Minot High is the favorite to defend its girls' region title
BISMARCK -- The Bismarck Event Center will serve as the home of Western Dakota Association basketball for three days, beginning on Thursday, Feb. 29 and running through Saturday, March 2.
Eleven West Region girls’ tournament games will be played as eight teams vie for a state tournament berth and a region tournament crown.
The favorite: No team could beat Minot High in the regular season from the Peace Garden State. The only two losses on the Majettes’ schedule came from a pair of teams from the Twin Cities area just after Christmas. Minot High has not been challenged much this season and are the strong favorites to defend its tournament crown.
Also in the hunt: No. 2 Bismarck High has been playing its best basketball down the stretch and earned the No. 2 seed for this week’s tournament. The last time the Demons reached the finals was 2014. No. 3 Bismarck Legacy has also turned in a solid regular season and earned the No. 3 seed. The Sabers’ won a region crown in 2020; their lone trip to the championship game. No program has enjoyed as much region tournament success in the past decade-plus than No. 4 Bismarck Century. The program has reached the region finals an incredible 15-straight years (winning 10 times). Getting their this season will be a challenge, though.
Lighting up the scoreboard: Minot High is the top offensive team in the WDA this season, averaging 76.6 points per game. Ten times MHS scored 80 or more points including a school record 119 vs. Dickinson. The next closest WDA point producer (Mandan) had 64.7 points per game.
Free throws: Five WDA teams have winning records (Minot High, Bismarck High, Legacy, Century, Mandan)...The WDA went 20-7 vs. EDC foes in the regular season...WDA teams played non-conference games against teams from Minnesota, South Dakota, Montana and Wyoming this season...PSP Network (psp.network ) is livestreaming all tournament games again this season....Bismarck is hosting the Class AA Tournament, March 7-9.
Team Capsules
#1 Minot High (19-2 Overall; 16-0 WDA)
Head Coach: Jason Schwarz (5th year)
Key 2023-24 Wins: vs. Bismarck High (2); Legacy (2); Century (2); G.F. Red River; Fargo Davies
Record vs. Top 4 W. Region seeds: 6-0
Longest season win streak: 12 (current)
Longest season losing streak: 2
Players to watch: Maggie Fricke, So.; Leelee Bell, So.; Presley Bennett, Sr.
Points Per Game Average: 80.3
Points Allowed Per Game Avg: 58.7
Team FG%: 45.2 (Opponents: 34.3)
Team 3PFG%: 34.0 (Opp: 25.7)
Team FT%: 72.7 (Opp: 63.6
Team Rebounds PG Avg: 41.1 (Opp: 36.6)
Team Leaders: PPG: Leelee Bell, 24.2; RPG: Leelee Bell, 11.0; APG: Maggie Fricke, 4.9; STPG: Fricke, 1.9; BPG: Bell, 1.3; FG%: Bell, 51.6; 3PFG%: Eve Knutson, 43.4; FT%: Fricke, 80.0; Bell, 80.0
2022-23 W. Region Tournament Rewind: Champion; Won vs. Mandan; Won vs. Bismarck High; Won vs. Century
#2 Bismarck High (15-6 Overall; 12-4 WDA)
Head Coach: Bill Shetler (10th year)
Key 2023-24 Wins: Legacy; Century (1); WF Sheyenne
Record vs. Top 4 W. Region seeds: 2-4
Longest season win streak: 6
Longest season losing streak: 2 (twice)
Players to watch: Paige Breuer, Sr.; Jersey Berg, Sr.; Raya Rood, Sr.
