The 2020-21 basketball season will undoubtedly be remembered as the strangest in my 18 seasons of broadcasting so far. In late November, we didn’t know if we’d have a season at all and to be able to get through the whole season for most teams was great. 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. It was another tough year to narrow all of these selections down, specifically with the differences between the amount of games each team was able to play. Here’s hoping 2021-22 will be closer to normal. Disclaimers: these are just one man’s OPINION on this basketball season. My opinion is also not that of my employer.
Boys 1st Team
Jonah Huehl, 6’3″, Sr., F, Sylvan-Lucas Mustangs
After being on my first team in 2019-20, Huehl put together another solid season for the Mustangs in 2020-21. He averaged a team high 17.2 ppg and 8.4 rpg for the 15-5 Mustangs. Huehl also averaged 3.3 apg, 3.1 spg and 2.2 bpg and shot 54% from the floor and 59% from the free throw line. Huehl had five double-doubles this past season and scored a season-high 28 points against Thunder Ridge on January 22. Over the past two seasons, Huehl has averaged 17.8 ppg for Sylvan-Lucas.
Jerrod Gillett, 6’0″, Sr., G, Rock Hills Grizzlies
After landing on my third team last season, Gillett vaulted to the first team this year. Gillett grew into a very well-rounded player in his senior season, averaging 14.8 ppg, 7.3 rpg and 2.5 apg. He shot 40% from the floor, 66% from the free throw line and 35% from beyond the arc with 24 made three-pointers. Gillett scored in double figures in 10 of 16 contested games for the Grizzlies and put up a career high 30 in a 60-55 OT win at Natoma on February 9.
Kylan Cunningham, 5’11”, Jr., G, Lakeside Knights
Cunningham is another player that went from my third a season ago up to first team this season. Cunningham led Lakeside averaging 14.5 ppg while shooting 40% from beyond the three-point line, making a total of 37 three-pointers in just 13 games. Cunningham saw the floor as well as anyone in the state, averaging 6.0 apg, including two single games, both against Thunder Ridge, where he dished out 11 assists. He also averaged 2.9 rpg and 2.9 spg for the 8-5 Knights. Cunningham scored a career high 24 points in a 65-49 win over Sylvan-Lucas on February 23.
Jayce Dickerson, 6’1″, Senior, G, Natoma Tigers
Dickerson is making his first appearance on my all-league team for his career. The senior was the leading scorer on a Natoma team that went 12-6 in 2020-21. He averaged 13.7 ppg and added 5.0 rpg, 2.2 spg and 1.8 apg. Dickerson scored in doubled figures in 13 of the team’s 17 contested games this season. He scored a career high 27 against Wilson on December 14. He also made a team high 37 three-pointers while shooting 36% from beyond the arc. Dickerson also shot 69% from the charity stripe for the season.
Grady Wolters, 6’2″, Junior, G/F, Osborne Bulldogs
Wolters was a member of my second team last season and moves up to first team this year. He averaged 12.5 ppg, 4.4 rpg and 2.0 spg for the 12-8 Bulldogs this season. Wolters has made 54 three-pointers in each of the last two seasons, averaging 12.8 ppg in that span. This season, he shot 39% from beyond the arc and 73% from the free throw line as well. Wolters scored 23 points against Goodland on January 23, which tied his career high. He also scored in double figures in 12 of 20 games in 2020-21.
Boys 2nd Team
Jaret Eitzmann, 6’0″, Jr., G, St. John’s/Tipton (10.6 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 1.9 spg, 36 3-pointers, 57% FT)
Wyatt Eberle, 6’1″, Sr., F, Lakeside (13.0 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 54% FG, 56% FT)
Davion McDonald, 6’0″, Sr., G, Rock Hills (17.7 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 1.9 apg, 36% 3P (27 total), 69% FT)
Jayson Engling, 5’11”, Sr., G, Natoma (10.7 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.6 spg, 2.2 apg, 38% 3P (35 total), 59% FT)
Dylan Bice, 6’3″, So., G, Thunder Ridge (13.3 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 3.1 apg, 2.9 spg, 35 3-pointers, 65% FT)
Boys 3rd Team
Landon O’Hare, 6’5″, Sr., F, Lincoln (11.0 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 65% FT)
Dalton Schmitt, 6’7″, Sr., C, St. John’s/Tipton (10.3 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 1.6 bpg, 52% FT)
Camryn Eberhart, 5’7″, Sr., G, Wilson (15.0 ppg)
Dayton Lantz, 6’0″, Jr., G, Osborne (9.9 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.3 spg, 18 3-pointers, 58% FT)
Brennan Flavin, 6’2″, Sr., F, Pike Valley (10.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg)
Girls 1st Team
Lauryn Dubbert, 5’7″, Sr., G, St. John’s/Tipton Blujays
If I recall correctly, Dubbert is the first player to make my first team all four years of her high school career. As far as scoring average is concerned, Dubbert had her best season of her career as a senior, averaging 22.4 ppg. With 425 points this season, she passed the 1,500 point mark for her career, finishing with 1,530 points. Her biggest performance of her career came against Osborne on January 12, scoring 23 of a career-high 40 points in the fourth quarter of a comeback win. Dubbert scored in double figures in all but one game this year and had 20 or more 12 times. St. John’s/Tipton went 18-2 this season with a third place finish in 1A-DII State. Dubbert shot 43% from the floor, made a team high 50 three-pointers and shot 76% (61-88) from the free throw line. More than just a scorer, she added 6.0 rpg, 6.1 spg and 3.2 apg.
