Kristian Ferrell
Basketball has been a popular sport in North Dakota since the 1920s, with the North Dakota High School League (now the North Dakota High School Activities Association) organising a state tournament since 1920. The league established Class A and Class B tournaments in 1933, with Class B teams typically coming from smaller schools. Class B basketball has been prominent in North Dakota, with entire towns attending the state tournament to support the teams. In this paragraph, we will explore the history of Class B basketball in North Dakota and the impact it has had on the state's sports culture.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 2025 |
| Date | March 20-22 |
| Location | Minot State Dome |
| Teams | Oakes, New Rockford-Sheyenne, Bishop Ryan, Westhope/Newburg, Midway-Minto, Our Redeemer's, North Border, Hankinson |
| Previous Winners | Westhope/Newburg, Carrington Cardinals, Central Cass |
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What You'll Learn
North Dakota Class B Boys Basketball State Tournament Preview
The North Dakota Class B Boys Basketball State Tournament has a long history, with the sport being played competitively in the state since at least 1920. Small towns with Class B teams supported both boys' and girls' teams, and basketball games provided a fun evening out for the community.
The 2023 North Dakota Class B Boys Basketball State Tournament saw Central Cass earn the top seed, with the Squirrels entering the tournament undefeated at 23-0. The 2025 tournament is scheduled for March 20-22 at the Minot State Dome, and the bracket has been set with eight teams vying for the Class B State Title.
Oakes is making their first trip to the State Tournament since 1995 and features a mix of offensive and defensive talent, including Star Sophomore Beau Thorpe and the towering presence of Eddie Garza and Jyles Meier. They will face #2 Our Redeemers, who are having a stellar season at 23-2 and are the only team in the tournament with both a District and Region Title. Our Redeemers is looking to bounce back from a first-round loss in the 2024 tournament.
#3 Bishop Ryan will face #6 Hankinson in the Quarterfinals. Bishop Ryan enters the tournament for the second straight year with a 22-3 record, aiming to improve on their Semifinal exit last year. They will be up against a tough Hankinson team, who are the Region 1 Champions.
North Border is a force to be reckoned with, averaging 62 points per game while allowing around 48 points per game. They feature a talented trio of Senior Guard Grant Cosley, Brody Berg, and Garret Willits. Defending Class B Champions Westhope/Newburg is also in the mix, boasting a superstar guard in Walker Braaten and a high-scoring offense that averages 73 points per game.
Wilton-Wing has had an impressive season, losing only one game and featuring a trio of standout players in William Bergquist, Hunter Wolff, and Teigen Earsley. They will be a team to watch, along with New Rockford-Sheyenne, who had a strong season with a 22-4 record and were crowned District 4 Champions.
The stage is set for an exciting tournament, with teams bringing a mix of offensive firepower and defensive prowess. The road to the Class B State Title will be fiercely contested, and fans can look forward to thrilling matchups and upsets as the tournament progresses.
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North Dakota Class B Girls Basketball
Girls have been playing basketball in North Dakota since the 1890s. Initially, there were only a few teams, with the girls' basketball team at the University of North Dakota often playing local high school teams. The popularity of basketball in schools was initially confined to the northeastern part of the state, perhaps due to the competition between the university and high school teams.
In the 1930s, girls' basketball uniforms allowed for freer movement, but the gyms were small, so players had to be careful not to run into walls. The North Dakota High School League began sponsoring girls' basketball state tournaments in 1934 to determine the "unofficial" state champion. Before the establishment of the state championship playoff system, many basketball teams held district or county tournaments, and some teams held invitational tournaments.
Since 1972, girls' basketball has opened doors to higher education and excellent careers for young women in North Dakota. Communities follow their teams to tournaments and state championship games, taking as much pride in the girls' basketball teams as any other school teams. Entire towns attend the state tournament to support their team.
The Central Cass girls' basketball team, which was seeded No. 2, recently won the Class B girls' state championship in 2023.
