Four players were nominated as finalists for Miss Basketball in North Dakota on Monday.
Alex Page of Grand Forks Red River and Ryleigh Wacha of Fargo Davies were selected from Class A.
Mackenzie Hughes of Thompson and Samantha Oase of Hettinger-Scranton were selected from Class B.
Page was named EDC Senior Athlete of the Year and Wacha was named All-EDC. Hughes was named Class B Senior Athlete of the Year and Oase was the Region 7 Senior Athlete of the Year.
The Class A State girls basketball tournament begins on Friday from the Bismarck Events Center and the winner of Miss Basketball will be named this weekend.
FINALISTS STATS
- Mackenzie Hughes, Thompson
- 18.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 4.6 apg, 4.7 spg
- Samantha Oase, Hettinger-Scranton
- 20.4 ppg, 11.7 rpg, 2.0 apg, 3.0 spg, 2.2 bpg
- Alex Page, Grand Forks Red River
- 17.1 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.7 spg, 2.0 bpg
- Ryleigh Wacha, Fargo Davies
- 16.0 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 3.9 apg, 3.2 spg, 1.3 bpg
COACHES COMMENTS
Grand Forks Red River head coach Kent Ripplinger on Page: “Alex is a hard-working player that is tough to guard since she can score a variety of ways – in the post, off the dribble and from the three-point line. She has a great attitude and has been a tremendous leader for our team. Alex would be the first to tell you that the success she’s had could not have been done without the help of those around her – that’s the type of teammate she is.”
Fargo Davies head coach Tonah Safranski on Wacha: “Ryleigh is a complete player. She is versatile, can play any position on the floor, can score in the paint and hit perimeter shots. Ryleigh also rebounds and defends very well. She is a great teammate and leader on our team and is a strong student in the classroom.”
Thompson head coach Jason Brend on Hughes: “Mackenzie has the athletic ability and basketball savvy to take over a game on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. Although on many occasions, she has put our team on her back and carried us, her strongest trait is her ability to lead and make everyone around her better.”
Hettinger/Scranton head coach Kelly Pierce on Oase: “Samantha is a tremendous leader, role model, and a player who always puts the team first. She is a very skilled basketball player on the court, and an even better young person off of it!”
COLLEGE PLAYERS
All four players are heading to play collegiate basketball in the fall. Page is going to the University of Minnesota Crookston, Wacha is a University of Mary commit, Hughes is heading to Mayville State and Oase is going to Black Hills State University.
PREVIOUS FIVE WINNERS
2020 – Reile Payne, Shanley
2019 – Megan Zander, Mandan
2018 – Anna Holen, LaMoure/Litchville-Marion
2017 – Tylee Irwin, Wahpeton
2016 – Sarah Jacobson, Shanley
CLASS A BRACKET
Friday, March 12
Quarterfinals
Noon – E1 Fargo Davies vs. W4 Jamestown
2:30 p.m. – W2 Watford City vs. E3 Grand Forks Red River
5 p.m .- W1 Bismarck Century vs. E4 Devils Lake
7:30 p.m. – E2 Shanley vs. W3 Bismarck Legacy
