Shanley, Wahpeton and Red River among top contenders from Eastern Dakota Conference; Century and Turtle Mountain favorites from Western Dakota Conference.
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1. Shanley (Fargo)
Head coach: Steve Jacobson
2015-16 record: 26-0
Shanley posted an undefeated season in 2015-16, topping Century in the championship game in overtime. Shanley will miss all-state pick and conference MVP Sarah Jacobson, who graduated after averaging 19.8 points per game. But All-Conference selection
Emily Dietz returns. The 6-foot-3 center averaged 11.7 points and 8.5 rebounds last year.
See the North Dakota girls basketball computer rankings, presented by the Army National Guard
2. Century (Bismarck)
Head coach: Ron Metz
2015-16 record: 25-2
Led by Western Dakota Conference Coach of the Year Ron Metz, the Patriots went undefeated in conference play and lost just once during the regular season before falling in overtime to Shanley, 73-66, in the state championship game. All-Conference forward
Regan Dennis (5-11) returns after finishing second on the team in scoring. She was No. 10 in the conference with a 12.4 scoring average and No. 11 in rebounding at 6.0 points per game.
See the MaxPreps North Dakota girls basketball stat leaders3. Red River (Grand Forks)
Head coach: Kent Ripplinger
2015-16 record: 25-13
Red River finished second in the Eastern Dakota Conference behind Shanley, going 17-3 in conference play. The Rough Riders lose just four seniors from last year's team, however, and return All-Conference selection
Alexis Robson, who was one of the top scorers in the league last year. Robson averaged 17.3 points per game and averaged 3.2 steals per game.
See the MaxPreps national girls basketball photos4. Wahpeton
Head coach: Brian Watson
2015-16 record: 14-16
Wahpeton finished in fifth place in the Eastern Dakota Conference at 12-8, but it had a strong showing in the state tournament with a win over Mandan and an overtime loss to Red River. The Huskies return one of the state's top players in 5-11 forward
Tylee Irwin. As a junior, Irwin earned first team All-State honors while averaging 19.3 points and 8.1 rebounds per game.
See the MaxPreps North Dakota girls basketball playoff brackets5. Turtle Mountain (Belcourt)
Head coach: Curt Keplin
2015-16 record: 15-9
The Braves finished in third place in the Western Dakota Conference last year, just one game behind second-place Mandan at 11.7. Turtle Mountain went 1-2 at the state tournament, but returns all-conference guard
Ashley Davis, who was the third-leading scorer in the conference at 13.9 points per game. She also led the conference in assists at 5.44 per game and was third in three-pointers per game. Turtle Mountain loses just two seniors off of last year's team.
