If there's one common feeling I've gotten from Class B boys basketball coaches in the area this season, it's that the change in dates with the girls tournament capping off the winter sports season instead of the boys feels different.
One coach told me he just can't get used to it.
Another one just flat-out said he didn't like it.
Another one didn't say much at all, other than "it's just different."
Regardless of the words used to describe what each coach feels, there doesn't seem to be a consensus that coaches hate the switch. That doesn't mean there isn't a consensus out there among coaches when they chat prior to their teams playing each other or when they have to make up a game and they call each other on the phone.
But isn't everyone just a little guarded when talking to the media? Of course, which can make it difficult to build any kind of consensus at all. I suspect we'll hear more of an uproar and some "plain truths" when state tournament time rolls around and people really feel the effects of the switch.
Of course, with the flip-flop, district boys basketball tournaments are right around the corner. Here is a look at where each district in our coverage area is sitting in terms of seeding:
- District 7: Four Winds-Minnewaukan has wrapped up the top seed with a win over Warwick on Tuesday, despite suffering a 59-53 loss to Carrington. New Rockford-Sheyenne can wrap up the second seed on Friday when it hosts Harvey-Wells County. If NR-S does, look for Warwick to be third and Harvey-Wells County fourth. Carrington, the defending state champion, is all but locked into the No. 5 seed. However, if H-WC can knock off NR-S, it could create a three-way tie between between H-WC, NR-S and Warwick.
- District 8: Top-ranked North Star locked up the No. 1 seed and is still undefeated at 14-0. This district goes by points, so I'm not overly positive on the system, but it looks like Munich-Starkweather, Rolla-Rock Lake and Langdon are positioning themselves for seed Nos. 2-4, though they have some games remaining against each other, so it could come down to the wire.
- District 10: It looked like Washburn was going to walk away with the district top seed until Garrison pulled the upset on Tuesday night. The Cardinals have the district win over Turtle Lake-Mercer-McClusky, so they're still in control of their own destiny. However, they still need to take care of business against Max on Tuesday. If they don't, TL-M-M could steal the spot with a win over Wilton-Wing, which I expect to get the 3-seed. Friday's Garrison-Max contest could go a long way in determining the fourth and fifth seeds.
- District 11: Oh, the fun that is District 11 basketball. Bottineau coach Nate Simpson said the win over a ranked Bishop Ryan team last weekend wouldn't mean anything if the Braves lost to Rugby on Tuesday. Low and behold, a red-hot Rugby team pulled it off. If host Velva beats Bottineau on Friday, that should lock up Velva as the top seed, followed by Rugby (providing it takes care of business against Drake-Anamoose and a dangerous TGU team) and then, Bottineau. If Bottineau can beat Velva, it could create a three-way mess at the top of the standings. The fourth seed could go to Westhope-Newburg, but tough games against Velva and Dunseith lie ahead. TGU also has a legitimate chance at the No. 4 seed as does Dunseith.
- District 12: For Bishop Ryan, it's real simple: Beat host Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood on Friday and capture the No. 1 seed. A loss could delay the inevitable, but it could also open the door for M-L-S or Kenmare. After that, it's an utter mess in what is arguably the most balanced district in the state. Six of the eight teams in the district are either 3-2 or 2-3 in conference play with two games to go. Right now, it looks like Ryan should be good enough to capture the top spot and that Glenburn will most likely enter as the No. 8 seed. Past that, it's anyone's guess. Berthold has the inside track on the No. 2 seed, but remaining matchups and a season filled with upsets in this district make it a hard one to predict. This should be a fun district tournament.
- District 14: Dickinson Trinity captured the No. 1 seed by beating Killdeer on Tuesday. Beulah is locked into the No. 2 spot while Hazen plays Killdeer on Tuesday to determine the third and fourth seeds.
- District 15: Today's game at New Town against Watford City should tell the tale of the top seed. The loser should lock up the No. 2 seed. The next three seeds will most likely come down to a three-way tie between North Shore-White Shield, Stanley and Parshall.
- District 16: The deeper district in Region 8, District 16 has some quality teams. However, Divide County and Trinity Christian are on a crash course to decide the top seed when they square off Friday in Crosby. Trenton looks like the team sitting behind these two, but don't count the Tigers out in the district tournament. They fell by three at Divide County and lost to Trinity Christian by five at home.
Get ready for some quality postseason basketball.
Chris Aarhus is a sports reporter for The Minot Daily News. He can be reached by e-mail at caarhus@minotdailynews.com