Class A State Tournament – Who to Watch and What to Expect

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thursday can't come soon enough for 8 teams that are fighting for a state title. The Class A State Tournament begins March 5th in Jamestown. Keep reading for my state championship prediction, key players to watch, and a sleeper pick.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>First Round Schedule</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1:00pm #2 Thompson vs #7 Rugby</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2:45pm #3 Valley City vs #6 Devils Lake</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6:30pm #1 South Prairie-Max vs #8 Watford City</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8:15pm #4 Kindred vs #5 Hazen</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em><a href="https://ndhsaanow.com/brackets/basketball-girls/914/2026-ndhsaa-division-a-girls-basketball-state-tournament">Full Tournament Bracket - Click Me!</a></em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='342171' first='Addison' last='Sage'] - Thompson</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='550491' first='Kya' last='Hurst'] - Thompson</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1050947' first='Claire' last='Kolling'] - Thompson</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1550018' first='Avery' last='Santjer'] - Rugby</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1559190' first='Alli' last='Blessum'] - Rugby</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1056624' first='Dacota' last='Potratz'] - Valley City</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='933463' first='Katie' last='Burchill'] - Valley City</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1056706' first='Skye' last='Nielson'] - Valley City</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='933650' first='Tylie' last='Brodina'] - Devils Lake</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='469471' first='Presley' last='Brown'] - Devils Lake</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1220772' first='Ava' last='Beck'] - Devils Lake</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='593657' first='Rylee' last='Routledge'] - South Prairie-Max</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='782585' first='Skotti' last='Beck'] - South Prairie-Max</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1054372' first='Bree' last='Rose'] - South Prairie-Max</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1125219' first='Maycie' last='Talbott'] - South Prairie-Max</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='379966' first='Bailey' last='Mattson'] - Watford City</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1118783' first='Harlee' last='Jacobson'] - Watford City</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='933460' first='Liza' last='Trenbeath'] - Kindred</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1004419' first='Siera' last='Nipstad'] - Kindred</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1571866' first='Ivy' last='Trenbeath'] - Kindred</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1052973' first='Macey' last='Van Inwagen'] - Hazen</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1051389' first='Lauren' last='Doll'] - Hazen </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1357320' first='Emaley' last='Keller'] - Hazen</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Championship Game Prediction</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The talent level at the Class A Division is as good as it has ever been. Spectators will see high-level recruits with Division 1 and Division 2 offers. There are a ton of complimentary pieces on these teams and a handful of 'x-factor' players that could change the course of the tournament. Thompson has played some incredible basketball as of late and have two outstanding players in [player_tooltip player_id='342171' first='Addison' last='Sage'] and [player_tooltip player_id='550491' first='Kya' last='Hurst']. I like them in their first-round battle against Rugby. Valley City has as much talent as anyone, but has had a couple of games this season where they were favored and did not come out on top. If they can get past a fiery Devils Lake squad, I think they can get to the title game. [player_tooltip player_id='933650' first='Tylie' last='Brodina'] and company will do their best to spoil the Hi-Liners' championship aspirations. South Prairie-Max is the clear favorite on the opposite side of the bracket. Their entire starting 5 were selected to the All-Region team, which is very rare. [player_tooltip player_id='782585' first='Skotti' last='Beck'], [player_tooltip player_id='593657' first='Rylee' last='Routledge'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1054372' first='Bree' last='Rose'] lead the way. [player_tooltip player_id='1125219' first='Maycie' last='Talbott'] is an incredibly reliable point guard and allows those other three to thrive in scoring roles. South Prairie-Max has just too much firepower for these other teams to overcome. The Royals leave as 2026 Class A State Champions with a convincing victory over Valley City.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sleeper</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kindred against Hazen is an interesting first-round matchup. Hazen is back in the state tournament for the first time since 2009. They have enough talent to make some noise and play good team basketball. The problem is they have to play [player_tooltip player_id='1004419' first='Siera' last='Nipstad'] and [player_tooltip player_id='933460' first='Liza' last='Trenbeath'], two of the top players in the state and likely both first-team All-State selections. Kindred relies so heavily upon these two girls and they keep delivering. Can the magic continue for three more games? I think it just might. Look out for a dangerous and well-coached Kindred Vikings squad.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>All-Tournament Team Prediction</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thompson - [player_tooltip player_id='342171' first='Addison' last='Sage'], [player_tooltip player_id='550491' first='Kya' last='Hurst']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Valley City - [player_tooltip player_id='933463' first='Katie' last='Burchill'], [player_tooltip player_id='1056624' first='Dacota' last='Potratz'] </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Devils Lake - [player_tooltip player_id='933650' first='Tylie' last='Brodina']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>South Prairie-Max - [player_tooltip player_id='593657' first='Rylee' last='Routledge'], [player_tooltip player_id='782585' first='Skotti' last='Beck'], [player_tooltip player_id='1054372' first='Bree' last='Rose']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kindred - [player_tooltip player_id='933460' first='Liza' last='Trenbeath'], [player_tooltip player_id='1004419' first='Siera' last='Nipstad']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hazen - [player_tooltip player_id='1051389' first='Lauren' last='Doll']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tournament MVP Prediction</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='782585' first='Skotti' last='Beck'] - South Prairie-Max</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->