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:

Region 8 – Saturday, Dec. 6

2020-21 Preseason Power Rankings – Sunday, Dec. 7

It’s always been a battle in Region 7 and this season will be much of the same. Beulah does return a good chunk of its roster that helped the Miners win a 2019-20 Region 7 title but there’s a few other teams that bring back the talent to compete for a championship as well. Let’s dive into the 2020-21 Region 7 preview.

12. Richardton-Taylor

2019-20 record: 3-19

Richardton-Taylor returns six upperclassmen from its 2019-20 roster. Senior Trey Bohlman is one of the top scorers for the Raiders and junior Beau Grinsteiner will see an increased role this season. Along with Bohlman, R-T brings back two seniors in Kajren Dohrmann and Colten Krank.

11. Killdeer

2019-20 record: 7-15

Killdeer welcomes back nine juniors that saw a good chunk of varsity minutes last season. The Cowboys have to replace three talented seniors but return 11 letter winners from its 2019-20 roster. Tyler Hansen will be one of Killdeer’s top scoring options as the 6-foot-1 junior averaged 5.1 points per game and 4.1 rebounds last season. Zeek Diaz (2.1 pp, 2.1 rpg) is the Cowboys lone senior and is a strong shooter as junior Malakai Diaz (1.1 ppg, 1.1 rpg) and sophomore Hank Red Sky Staff (2.1 ppg, 2.1 rpg) will also bring some scoring potential to the table for Andy Murphy’s team. Killdeer will also lean on juniors Keith Dukart (3.1 ppg, 3.1 rpg), Dawson Schneider (2.1 ppg, 1.1 ppg), Owen Duttenhefner (2.1 ppg, 3.1 rpg), Cayden Kling (2.1 ppg, 2.1 rpg) and Colby Asay (3.1 ppg, 2.1 rpg).

10. New England

2019-20 record: 13-10

New England brings back one of the top scorers in Region 7 with Aidan Rebel back for his senior season. The 6-foot-5 guard averaged 17.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2.2 steals and 1.1 blocks per game last season. Rebel returns as the Tigers only starter from a year ago, so head coach Kaine Hanson will need some other student-athletes to step up. Senior Ace Fischer (3.6 ppg, 1.8 rpg) played some varsity minutes in 2019-20 but battled a knee injury, so he should be ready to roll once the season starts for New England. The Tigers will also look towards student-athletes like seniors Zane Sabo and junior Nathan Kaufman (1.1 ppg, 1.6 rpg) to fill in holes left by the five seniors that graduated last season.

9. Mott-Regent

2019-20 record: 6-16

Mott-Regent returns a handful of student-athletes that had successful seasons under first-year head coach Pat Perkins. The Wildfire return a majority of their scoring from 2019-20 that include seniors Samuel Huether, Ryan Doe and Logan Lutz. All three of those student-athletes along with senior Jordan Ottmar and sophomores Jesse Reich and Cole Manolovits combined for 43 of the Wildfire’s 50 points in their lone Region 7 tournament game last season. One of the strengths for M-R this season will be its height as they have five kids listed over six-feet.

8. Hettinger-Scranton

2019-20 record: 8-15

Hettinger-Scranton won one game in 2018-19 but head coach Jeremy Dietchman has his crew on the right direction heading into 2020-21. The Night Hawks did lose three seniors but return one of the top players in Region 7 in Jeran Anderson. The 6-foot-1 senior averaged 15.3 points per game last season along with 4.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.7 steals. Anderson is a do-it-all type of player for H-S and earned All-Region honors last season. The Night Hawks also return juniors Bradee Clapper (3.4 ppg, 2.1 rpg) and Ryder Sanford (3.6 ppg, 2.1 rpg) and freshman Maddox Pierce (2.5 ppg, 1.2 rpg), who all will see increased roles in 2020-21. Anderson is H-S’s 3-point threat but Clapper, Sanford and Pierce can also knock down shots as they combined for 36 last season. The Night Hawks return nine letter winners but close to half of those student-athletes played mostly junior varsity last season. Look for those players to take a step forward and help this team try to improve its win total from a year ago.

7. Heart River

2019-20 record: 5-17

It was an up and down season for Heart River last year as they battled injuries but also saw some nice play out of its underclassmen. Preston Walter – one of Heart River’s top players – missed his junior season due to an injury as the Cougars will be excited to have him back on the court in 2020-21. Walter will join fellow senior teammates in Tyler Kastrow (10.1 ppg, 6.5 rpg) and Tanner Obrigewitch (8.5 ppg, 8.1 rpg) as the Cougars’ top scoring threats. All three student-athletes have the potential and talent to be All-Region players this season. Heart River also returns a strong class of juniors in Skyler Froehlich (6.5 ppg, 3.1 rpg), Braden Obrigewitch (5.1 ppg, 3.1 rpg) and Tarence Dillinger (2.1 ppg, 6.1 rpg). Froehlich and Braden Obrigewitch give the Cougars some 3-point shooting depth and Dillinger is a physical player that can get to the rack. Sophomore Cade Wyant had a solid freshman season and averaged just under five points per game but he makes his living on the defensive side of the basketball and will guard any teams best player. The Cougars have the pieces to be competitive in 2020-21, so I’m excited to see how Erik Klein’s squad does this season.

