The North Dakota State Class B Boys Basketball Tournament will begin competition at noon on Thursday at the Minot State Dome.

In first quarterfinal game, Grafton will go up against Powers Lake. In the second matchup, Edgeley-Kulm-Montpelier will face Rugby at 2:30 p.m. Then at 6:30, Four Winds-Minnewaukan will square off against Shiloh Christian. Capping off the first round, Dickinson Trinity will battle Kindred at 9. Both semifinal round games will be played on Friday with the championship game set to take place on Saturday night at 8:30.

The Minot Daily News reached out to all eight tournament-bound head coaches to get their perspective on what it will take to emerge from the competition with a state crown. Here is what each coach had to say, along with a profile of their participating school.

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Dickinson Trinity Titans

Head Coach: Gregg Grinsteinner, 27th year

School’s last state title: 2006

Overall season record: 21-3

MDN: Describe what your team did to win its regional championship

Grinsteinner: We beat Hettinger-Scranton 63-34 in the Region 7 quarterfinals. In the semis, we beat Bowman County for the third time this season. We finished everything off with an overtime win over Beulah in the championship game.

MDN: Who are the top players on your club, and what do you expect to see out of them in the tournament?

Grinsteinner: Jake Daniel, Cole Fitterer, and Tanner Soehren. They need to lead and stay out of foul problems. They are going to have to score and get the rest of our team involved, especially our bench. Other players like Nick Deschamp, Aiden Haich, and Jake Shobe will all have to step up.

MDN: What do you know about your first-round opponent Kindred, and what will be your game plan against them?

Grinsteinner: Kindred is a very good team that has size and athleticism. We are going to have to do a great job on the glass, so boxing out will be a key. They are so sound on both ends of the floor.

We will have to handle their aggressive man defense along with attacking their zone press and half-court trap. We need to be able to take away their transition game because they get a few dunks a game that really get them going emotionally. The earlier we settle into the game the better.

MDN: Finish this sentence: In order to become state champions this year, we must…..

Grinsteinner: We need to have some luck, but more importantly be who we are because we can’t change our identity. We need to be scrappy, defend, and be balanced offensively.

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Edgeley-Kulm-Montpelier Rebels

Head Coach: Kevin Strobel, 13th year

School’s last state title: 1990 for Edgeley; 1958 for Kulm

Overall season record: 22-2

MDN: Describe what your team did to win its regional championship

Strobel: We played excellent man to man defense. Held a Linton team to 28 points in the Region 3 title game. Going into that game, they were averaging about 65 points per game as a team.

MDN: Who are the top players on your club, and what do you expect to see out of them in the tournament?

Strobel: We have a deep team with players such as Alex Huber, Chayse Entzi, Paxton Mathern and Dalton Madcke. Alex is our leading scorer, but we really have a well-balanced team with everyone contributing something.

MDN: What do you know about your first-round opponent Rugby, and what will be your game plan against them?

Strobel: Rugby is a very athletic team and I believe they are healthy after missing some kids with injuries. They seem to be at their best when running the floor. We must control the boards and continue to play effectively inside and out.

MDN: Finish this sentence- In order to become state champions this year, we must…..

Strobel: Continue to play together and defend at a high level.

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Four Winds-Minnewaukan Indians

Head Coach: Rick Smith, 22nd year

School’s last state title: 2016

Overall season record: 23-1

MDN: Describe what your team did to win its regional championship

Smith: We have the benefit of being a veteran group with a lot of playing experience together. Our roster has a total of eight seniors, and three of them are in the starting lineup.

MDN: Who are the top players on your club, and what do you expect to see out of them in the tournament?

Smith: Senior Bronson Walter is our big man at 6-foot-10 and about 300 pounds, so his presence will help create mismatches in the paint. We also have Jayden Yankton, a junior guard who is our leading scorer. He has unlimited shooting range and can attack the rim.

JaeShaun Shaw, a senior guard at 5-foot-11, is one of the best defensive players I have ever coached, and he is an underrated scorer as well. We will need big performances from all three players in order to advance.

MDN: What do you know about your first-round opponent Shiloh Christian, and what will be your game plan against them?

Smith: They played a very tough schedule this year, so I think their record doesn’t really show what kind of team they really are. Head coach Brad Miller has done a magnificent job with that group, and they are the kind of team that comes to compete every night. Our defense needs to be extremely strong in this matchup.

MDN: Finish this sentence: In order to become state champions this year, we must…..

Smith: Set the tempo defensively in each game, crash the boards, pressure opposing guards and knock down shots.

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Grafton Spoilers

Head Coach: Riley Lillemoen, 9th year

School’s last state title: 2008

Overall season record: 22-2

MDN: Describe what your team did to win its regional championship

Lillemoen: We defended really well for all three nights of the Region 2 tournament. We also did an excellent job rebounding.

MDN: Who are the top players on your club, and what do you expect to see out of them in the tournament?

Lillemoen: Stevan Garza was the Region 2 Senior Athlete of the Year. He is an excellent two-way player that can score at any level and causes a lot of problems for teams defensively. We will need him to be our leader on the floor, whether that’s scoring or facilitating. He has the ball in his hands a lot, so we need him to make good decisions.

