Class AA State Tournament – Players and Predictions

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There are 8 hungry teams looking forward to competing for a state title this weekend. The 2026 Class AA State Tournament starts tomorrow in Bismarck at the Bismarck Civic Center. Here is a preview of what to expect.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>First Round Schedule</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1:00pm #1 Minot vs #4 Grand Forks Red River</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3:00pm #2 West Fargo Horace vs #3 [program_tooltip program_id='712656' first='Mandan' last='']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5:00pm #1 Fargo Davies vs #4 Bismarck Legacy</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>7:00pm #2 Bismarck Century vs #3 Shanley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em><a href="https://ndhsaanow.com/brackets/basketball-girls/930/2026-ndhsaa-division-aa-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='379041' first='Leelee' last='Bell'] - Minot</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='245114' first='Maggie' last='Fricke'] - Minot</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='760534' first='Kinley' last='Bartsch'] - Minot</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1053416' first='Eve' last='Knutson'] - Minot</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1152503' first='Sisi' last='Stevick'] - Minot</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1212045' first='Reese' last='Remz'] - Grand Forks Red River</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1550142' first='Taylor' last='Hodny'] - Grand Forks Red River</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='555488' first='Lakyn' last='Donnelly'] - West Fargo Horace</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='555487' first='Jordan' last='Christofferson'] - West Fargo Horace</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1055444' first='Ava' last='Niewind'] - West Fargo Horace</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='969855' first='AnnaClaire' last='Bugbee'] - [program_tooltip program_id='712656' first='Mandan' last='']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='625626' first='Kimimila' last='McAllister'] - [program_tooltip program_id='712656' first='Mandan' last='']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1094023' first='Alli' last='Reiner'] - [program_tooltip program_id='712656' first='Mandan' last=''] </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='461314' first='Fallon' last='Passanante'] - Fargo Davies</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='629942' first='Quinn' last='Skari'] - Fargo Davies</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1050540' first='Sierra' last='Reinke'] - Fargo Davies</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='892385' first='Marlee' last='Falcon'] - Bismarck Legacy</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1132723' first='Sammy' last='Watson'] - Bismarck Legacy</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1132755' first='Gracie' last='Watson'] - Bismarck Legacy</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1312749' first='Kaylie' last='Welstad'] - Bismarck Century</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1312747' first='Kinley' last='Thorton'] - Bismarck Century</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='641207' first='Abby' last='Fosland'] - Bismarck Century</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1126159' first='Lakyn' last='Johnson'] - Bismarck Century</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1004420' first='Rylee' last='Seavert'] - Shanley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1126138' first='Jaya' last='Taylor'] - Shanley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='641200' first='Megan' last='Dietz'] - Shanley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Championship Game Prediction</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It has been a lot of fun to watch the talent in Class AA rise to the top. There is no question that this division is top heavy with talent, with many Division 1 and Division 2 recruits. Some players with Division 1 talent include [player_tooltip player_id='379041' first='Leelee' last='Bell'], [player_tooltip player_id='245114' first='Maggie' last='Fricke'], [player_tooltip player_id='555488' first='Lakyn' last='Donnelly'], [player_tooltip player_id='555487' first='Jordan' last='Christofferson'], [player_tooltip player_id='969855' first='AnnaClaire' last='Bugbee'], [player_tooltip player_id='892385' first='Marlee' last='Falcon'], [player_tooltip player_id='1312747' first='Kinley' last='Thorton'], [player_tooltip player_id='1312749' first='Kaylie' last='Welstad'], [player_tooltip player_id='1004420' first='Rylee' last='Seavert'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1126138' first='Jaya' last='Taylor']. Division 2 level recruits include players like [player_tooltip player_id='461314' first='Fallon' last='Passanante'], [player_tooltip player_id='629942' first='Quinn' last='Skari'], and [player_tooltip player_id='641200' first='Megan' last='Dietz']. That list doesn't even include players that have potential to play at those levels, but haven't quite gotten the recruiting attention they are going to receive going forward. West Fargo Horace and Mandan is going to be an incredible first round game. Mandan has a couple of posts that are going to really challenge an undersized Horace squad, but Horace has elite perimeter play that will be difficult for Mandan to match. The problem is whoever wins that game has a second round matchup against Minot. On the opposite side of the bracket lies a talented Davies squad that will have to contain Legacy's [player_tooltip player_id='892385' first='Marlee' last='Falcon']. I think Davies comes out of that game with a second round matchup against Bismarck Century. Shanley has a ton of talent, but I think they fall short of a well-coached Patriot team with two young stars in Welstad and Thorton and a senior leader in [player_tooltip player_id='641207' first='Abby' last='Fosland']. I predict a fourth matchup between Minot and Bismarck Century in the championship game. The way the brackets are lined up favors these two squads. Minot redeems itself after being plagued with the injury bug these last few seasons (even this season with an injury to a fantastic player in [player_tooltip player_id='1648588' first='Everette' last='Deschamp']) and wins the State Title. Century puts up a great fight but ultimately falls to a determined Bell and Fricke, hungry for a second championship to end their decorated careers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sleeper Team to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mandan has the pieces to make a run if they can make it past a fast-paced Horace team. Bugbee is the best rebounder in the state and is relentless around the basket. I worry about Horace's lack of a true post to help contain the combination of Bugbee and Reiner. I predict a lot of free-throws in that game. If they leave victorious, they have the confidence to go into the next round knowing they can win. Minot's only loss on the season came at Mandan. The Braves have the size down low to at least bother [player_tooltip player_id='379041' first='Leelee' last='Bell'] enough to make things mildly difficult for her. They were able to knock down 10 three-pointers in their victory over Minot, so shooting the deep ball will be critical for an upset win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>All-Tournament Team Prediction</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Minot - [player_tooltip player_id='379041' first='Leelee' last='Bell'], [player_tooltip player_id='245114' first='Maggie' last='Fricke']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bismarck Century - [player_tooltip player_id='641207' first='Abby' last='Fosland'], [player_tooltip player_id='1312749' first='Kaylie' last='Welstad']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fargo Davies - [player_tooltip player_id='461314' first='Fallon' last='Passanante'], [player_tooltip player_id='629942' first='Quinn' last='Skari']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Shanley - [player_tooltip player_id='1004420' first='Rylee' last='Seavert']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>West Fargo Horace - [player_tooltip player_id='555488' first='Lakyn' last='Donnelly'], [player_tooltip player_id='555487' first='Jordan' last='Christofferson']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='712656' first='Mandan' last=''] - [player_tooltip player_id='969855' first='AnnaClaire' last='Bugbee'], [player_tooltip player_id='625626' first='Kimimila' last='McAllister']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tournament MVP Prediction </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='379041' first='Leelee' last='Bell']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->