After two weeks of district and regional tournaments and state qualifying games, eight boys’ teams in Division B are still alive for a state championship, three of whom hail from the Minot area. The Bishop Ryan Lions, Bowman County Bulldogs, Edgeley/Kulm/Montpelier Rebels, LaMoure-Litchville/Marion Loboes, North Star Bearcats, Our Redeemer’s Christian School Knights, Sargent County Bulldogs and Westhope-Newburg Sioux are all vying for a state championship.

No. 2 Bowman County vs. No. 7 Our Redeemer’s

1 p.m.

Slow down the Duffield twins. That’s what’s key for the Our Redeemer’s Knights in their matchup with the Bowman County Bulldogs. Bohden Duffield is averaging 22.4 points per game to lead the team, while his brother Bishop scores 19.8 points a game for the Bulldogs. The pair is just as prolific on the glass, as Bishop has 183 rebounds on the season while Bohden has 128. The Dufflields also lead the team in assists, steals and three-pointers.

Adam Papin/MDN North Star defeated Our Redeemer’s 43-42. Westhope-Newburg’s Maddox Juntunen (12) shoots over two Hazen defenders during the 2023 Dale Brown Classic.

As a team Bowman County averages 72.7 points per game and 40.1 rebounds per game.

The Knights average just 59.9 points and 24.4 rebounds per game but the team makes up for it with punishing defense. Including 7.1 steals per game.

Offensively, Our Redeemer’s is led in scoring by Jace Weekley, who is averaging 12 points per game. Freshman Nolan Schmidt averages 11.7 points per game, while sophomore Payton Lindbo averages 10.0.

Weekley also leads the team in rebounds with 6.3 per game, while his brother Wyatt Weekley paces the Knights with four assists a contest. Andrew Eby (5.2 rpg) and Schmidt (4.5 ppg) also contribute on the glass.

No. 3 Westhope/Newburg vs. No. 6 Edgeley/Kulm/Montpelier

Adam Papin/MDN Our Redeemer’s Gus Englehard (1) drives past Bishop Ryan’s Hayden Seay (4) on Jan. 15, 2024.

2:45 p.m.

To think Walker Braaten is Westhope/Newburg’s lone offensive threat is to set one up for an early exit from the tourney. To be sure, Braaten averages 26.1 points per game to go along with 9.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game, while adding 3.2 steals a contest on the defensive side of the ball. However, Braden Bailey and Hunter Tolstad have proven themselves more than capable when Braaten has an off-night or ends up in foul trouble. Bailey comes into the state tournament averaging 13.6 ppg and 3.0 assists per game, while teammate Tolstad averages 10.1 ppg and 9.6 rpg.

The Sioux will need to slow down Jacob Nitschke (420 points on the season) and Brad Kinzler (317 points). Nitschke also leads the team in rebounds with 189 and is second on the team with 69 assists.

As a team the Edgeley/Kulm/Montpelier Rebels average 64.04 pointer per game offensively.

No. 1 North Star vs. No. 8 LaMoure-Litchville/Marion

Adam Papin/MDN Bishop Ryan’s Jett Lundeen (31) dribbles past Our Redeemer’s Nolan Schmidt during the two teams’ regular season matchup on Jan. 15, 2024. Bishop Ryan won the matchup 67-42.

6:30 p.m.

The North Star Bearcats, with just one loss on the season, enter the tournament as the number one seed and are led by Dane Hagler, who averages 21 points per game. He is joined by teammate Parker Simon in averaging double figures, with Simon scoring 14.8 per contest. Hagler also leads the team in rebounds (7.3 rpg), assists (6.2 apg) and steals (3.2 spg).

Other weapons for the Bearcats are Karson Simon and Brett Dilley.

Collectively, the Bearcats average 63.9 points and 32.7 rebounds per game.

Defensively, North Star will need to stop LaMoure-Litchville/Marion’s Max Musland. Musland leads the team in scoring, rebounds, assists, steals and three-pointers.The senior guard averages 25.5 points per game while adding 6.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.5 steals per contest. Other Loboes contributing include Brayan Karlgaard, Blase Isaacson, and Gunner Thielges.

No. 4 Bishop Ryan vs. No. 5 Sargent County

8:15 p.m.

Bishop Ryan was one of the four beneficiaries of the state qualifying games, advancing with a win over Washburn after falling in the Region 4 championship game to Westhope/Newburg. Now the Lions get to play across the street from their home court, led by juniors Ramsey Walz and Jett Lundeen. Walz, who scored his 1,000th career point during the Region tournament, leads the team with 438 points and 217 rebounds on the season. Lundeen has 382 points and 138 rebounds while leading the team in assists with 128. Hayden Seay is another key contributor for Bishop Ryan, with 113 assists and a team-high 65 steals.

Bishop Ryan goes up against a Sargent County Bulldogs team that has two players scoring in double-figures each game. Luke Martinson averages 18.1 points-per-game while Josh Wittich adds 15.9 per contest. Wittich nearly averages a double-double for the season, registering a team 9.9 rebounds per game. Other key contributors for the Bulldogs are Kolten Kadoun and Grady Wedhlander.

Our Redeemer’s Christian School - 42 Bishop Ryan Lions 67 NDHSAA Region 4, District 8 boys’ basketball game on Monday, Jan. 15, 2024. (For The Minot Daily News)

Our Redeemer’s Christian School - 42 Bishop Ryan Lions 67 NDHSAA Region 4, District 8 boys’ basketball game on Monday, Jan. 15, 2024. (For The Minot Daily News)