The 2019-20 basketball season seemed like a blur compared to past years. As I have since the Northern Plains League began back in 2011-12, I have put together my all-league team after seeing NPL basketball exclusively this season. The talent pool was very balanced again this season and I can confidently say that the boys top 15 players were the hardest to narrow down since I’ve been doing this. Congratulations to all in the area on a great season and I can’t wait to do it again in 2020-21. 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, 5’10”, Sr., G, Osborne Bulldogs
Wolters makes my first team for the third straight season after leading the 19-1 Bulldogs. He averaged 19.5 ppg while shooting 47% from the field and making 52 three-pointers, which was second most on the team. Wolters was versatile in the fact that he could shoot outside, but also attacked the rim, making it to the free throw line 108 times in 19 games. He shot 81% (87-108) from the charity stripe on the season. He also averaged 5.8 rpg, 4.9 apg and 3.4 spg. Wolters scored a career high 34 points against Stockton on February 14.
Brandon Bates, 6’0″, Sr., G, St. John’s/Tipton Blujays
Bates is on my first team for the second straight season. He averaged 14.3 ppg, 3.8 apg, 3.2 rpg and 2.1 spg for the 20-6 Blujays. He shot 40% from the floor overall and made 42 three-pointers, which ranked second on the team. Bates was also very efficient from the free throw line, shooting 68-88 for a 77% mark. Bates played his best basketball of the season during the stretch run, as he averaged just under 20 points a contest in the last five games. That included a season high 27 against Frankfort in the Sub-State championship in Marysville.
Noah Williams, 6’1″, Sr., F, Rock Hills Grizzlies
Williams showed up on the scene in the second semester last season for Rock Hills, but broke out during his senior year, landing on my all-league team for the first time. He established himself as a threat early when he scored a career high 43 points in a win over Lincoln on December 10. He ended up leading the 12-7 Grizzlies averaging 19.3 ppg while shooting 56% from the floor. He made 29 three-pointers on the season, shooting 40% from beyond the arc and he also shot 68% (48-71) from the free throw line. Williams was more than just a scorer, averaging 7.1 rpg and 2.2 spg as well.
Jonah Huehl, 6’2″, Jr., F, Sylvan-Lucas Mustangs
Huehl started to establish himself as a scoring threat last season for Sylvan-Lucas, but this season, he blew up and turned into one of the most prolific, consistent scorers in the league. He averaged 18.4 ppg and added 9.5 rpg, 3.2 apg and 2.3 spg. Huehl shot 54% from the floor and 76% from the free throw line for the 18-7 Mustangs. He registered 11 double-doubles this season. His best game came in the regional semis in Claflin on February 27 when he put up a career high 31 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in a win over Natoma. Huehl was on my third team a season ago.
Brady Palen, 6’3″, Sr., F/C, St. John’s/Tipton Blujays
Palen is on my fist team for the second consecutive season. He led the 20-6 Blujays in scoring this season, putting up 15.4 ppg while shooting 50% from the floor. He was known to attack the rim, as his highlight reel features many impressive dunks, but he also made it to the free throw line 134 times, making 74 for a 55% mark that improved as the season went on. Palen also averaged 7.7 rpg, 2.0 bpg, 1.5 apg and 1.5 spg. He scored a career high 28 points in St. John’s/Tipton’s win at Lakeside on February 11.
Boys 2nd Team
Grady Wolters, 6’1″, So., G, Osborne (13.0 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 1.6 spg, 52% FG, 49% 3P (54-111))
Wyatt Eberle, 6’1″, Jr., F, Lakeside (13.9 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 51% FG, 58% FT)
Darrien Holloway, 6’0″, Sr., G, Osborne (12.8 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 4.8 apg, 1.7 spg, 50% FG, 63% FT)
Vaughn Stull, 5’10”, Sr., G, Osborne (12.2 ppg, 4.4 apg, 3.2 rpg, 2.7 spg, 50% FG, 42% 3P)
Keaton Reeves, 5’8″, So., G, Pike Valley (15.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.9 apg, 54% FG, 60% FT)
Boys 3rd Team
Braden Dameron, 6’2″, Sr., G, St. John’s/Tipton (9.4 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 42% FG, 39% 3P)
Jerrod Gillett, 5’9″, Jr., G, Rock Hills (12.0 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 3.1 apg, 2.6 spg, 48% FG, 45% 3P, 70% FT)
Kylan Cunningham, 5’9″, So., G, Lakeside (11.5 ppg, 4.7 apg, 2.2 spg, 43% FG, 44% 3P, 64% FT)
Dylan Bice, 6’2″, Fr., G/F, Thunder Ridge (14.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 2.3 spg, 39% FG, 35% 3P, 72% FT)
Reece Struckhoff, 5’10”, Sr., G, Thunder Ridge (12.1 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 3.4 spg, 3.2 apg, 41% FG)
Girls 1st Team
Lauryn Dubbert, 5’7″, Jr., G, St. John’s/Tipton Blujays
Dubbert has been on my first team all three years she’s played in high school. She had her best season to date, averaging 20.6 ppg while shooting 43% from the floor and making a team high 39 three-pointers. She also found herself at the free throw line a lot this past season, making 85% of those at 90-106. Dubbert scored in double figures in every game but two for the 18-6 Lady Jays. She scored 30 or more points three times. Her career high was 36 in a win over Osborne on January 14, but she added 33 in a win over Bennington on January 28 and 30 in the Sub-State semis against Centralia on March 6. Dubbert also averaged 4.9 spg, 3.9 rpg and 2.8 apg in her junior season.
