As always, I think it’s fun to give my take on the Northern Plains League as I see mostly NPL teams all season and have extensive coverage of the league during the mid-season tournament. Last year I said that it was the hardest it’s ever been to pick the top 15 with how balanced the talent is in the league. I had no idea what was coming this year. This is without question the most difficult it has ever been. I typically don’t do any honorable mention picks, but the player listed on the girls team was playing close to 1st team worthy before going down with an injury after just six games, so I felt I needed to mention her. Disclaimers: these are just one man’s OPINION on this basketball season. My opinion is also not that of my employer.
Boys 1st Team
Steele Wolters, 5’9″, So., G, Osborne Bulldogs
After being mostly a role player on Osborne’s State qualifying team in 2016-17, Steele Wolters broke out as one of the top and most consistent scorers in the league. The Sophomore scored in double figures in 20 of his teams 21 contested games. He was the leading scorer for the Bulldogs, who finished 20-2 and qualified for the 1A-DI State Tournament for the third straight season. Wolters averaged 14.3 ppg and tied for the team lead with 3.0 apg. He shot 48% from the floor, including an impressive 49% (54-110) from beyond the three-point line. He also connected on 73% (47-64) of his free throw attempts. Wolters notched a career high 26 points against Sylvan-Lucas on 2/13/18.
Anton Reeves, 5’10”, Sr., G, Pike Valley Panthers
Reeves is on my first team for the second consecutive year. He put up 15.0 ppg, 4.6 spg, 3.9 apg and 3.5 rpg in his final season as a Panther. Reeves led the Panthers in scoring, steals and assists. He scored in double figures in 16 of the 21 games Pike Valley played this season and scored 20 or more seven times. He shot 38% from the floor and tied for the team lead with 41 made three-pointers. His season high was 26 against Sylvan-Lucas on 12/15/17. In his 4-year career, Reeves averaged 11.8 ppg, 3.3 apg and 3.3 spg for Pike Valley.
Jayden Bess, 5’11”, Sr., G, Wilson Dragons
According to the numbers I have, Bess was the top scorer in the league in 2017-18. He averaged 17.2 ppg in his senior season and also dished out 3.6 apg and swiped 3.8 spg. Bess shot 44% from the field and 35% from three-point land this season. He had a three-game stretch in late January and early February when he scored a total of 88 points (29.3 ppg) against Rock Hills, St. John’s/Tipton and Tescott. His season high was a 31-point outing against Rock Hills on 1/26/18. Bess was on my 2nd team a season ago.
Jake Spiegel, 6’2″, Sr., G, Rock Hills Grizzlies
Spiegel had an outstanding senior year in 2017-18. The Grizzly guard put up a team high 14.8 ppg this season and led the team in steals with three per contest. He also dished out 4.6 apg and grabbed 3.9 rpg for a Rock Hills team that finished 17-4. Spiegel shot 46% from the floor and made 45 three-pointers, which was second most on the team. Spiegel’s season high came with a 26-point outing in the season-opener at Pike Valley on 12/1/17. Spiegel was a 3rd team selection for me last season.
Dylan Streit, 6’4″, Sr., F, Sylvan-Lucas Mustangs
In the absence of last season’s leading scorer and 1st-Team all-NPL performer R.J. Haberer, who missed the majority of the season with a knee injury, Streit elevated his game and led the Mustangs averaging 16.3 ppg and 7.5 rpg. He also added 1.6 bpg and 1.4 spg and shot 53% from the floor. He was one of the best free throw shooting bigs in the league as well, connecting on 69% from the charity stripe. Streit scored a career high 36 against Southern Cloud on 1/23/18. Like Spiegel, Streit also jumped from the 3rd team to the 1st in my picks from last season to this season.
Boys 2nd Team
Jordan Wherry, 6’5″, Jr., C, Osborne (12.3 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 58% FG, 63% FT)
Peyton Johnson, 5’11”, Sr., G, Lakeside (14.2 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 4.0 spg, 3.0 apg, 47% FG, 24 3’s, 61% FT)
Tycen Higer, 5’10”, Sr., G, Rock Hills (13.4 ppg, 6.1 apg, 2.5 rpg, 1.9 spg, 40% FG, 50 3’s, 74% FT)
Kade Miller, 6’1″, Jr., F, Osborne (9.7 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 2.6 apg, 2.1 spg, 51% FG)
Ty Brummer, 5’11”, Sr., G, St. John’s/Tipton (10.1 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 2.2 apg, 2.2 spg, 23 3’s, 60% FT)
Boys 3rd Team
Heath White, 6’2″, Sr., G/F, Pike Valley (11.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 3.4 apg, 39% FG, 41 3’s, 69% FT)
Brandon Bates, 5’10”, So., G, St. John’s/Tipton (12.6 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.9 spg, 45 3’s, 65% FT)
Darnell Holloway, 6’4″, Jr., F, Osborne (12.8 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 1.9 spg, 1.0 bpg, 48% FG)
Michael Flavin, 6’4″, Jr., C, Pike Valley (10.4 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 2.4 bpg, 47% FG, 68% FT)
Brayden Moore, 6’3″, Sr., F, Chase (15.7 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 1.1 spg, 42% FG, 24 3’s, 67% FT)
Girls 1st Team
Riley Dietz, 5’7″, Sr., G, Wilson Dragons
Dietz was the leading scorer for the Lady Dragons team that went 17-6 in 2017-18. The senior averaged 15.1 ppg, 7.0 rpg and shot 56% from the floor this season. She had multiple games of 20 or more points and helped Wilson to the Sub-State Championship game before they fell to Central Christian in Stafford. Dietz went from my 3rd team last season to the 1st team this year.
