The North Dakota Class B boys basketball season gets underway this evening. Here is a look at all the teams (listed in alphabetical order) competing for the Region 6 crown.

District 12

Bishop Ryan Lions

Coach: Jeremy Feller (3rd season).

Last season record: 23-5, Region 6 winner, State 4th place.

Key players gone: Ben Bohl, Mason Hedberg.

Key returners: Jaxon Feller, Jr., G; Logan Merck, Jr., G; Nicholas Sanders, Jr., G.

Coach’s comment: “I don’t think it’s any secret that we have some big holes to fill. This will be the youngest team I have coached in 12 years. But I’m excited that we have some very athletic kids who know how to win… We’re not going to have the ability to just show up and out score people this year like we have in the past. Defense will have to be our No. 1 priority.”

Des Lacs-Burlington Lakers

Coach: Tyler Ystaas (3rd season).

Last season record: 14-9, Region 6 qualifier.

Key players gone: Dante Gunville, Scott Drovdal, Brayden Bonn.

Key returners: Jacob Burleson, Sr., F; Will Pearson, Sr., G; Jameson Lesman, Sr., G.

Coach’s comment: “We return some starting experience in Will and Jacob. They will both contribute in big ways and many facets of the game. Jameson Lesmann was another player who brings back some varsity time and he will be ready to jump into the action. Zane Grover and Nevada Murphy round out the senior class that will lead us. After that we will see how our mixture of talented, younger and older players mesh together to form a good rotation.”

Glenburn Panthers

Coach: Larry Derr (10th season).

Last season record: 8-13.

Key players gone: Clayton Stucki, James Virtue.

Key returners: Mat Dufner, Sr., G; Jalyn Derr, Jr., G; Blaine Stevens, Jr., G; Trey Welstad, Jr., G/F.

Coach’s comment: “We are hoping to compete with the traditional top teams of our region and finish in the top 4 at the end of the year. We feel we have four guys with a ton of varsity minutes and will lean on them to help develop our younger kids and get some depth on the bench. We are going to get after teams defensively and continue to build on how we finished our season at tournament time last year.”

Lewis & Clark-Berthold Bombers

Coach: Christopher Brown.

Last season record: 15-7.

Key players gone: Thomas Burke, Cole Erickson, Cooper Davis.

Key returners: Jericho Limke, Sr., G; Patrick Simons, So., G.

Coach’s comment: Not provided.

Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood Mavericks

Coach: Brian Olson (2nd season).

Last season record: 17-8, District 12 winner, Region 6 qualifier.

Key players gone: Isaac Undlin, Dalton Moberg, Riley Strand.

Key returners: Adam Southam, Sr., G; JayDen Hanson, Sr., F; Henry Savelkoul, Sr., F.

Coach’s comment: “Our two biggest strengths this year will be our defense and our depth. We are a group that plays very aggressively on the defensive end and tries to force turnovers. If we can figure out how to get easy baskets we should be able to compete with most teams in our region.”

Our Redeemer’s Knights

Coach: Broderick Bosch (2nd season).

Last season record: 12-13, Region 6 runner-up.

Key players gone: Matthew Henrickson.

Key returners: Zachary Hendrickson, So., G; Landon Lang, Sr., F; Levi Weekley, Jr., F.

Coach’s comment: “Our goal is to be one of the top defenses in the region and our offense will build off that. With a smaller team we will have to adjust a few things but are hoping to get out and run when we can. Our ultimate goal is to be playing our best basketball come tournament time and until then getting better and learning something every day.”

South Prairie Royals

Coach: Jordan Cooper.

Last season record: 4-17.

Key players gone: Dylon Heizelman.

Key returners: Cade Korslien, Sr., G; Kolbi Rolle, Sr., G/F; Hayden Gibney, Sr., G/F.

Coach’s comment: Not provided.

Surrey Mustangs

Coach: Robyn Vollmer.

Last season record: 10-11.