6. Beach

2019-20 record: 18-5

Beach returns three double-digit scorers in senior Blake Van Horn, junior Tevin Dietz and sophomore Elijah Holkup (12.1 ppg). Van Horn and Dietz are two-year starters and can hit shots from beyond the arc. Dietz averaged 14 points per game last season along with four rebounds and has grown into a better decision maker offensively, while Van Horn added 12 points per contest and 6.1 rebounds. Van Horn is a physical player that can score at a good clip but can also do the dirty work down low. The Buccaneers also have a solid post presence in sophomore Trey Swanson (9.1 ppg, 8.1 rpg), who will look to build of a freshman season where he averaged close to a double-double. Sophomore Dane Farstveet (4.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg) is another student-athlete that saw varsity action in 2019-20 and is a good hustle player for head coach Al Swanson. Beach has a solid core group of student-athletes but will need some student-athletes that spent most of their time on junior varsity last season to step up this year.

5. Glen Ullin-Hebron

2019-20 record: 8-15

Glen Ullin-Hebron brings back one of the top Region 7 players in senior Grant Gerving. The 5-foot-10 guard earned All-Region honors last season after averaging 18.2 points per game along with 8.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists. Along with Gerving, GU-H returns three other seniors in Ethan Duppong (4.6 ppg), Lane Duppong (6.9 ppg) and Zayden Schmalenberger (5.5 ppg). Junior Gunnar Rembolt had a strong sophomore season and averaged 12.8 points per game and can do a little bit of everything for head coach Greg Pruitt. The Bearcats also bring back a talented group of sophomores that includes Kanyon Unruh, who will be an offensive threat this season. I like the mix of upperclassmen and youth that this Bearcats roster offers, so watch out for Gerving and company to be in contention when the Region 7 tournament rolls around.

4. Bowman County

2019-20 record: 17-7

It was a successful 2019-20 season for head coach Nick Walker and his squad as they won 13 or more games for the third consecutive season. However, Bowman County will now have to find a way to replace seven seniors from last year’s roster. The Bulldogs do bring back one of the top players in Region 7 in senior guard Caleb Duffield as he’s coming off a junior season where he averaged 18.5 points per game, 4.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.9 steals. He also earned All-Region honors and made 48 3-pointers. Junior Gavin Scott is also another 3-point threat for Bowman County and averaged 5.7 points per contest and 2.1 rebounds as a sophomore. Along with Duffield, Brady Senn (5.2 ppg, 3.1 rpg) is the Bulldogs other senior leader and is the Bulldogs’ tallest player at 6-foot-2. The Bulldogs will look towards their class of five juniors to make plays in 2020-21 as Clay Heimer (2.6 ppg, 3.1 rpg), Carson Massey, Quaid Lardy and Teigen Marmon will see their roles expanded this season.

3. Hazen

2019-20 record: 18-6

Hazen returns four student-athletes that started for head coach John Ward last season along with some bench scoring. The Bison will be paced by 6-foot-6 senior Austin Richter (8.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg) and 6-foot-3 junior Mason Wick (6.5 ppg, 2.1 rpg). Richter is a force inside and had 42 total blocks in 2019-20, while Wick can step outside and hit from beyond the arc but is also a strong passer. Junior Dawson Bruner led the Bison with 48 assists last season and also added 4.5 points per contest and 2.5 rebounds. Senior Hunter Keller (2.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg) and sophomore Talan Batke (4.1 ppg, 1.5 rpg) will need to pick up their scoring production in 2020-21 as well. Hazen definitely has some height with Richter and Wick along with 6-foot-5 senior Sawyer Reinhardt (1.1 ppg, 1.5 rpg), so they’ll use that to try and wear teams out inside the paint. The Bison did lose two starters that were key to their 18-6 record last season but with a strong upperclassmen class, I like where they are headed for this upcoming season.

2. Dickinson Trinity

2019-20 record: 20-4

Dickinson Trinity graduated seven seniors last season but reloaded with seven seniors for the 2020-21 season. The Titans return three starters in seniors Cole Fitterer, Jake Daniel and Tanner Soehren and all three bring a different set of skills to the table for head coach Gregg Grinsteinner. Daniel is the Titans point guard and averaged 9.1 points per game in 2019-20, while Fitterer (7.2 ppg) and Soehren (9.9 ppg) are strong defenders and can make plays at the rim. Daniel and Fitterer earned All-Region honors last season as they helped their team to a Region 7 runner-up finish. Dickinson Trinity will look towards seniors Nick Deschamp, Nathaniel Jilek, Logan Bentz, Garin Anderson and junior Aiden Haich to fill in holes left by those seven student-athletes. Jilek did see some varsity minutes in 2019-20 as Bentz and Haich will give the Titans some solid play around the perimeter. Big game experience is key and Dickinson Trinity returns a couple of student-athletes that have that, so if this team continues to work together, they’ll find themselves playing for a Region 7 title this season.

1. Beulah

2019-20 record: 21-3

Beulah returns a majority of its roster that won a Region 7 title last season. The Miners will be paced by junior All-Region player in Trey Brandt along with four other student-athletes that made 14 3-pointers or more in 2019-20. One of the top guards in Class B, Brandt averaged 21.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.1 steals per game as a sophomore. The Miners also return seniors Dawson Zuroff (9.1 ppg, 6.5 rpg), Nathan Battest (6.1 ppg, 4.3 apg, 3.5 rpg), Eli Barbot (3.5 ppg, 1.3 rpg) and junior Trapper Skalsky (7.1 ppg, 4.5 rpg). All four of those student-athletes combined for 90 made 3-pointers last season and are all very athletic players. One of the main weaknesses of this Miners squad in 2020-21 will be height as senior Carson Weigum (6-foot-5) will have to replace double-double machine in Jonah Larson. Weigum averaged 15.1 points per contest last season at the junior varsity level. He’s a strong rebounder and can knock down shots outside of the paint area, which makes him tough to guard. Beulah will have 13 upperclassmen on its roster for the 2020-21 season along with three sophomores. Head coach Jeremy Brandt will have to find some depth this season but the Miners have an athletic squad and a lot of talent returning that makes them the favorite to win Region 7 this season.