As I have done in the past, I will again give my take on the top players in the Northern Plains League after having seen the teams play in 2015-16 and having extensive coverage of the league during the NPL Tournament. It was another fun year of covering these youngsters after missing nearly the entire season a year ago. Disclaimers: these are just one man’s OPINION on this basketball season. My opinion is also not that of my employer.
Boys 1st Team
Davis Dubbert, 6’4″, Jr., G/F, St. John’s/Tipton Blujays
Dubbert was the undoubted leader of the Blujays squad that went 20-0 in the regular season and 12-0 in the NPL. St. John’s/Tipton finished 25-1 and 3rd place in 1A-DII behind a superb season from Dubbert. He was without question the top player in the league this year, averaging 23.3 ppg, 9 rpg and 2.3 apg. He also shot 57% from the floor and 50% from beyond the 3-point line (52-104) despite starting the season just 1-17. He set a new state record for consecutive made three-pointers as well with 11 in a row. Dubbert was also an 80% FT shooter (102-127), scored in double figures in every game, and scored 30 or more points in five games, including a career high 35 against Osborne on January 12. Dubbert registered 13 double-doubles this season.
Cullen Grabast, 6’1″, Jr., G/F, Osborne Bulldogs
Grabast had always been somewhat of a role player in the past for the Bulldogs, but with graduation and a transfer, he was thrust into a more prominent scoring role this season and took advantage of it. Grabast was a key part of Osborne’s state runner-up finish in 1A-DI. He averaged 16.6 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 2.4 spg and 2.0 apg. Grabast shot 48% from the floor and made 38 3-pointers. He scored a career high 35 against Lakeside in the Preseason Tournament in Downs on December 11.
Justin Burch, 6’0″, Jr., G, Osborne Bulldogs
Not unlike his teammate Cullen Grabast, Burch was also asked to become more of a scoring threat this season and responded to the call, averaging 14.1 ppg. More than that, he added 6.0 rpg and a team high 2.3 apg and shot 42% from three-point land (38-91) and was 49% from the floor overall. Burch put in a career high 28 points on March 5 to help lead Osborne over Pike Valley and into the 1A-DI State Tournament.
Zac Walter, 6’0″, Sr., F, Lincoln Leopards
Walter averaged just 12 ppg this season for the Leopards, but as an undersized forward, he led the Leopards in rebounding, hauling in 9 per contest. He also had a knack for getting to the FT line, shooting 64% on the season at 62-97. Walter matched a career high of 22 points against Lakeside on January 26 in Lincoln.
Parker Gates, 6’0″, Sr., G, St. John’s/Tipton Blujays
I’m breaking traditions with Gates on the 1st team. Sure, he only averaged 5.8 ppg this season for the league champions, but his tenacious defense and ability to lead the floor prove to me that he is one of the top 5 players in this league. Gates averaged a team high 4 apg and also pulled down 4 rpg from his guard spot. If you ask the coaches and players that he played against, to a man, they should all tell you that he was the best one-on-one defender in the league this year and possibly the last two seasons. Case in point: in the semifinals of the NPL Tournament on January 19th, he held Cullen Grabast to just 1 point in the entire game. Dubbert deserves a lot of the credit, but the Blujays probably don’t go 12-0 in the league without Gates.
Boys 2nd Team
Christian Emmert, 6’1″, Sr., G, Lincoln (14.6 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 4.4 spg, 34% 3’s (40-117), 61% FT)
Brendon Clark, 5’10”, Sr., G/F, Chase (15.5 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 3.1 spg, 2.3 apg, 60% FT)
RJ Haberer, 6’0″, So., F/G, Sylvan-Lucas (13.1 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 2.1 apg, 61% FT)
Tucker Johanek, 6’3″, Sr., F, Rock Hills (11.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 51% FG)
Mason Eilert, 6’3″, Jr., F/C, St. John’s/Tipton (8.4 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.0 bpg, 58% FG, 65% FT)
Boys 3rd Team
Jacob Spiegel, 6’2″, So., G, Rock Hills (11.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 37% 3’s (45-121), 71% FT)
Dean Masters, 6’0″, Sr., G/F, Natoma (13.1 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 2.2 apg, 2.2 spg, 41% FG, 36% 3’s, 81% FT)
Joey Raat, 5’10”, Sr., G, Natoma (13.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.2 apg)
Cole Perry, 5’9″, Sr., G, Tescott (11.3 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 2.2 apg, 2.7 spg, 32% 3’s (22-69), 67% FT)
Mason Runft, 6’4″, Jr., F/C, Pike Valley (9.4 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 2.7 bpg, 42% FG, 67% FT)
Girls 1st Team
Kirsten Burger, 5’10”, Sr., G/F, Thunder Ridge Longhorns
Burger finished her outstanding career with Thunder Ridge this season scoring 20.2 ppg and hauling in 8 rpg, while leading the team with 4.7 spg. She also added 4.2 apg and led the team with 42 made 3-point shots, and got to the FT line 109 times, making 72 of those attempts for a 66% clip. Burger was also instrumental in helping lead Thunder Ridge to their 2nd straight 1A-DI State Tournament appearance during their 21-4 season. She scored a career high and Thunder Ridge record 35 points in the Sub-State semifinals against Stockton on March 4.