Brennan Kirchhoff, 5’4″, Sr., G, Thunder Ridge Longhorns
Kirchhoff has been one of the best guards in the league over the past few seasons for the Lady Longhorns. She is on my first team for the second straight year. She averaged 18.7 ppg while making a team high 43 three-pointers and shooting 53% from the floor. She scored in double figures 19 times for the 21-1 Lady Longhorns, scoring a career high 27 against Tescott on February 14. Although she was a top scoring threat, Kirchhoff most likely possesses the best floor vision in the league as she led her team averaging 5.3 apg. She also added 5.4 spg and 3.8 rpg this past season.
Trinity Lutters, 5’4″, Fr., G, Osborne Bulldogs
Lutters made the best of her first year living in Osborne as she helped lead the Lady Bulldogs to a 15-9 record, their best finish since 2013-14 when they placed third at 1A-DI State. Lutters scored in double figures in 23 of the team’s 24 games. She averaged 18.5 ppg in her freshman campaign, shooting 46% from the floor and making a team high 41 three-pointers. Her free throw shooting improved throughout the season as she finished 57-83 at 69% from the line. Lutters scored 30 or more twice with a career high 31 in the NPL Tournament Championship loss to Thunder Ridge on January 24. On January 20, she put up 30 in the NPL Play-In game against Chase. Lutters also averaged 4.3 rpg, 2.1 spg and 1.7 spg in her first high school season.
Madelyn Davis, 5’3″, Jr., G, Thunder Ridge Longhorns
This is the first year Davis has made my all-league team as she had a breakout year for the 21-1 Lady Longhorns. She averaged 11.2 ppg, 3.0 apg, 2.9 rpg and 2.8 spg on the season. Davis also shot 43% from the floor and made 29 three-pointers, which was second most on the team behind Kirchhoff. She also shot 67% (24-36) from the free throw line on the season. Davis put up a career high 20 against Lincoln on February 18.
Rhyann Brown, 5’7″, Sr., F, Osborne Bulldogs
Brown was a third team selection a season ago on this team. As a senior, she became more of a scoring threat, but she was one of the most well-rounded players in the league. Brown contributed in all areas, averaging 9.3 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 3.3 spg and 2.5 apg. Helping lead the Lady Dogs to a 15-9 record, she shot 46% from the floor and 63% (62-98) from the free throw line in her final season. Her career high came against Sylvan-Lucas on February 18 as she scored 21 points in the victory.
Girls 2nd Team
Jaden Boden, 5’11”, Sr., F/C, Thunder Ridge (9.3 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 3.0 spg, 1.8 apg, 51% FG)
Lauren Whelchel, 5’10”, Fr., G/F, Rock Hills (13.7 ppg, 10.2 rpg, 2.7 spg, 40% FG, 71% FT)
Montana Peterson, 5’4″, Sr., G, Tescott (12.8 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 2.7 spg, 1.7 apg, 47% FG, 56% FT)
Keeli Knobbe, 5’7″, Fr., G, Sylvan-Lucas (12.4 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 1.6 spg, 55% FT)
Macy Hanzlick, 5’5″, So., G, Wilson (13.1 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 3.6 spg, 2.1 apg, 2.0 bpg, 32% FG, 36% 3P)
Girls 3rd Team
Caitlin Strong, 5’5″, Sr., F, St. John’s/Tipton (7.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 40% FG)
Ava Stull, 5’11”, So., C, Osborne (7.1 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 1.9 spg, 1.4 bpg, 40% FG, 71% FT)
Iva Rust, 5’8″, Sr., G, Thunder Ridge (7.9 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 46% FG)
Cadence Nondorf, 5’6″, Jr., G, Sylvan-Lucas (9.0 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 3.2 apg, 2.9 spg)
Shea McMillan, 5’7″, Jr., G, Southern Cloud (10.0 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.2 spg, 2.1 apg, 65% FT)
Previous All-League Teams
2018-19
2017-18
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 