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:

This season, Region 6 features two strong squads in Rugby and Our Redeemer’s. But what other District 11 and 12 teams could make some noise in 2020-21? Let’s dive into the Region 6 season preview.

District 11

7. Westhope-Newburg

2019-20 record: 2-19

Westhope-Newburg returns 10 letter winners that include two solid scorers in senior Wyatt Lemay and eighth-grader Walker Braaten. Lemay is the leader of the pack and averaged 13.1 points per game in 2019-20 and 8.1 rebounds, while Braaten added 7.6 points and 2.9 rebounds. Braaten also led the Sioux with 26 3-pointers. Senior Andrew Dunham (4.4 ppg, 4.4 rpg) and junior Anthony Tabarez (5.1 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.6 apg) also return for W-N and have some strong scoring and passing abilities. The Sioux should see improvement from their 2-19 record last year.

6. Nedrose

2019-20 record: 13-12 

Nedrose returns eight student-athletes from its 2019-20 roster that includes five seniors. Senior Jethro Lauron returns as the Cardinals leading scorer and averaged 10.5 points, 3.5 assists, 3.3 steals and 2.1 rebounds per game last season. Matt Norby’s squad plays pretty sound defense but will need to find some scoring outside of Lauron and senior Kelly Eggen (5.7 ppg, 3.7 rpg).

5. Bottineau

2019-20 record: 5-17

Bottineau returns a lot of experience from last season after losing just one senior. The Stars bring back two strong shooters in seniors Jaden McCloud and Milan Davis. McCloud averaged 14.1 points per game in 2019-20 along with 3.7 assists and 3.1 rebounds, while Davis added 13.3 points, 5.1 assists and 4.7 rebounds. Bottineau also brings back some height in 6-foot-4 junior Kaleb Wintermute (6.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg) and 6-foot-1 junior Nate Olson (5.7 ppg, 5.5 rpg). The Stars will need to get play from its bench but they do have a freshmen class that features some playmaking potential.

4. TGU

2019-20 record: 9-13

TGU returns one of the top scorers in Region 6 with Cy Luna back for his senior season. The 5-foot-10 guard averaged 18.3 points per game in 2019-20, 5.5 rebounds, 2.2 steals, 2.1 assists and knocked down 48 3-pointers. The Titans return one more senior in Cody Frounfelter (6.3 ppg, 6.5 rpg) but the bulk of their roster is made up of eight juniors. Byrce Latendresse leads TGU’s junior class and averaged 7.1 and 3.9 rebounds per contest last season. The Titans bring back a lot of experience but will need to find some bench scoring.

3. Velva

2019-20 record: 15-7

Velva prides itself on its defense and held opponents to 44.8 points per game last season, which ranked near the top of Class B teams. The Aggies return seven student-athletes that averaged three points per game or more in 2019-20. Senior Adam Schepp and junior Kaden Chadwick return as double-digit scorers and combined for 23 points per game last season and 16.7 rebounds. Senior Jersey Selzler returns as Velva’s top 3-point threat and senior Gage Florence is one of the better passers in Region 6. Florence averaged 5.5 assists in 2019-20 and will be one of the leaders for Velva this year. Seniors Hunter Suckut and Tace Pedersen had solid junior seasons but need to continue to improve on both ends of the floor. The Aggies have the depth, upperclassmen leadership and the defensive ability to be successful in 2020-21 but they’ll also have to see improvement on the offensive end.

2. Drake-Anamoose

2019-20 record: 18-7

Drake-Anamoose returns four double-digit scorers from its 2019-20 team that won 18 games and earned a third-place finish in the Region 6 tournament. Senior Hunter Fletschock is one of the top scorers in Region 6 and is coming off a junior season where he averaged 15.8 points per game and 5.4 rebounds. Senior Payton Martin along with Fletschock were All-Region players last season. Martin added 14.8 points per contest, 8.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 3.1 steals last year and is a strong scorer and passer, while seniors Joshua Marquart (11.3 ppg, 8.2 rpg) and Jaylee Brandt (10.4 ppg, 5.5 rpg) both have the potential and talent to be All-District players. The Raiders have a solid core group of student-athletes along with a bench that has varsity experience, which will help them in their quest for a District 11 title.