Trinity Lutters, 5’4″, So., G, Osborne Bulldogs
After a solid freshman season that landed her on my first team, Lutters followed that up with a great sophomore campaign as well, helping lead the Lady Bulldogs to the 1A-DI State Tournament. Lutters averaged 18.6 ppg and scored in double figures in 21 of 22 games this past season. She made a team-high 39 three-pointers and shot 45% from the floor and 63% from the charity stripe. In her first two seasons of high school ball, Lutters has already scored 853 points. This season, she also averaged 3.7 rpg, 3.0 spg and 2.1 apg. She scored a season high 29 points at Natoma on February 5.
Lauren Whelchel, 5’10”, So., G/F, Rock Hills Grizzlies
After being on my second team as a freshman, Whelchel moves up to the first team as a sophomore. She helped lead Rock Hills to their first winning season in over a decade as the Lady Grizzlies went 10-5 in 2020-21. Whelchel averaged 16.2 ppg, 6.2 rpg and 2.5 spg. She shot 52% from the floor and 65% from the free throw line this season. She scored in double figures 14 of the 15 games played. Whelchel’s career high came on January 8 with 32 points in a 73-30 win at Chase.
Keeli Knobbe, 5’9″, So., G, Sylvan-Lucas Mustangs
Like Whelchel, after being on my second team a season ago as a freshman, Knobbe is up to first team as a sophomore. She led the 13-6 Lady Mustangs this season averaging 11.9 ppg and 6.3 rpg. Knobbe shot 44% (27-61) from three-point land and 62% at the free throw line in 2020-21. Knobbe scored a season high 20 points against Osborne on December 10.
Madelyn Davis, 5’3″, Sr., G, Thunder Ridge Longhorns
Davis is on my first team for the second straight season as she led the 14-4 Lady Longhorns this season, averaging 10.6 ppg, 4.2 spg, 4.0 apg and 3.1 rpg. Davis made a team-high 19 three-pointers for Thunder Ridge. She scored in double figures seven times throughout the season. Her season high was a 19-point outing in a season-opening 94-12 win over Chase on December 4.
Girls 2nd Team
Raini Hrabe, 5’9″, Sr., F, Thunder Ridge (10.1 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 1.9 spg, 67% FT)
Gracie Riner, 5’4″, Fr., G, Osborne (10.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 3.6 apg, 3.5 spg, 41% FG, 24 3P, 61% FT)
Leah Brummer, 5’7″, Jr., G, St. John’s/Tipton (9.3 ppg, 3.5 spg, 3.2 rpg, 75% FT)
Kylia Geisler, 5’8″, Sr., F, Lakeside (10.2 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 42% FG)
Shea McMillan, 5’6″, Sr., G, Southern Cloud (12.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.3 apg, 72% FT)
Girls 3rd Team
Jauclyn Lemke, 5’10”, Sr., G, Rock Hills (10.7 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 1.8 spg, 50% FG)
Ava Stull, 5’11”, Jr., C, Osborne (7.4 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 2.6 bpg, 39% FG, 60% FT)
Paige Hollerich, 5’7″, Jr., G, St. John’s/Tipton (8.0 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.6 spg, 13 3P made)
Cadence Nondorf, 5’8″, Sr., G, Sylvan-Lucas (10.9 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 3.5 spg, 3.4 apg, 42% FG, 65% FT)
Karrigan Dunstan, 5’4″, Sr., G, Rock Hills (10.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 33 3P made)
Previous All-League Teams
2019-20
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 