Points Per Game Average: 68.5
Points Allowed Per Game Avg: 52.2
Team FG%: 41.3 (Opponents: 33.9)
Team 3PFG%: 32.3 (Opp: 24.5)
Team FT%: 69.5 (Opp: 68.6)
Team Rebounds PG Avg: 36.1 (Opp: 36.5)
Team Leaders: PPG: Paige Breuer, 15.2; RPG: Morgan Johnson-Colbert, 5.9; APG: Jersey Berg, 2.4; STPG: Berg, 2.2; BPG: Jordyn Rood, 1.8; FG%: Raya Rood, 52.8; 3PFG%: Breuer, 32.4; FT%: Breuer, 83.7
2022-23 W. Region Tournament Rewind: 3rd; Won vs. St. Mary’s; Loss vs. Minot High; Won vs. Jamestown
#3 Legacy (16-5 Overall; 11-5 WDA)
Head Coach: Jim Petrik (9th year)
Key 2023-24 Wins: G.F. Red River; Bismarck High (1); Century (2); WF Sheyenne
Record vs. Top 4 W. Region seeds: 1-5
Longest season win streak: 7
Longest season losing streak: 2 (current)
Players to watch: Brooklynn Felchle, Jr.; Halle Severson, Sr.; Mia Berryhill, Sr.
Points Per Game Average: 69.5
Points Allowed Per Game Avg: 53.3
Team FG%: 40.8 (Opponents: 35.1)
Team 3PFG%: 29.5 (Opp: 28.6)
Team FT%: 66. (Opp: 64.2)
Team Rebounds PG Avg: 41.7 (Opp: 33.9)
Team Leaders: PPG: Brooklynn Felchle, 14.2; RPG: Felchle, 8.5, APG: Mia Berryhill, 4.5; STPG: Halle Severson, 3.6; BPG: Felchle, 1.4; FG%: Felchle, 56.7; 3PFG%: Whitney Welk, 34.9; FT%: Kali Dauenhauer, 77.1
2022-23 W. Region Tournament Rewind: 4th; Won vs. Jamestown; Loss vs. Century; Won vs. Mandan
#4 Century (15-6 Overall; 11-5 WDA)
Head Coach: Nate Welstad (3rd year)
Key 2023-24 Wins: Bismarck High
Record vs. Top 4 W. Region seeds: 1-5
Longest season win streak: 7 (twice)
Longest season losing streak: 3
Players to watch: Eden Fridley, Sr.; Zoie Austin, Jr.; Erika Lee, Sr.
Points Per Game Average: 70.8
Points Allowed Per Game Avg: 49.0
Team FG%: 43.2 (Opponents: 34.4)
Team 3PFG%: 33.5 (Opp: 26.8)
Team FT%: 71.6 (Opp: 63.7)
Team Rebounds PG Avg: 36.8 (Opp: 29.8)
Team Leaders: PPG: Zoie Austin, 14.2; RPG: Erika Lee, 7.1; APG: Austin, 2.5; STPG: Eden Fridley, 2.8; BPG: Fridley, 0.6; FG%: Austin, 43.5; 3PFG%: Fridley, 35.1; FT%: Olivia Klimpel, 72.4
2022-23 W. Region Tournament Rewind: Runner-up: (Won vs. Dickinson; Won vs. Legacy; Loss vs. Minot High
#5 Mandan (14-17 Overall; 10-6 WDA)
Head Coach: Shaun Henderson (4th year)
Key 2023-24 Win: Legacy (1)
Record vs. Top 4 W. Region seeds: 1-7
Longest season win streak: 4
Longest season losing streak: 1 (Several times)
Players to watch: McKenna Johnson, Jr..; Jayden Wiest, Sr.;
