Adam Papin/MDN - Minot High's Leelee Bell shoots over two Grand Forks Red River defenders during their December 5, 2023. Bell now sits as Minot High's all-time leading scorer after breaking her teammate Maggie Fricke's record of 1,559 during the West Region title game on Saturday.

BISMARCK — With sophomore Maggie Fricke sitting out another game, Leelee Bell, Presley Bennett and Karew Lamoureux led the Minot High girls basketball team at the 2024 NDHSAA Division AA West Region Girls Basketball Tournament to a win in the championship game over the Bismarck Legacy Sabers. The Majettes jumped out to a commanding 37-26 halftime lead and never let up, taking the title 73-61 in the end.

Sophomore Bell had a game-high 33 points, ten rebounds, a steal and four blocked shots. The 33 points were enough for Bell to pass Fricke for the all-time program scoring record. Bell currently sits at 1,578 while Fricke has 1,559. Fricke had set the record on Jan. 26 in the Majettes’ win over the Bismarck High Demons. Cassie Askvig now sits in third place with 1,397.

Senior Bennett added 11 points and 11 rebounds while junior Lamoureux had 10 points, five assists and three steals in the win.

Bismarck Legacy had five players score. Junior Brooklyn Felchle led with 18 points and 7 rebounds while senior Kali Dauenhaur added 17 points. Senior Helle Severson added 12 points and four rebounds in the loss.

The Majettes were 23-57 from the field, 7-24 from three-point range and 20-26 from the free throw line. The Sabers were 21-55 from the field, 3-16 from three-point range, and 16-19 from the free-throw line.

Minot High had six blocked shots compared to one for the Sabers. Bismarck Legacy had 12 turnovers compared to eight for the Majettes.

Minot High enters the 2024 NDHSAA Division AA Girls Basketball State Tournament on Thursday, March 7, 2024, as the top seed from the West Region and will face the West Fargo-Sheyenne in the opening round. The Majettes faced the Mustangs in the second game of the year with a 79-48 win. The top-seeded team from the East is Grand Forks Red River, who are joined by the Mustangs, Grand Forks Red River, West Fargo Horace and Fargo Davies.

Other WDA teams joining Minot High in the state tournament are Sabers, Bismarck High and Bismarck St. Mary’s.

Tip-off for the Minot High-West Fargo Sheyenne game on Thursday is at 1 p.m. at the Bismarck Event Center. The winner will advance to play the winner of West Fargo Horace vs. Bismarck High.