Four Winds/Minnewaukan players and coaches pose for a picture to celebrate their 2022 Class B boys' basketball championship.
Four Winds/Minnewaukan achieved perfection Saturday night and staked their claim as one of the all-time great North Dakota boys’ basketball teams by convincingly defeating reigning champion Kindred 69-49 in the Class B title game. The Indians finished the season 27-0 and their three state tournament games were decided by an average of 25 points.
The Indians raced out to a 7-0 lead in the early stages of the first quarter and had a 30-22 cushion at halftime. The Vikings refused to submit, however, as they opened the second half on a 7-0 run to close the gap to one point. Four Winds/Minnewaukan coolly responded by going on 15-2 run which included two three-pointers from Deng Deng. The Indians were able to coast for most of the fourth quarter and celebrated their second state championship in school history, with the first coming in 2016.
The Indians were led by Jayden Yankton with 22 points and 4 assists. Deng Deng was spectacular on offense and a defensive force, posting 19 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 blocks. Yankton was named Tournament MVP.
The Vikings settle for runner-up status as they went 22-3 on the season. Paul Olson paced the team with 13 points and 3 assists, while Jaiden Peraza added 10 points and 7 rebounds. Both were selected for the All-Tournament team.
In statewide awards, Trey Brandt of Beulah was the Class B Senior Athlete of the Year, FW/M’s Rick Smith was recognized as Coach of the Year, and Bismarck High’s Trey Eaglestaff was honored as 2022 Mr. Basketball.
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 F
16 14 19 20 69 FW-M
8 14 17 10 49 KHS
Consolation Bracket Results
7th Place: Bowman County def. Stanley 49-40
5th Place: Shiloh Christian def. Grafton 56-48
3rd Place: Lamoure-L/M def. Bishop Ryan 45-38
All-Tournament Team
Jayden Yankton, Four Winds/Minnewaukan – MVP
Jacolby Pearson, Four Winds/Minnewaukan
Deng Deng, Four Winds/Minnewaukan
Paul Olson, Kindred
Jaiden Peraza, Kindred
Colton Ness, Lamoure-L/M
Brady Feller, Bishop Ryan
Jay Wanzek, Shiloh Christian
Will Jiskra, Grafton
Bohden Duffield, Bowman County
Class B Boys’ Senior Athlete of the Year: Trey Brandt, Beulah
Class B Boys’ Coach of the Year: Rick Smith, Four Winds/Minnewaukan
Mr. Basketball: Trey Eaglestaff, Bismarck High
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