Well all the districts are done and the region play-in game complete with the regional tournaments starting on Monday. Here is my quick take on all the regions.
Region 1 -
Northern Cass is my favorite to win this region but would look for Oak Grove to push them in the championship game. Central Cass is also right in the running in this region but will have to play well to get past OG in the semi. CC does have a tie with Thompson early in the year and has played OG tough in two matches this year. Any one of these three teams would have a shot to be seeded in the state tournament and would be in the mix in a fairly wide open state tournament.
Region 2
Thompson is the head and shoulders favorite in this region. Only one loss on the year (to Langdon) and one tie (to CC). They have also beaten Langdon twice, once in a regular season match and once in the Langdon tournament. There would have been my favorite going into the season and I would still rate them as the favorite. MPCG and PRFL would be the teams that could possibly challenge in this region but there is a big gap between Thompson and the rest of the region IMO.
Region 3
Once again a very competitive region with up to 5 teams that could possibly compete for the region title. I would have said Carrington was the favorite but Oakes may have changed my mind in the district tournament. I will still pick Carrington but Oakes, Napoleon-GS, Linton-HMB and LaMoure will all be competitive in the regional tournament. The Lamoure-Linton HMB game will be a good one in the first round.
Region 4
This region is all Langdon once again. Would be a huge upset if Langdon does't walk. Langdon should also be one of the teams to beat at state. They have 3 losses on the year, twice to Thompson and once to Northern Cass. They have also beaten both Thompson and NC. Could this be their year?
Region 5
This region has come down to Center-Stanton and Shiloh the last few years. This year is no different. C-S has beaten Shiloh twice this year but the regular season match was a 5 setter. Shiloh is currently riding a 15 match win streak.
Region 6
Our Redeemer has dominated this region over the last few years. Rugby once again has a great record (31-2) coming in to the regional tournament but typically doesn't play the strongest schedule. DLB is obviously in contention with a big win over OR in the district 12 tournament setting up a potential OR-Rugby semi in the regional. I think the regional final will be a rematch of the district 12 final in a pick-em.
Region 7
Dickinson Trinity is a pretty solid favorite here IMO. They haven't dropped a set in region play and their only losses on the year have come at the hands of Langdon (2) Central Cass and Billings Central (MT). They should be a seeded team in the state tournament and are one of the teams that could win it all.
Region 8
This region should be a 3 team race between Stanley, Kenmare, and Ray. Stanley is coming off a win in the district 16 tournament, beating both Ray and Kenmare in 5 set matches along the way. One of these three should emerge to make it to state but would not look at them making much noise whomever gets to Minot.