Adam Papin/MDN Des Lacs-Burlington’s Braylon Fisher (3) attempts a jump shot during the 2023 Dale Brown/Hoopster Classic on Dec. 29, 2023 against Thompson. Des Lacs-Burlington travels to Fargo this week for the 2024 Division A Boys Basketball State Tournament.

As the Des Lacs-Burlington Lakers boys basketball team prepares for the 2024 NDHSAA Division A Boys Basketball State Tournament to be held in Fargo this week, it is like moving down memory lane.

In the 2023 Class B state tournament, the Lakers played Central Cass in the semifinal game. Central Cass went on to defeat Shiloh Christian in the title game while Des Lacs-Burlington faced Beulah in the third place matchup. The quarterfinal opponent for the Lakers this week is the Shiloh Christian Skyhawks.

The Skyhawks are led by senior center Atticus Wilkinson who is averaging 16.5 points per game, nine rebounds per game and blocks at least one shot per game as well. Junior Wyatt Westin is adding an average of 14.5 points per game for Shiloh Christian.

“We played them (Shiloh Christian) in mid December at the start of the season,” said Des Lacs-Burlington head coach Christopher Brown. “It was a back and forth game where they made more shots, free throws in the end. They have improved, I am sure – but so have we.”

That game was played Dec.19, 2023 with the final score of 72-64 for the Skyhawks. Both the Lakers and the Skyhawks also faced Beulah during this season. Shiloh Christian played the Miners on Feb. 6, 2024 and lost 69-58 in Beulah while the Lakers played the Miners on Jan.4, 2024 at home, losing 53-50.

At 18-6, the Skyhawks are seeded number five compared to the 21-3 Lakers seeded at fourth.

Des Lacs-Burlington is bringing back experience from last year’s team. Seniors Braylon Fisher, Paxton Ystaas and Ty Hughes all had significant game time as juniors. Junior Jacob Schaefer also saw time off the bench as a sophomore in the 2023 run.

“I have been here three years,” said Brown. “Those guys have been playing together since second or third grade I think. Those seniors are our team leaders. Not just vocally, but how they lead by example regardless of sport or time of year – in season or out. Nobody outworks them.”

Fisher leads the team in scoring, averaging 14.5 points per game while Ystaas is at 11.4 points per game. Hughes is leading the team in rebounding with 7.2 per game.

In smaller communities, like the Des Lacs-Burlington area, athletes tend to participate in multiple sports. Football or cross country in the fall, basketball in the winter and baseball, track & field or golf in the spring keep the same group of student-athletes in close proximity for years at a time. The nature of being involved in sports year round, combined with a strong work ethic, is part of why the Lakers are making a return to the state tournament.

“This group has spent enough time together to know each other,” said Brown. “They know they can depend on each other and they are committed to each other in their efforts on and off the court or field.”

That team dynamic and athleticism will be a key for the Lakers success at the tournament this week.

“The key for us is rebounding,” said Brown. “If we can control the rebounding game, we can get the ball into transition quickly and use our speed and hustle to play our tempo, our game. That is where we feel like we have the edge.”

That strategy was at the heart of the Lakers title match with the Stanley Blue Jays in the Region 3 title game to qualify for state. Des Lacs-Burlington outrebounded Stanley 34-30 despite being out-sized by the Blue Jays. That led to 15 points from fast breaks and ultimately the 50-41 win.

“We have focused on the next game all season long,” said Brown. “This post season play is no different. Our main focus is Shiloh Christian right now. That being said, our goal is to play our game at our tempo.”

The Lakers start their state tournament play on Thursday, March 14 in Fargo and have the last quarterfinal game of the evening with tip-off scheduled for 8:15 p.m.