AREA GAMES TO WATCH: Two of area's biggest scorers face off

Sometimes, the game is within the game.

Both Munich-Starkweather and North Border have struggled to get wins this season. Munich-Starkweather is 3-9. North Border is 4-7.

But when those teams meet Friday night in Walhalla, it will match up two of the most prolific scorers in North Dakota Class B boys basketball in northeast North Dakota. Lucas Dick of Munich-Starkweather and Austin Volk of North Border dominate the offense of their teams like few other individuals do in the area.

Dick accounts for 40 percent of his team's points. North Border is even more reliant on Volk, who has 49 percent of the Eagles' points.

"It's not good," Eagles coach Cooter Symington said of relying on one player for so much of a team's offense. "You'd like more balance. But it is what it is. You take what you can get. We just don't have anybody else who has stepped up consistently."

Symington said he's never coached a player who has put up the offensive numbers that Volk is. The 6-foot-3 senior averages 28.2 points and 11.4 rebounds a game. Volk has had two 40-point games, with a high of 43 on Saturday against Stephen-Argyle, and six other games with 27 or more points.

"Austin is versatile," Symington said. "He can play anywhere from point guard to power forward. He's had as many as five 3-point baskets in a game. He's had a lot of putbacks and dunks. He's a really good jumper."

Dick averages 21.8 points for the Magic Storm. The 6-5 senior has had two 30-point games, with a single-game high of 37, and five other 20-point games. While he is the tallest M-S player, he isn't a post player.

"For Lucas, it's slashing," M-S coach Stanley Dick said. "He doesn't like playing down low with his back to the basket. Most of (his offense) is 10- to 15-foot jumpers off the dribble. And he gets to the foul line a lot.

"We don't have enough consistent scorers around him. Most teams will double-team him or play in a zone packing around him."

As well as Dick can put points on the board, he's probably gained more notoriety for his rebounding. The senior averages 17.1 rebounds a game. He's had a double double in every game.

"Lucas has long arms, and he has a knack for rebounding," Stanley Dick said. "He knows instinctively where a shot is coming off the boards."

Other area games to watch this week include:

Boys basketball

• Hillsboro-Central Valley at Larimore, Thursday: There is a scramble amongst four teams for the top spot in District 3, and these are two of those contenders. Larimore is 10-1 entering the week and the Burros are 8-3.

Girls basketball

• North Star at Rolla, Tuesday: These are the last two unbeatens not only in District 8, but in all of Region 4. Rolla (7-0) relies on its one-two inside punch of Mary Jo Guilbert and Alli Vandal. North Star (9-0) has an inside stopper in 6-3 freshman Macey Kvilvang.

• Stephen-Argyle at Red Lake Falls, Thursday: The 8-4 Storm have the second-best defensive average in Section 8A, allowing 43.9 points a game. Red Lake Falls is 9-2 and will challenge that defense with an offense that averages 57.8 points, led by Lexi Olson (16.7 ppg), Lexi Hagl (11.7 ppg) and Corrina Huot (10.5 ppg).

• Pelican Rapids at Crookston, Friday: Crookston is 5-6, but has been close in a number of its setbacks. Four of the Pirates' losses have been by five points each. Pelican Rapids is one of Section 8AA's top teams with a 12-1 record.

Boys hockey

• Moorhead at Roseau, Tuesday: This has become a strong Section 8AA rivalry. Moorhead (8-8) will have to solve the 11-5 Rams team that has the highest scoring average in 8AA (4.7 goals per game) as well as the section's stingiest defense (2.0 goals-against average).

DeVillers reports on sports. Call him at (701) 780-1128, (800) 477-6572 ext. 1128 or send e-mail to gdevillers@gfherald.com .