Kari Gibb/MDN Our Redeemer’s sophomore Nolan Schmidt (14) goes up for a shot at the ORCS Invitational last week. The Knights start the Dale Brown Hoopster Classic at the MSU Dome tomorrow with an 11 a.m. matchup against Hazen.

The Dale Brown Hoopster Classic begins at the Minot State University Dome tomorrow. How has the first month of play progressed for the boys Division B and Division A local teams.

With the Our Redeemer’s Christian School Invitational last week, the Knights, Lions Jays, Pirates, Cougars, Mustangs and Braves tested the Division B polls with both Our Redeemer’s and Bishop Ryan ranked and Central McLean receiving votes.

The Lions have the spotlight with the No. 2 ranking and a 4-0 record to start the season. The Knights lost to Bishop Ryan in the final match of that invitational. Our Redeemer’s sits at 2-1 to start the season with the Surrey Mustangs at 2-1 and third place at the same invite.

The Dale Brown Hoopster Classic brings other local teams into the mix. Des Lacs-Burlington lost the first two games of the season to Shiloh Christian and at Velva but have gone on to win three in a row for the 3-2 record. The Aggies are at 3-0 with the one win over the Lakers along with a hard fought win over Bottineau to start the season.

Bottineau sits at 1-2 with losses to the Aggies and the Devils Lake Firebirds- who are the second ranked team in Division A- to start the season. Powers Lake-Central Burke, Rugby, Beulah, Dickinson Trinity, Thompson and Four Winds-Minnewaukan round out other teams that will be at the classic this week.

The Westhope-Newburg Sioux were the top ranked team in the Division B polls to start the season as the returning Division B state champions. At 2-1 to start the season, the Sioux lost to Wilton-Wing on the road in a close game against the third ranked team in the polls.

The schedule for events at the MSU Dome tomorrow will showcase many of the local Division B teams for fans on holiday break to get a feel for what the next two months of the regular season will be like.

Dale Brown Hoopster Classic – Friday, December 27

Our Redeemer’s v Hazen (11 a.m.)

Westhope-Newburg v Powers Lake-Burke Central (1230 p.m.)

Velva v North Prairie (2 p.m.)

Rugby v Beulah (330 p.m.)

Four Winds-Minnewaukan v Dickinson Trinity (5 p.m.)

Bishop Ryan v St John (630 p.m.)

Des Lacs-Burlington v Thompson (8 p.m.)

As mentioned earlier, Devils Lake is the No. 2 ranked team in preseason polls for Division A boys across the state. The other Division A teams locally are Nedrose at 0-1 with the loss to Hazen to start off and South Prairie-Max at 1-3 with the close loss to Surrey at the ORCS Invitational last week to start the season.