Dykins and Grinsteinner go from rivals to teammates

• Nikki Grinsteinner

Nikki Grinsteinner
• Kelcee Dykins

Kelcee Dykins

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Lions All-Star

Basketball Series

Today (all times CDT)

At Bismarck Civic Center

Class A Girls vs. Class B Girls, 6 p.m.

Class A Boys vs. Class B Boys, 8 p.m.

Wednesday

At Fargo Civic Auditorium

Class A Girls vs. Class B Girls, 6 p.m.

Class A Boys vs. Class B Boys, 8 p.m.

Dickinson Trinity’s Nikki Grinsteinner and Beach’s Kelcee Dykins grew accustomed to playing against each other.

Today, the two will step on the court as teammates for the Class B Lions All-Star girls basketball team. The Class B and Class A girls face off in the two-game series that begins tonight at the Bismarck Civic Center and concludes Wednesday at the Fargo Civic Auditorium.

“It’s definitely a privilege being able to represent Class B girls basketball,” Grinsteinner said. “It’s another chance to show what you have, play with the best and get to know people. It’s definitely a good experience to have.”

Grinsteinner, who averaged 15.5 points per game last season in Region 7 and is attending North Dakota State to major in pharmacy this fall, said being alongside Dykins and the rest of the players from Class B has been a tremendous experience.

“It’s fun,” Grinsteinner said. “Usually during the regular season, you’re playing against the girls that you are on the same team with now. Being able to have them on your team now is a huge plus.”

Dykins, who averaged 15.7 points, was named Region 7 Senior Athlete of the Year and helped the Buccaneers place third at the Class B state tournament.

She said the games are a good opportunity to get back on the court after suffering a foot injury during the second game of the state tournament.

“Being down at the state tournament wasn’t the best thing ever, so it’s nice to have another opportunity back on the court with the Class B girls,” said Dykins, who is playing basketball and majoring in nursing at Bismarck State College. “It’s a lot of fun to be back on the court, especially with girls that you competed against, just coming together as a team and getting to know how each other plays.”

Beach head coach Bob Waldal knew Dykins was a special player, but he didn’t know how good she could possibly be. He found out fairly quick.

“Every year, I say there’s going to be a surprise,” Waldal said. “You always think you know your personnel. I knew she was a starter and all that, but I didn’t know she was going to perform at that high of level.

“She’s a ferocious rebounder. She has a knack of slipping in, getting offensive rebounds and putting it back up for two. Those are critical for a team.”

Since Grinsteinner and Dykins arrived for camp on Friday, the two have been building relationships with players with whom they aren’t too familiar.

“It’s a great experience,” Grinsteinner said. “When I got here, I only knew about four or five of the girls and getting to know the girls from the other side of the state is a great experience and something I’ll always remember.”

Both Grinsteinner and Dykins said it will be nice not having to guard one another throughout the course of the game.

“Nikki and I always played against each other throughout the years,” Dykins said. “Playing with her now is really fun. We’re about the only two from the West side, so it’s really fun and we play the same kind of ball.”

Grinsteinner and Dykins are excited about take the court one last time in their high school careers and coming away with a win or two would make it more memorable.

“During practice, we definitely come with a lot of intensity and our coaches stress we do everything hard,” Grinsteinner said. “It doesn’t have to be the fastest or the best, but as long as we go hard and get everything accomplished. I know when game-time rolls around we’ll come with the exact same intensity that we do in practice.”

“We work really well together and have a lot of chemistry,” Dykins added. “I think if we give it all we have, we can definitely do it.”

Tags: trinity titans, beach buccaneers, high school basketball, lions all-star basketball, nikki grinsteinner, kelcee dykins, titans, preps, basketball