Welcome to our 2020-21 Class B boys season preview series. Every other day a Region preview will be published at nodakbasketballhub.com. You can also find all the previews including the girls’ previews under the 2020-21 Season Links tab on the home page of our website. After we preview all eight regions, we’ll drop our Top 10 Preseason Power Rankings. 

Click here to find all the Region previews.

Also, here’s the schedule for the upcoming boys previews:

Shiloh Christian has been the juggernaut in Region 5 for the last three seasons. But teams like New Salem, Wilton-Wing, Garrison and more bring back the talent to compete for a Region 5 title.

District 9

6. Solen

2019-20 record: 3-16

Solen will have to improve defensively this season if they want to be competitive in District 9. Last season, the Sioux allowed 70 points or more 11 times in 19 games. Solen returns one senior in Dontae Carry Moccasin along with three juniors in Cameron Red Bear, Lamont Follet and Andrew Iron Road. Second-year head coach Aaron Jordan will have to get some big minutes out of sophomores Caleb Lester and Hayden Carry Moccasin but it all has to start on the defensive end for Solen this season.

5. Grant County

2019-20 record: 1-20

Grant County returns six seniors from last year’s squad that finished 1-20. The Coyotes also have a lot of depth with four returning sophomores along with three freshmen. Senior Ethan Hoffman returns as Grant County’s best 3-point shooter and averaged 10 points and 4.1 rebounds per game as a junior. Watch for two other senior student-athletes in Jon Bogert (9.1 ppg, 6.1 rpg) and Avery Roth (6.1 ppg, 6.1 rpg) to take a step forward in 2020-21 to help the Coyotes as well.

4. Flasher

2019-20 record: 16-8

Flasher will be in a transition year this upcoming season as six seniors graduated from its 2019-20 roster. The Bulldogs return 6-foot-3 junior Jace Friesz, who averaged 12.5 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game in 2019-20 and will look to grow into a leadership role for Brian Nieuwsma’s squad. Flasher will be able to create some competition for its starting lineup with 11 student-athletes listed on its varsity roster. Senior Logan Schmidt averaged 10.1 points and 4.5 rebounds per game for the Bulldogs’ junior varsity team, while junior Braxton Hatzenbuhler added 12.5 points and 5.5 rebounds. There’s some unknowns with Flasher this season but they do have talent with a solid mix of upperclassmen and youth.

3. Standing Rock

2019-20 record: 7-17

Standing Rock returns two seniors in Xander Vetter and Dane Abbey that earned All-District and All-Region honors. Vetter averaged 14 points per game last season and Abbey added 12. Sophomore John Luger gave the Warriors some good stuff in 2019-20 and averaged eight points per contest. Watch for his game to take a step forward this season. Junior Boyd Whitetwinn is also a solid player for Lee Vetter’s squad. The Warriors will need to work on their defense if they want to win double-digit games this season. They allowed 70 points or more 10 times in 2019-20.

2. New Salem-Almont

2019-20 record: 17-8

New Salem-Almont returns a good chunk of its scoring from 2019-20 that includes two double-digit scorers. Senior Logan Becker and junior Weston Kuhn (All-Region) give the Holsteins a strong one-two punch in the post. Becker averaged 10.1 points per game and 5.1 rebounds last season, while Kuhn added 11.1 points and 9.5 rebounds. NS-A also welcomes back two starters in senior Jayden Selzler (5.1 ppg, 2.5 rpg) and junior Dylan Rud (7.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg). Both student-athletes see the floor well and combined for 109 assists last year. The Holsteins will be a top team in District 9 but will need to get contributions out of players like seniors Caleb Feland and Carter Davis along with junior Rylen Soupir that spent time at the junior varsity level last season.

1. Shiloh Christian

2019-20 record: 18-6

Shiloh Christian graduated eight seniors that went to three straight state tournaments, however, the Skyhawks return two student-athletes in senior Luke Wanzek (6-foot-2) and junior Carter Englund (6-foot-6) that saw a lot of varsity minutes in 2019-20. Both players have good size and will lead Shiloh Christian offensively in 2020-21. Englund averaged 8.1 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game as a sophomore, while Wanzek added 6.1 points and 2.1 rebounds. With four senior letter winners and seven returning juniors along with four sophomores, there’ll be a lot of competition for playing time. The Skyhawks have the depth and a handful of student-athletes that had solid junior varsity seasons, so don’t be surprised if this team makes it four straight trips to the state tournament but it won’t be easy.