Z. Grey Bull, Jr.
Points Per Game Average: 60.9
Points Allowed Per Game Avg: 65.7
Team FG%: 34.3 (Opponents: 40.7)
Team 3PFG%: 27.4 (Opp: 32.2)
Team FT%: 58.7 (Opp: 66.0)
Team Rebounds PG Avg: 40.0 (Opp: 40.7)
Team Leaders: PPG: Jayden Wiest, 12.9; RPG: McKenna Johnson, 10.1; APG: Wiest, 3.5; STPG: Wiest. 2.0; BPG: Johnson, 1.5; FG%: Madysen Schwind, 51.8; 3PFG%: Wiest, 30.4; FT%: Mya Sheldon, 68.4
2022-23 W. Region Tournament Rewind: Did Not Place; Loss vs. Minot High; Win vs. St. Mary’s; Loss vs. Legacy
#6 St. Mary’s (10-11 Overall; 6-10 WDA)
Head Coach: Ty Terry (1st year)
Key 2023-24 Wins: --
Record vs. Top 4 W. Region seeds: 0-8
Longest season win streak: 3
Longest season losing streak: 4
Players to watch: Mataya Messer, So..; Lexi Gerving, Sr.; Natalie Benning, Jr.
Points Per Game Average: 63.9
Points Allowed Per Game Avg: 57.7
Team FG%: 39.0 (Opponents: 35.0)
Team 3PFG%: 28.5 (Opp: 28.5)
Team FT%: 67.8 (Opp: 63.7)
Team Rebounds PG Avg: 37.6 (Opp: 40.2)
Team Leaders: PPG: Mykie Messer, 14.6; RPG: My. Messer, 7.9; APG: Lexi Gerving, 3.4; STPG: My. Messer, 3.0; BPG: Maytaya Messer, 0.8; FG%: My. Messer, 52.3; 3PFG%: My. Messer, 36.0; FT%: Lydia Spies, 74.4
2022-23 W. Region Tournament Rewind: Did not place; Loss vs. Bismarck High; Loss vs. Mandan
#7 Dickinson (6-15 Overall; 2-14 WDA)
Head Coach: Devan Douglas (4th year)
Key 2023-24 Wins: --
Record vs. Top 4 W. Region seeds: 0-8
Longest season win streak: 5
Longest season losing streak: 8 (current)
Players to watch: Sadie Stevenson, Jr.; Jazmin Barry, Sr.
Points Per Game Average: 57.5
Points Allowed Per Game Avg: 66.2
Team FG%: 38.6 (Opponents: 38.8)
Team 3PFG%: 22.5 (Opp: 28.1)
Team FT%: 64.4 (Opp: 61.0)
Team Rebounds PG Avg: 38.6 (Opp: 38.8)
Team Leaders: PPG: Sadie Stevenson, 11.3; RPG: Stevenson, 9.8; APG: Jenna Nelson, 2.1; STPG: Stevenson, 2.0; BPG: Stevenson, 0.4; Jazmin Barry, 0.4; FG%: Jazmin Barry, 39.7; 3PFG%: Braelynn Farnsworth, 28.2; FT%: Stevenson, 59.8
2022-23 W. Region Tournament Rewind: Did not place; Loss vs. Century; Loss vs. Jamestown)
#9 Jamestown (6-16 Overall; 2-14 WDA)
Head Coach: Andy Skunberg (13th year)
Key 2023-24 Wins: --
Record vs. Top 4 W. Region seeds: 0-8
Longest season win streak: 2 (twice)
Longest season losing streak: 8
Players to watch: Leah Trumbauer, Jr.; Adisyn Yunck, Fr.;
Hannah Attelson, So.
Points Per Game Average: 68.1
Points Allowed Per Game Avg: 59.5
Team FG%: 41.9 (Opponents: 37.4)
Team 3PFG%: 33.1 (Opp: 26.6)
Team FT%: 64.1 (Opp: 61.6)
Team Rebounds PG Avg: 41.0 (Opp: 34.5)
Team Leaders: PPG: Adisyn Yuck, 11.1; RPG: Hannah Attelson, 6.1; APG: Yunck, 3.0; STPG: Leah Trumbauer, 1.5; BPG: Marielle Anderson, 0.3; FG%: Attelson, 30.7; 3PFG%: Mea Ulland, 35.2; FT%: Yunck, 87.3
2022-23 W. Region Tournament Rewind: Did Not Place; Loss vs. Legacy; Won vs. Dickinson; Loss vs. Bismarck High