Oak Grove (2) 2-1 92
3. Cavalier 4-0 88
4. Rugby 4-1 77
5. North Star 2-0 59
6. Shiloh Christian 4-0 55
7. Central Cass 3-0 53
8. Beulah 1-1 33
9. New Town 5-0 31
10. Hettinger-Scranton 7-0 21
Others Receiving Votes: Berthold (4-0), Hazen (4-0), Our Redeemer's (4-0), Grafton (3-1), Hillsboro-Central Valley (2-0), New England (2-1).

Where does FW-M fall after losing to a Class A team, on the road, in OT? Ryan hung on to the top spot in girls, but that was to the top ranked team in A.

ndlionsfan wrote:Where does FW-M fall after losing to a Class A team, on the road, in OT? Ryan hung on to the top spot in girls, but that was to the top ranked team in A.

TM has a nice club this year, they have 2 good 6-5 players and a really nice PG. I don't know of to many top B teams playing A teams so hard to compare. Was at the game, hate to say refs were a factor but TM shot 41 FT's, FWM shot 16. FWM had 3 starters foul out in regulation. To me it' hard to give OG the top spot cause their loss was to a MN team that would be a class B team in ND and they were beat soundly.

senditin wrote:

ndlionsfan wrote:Where does FW-M fall after losing to a Class A team, on the road, in OT? Ryan hung on to the top spot in girls, but that was to the top ranked team in A.

TM has a nice club this year, they have 2 good 6-5 players and a really nice PG. I don't know of to many top B teams playing A teams so hard to compare. Was at the game, hate to say refs were a factor but TM shot 41 FT's, FWM shot 16. FWM had 3 starters foul out in regulation. To me it' hard to give OG the top spot cause their loss was to a MN team that would be a class B team in ND and they were beat soundly.

I agree, I don't see any other team that deserves to take the top spot. Not that polls really matter anyway, but FW-M has played the toughest schedule by far at this point of the season. Still have 4 rated teams left to play as well. Their schedule will definitely help them come tournament time.

Before you read this, understand I really do not like Oak Grove.

I really do not understand how Oak Grove has the No. 2 spot. First of all, in the first poll, they lost soundly to a Minnesota team. And they hadn't played any other games at the time. So they got the No. 2 spot with a LOSING record. I realize that it was the first poll and it doesn't matter that much.
But the story a week later is a little different. Oak Grove won their next two games. However, they still got the No. 2 spot. Over seven undefeated teams, five of which had won more games than OG had, including Four Winds/Minnewauken, whose schedule consisted of Carrington, Grafton, and Beulah. That right there is probably one of the toughest, if not the toughest, opening schedule in the state.
So then a week later, you'd think that since OG hadn't played a single game in the two week span, they'd drop below teams like Hettinger-Scranton, that are not only undefeated, but played more games as well? Nope. You'd think Rugby, who suffered its first loss to a decent Beulah squad by 1 point, would still be higher than OG. Again, nope. So I ask you, why do the voters insist that Oak Grove be No. 2?

And before you get mad at me and point it out, I know the polls don't mean anything. But since it's the closest we have to predicting our state champion, why not argue about it? There's not much else to rant about.

I don't mind that ranking for OG, especially after week 1. They lost to Hawley, but Hawley's best player is a D1 caliber guy, easily. That Hawley team also beat a Moorhead team who beat a class A ND team by 37.

senditin wrote:

ndlionsfan wrote:Where does FW-M fall after losing to a Class A team, on the road, in OT? Ryan hung on to the top spot in girls, but that was to the top ranked team in A.

TM has a nice club this year, they have 2 good 6-5 players and a really nice PG. I don't know of to many top B teams playing A teams so hard to compare. Was at the game, hate to say refs were a factor but TM shot 41 FT's, FWM shot 16. FWM had 3 starters foul out in regulation. To me it' hard to give OG the top spot cause their loss was to a MN team that would be a class B team in ND and they were beat soundly.

Refs are ALWAYS a factor in TM. But I hear they're starting to bring refs in from out of town. Which is a good thing.

HammerTime wrote:Before you read this, understand I really do not like Oak Grove.

I really do not understand how Oak Grove has the No. 2 spot. First of all, in the first poll, they lost soundly to a Minnesota team. And they hadn't played any other games at the time. So they got the No. 2 spot with a LOSING record. I realize that it was the first poll and it doesn't matter that much.
But the story a week later is a little different. Oak Grove won their next two games. However, they still got the No. 2 spot. Over seven undefeated teams, five of which had won more games than OG had, including Four Winds/Minnewauken, whose schedule consisted of Carrington, Grafton, and Beulah. That right there is probably one of the toughest, if not the toughest, opening schedule in the state.
So then a week later, you'd think that since OG hadn't played a single game in the two week span, they'd drop below teams like Hettinger-Scranton, that are not only undefeated, but played more games as well? Nope. You'd think Rugby, who suffered its first loss to a decent Beulah squad by 1 point, would still be higher than OG. Again, nope. So I ask you, why do the voters insist that Oak Grove be No. 2?

And before you get mad at me and point it out, I know the polls don't mean anything. But since it's the closest we have to predicting our state champion, why not argue about it? There's not much else to rant about.