1. Rugby

2019-20 record: 22-2

Rugby returns a trio of talented seniors but will need to find some student-athletes to fill in holes left by its 2019-20 seniors. The Panthers are set to be one of the taller teams in Class B as they have nine student-athletes that are 6-foot-1 or taller. Seniors Isaiah Bundy-Smith (8.5 ppg, 6.3 rpg) and Warren Walker (8.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg) return as Rugby’s top shooters and are both strong passers. The two upperclassmen combined for 158 assists and 43 3-pointers last season. Senior Cole Slaubaugh returns as Rugby’s post player and averaged 8.5 points per game as a junior and 4.8 rebounds. Slaubaugh will have an increased role this season, so look for him to have a big season for the Panthers. Rugby will also have Glenburn transfer Trey Welstad on its roster this season. Welstad averaged 17.1 points per game and 4.2 rebounds last season and is a very special player with a tremendous set of offensive skills. With three talented seniors, the addition of Welstad and a group of players that are willing to work for Mike Santjer, the Panthers are primed for another good season.

District 12

8. South Prairie

2019-20 record: 12-10

The 2019-20 season was one of the best seasons in program history for South Prairie as its 12 wins were a program record. Since the 2015-16 season, the Royals had won nine total wins but surpassed 10 wins last season and won a District 12 tournament game over Des Lacs-Burlington. Jordan Cooper’s squad did lose six seniors but return 13 upperclassmen for the 2020-21 season. Senior Micah Bagwell (6 ppg, 2 rpg) and Cooper Bohl (5 ppg, 5 rpg) return as the Royals’ top scorers, while senior Seth Roedocker will also look to be more of an offensive threat this season. With a large upperclassmen class, a lot of student-athletes will be competing for varsity minutes, which will give the Royals some strong depth.

7. Surrey

2019-20 record: 9-12

Surrey returns seven upperclassmen that feature five juniors in Randall Polum, Dalton Engg, Dalen Engg, Jagger Dickman and Kekoa Munos. The Mustangs also welcome back two sophomores in Jesse Dalb and Ayden Amundson. Head coach Robyn Vollmer enters her second year at the helm for Surrey and will look to build off a strong first season.

6. Glenburn

2019-20 record: 12-10

Glenburn will be paced by seniors Jalyn Derr and Blaine Stevens this season. Derr averaged 8.1 points per game, 5.1 assists and 3.5 steals, while Stevens added 8.4 points and 4.3 rebounds. Both student-athletes combined for 52 3-pointers in 2019-20 and will have to continue to improve offensively this season. Stevens was asked to be more of a post player in 2019-20, so another offseason should’ve helped him get more comfortable at that position. The Panthers return five other student-athletes that saw varsity action last season that includes senior Elijah Kelly (0.2 ppg, 2.2 rpg), Trevaughn Atchley (0.7 ppg, 2.8 rpg), Preston Peters (1.1 ppg, 2.4 rpg), Luke Anderson (2.1 ppg, 1.4 rpg) and Lukas Cunningham. If Glenburn can get increased production out of them along with junior Dylan McDonald, the Panthers should be able to compete night in and night out in District 12.

5. Lewis & Clark-Berthold

2019-20 record: 13-10

Lewis & Clark-Berthold returns 10 letter winners from its 2019-20 roster that includes 6-foot-3 senior Walker Wold, who is a top forward in Region 6. Wold is coming off a junior season campaign where he averaged 23.1 points per game and 9.2 rebounds. Wold along with junior Patrick Simons (6.5 ppg, 3.6 apg, 3.6 rpg) are the Bombers 3-point threats as they combined for 86 last season. Simons and junior teammate Huntyrr Anderson are L & C-B’s top passers and combined for 164 total assists in 2019-20. Both student-athletes are strong defenders, which is what the Bombers pride themselves on. Another scoring threat for Chris Brown’s squad is senior Seth Fjeldahl (5.9 ppg, 6.1 rpg), who is one of the better players on the roster at finishing at the rim. He’s also the team’s best defender. The Bombers will need to get some more positive production out of senior Orin Mollerud (2.4 ppg, 2.3 rpg) and junior Jacob Gunderson (2.4 ppg, 1.5 rpg) but L & C-B has the defensive skills to hold some of the top Region 6 teams to well below their season averages and a go-to scorer in Wold.

4. Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood

2019-20 record: 10-12

Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood returns 10 letter winners that include seven student-athletes that averaged two points or more last season. The Mavericks will be paced by senior Lucas Undlin, who averaged 11.8 points per game and 4.1 rebounds as a junior. The Mavericks do bring back some height with senior Ryan Feland (6-foot-3) and juniors Jacob Undlin (6-foot-3) and Tyler Woloson (6-foot-2). Feland averaged 5.1 points per game in 2019-20 and 5.1 rebounds, while Jacob Undlin added 1.3 points per contest. Feland will have to improve offensively this season for the Mavericks to have success and Jacob Undlin will have to look to score more as well. Junior Joe Savelkoul (8.1 ppg, 1.6 rpg) returns as the Mavericks top 3-point shooter and made 31 last season. M-L-S needs to get some more production out of players like seniors Bryden Santos (1.4 ppg, 2.1 rpg) and Corbin Hall (1.1 ppg) along with juniors Gannon Hall, Steele Olson, Ryan Morlock and Tyler Woloson. Brian Olson’s team has some players, so I expect the Mavericks to be competitive again in District 12.

3. Des Lacs-Burlington

2019-20 record: 7-14

In a district that features a lot of upperclassmen, Des-Lacs Burlington is led by four sophomores that combined to average just under 30 points per game last season. Sophomore Drew Clock returns as the Lakers leading scorer and averaged 12.5 points per contest and 4.2 rebounds as a freshman. Sophomore Will Mayo (9.2 ppg, 9.1 rpg) averaged close to a double-double last season and can do a little bit of everything for head coach Tyler Ystaas. Mayo is a rebounding machine and can step out and knock down some shots as he made 35 3-pointers last season. The Lakers’ two other sophomore standouts are Carson Yale (5.2 ppg, 5.3 rpg) and Ryan Olson (3.1 ppg, 2.7 rpg). Yale missed part of the 2019-20 season due to a knee injury but gives DL-B some height at 6-foot-5, while Olson is an athletic slashing guard that can create his own scoring opportunities. The Lakers also bring back eight upperclassmen that include talented seniors in Riley Eide, Justin Carter, Blake Wacha and Riley Schaefer. This team is ready for a big year and I wouldn’t be stunned to see them hanging around late come tournament time.

2. Bishop Ryan

2019-20 record: 12-11

Bishop Ryan enters year one of the Broderick Bosch era as his team brings back 10 letter winners from 2019-20. The Lions return some height this season with juniors Jacob Fricke (6-foot-5) and Josh Will (6-foot-3) eager to build off their sophomore seasons. Bishop Ryan also returns some strong outside shooters in seniors Logan Merck and Nick Sanders along with sophomore Brady Feller. Senior Jaxon Feller is one of the leaders for this Lions squad and is a solid defensive play. With a new coach and a talented roster back, Bishop Ryan has a good chance to compete for a District 12 title.

1. Our Redeemer’s

2019-20 record: 19-6

Our Redeemer’s ended the 2019-20 regular season with two straight losses to Velva and Stanley. The Knights, however, righted the ship once tournament play started and rattled off five wins. Our Redeemer’s had its season ended by Rugby in the Region 6 title game but first-year head coach Brock Teets and his squad have goals of getting back to that game this season. The Knights welcome back one All-Region player in junior Zachary Hendrickson, along with four senior letter winners that include talented scorers in William Sanders and Levi Weekley. Rylan Vibeto and Jared Brown are the two other returning juniors for Our Redeemer’s and sophomore Colton Francis adds some depth. The Knights graduated one of the Region’s top scorers in Landon Lang but return a handful of talent that can help them win a District 12 title for a second straight season.