New England girls basketball coach Jason Jung and his players were thrilled when they saw this week's Class B poll.

Thrilled because the Tigers, who are off to a 9-0 start, broke into the top 10 for the first time this season. They occupy the No. 8 position.

The fact that it's been at least 10 years since a New England girls basketball team took up residence in a state poll makes it all the more thrilling.

"I heard that this is the first time this decade, so it's been quite awhile," said Jung, who is in his fifth season at New England. "We're all excited about it. It means a lot to us. It's nice to see the girls get some recognition. Hopefully we'll keep playing well and stay there for a long time."

Jung said the Tigers, who are coming off a 61-43 victory over Scranton on Monday, expected to be a contending team in District 13 and Region 7 this winter. One reason was the return of three starters from last season's 13-10 team - junior Jordyn Bender and seniors Amanda Olheiser and Shari Hewson, who combined for 36-plus points per game. The trio has upped its production this season. The 5-foot-7 Bender, an all-district and all-region selection in 2007-08, is averaging an even 20.0 points per game, while Olheiser (5-8) and Hewson (6-2) each has a 12.5 scoring average. Olheiser, who tossed in a game-high 21 points on Monday night, has seven double-doubles in scoring and rebounding, thus far. She collected 20 rebounds in two of the last three games.

"Our top three have done a tremendous job for us. They're doing what we expected them to do," Jung said. "We had high expectations because of them, and they've been getting the job done."

Rounding out the starting five are Sarah Wandler and Megan Neprash, a pair of 5-7 seniors. Both are averaging 5-plus points per game. Juniors Steph Herberholz and Jasmine Jung have given the Tigers quality minutes off the bench.

"Jordyn, Amanda and Shari have carried much of the load, but it's been a team effort," Jung said. "When our top three have struggled, the others girls have stepped up and scored.

"Each one of our players knows her role and does it well," the New England coach continued. "They're a hard-working group of girls who want to win."

Highlights in New England's 9-0 start include winning the championship of the Roughrider Tournament last month in Killdeer. The Tigers won three games by an average of 17.7 points.

"That was the first Roughrider title in our history," Jung said. "We played well in all three of our games. It gave us a big boost of confidence."

The Tigers will visit New Salem on Thursday, and will face Bowman County and Beach in a pair of district contests next week. Bowman County won the last two Region 7 championships. Beach received votes in this week's poll.

"The Bowman and Beach games will be big because they're district games, and they're against two excellent programs," Jung said. "They'll be a good indication of where we're at."

New Year Invitational

Eight teams, four boys and four girls, will participate in the 2009 New Year Invitational Friday and Saturday at Shiloh Christian School.

The boys teams are fifth-ranked Shiloh (5-0), Fargo Oak Grove, Minot Our Redeemer's and Williston Trinity Christian. The girls teams are Shiloh, Oak Grove, Our Redeemer's and seventh-ranked Dickinson Trinity.

Four games are scheduled for Friday, beginning with a girls contest between Our Redeemer's and Shiloh.

New Year's Invitational

At Shiloh Christian School

Friday

Girls

3:30 p.m. - Minot Our Redeemer's vs. Shiloh Christian.

6:30 p.m. - Fargo Oak Grove vs. Dickinson Trinity.

Boys

5 p.m. - Our Redeemer's vs. Shiloh Christian.

8 p.m. - Oak Grove vs. Williston Trinity Christian.

Saturday

Girls

1 p.m. - Consolation, losers of Friday's games.

4 p.m. - Championship, winners of Friday's games.

Boys

2:30 p.m. - Consolation, losers of Friday's games.

5:30 p.m. - Championship, winners of Friday's games.

Oakes tough in Region 1

Oakes captured top honors in the Class B Region 1 wrestling tournament last season.

It's looking again like the Tornadoes are the team to beat in 2008-09.

The latest region poll (compiled by the coaches) shows Oakes having six wrestlers who are ranked No. 1 in their respective weight classes - Cody Voegeli (103), Brady Coleman (112), Deven Loepp (119), Josh Kelly (125), Taylor Ptacek (140) and Rob Krueger (145). The Tornadoes also have three grapplers who are ranked No. 2 and three more ranked No. 3.

Napoleon (Evan Gross at 152 and Damon Weigel at 171) and defending state champion Lisbon each has two top-ranked wrestlers, and LaMoure, Linton-HMB, South Border and Ellendale-Edgeley each has one.

Oakes is No. 1 in the team poll. The Tornadoes finished second in last season's state tournament.