They are ranked at number 2 bc they won state lost year and brought back a lot of pieces.

balla45 wrote:I don't mind that ranking for OG, especially after week 1. They lost to Hawley, but Hawley's best player is a D1 caliber guy, easily. That Hawley team also beat a Moorhead team who beat a class A ND team by 37.

Hawley is a solid team with plenty of size. Hawley just beat Moorhead (AAAA) and pushed a tough Stillwater squad (AAAA) who has a lot of size (including a 6'10" D1 center).

Moorhead defeated Bismarck St. Mary's today 73-36.

Hawley might be the most complete team Oak Grove faces on their schedule.

STATE POLL #4
January 5th, 2015

1. Four Winds-Minnewaukan (6) 5-1 115
2. Oak Grove (6) 4-1 113
3. Cavalier (1) 4-0 91
4. Rugby 4-1 87
5. North Star 3-0 84
6. Central Cass 3-0 59
7. Hettinger-Scranton 8-0 55
8. Beulah 2-1 42
9. Shiloh Christian 5-2 23
10. Berthold 5-0 19
Others Receiving Votes: Hillsboro-Central Valley (5-0), Grafton (4-1), New Town (5-1), Hazen (4-0), New England (4-1), Our Redeemer's (6-1).

so Cavalier drops how far?

I don't know I was surprised by how big loss was to ST. John but it looks to me that this year there are very few dominant teams at least in the east. So far the most dominant team I have seen is Four winds and Oak Grove continues to be very dominant. They are just so deep and with Mckay kid they can score on anybody. I expect very few unbeaten teams before this season is done and a lot of teams suffering 4-6 losses before its done. I was to Devils lake tournament and what I have seen is that Northstar, Lakota-Edmore, Larimore, and Dakota Prairie were very competitive balanced could on given night beat each other. Four winds are playing at another level right now and will see tonight if Northstar can up their level of play to play with them. My guess is no without Weston and way Four winds is playing I don't see them winning. Back to Cavalier I guessing they are going to fall to 9 or 10 at best. This year region 2 I believe will be wide open with several teams being able make a run at region.

I agree...good insight btimer haven't gotten to see many teams this year so far so I like hearing whats up....
but every year Class B has a story, this year will be harder to write I believe too...

New Poll will be posted around 7pm

STATE POLL #5
January 12th, 2015

1. Four Winds-Minnewaukan (8) 7-1 121
2. Oak Grove (5) 6-1 115
3. Rugby 5-1 97
4. North Star 5-0 82
5. Central Cass 5-0 69
6. Beulah 3-1 59
7. Berthold 7-0 45
8. Cavalier 6-1 36
9. Hillsboro-Central Valley 7-0 24
10. Hazen 6-0 21
Others Receiving Votes: Hettinger-Scranton (8-1), New Town (8-1), Grafton (5-1), Dunseith (6-2), Ellendale (7-0), Northern Cass (8-1).

I wasn't at the game, but for North Star to stay within 10 of Four Winds seems like a good performance to me. NS has had some games where they haven't looked that great, and hadn't played anyone near the top 10, so I was thinking that being rated #4 might be well higher than we deserved. Maybe not. Two more top 10 teams to play this week. Hopefully we'll still be in the polls next week.

HammerTime wrote:Before you read this, understand I really do not like Oak Grove.

I really do not understand how Oak Grove has the No. 2 spot. First of all, in the first poll, they lost soundly to a Minnesota team. And they hadn't played any other games at the time. So they got the No. 2 spot with a LOSING record. I realize that it was the first poll and it doesn't matter that much.
But the story a week later is a little different. Oak Grove won their next two games. However, they still got the No. 2 spot. Over seven undefeated teams, five of which had won more games than OG had, including Four Winds/Minnewauken, whose schedule consisted of Carrington, Grafton, and Beulah. That right there is probably one of the toughest, if not the toughest, opening schedule in the state.
So then a week later, you'd think that since OG hadn't played a single game in the two week span, they'd drop below teams like Hettinger-Scranton, that are not only undefeated, but played more games as well? Nope. You'd think Rugby, who suffered its first loss to a decent Beulah squad by 1 point, would still be higher than OG. Again, nope. So I ask you, why do the voters insist that Oak Grove be No. 2?

And before you get mad at me and point it out, I know the polls don't mean anything. But since it's the closest we have to predicting our state champion, why not argue about it? There's not much else to rant about.

If voters think OG is the 2nd best team, why would them not playing in 2 weeks make the voters think they were any worse?

HammerTime wrote:Before you read this, understand I really do not like Oak Grove.

Why is it that we can so easly say we do not like a team, they are kids. More than likely if you met those kids on the team, you would like them.

I have heard people say that Refs/Coaches do not like a team for whatever reason, you are taking your dislike out on kids that had nothing to do with why you dislike the school.

This makes my blood boil, have some integrity and maturity.

This last poll tells me it's about 50/50...teams that have earned their recognition on what they've done on the court this year moreso on what they did on the court last year...I think we all agree that there is some points awarded to name recognition, last year performance, returning players, etc...but this should start tipping towards who have earned it this year...IMHO FW has earned it this year...Rugby, OG and NS, though they may be top ten teams, have not earned it based on their play this year