Nathan Beitler/MDN Prairie-Max seniors Skotti Beck (front row, middle) and Maycie Talbott (back row, third from the right) pose with the rest of the Royals girls’ basketball team at their signing event on Wednesday, Nov. 26.

Two senior members of the South Prairie-Max Royals girls’ basketball team signed to play intercollegiate basketball in a signing on Wednesday, Nov. 26, at South Prairie.

South Prairie senior guards Skotti Beck and Maycie Talbott both signed to play basketball in North Dakota at the university level after their senior year.

Skotti Beck has been dribbling a basketball since she was three years old. At four, she joined her first youth league. Skotti grew up in a basketball family. Both of her parents were huge fans of the sport and Skotti’s mom coached her youth team in the Y league. Skotti played varsity basketball for the first time in eighth grade. At that time, she played for the Glenburn Panthers.

“I went in so nervous, I didn’t score a single point that night. I cried in my travel coach’s arms after that. He said ‘you got it’ and the next game I did pretty well,” said Skotti.

Maycie Thompson also grew up in a basketball family. Both of her older brothers played, and both of her parents played basketball in high school. Maycie started her basketball career with Y League in the second grade, played in elementary school and co-opted in high school to play for the Royals. Maycie played her first year of varsity basketball in seventh grade when Max High School played on their own.

“When you’re really young, you got to develop quick and figure out how to play fast basketball.” Maycie said.

And learn they did. Last season, Skotti, Maycie and the other Royals competed in the Class A Girls’ State Basketball Tournament last year and made it all the way to finals where they were beaten by the Devils Lake Firebirds. Before the start of the new season, Skotti Beck committed to and signed a letter of intent to play basketball for the Minot State Beavers this past Wednesday.

“I love the Dome. The Dome is huge and it just feels like home,” said Skottie. “The community around [Minot State], the faith here, I love my church here and my family is here and the coaches were really welcoming and I loved all the teammates. I’m definitely nervous, but I know my teammates and the coaches are going to make me really welcome, so I’m really excited to learn and see what it’s all about there.”

The same Wednesday at the same event, Maycie Talbott signed her own letter of intent to play at the University of Jamestown for the Jimmies.

“When I went to go visit [Jamestown], it was a great facility,” Maycie said. “I love the class size, I love everything. When I finally got to meet the basketball players, they were so welcoming and the coaches were so amazing and I love the area. It was just perfect.”

Skotti and Maycie will finish out their last season of varsity basketball this year with the Royals beginning this Monday, Dec. 1, at Carrington High School.