Elizabeth Hardacre, 6’1″, Jr., C, Thunder Ridge Longhorns
Hardacre came on as one of the top post threats in the NPL this season. The Lady Longhorns junior put up 10.9 ppg and led the team in rebounding, hauling in 9.3 per contest. She averaged 2.2 bpg and shot 52% from the floor. She helped Thunder Ridge to a 22-4 record (12-0 NPL) and a 4th place finish at the 1A-DI State Tournament in Hays. Hardacre scored in double figures in 11 games this season and had a career high 22 points against Wilson in the final game of the regular season on 2/23/18.
Rachel Miller, 5’8″, Sr., F, Lakeside Knights
In her final season as a Lady Knight, Miller averaged a double-double, scoring 10.1 ppg and adding 10.6 rpg. She also led the team with 3.0 spg and was second on the team at 2.6 apg. Miller’s season high was a 19-point outing against Logan in Downs on 2/20/18. She shot 43% from the floor on the season as well. Like many others on this team, Miller went from my 3rd team last season to the 1st team this year.
Lauryn Dubbert, 5’6″, Fr., G, St. John’s/Tipton Blujays
In looking through the history of my personal all-league selections, Dubbert is the first freshman to make the 1st team in either girls or boys, and only the second to be on any of the teams. Brenna Eilert of St. John’s/Tipton was a 2nd team pick her freshman year. Dubbert was the leading scorer on a team that went 19-5 and qualified for the 1A-DII State Tournament in Dodge City. She averaged 14.4 ppg, 2.8 spg, 2.8 rpg and 2.7 apg in her first high school season. She also made a team high 39 three-pointers this season. Her career high came on 2/19/18 when she scored 29 of her team’s 36 points in a win over Lakeside in Downs.
Kara Eilert, 5’11”, Jr., C, St. John’s/Tipton Blujays
Kara Eilert is on my 1st team for the second straight season. The Lady Jays’ junior averaged a double-double with 11.8 ppg and 10.9 rpg. She also had a blocked shot per contest. Many would say Eilert had an up and down season, but she still scored in double figures in all but six games and registered 12 double-doubles. She shot 40% from the floor and 63% at the free throw line. Her season high was a 20-point outing against Osborne on 12/9/17 in the Preseason Tournament at Downs.
Girls 2nd Team
Avery Gates, 5’6″, Sr., G, St. John’s/Tipton (10.4 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 3.1 apg, 2.4 spg, 23 3’s, 41% 3P)
Brennan Kirchhoff, 5’2″, So., G, Thunder Ridge (9.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3.5 spg, 3.0 apg, 44% FG)
Peyton Ostmeyer, 5’11”, Sr., C, Natoma (12.0 ppg, 10.8 rpg, 1.5 spg, 0.9 bpg)
Katelyn Zelenka, 5’6″, Sr., G, Wilson (14.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 47% 3P)
Olivia Engler, 5’7″, Sr., G, Osborne (12.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.0 spg, 49% FG)
Girls 3rd Team
Kaleigh Hanzlick, 5’7″, Jr., G, Wilson (8.3 ppg, 5.0 rpg)
Mariah Stauffer, 5’8″, Jr., G/F, Thunder Ridge (9.5 ppg, 4.2 spg, 3.8 rpg, 2.0 apg)
Kaitlyn Morris, 5’6″, Jr., G, Southern Cloud (10.8 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 2.1 spg, 1.8 apg)
Grace Grady, 5’7″, So., G/F, Lakeside (7.4 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 2.6 apg, 2.1 spg, 42% 3P)
Hannah Chambray, 5’2″, Sr., G, Natoma (11.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.9 spg)
HM-Bey Lee Brummet, 5’6″, Jr., G/F, Lakeside (6 GP-12.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 2.5 spg, 2.0 bpg, 40% 3P)
Previous All-League Teams
2016-17
2015-16
2014-15 (No team as I missed all of the regular season due to sickness)
2013-14
2012-13
2011-12
dusty40 
Totally disappointed in your leaving Dereck Gillett off your team. Yes I am his Dad but you left someone off that averaged almost a double double, averaged around 3 assists, roughly 2 blocks, and 2 steals. All while playing on the 2nd place team in the league. Don’t understand your criteria.
I definitely appreciate the feedback and clearly understand where you’re coming from. Dereck is definitely a very good player. If I’m being honest, with as difficult as it was this year, part of my tiebreaking procedure was looking at how the coaches voted. I can say in all honesty that he was the next person on my list. I know that might not be worth much to you. Again, I do truly appreciate your comments.
I do understand that it is a tough job with a lot of tough choices to pick the top 15. I also know it is difficult to deal with getting passed over for postseason recognition. I guess he will just have to come back next year motivated to prove the doubters wrong.