Editor's Note:
The Dickinson Press' Top 10 sports stories of 2012 countdown continues through Sunday, Dec. 30.
The road to a Class B state title wasn't easy. Well, neither was the road the Region 7 championship for the Beulah boys basketball team.
The Miners knocked off three undefeated teams at the Class B state tournament en route to a state champion is The Dickinson Press' No. 8 sports story of 2012.
Beulah punched its ticket to the state tournament after a strong start to hold off Dickinson Trinity 58-54 in the Region 7 title.
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"It's always our game plan to come out and get a good start," Beulah senior Casey Duppong said in a Press article on Feb. 24. "We always play better if we come out with a good start."
The journey was far from over though.
Beulah had a first-round date at state with Region 1 champion Central Cass. It was the first of three appearances against an undefeated team.
Having won arguably the most difficult region tournament in Class B boys basketball, the Miners used their wave of momentum handling the Squirrels with ease 65-48. However, the next two wins wouldn't come with as much ease.
"At times, we've been a good defensive team this year," Beulah coach Jeremy Brandt said in a Forum Communications article on March 2. "This was one of our best games. I don't think we've seen a quick, explosive team before like they are."
Next on the docket was undefeated Berthold. After the first half, the Miners hopes of a state championship looked grim. Berthold shoved Beulah in a 15-point, 27-12, deficit.
The Miners needed a strong second-half performance from Duppong, Trevor Zacher, Jesse Hettich and Cody Nelson. Beulah's big four combined for 48 points for a 54-50 overtime win against the Bombers.
"I told the guys at halftime we've got to put up a fight," Beulah coach Jeremy Brandt said in a Forum Communications article on March 3. "They attacked us in the first half. We didn't have an answer.
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"We wanted to get their lead to single digits by the fourth quarter. Then, you never know."
Beulah's next opponent in the state championship was top-ranked and defending state champion North Star. The Miners and Bearcats met earlier in that season with North Star putting together a 74-49 beatdown on Dec. 22, 2011.
The previous loss didn't blemish the Miners' hopes. Beulah's 51-49 win came down to a last-second layup from Hettich and a final shot block from Zacher on North Star all-state guard Jacob Hagler, who led the team during the regular season with 29 points per game. In conjunction for winning its first state championship, Beulah ended North Star's 53-game win streak.
"Everybody in the crowd knew who'd get that shot," Brandt said in a Forum Communications article on March 4. "Our kids did, too. They did a nice job of coming in on him, and that was a huge block by Trevor."
The Miners were dancing on the Alerus Center court and the team looks primed to make a run at repeating this season. Beulah returns four starters and a handful of players with varsity experience.
Will this season be as exciting as last season? All I know is the Miners will always keep things interesting.
McGregor is a sports reporter for The Dickinson Press. Email him at rmcgregor@thedickinsonpress.com . Follow him on Twitter at SirRoyal.