Brandon Albrecht was an all-region player for us this year. He is an excellent shooter and has become a very good rebounder. He attacks hard offensively and can score from anywhere. We will need him to hit some shots and continue to rebound the way he has been all season.

Justin Garza is a solid defender and our third leading scorer. He makes us go and he loves to make plays defensively and get us out in transition. Justin is also a good shooter. We need him to play good defense and take advantage of scoring opportunities when they are there.

William Jiskra is averaging close to a double-double this year. He is a solid rebounder, works hard defensively and he is second on the team in steals per game. William can score in the post as well, so we need him to continue producing double figures in points and rebounds for us to be successful this week.

MDN: What do you know about your first-round opponent Powers Lake, and what will be your game plan against them?

Lillemoen: Powers Lake looks to be a physically strong team with some athletic kids. They have several guys that can score from the outside and are solid defensively. We will need to limit their scoring opportunities by winning the rebound battle. We also need to hit some shots to loosen up their defense a little bit.

MDN: Finish this sentence: In order to become state champions this year, we must…..

Lillemoen: Defend, rebound, and hit shots.

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Kindred Vikings

Head Coach: Brad Woehl, 14th year

School’s last state title: None

Overall season record: 18-4

MDN: Describe what your team did to win its regional championship

​Woehl: We played really good team defense and executed on offense.

MDN: Who are the top players on your club, and what do you expect to see out of them in the tournament?

​Woehl: Gavin Keller is a 6-foot-9 senior and a three-time all-region player who averages 13.4 points per game. Expect him to be a presence on both ends of the floor. We also have Paul Olson, a 6-foot-4 junior who made all-region with 11.6 points per game. He is an athletic wing player that needs to continue to be consistent shooting the ball and stay aggressive on the offensive end.

MDN: What do you know about your first-round opponent Dickinson Trinity, and what will be your game plan against them?

​​Woehl: They are a very good defensive team and rebound well both offensively and defensively. We need to control the glass and limit them to one shot. Offensively, we need stay aggressive and execute.

MDN: Finish this sentence- In order to become state champions this year, we must…..

​​Woehl: Continue to play good team defense as our defense has led to good offense.

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Powers Lake Ranchers

Head Coach: Jordan Carlson, 12th year

School’s last state title: None

Overall season record: 22-2

MDN: Describe what your team did to win its regional championship

Carlson: We beat White Shield 48-34 in the Region 8 championship.

MDN: Who are the top players on your club, and what do you expect to see out of them in the tournament?

Carlson: For us, Tyson Enget needs to be the floor general and set the tone on the offensive and defensive ends. I think Noah Fredrickson will also be key for us. Noah will bring good energy and knock down the open shots when the time comes, and Carter Rystedt needs to control the paint for us.

MDN: What do you know about your first-round opponent Grafton, and what will be your game plan against them?

Carlson: They are really disciplined defensively and can score in many different ways. We will need to rebound well and limit second chance opportunities.

MDN: Finish this sentence- In order to become state champions this year, we must…..

Carlson: Play as a team.

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Rugby Panthers

Head Coach: Mike Santjer, 12th year

School’s last state title: 2015

Overall season record: 18-7

MDN: Describe what your team did to win its regional championship

Santjer: We were efficient offensively shooting over 50 percent from the floor and 44 percent from the three-point line.

MDN: Who are the top players on your club, and what do you expect to see out of them in the tournament?

Santjer: Warren Walker is a great scorer and Trey Welstad is very explosive offensively as well. Cole Slaubaugh and Isaiah Bundy-Smith are both good scorers in the post and can stretch the defense with their ability to shoot from the outside. Erik Foster is a great rebounder and passer.

MDN: What do you know about your first-round opponent Edgeley-Kulm-Montpelier, and what will be your game plan against them?

Santjer: EKM is a very well-coached team that plays good defense and doesn’t make many mistakes.

MDN: Finish this sentence- In order to become state champions this year, we must…..

Santjer: Defend and score in transition.

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Shiloh Christian Skyhawks

Head Coach: Brad Miller, 5th year

School’s last state title: None

Overall season record: 15-9

MDN: Describe what your team did to win its regional championship

Miller: We had eight seniors on last year’s team and only one returning starter, so this year has been a work in progress trying to get all the guys to gel as a group. It was also one of the toughest regular season schedules in Class B because we have already faced five of the teams who made it to this year’s state tournament.

MDN: Who are the top players on your club, and what do you expect to see out of them in the tournament?

Miller: Luke Wanzek is a 6-foot-4 senior guard who is one of the better offensive players in the state. He is one of our captains and has a great inside-outside game. Carter Englund is a 6-foot-6 junior who is a highly-skilled player on both ends of the floor, and we also expect big things from senior swingman Khael Decoteau. Khael led us in the Region 5 championship game with 19 points and 13 rebounds against Flasher.

MDN: What do you know about your first-round opponent Four Winds-Minnewaukan, and what will be your game plan against them?

Miller: They are the top seed and they have much more experience. We have to find a way to neutralize Bronson Walter, but it will be very difficult because he is the Shaquille O’Neal of this level of basketball.

MDN: Finish this sentence: In order to become state champions this year, we must…..

Miller: Bring it all three nights, execute on both ends of the floor and rebound like there’s no tomorrow.