Key players gone: Alexander Hansen, Blayne Campbell, Kaden Reiter.

Key returners: Ryder Holien, Sr., G; Kolby Nelsen, Sr., G; Cody Fuchs, Sr., F.

Coach’s comment: Not provided.

District 11

Bottineau Braves

Coach: Kevin St. Claire (4th season).

Last season record: 12-11, Region 6 qualifier.

Key players gone: Ethan Hahn, Bailey Burcham, Cole Pomarleau, Adam Monson, Austin Tonneson.

Key returners: Brandon Brudwick, Sr., G; Milan Davis, Jr., G; Nate Olson, So., F.

Coach’s comment: “Very young group this year with only one senior on the roster. We will be quick with a lot of young guards and, with two sophomores at 6-foot-3, we will be young in the post.”

Drake-Anamoose Raiders

Coach: Doug Martin (15th season).

Last season record: 13-9.

Key players gone: Bradley Marquart, John Hoffmann.

Key returners: Payton Martin, Jr., G; Hunter Fletschock, Jr., F.

Coach’s comment: “We return four starters and most of our scoring. We are coming off of a 13-9 season and gained a lot of experience. We’ll still be young with only one senior on the team but we return our top 4 scorers.”

Nedrose Cardinals

Coach: Matt Norby (5th season).

Last season record: 12-9, Region 6 qualifier.

Key players gone: Duncan Pryor, Jetiah Flermoen, Matthew Berglof.

Key returners: Jethro Lauron, Sr., G; Trevor Cannon, Sr., F; Sam Overton, Sr., G.

Coach’s comment: “Team will rely on our overall team speed and athleticism. We will play an aggressive style of both offense and defense to get turnovers and turn them into points.”

Rugby Panthers

Coach: Mike Santjer (10th season).

Last season record: 20-4, District 11 winner, Region 6 3rd place.

Key players gone: Kevin Vetsch, Mayson McCabe.

Key returners: Jaden Hamilton, Sr., F; Trace Goven, Sr., G; Isaiah Bundy Smith, Jr., F.

Coach’s comment: “This years team brings back most of our offense from last year. We have a lot of experience coming back and our underclassmen will add length and scoring ability. This year we have the ability to play at a very fast pass with athletes that can score in a variety of ways. This good has the potential to be a very special team.”

Towner-Granville-Upham Titans

Coach: Wade Schock (3rd season).

Last season record: 11-12, Region 6 qualifier.

Key players gone: Shayden Luna, Hunter Miller, Tanner Schock and Garrett Bailey.

Key returners: Cy Luna, Jr., G; Cody Frounfelter, Jr., F; Jordan Stone, Sr., F.

Coach’s comment: “We are returning a very inexperienced team at the varsity level. At the same time the kids that played JV only lost a few games, so there is plenty of talent there. They just need time and experience to take the next step to the varsity level.”

Velva Aggies

Coach: Isaac Sondrol (3rd season).

Last season record: 12-10.

Key players gone: Hayden Lee, Quintin Peterson, Seth Faye.

Key returners: Gage Florence, Jr., G; Adam Schepp, Jr., F.

Coach’s comment: “We have a young but talented group, with no seniors on the team, our strong core of juniors (nine) will be the strength of our program. Our focus will be to use our athleticism, control the tempo of games with our defense. If we can continue to develop our Basketball IQ on the offensive end, this team will compete at a high level.”

Westhope/Newburg Sioux

Coach: Anthony Lee (4th season).

Last season record: 0-21.

Key players gone: Dexter Dunham, Lucas Kveum.

Key returners: Jackson Toftland, Sr., G; Holden Lindekugel, Sr., G; Wyatt Lemay, Jr., F.

Coach’s comment: “We bring back seven players from last year’s squad, including three starters. This is a hard-working bunch that loves to compete. We are counting on our upperclassman to provide leadership. Their goal this season is to reach the Region 6 Tournament.”

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