The Dickinson Trinity boys basketball team has cleared several obstacles this season. The biggest is yet to come.
The Titans face undefeated and top-ranked New Rockford-Sheyenne tonight in the first round of the North Dakota Class B state boys basketball tournament at the Fargodome.
"We'll see just how good we can be," said Titans coach Gregg Grinsteinner.
Trinity entered the season needing to replace eight seniors and four starters from a team that finished state runner-up to May-Port-C-G last season. With several new faces and no defined roles for them to play, the Titans struggled to find team chemistry at the outset.
"We talked to the kids about taking their lumps early in the season," Grinsteinner said. "And we went through that. But you want to talk about evolution? This is it right here."
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Grinsteinner said he could pinpoint exactly when the Titans became a team to be reckoned with. It was at the end of an exhausting stretch of five games played in eight days. Trinity finished the busy schedule 5-0.
"We played some very talented teams and played three of five on the road," Grinsteinner said. "That was the turning point of the season."
New Rockford-Sheyenne, the favorite to win the title, has had a much different season. The Rockets have dominated nearly every team on their schedule. One thing the Titans have in their favor, however, is standout guard Chad Glasser. The 5-foot-11 senior will finish the season as Trinity's all-time leading scorer.
This year, the Mr. Basketball candidate averaged 22 points, 5 assists and 2.8 steals per game. Glasser shoots an eye-opening 58 percent from the field, including 50 percent from the 3-point line.
"He pretty much is the backbone of our team," Grinsteinner said. "He's been chased and double-teamed and he's still been able to score. But his biggest asset is that he has faith in everybody on the team."
"The kids have earned this one," Grinsteinner said. "I think this is the hardest I've had to coach in my 10 years."
Readers can reach Forum reporter Heath Hotzler at (701) 241-5562
