A year ago, seniors made up only half of the eight-player Greater Grand Forks all-city boys basketball team.
That turned out to be just the start of the youth movement in local boys high school basketball.
"Usually, all-conference teams seem to have more seniors on them,'' Grand Forks Central boys basketball coach Dan Carlson said. "But we went from young to younger this year.''
Eight players again are on the all-city team, as selected by Greater Grand Forks coaches and the Grand Forks Fastbreak Club. Only two are seniors, Brenden Bethke of Sacred Heart and Chris Demuth of Central.
That youth prevails isn't an unexpected development.
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"We've all seen this group coming,'' Carlson said. "It's not a huge surprise. These young kids have put in the time and worked on their games.''
Here's a look at the all-city boys and girls basketball teams.
Boys
Julian Benson,
EGF Senior High
The junior is a repeat all-city and all-conference selection. Benson averaged 18.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists. He was named Northwest Conference most valuable player. Benson has 1,175 career points.
Brenden Bethke,
Sacred Heart
The senior is a repeat pick on both the all-city and all-conference teams. Bethke averaged 17 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3 assists this season and finished with Sacred Heart career records for points (1,332) and assists (326).
Chris Demuth,
GF Central
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The senior is a repeat all-city selection. Demuth was one of the most explosive scorers in the EDC, averaging 20.3 points as well as 6.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists and gaining all-conference honors for the Knights.
Brady Dvorak,
Red River
The junior all-conference pick led the Red River offense as a both a playmaker and a finisher. Dvorak paced the Roughriders with averages of 14.9 points and 3.5 assists a game.
John Fontaine,
Sacred Heart
The junior was an all-conference pick after averaging 13.3 points and 6.8 rebounds a game. Fontaine was the Eagles' most accurate 3-point shooter, making 40-of-90 (44 percent).
Mason Love,
GF Central
The sophomore is the ultimate playmaker. He averaged more assists (7.1) than points (7.0). Love set Central single-season records for average assists and total assists (156).
Will Obioha,
Red River
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The 6-5 sophomore was a highlight reel with his dunking ability. Obioha earned all-conference honors after averaging 12.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.1 blocks a game.
Sam Votava,
EGF Senior High
The sophomore is a repeat all-city selection. Votava was a threat to register a triple double in every game as he averaged 14.4 points, 6.8 assists and 8.4 rebounds. He's at 1,128 career points.
Girls
McKenna Aitchison,
EGF Senior High
The senior is a repeat all-conference and all-city selection. She led the balanced Green Wave with an 11.8 scoring average while also getting 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game.
Shelby Frank,
Red River
The junior gained all-EDC honors with her strong post play. Frank averaged 11.5 points and 6.9 rebounds while blocking 2.4 shots per game.
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Sydney Lloyd,
Sacred Heart
The sophomore was an all-conference selection. Lloyd averaged 13.4 points, 2 assists and one block while pacing the Eagles with 8.6 rebounds per game.
Jessica Remer,
Sacred Heart
The senior was named Northern Galaxy defensive player of the year for the second straight season. A repeat all-city and all-conference pick, Remer averaged 15.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 3.7 steals. She scored 1,265 career points.
Kenady Steffan,
Red River
The senior gained all-city honors for the second straight season. Steffan was an all-EDC pick after scoring 10.5 points a game and pacing the Roughriders in assists (4.8 apg) and steals (3.6 spg).
Jadyn Sondrol,
Red River
The senior gained all-EDC honors and is a repeat all-city pick. Sondrol had a team-leading 12.8 scoring average while also contributing 3.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.6 steals per game.
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Chloe Torgerson,
EGF Senior High
The sophomore was an all-conference selection. She averaged 11.6 points and 2.4 steals and made 17 three-point shots.