Brenna Eilert, 5’8″, Jr., G, St. John’s/Tipton Blujays
Eilert was just above her career average of 15.6 ppg, scoring 15.8 ppg this season, leading the Lady Jays, who went 19-4 and finished their regular season league schedule at 12-0. Brenna also added 5.1 rpg, 2.2 apg, 2.1 spg and shot 38% from the floor. She also went 58-84 from the FT line (69%) and scored a career high 29 points in a win over Pike Valley on February 16 in Beloit.
Regan Casey, 5’5″, Sr., G, Natoma Tigers
Casey finished her solid career at Natoma averaging 14.9 ppg, which was right at her career average. Despite being the focal point of many defensive game plans, she created her own points, going 71-107 from the FT line (66%) on the season. She also averaged 5.8 rpg and led the team with 4.2 spg and 2.7 apg.
Elizabeth Walter, 5’7″, Jr., G, St. John’s-Tipton Blujays
Walter averaged 11.6 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.9 apg and 2.6 spg for the regular season champion Lady Jays. She also shot 39% from 3-point land (34-88) and 67% from the FT line (42-63). She did all that while also being asked to guard the other team’s top player night in and night out. Walter, like Gates on the boys 1st team from St. John’s/Tipton, is widely regarded as the top one-on-one defender in the NPL.
Brittni Harlow, 5’4″, Sr., G, Lincoln Leopards
Harlow had a solid senior campaign for the Leopards. She scored 15.0 ppg and added 5.5 rpg as an undersized guard. She also led Lincoln in averaging 3.1 spg. She shot 35% from the floor and like many of her 1st team counterparts, she created her own points, getting to the FT line 146 times, making 94 for a 64% mark.
Girls 2nd Team
Rayna Schmidt, 5’5″, Jr., G, Southern Cloud (15.1 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 33% FG, 66% FT (124-189))
Kassie Bretton, 5’11”, Jr., G, Thunder Ridge (13.8 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.5 spg, 19 3’s)
MaKinlie Hennes, 5’10”, Sr., F/C, Lakeside (12.9 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 1.5 bpg, 45% FG)
Courtney Batchman, 5’6″, Sr., G, Sylvan-Lucas (14.7 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.1 apg, 49% 3’s, 62% FT)
Shaylin Webb, 5’6″, Sr., G, Thunder Ridge (7.0 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 4.9 apg, 2.5 spg)
Girls 3rd Team
Rileigh Gardner, 5’9″, Jr., F, Pike Valley (13.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 1.8 spg, 49% FG, 59% FT)
Rachel Miller, 5’9″, So., F/G, Lakeside (10.8 ppg, 9.9 rpg, 1.8 spg, 38% FG)
Gabbie Smith, 5’6″, Sr., G, St. John’s/Tipton (8.6 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3.5 apg, 2.4 spg, 35% 3’s, 68% FT)
Chloe Miller, 6’1″, Sr., C, St. John’s/Tipton (7.9 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 1.7 bpg, 48% FG, 71% FT)
Peyton Ostmeyer, 5’11”, So., C, Natoma (12.4 ppg, 10.7 rpg, 47% FG, 56% FT)
Previous All-League Teams
2014-15 (No team as I missed all of the regular season due to sickness)
2013-14
2012-13
2011-12
dusty40 