District 10

6. Center-Stanton

2019-20 record: 4-15

Center-Stanton returns six players that saw varsity action in 2019-20 along with a big freshmen class. Junior Jayden Hall returns as the Wildcats leading scorer and averaged 9.1 points per game as a sophomore. Senior Peyton Hall (5.1 ppg, 3.1 rpg) returns as C-S’s best outside threat and 6-foot-1 sophomore Cole Nagel gives his team a strong post presence (6.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg). The Wildcats will also look to 6-foot-3 senior Tristian Jacobson (3.1 ppg, 3.1 rpg) to make plays in the middle and junior Derin Sailer (5.1 ppg, 2.1 rpg) is a good defender and 3-pointer shooter. First-year head coach Brian Alderin has an experienced crew and some young underclassmen that played a little bit of varsity last season, so the Wildcats should see improvement this season.

5. Max

2019-20 record: 4-18

Max returns eight student-athletes that saw varsity action in 2019-20. Senior Trent Boedicker will lead the Cossacks offensively and averaged 11.1 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game last season. Senior Gage Yellowbird (5.1 ppg, 6.2 rpg) and junior Ashton Yellowbird (8.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg) will be called on to step up their play as well. Max also has a trio of sophomores this season in Erick Talbott, Trey Boedicker and Matthew Talbott that will see increased minutes. The Cossacks need to limit turnovers and get more scoring out of student-athletes outside of Trent Boedicker and Ashton Yellowbird to have success this season.

4. Washburn

2019-20 record: 13-10

Washburn is coming off a 2019-20 District 10 championship and brings back 10 letter winners that includes All-Region player in senior Karter Hansen. Hansen is a talented scorer and rebounder but needs to improve his 3-point shot, which will just add another strength to his game. The Cardinals will also lean on seniors Devin Sailer and Hunter Klindworth this season, who are both athletic student-athletes. Sailer can stretch the floor with his size and Klindworth is one of Washburn’s best defender. The Cardinals will have the depth to compete with the top teams in District 10 as their three underclassmen should see varsity minutes in 2020-21.

3. Central McLean

Central McLean enters the 2020-21 season in the first year of its co-op and brings a balanced attack to the table. The Cougars have five student-athletes that averaged eight points per game or more last season that includes two double-digit scorers in senior AJ Ketterling (14.1 ppg) and junior Matthew Wahl (12.1 ppg). Senior Gunner Jacobs averaged 9.5 points per game as a junior and will be one of the top 3-point threats for the Cougars this year. Senior Coltyn O’Shea (9.1 ppg) and junior Julius Anderson (8.5 ppg) are two strong guards that have the ability to knock down big shots and make an impact defensively. It may take some time for everyone to figure out their roles once the season begins but with nine upperclassmen on its roster, Alex Jangula and his squad should be primed for a solid season.

2. Garrison

2019-20 record: 11-12

It was an odd season for Garrison in 2019-20. Head coach Justin Folk used 19 different starting lineups last season due to the injury and illness bug. Standout senior Jack Bright (11.5 ppg, 8.1 rpg) only played in seven games and the Troopers played last year’s District 10 title game without three starters. Sophomore Connor Kerzmann stepped up in a big way last season as a freshman and averaged 13.1 points and 4.1 rebounds per contest. He also knocked down 42 3-pointers and earned All-District honors. Garrison returns seven seniors and with a healthy roster, this squad has the talent to get back to the District 10 title game.

1. Wilton-Wing

2019-20 record: 7-15

Wilton-Wing returns four starters from its 2019-20 lineup along with 11 letter winners. Senior Sutton Berg returns as the Miners leading scorer and averaged 14.1 points and 6.9 rebounds per game last season. Berg along with senior Tucker Schiele (9.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg) and sophomore Trey Koski (9.1 ppg, 6.7 rpg) earned All-District honors last season. Junior Landyn Miller (9.7 ppg, 7.2 rpg) is the final W-W student-athlete that averaged nine points per game or more last year and is one of the teams better players at finishing at the rim. As long as the Miners can be more efficient offensively, they have the talent and the defensive ability to compete and win a District 10 title and maybe even a Region 5 championship.