The truth is the west is down this year. Not many impact players and overall talent is lacking. Bismarck has a few good players but no one really stands out except Hillman maybe Labere. Century, though gritty has no standouts. Minot had a team filled with inexperienced players. Williston had a real lack of Depth. Hazen has disappeared, Mandan is a joke, Dickinson is the same. Bottineau looks to be improving but maybe that is just because the others have declined so much. Jamestown blew the best opportunity to go to state in forever by being goons. Without an increase in the numbers of youth players there will not be much increase in the prospects for the west region.