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North Dakota High School League
The North Dakota High School League, now known as the North Dakota High School Activities Association (NDHSAA), has been organising state basketball tournaments since 1920. Initially, all schools competed in the same tournament, but in 1933, the League established Class A and Class B tournaments.
The classification of schools has changed over time, but it generally depends on the number of students enrolled. Today, a high school with more than 325 students is classified as Class A, and schools with over 200 students may choose to play in this class. All other schools fall into Class B.
Class B basketball has been a prominent feature of North Dakota's sports scene, with entire towns attending tournaments and championship games to support their girls' and boys' teams. The intense interest in the Class B state tournament has remained constant over the years, with successful teams progressing to district and regional playoffs.
The 2023 North Dakota Class B boys' state basketball tournament saw Central Cass earn the top seed, with the Squirrels entering the state tournament undefeated. The 2025 NDHSAA Division B Boys Basketball State Tournament is scheduled to take place in March 2025 at the Minot State Dome, with teams like Oakes, New Rockford-Sheyenne, Bishop Ryan, and Westhope/Newburg vying for the Class B State Title.
Class B basketball has served as a launchpad for many athletes' careers, with players like Jim Kleinsasser and Butch Lince going on to excel in professional sports and represent teams like the Minnesota Vikings.
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North Dakota Class B Boys Basketball
Over the years, the intense interest in the Class B state tournament has remained constant, with entire towns attending to support their teams. The small gyms of the past, often just "cracker box" rooms with space for a few spectators, have given way to larger venues built to host district or regional tournaments.
The 2023 North Dakota Class B Boys Basketball State Tournament saw Central Cass earn the top seed, with the Squirrels entering the tournament undefeated at 23-0. The 2025 tournament is scheduled to take place from March 20-22 at the Minot State Dome, with teams like Oakes, New Rockford-Sheyenne, Bishop Ryan, and Westhope/Newburg vying for the Class B State Title.
The North Dakota Class B Boys Basketball tournament has served as a launchpad for many athletes, with some going on to have successful careers in professional sports. Notable examples include Jim Kleinsasser, who led the Carrington Cardinals to the state basketball title in 1995 before playing football for the Minnesota Vikings, and Butch Lince, who played basketball for Mott and went on to play professional football for the Philadelphia Eagles and the Minnesota Vikings.
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North Dakota Class B Girls State Championship
Girls have played basketball in North Dakota since the 1890s. In the early days, there were only a few teams, and the girls' basketball team at the University of North Dakota often played local high school teams. The small number of teams may have been due to financial constraints, as neither the university team nor the high school teams could afford to travel far for games.
Girls' basketball was a seriously competitive sport in North Dakota schools until 1960, with entire towns attending the state tournament to support their team. The North Dakota High School League began sponsoring girls' basketball state tournaments in 1934 to determine the "unofficial" state champion. Before this, schools approached the concept of a state tournament through invitational tournaments.
The Central Cass girls' basketball team, which was seeded No. 2, won the North Dakota Class B girls' state championship in 2023. Their success helped fuel the boys' team, according to Central Cass head coach Matt Norman, who said:
> "It creates a special kind of energy in the hallways of the school. It’s fun to watch the girls succeed because it creates that energy. It keeps the kids hungry for sure."
Since 1972, girls' basketball has opened doors to higher education and excellent careers for young women in North Dakota. One notable former player is Pat Smykowski of Lidgerwood, who competed in several state Class B tournaments and went on to play basketball for NDSU. She was named to the 1986 NCAA all-tournament team and was honoured as Best Woman Athlete of North Dakota by Sports Illustrated magazine.
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Frequently asked questions
Central Cass earned the No. 1 seed for the 2023 North Dakota Class B Boys Basketball State Tournament.
The Carrington Cardinals won the 1995 North Dakota Class B Boys Basketball State Tournament.
Jim Kleinsasser, Butch Lince, and Sheri Kleinsasser are some of the past successful players in the North Dakota Class B Boys Basketball State Tournament.
Girls played basketball in North Dakota as early as the 1890s.
