⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Fargodome featured the highest achievements with Sheyenne & Northern Cass repeating as the Class A & Class B volleyball champions!
In the wake of the tournaments Fargo North's Rachel Hummel & May/Port/C/G's Stacy Hanson were named the Coaches of the Year.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The news for that court continued ahead of NDSU's debut in Vermillion with Kelley Johnson being named League Setter of the Year, pacing the way for four who made the All-League lists.
They made good on the recognition, coming back from a 2-1 deficit against South Dakota in the quarterfinals of the League tournament in Vermillion!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
At Northern Iowa the football team also made it's final statement before the bracket was released. The 48 - 27 trampling wasn't enough for them to break into the top-8 but the path that they were given would be even more memorable if they can navigate it as well as they have the last two weeks!
They are not likely to be gifted four interceptions in any of those possible matchups but with Cam Miller continuing to be masterful with the offense, the turnover ratio is likely to be in their favor. Miller's latest masterpiece came as Cole Payton ended a five-game stretch of running for less than 30 yards and not scoring. Whatever it was that precipitated the precipitous decline, if proves to be all the way done then Drake, Montana State, USD/UND or Sac State will all have some fits keeping them from the semi-finals!
Beyond the first game of this tournament run it would all come as a road-warrior operation. But again, that would just make it distinct from all the others runs into December!
Outside of the quarterbacks, Raja Nelson will need to continue being Fargo's version of Deebo Samuel to make this offense as dangerous as it can be!
Not so for the defense. Unlike past years when they had a future pro threatening the opposing passer, this has to be a whole-is-better-than-the-sum-of-the-parts operation for them to avoid track meets & continue advancing through the bracket.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A week that began with Anthony Edwards being named the Western Conference Player of the Week for the first time was strange, to put it simply. After beating Golden State at full strength they struggled to overcome the depleated team in a rematch Tuesday.
The two stories about it are the assault by Draymond Green and the resilience of the Howl to get the win despite not playing to their talent advantage. They followed that by dropping the back-to-back in Phoenix in an anticipated loss, only to struggle again in New Orleans Saturday yet manage to eek out their ninth win already. With five games on the road in a little more than a week that could explain some of the trouble they encounter in NOLA but the pace of games isn't going to slow down so they will need to shake that off because coming back from 98% chance losses is a script that no one should follow!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
They at least pulled of the win-column additions
The Purple had their most unimpressive performance in more than a month. Everyone already knew that the tape holding the operation together may not last all season but the dreaful second half put it in a different light. By rights, they shouldn't have even had the chance to get win number seven, what with their poor ball security. The three turnovers more than made up for the 10 minute advantage in time of possession that the Norse finished with.
To Brian Flores' credit, the defense was up to the task despite being put in those unfavorable situations. The only thing they weren't able to do was tighten-up the turnover margin.
So the one loss doesn't mean they will have to start from scratch but should serve as a wake-up call that they need to not settle and not take any game or drive for granted.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
It was a different story at the Purple Palace as Barnesville advanced back to the championship game and will face Eden Valley/Watkins in the championship! D/G/F & Fertile/Beltrami will be remembered for the great seasons that they had but weren't also able to make it to the finals.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Last but not least, the Force took their first lost of the season in regulation but found out that three of their current members will compete for Team USA at the World Juniors in Nova Scotia next month!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Quite a week for the Fargo area sports scene!