South Prairie-Max junior Mya Gunville makes a jump shot during the Royals' semifinals game against the Bottineau Stars in the 2026 NDHSAA Region 3A Girls Basketball Tournament on Tuesday night, Feb. 24. Nathan Beitler/MDN

After falling in the Region 3A Tournament semifinals last season, the South Prairie-Max Royals are back in the region championships, scheduled to take on the Rugby Panthers after their upset win over the Turtle Mountain Community High School on Tuesday night, Feb. 24.

The first-seeded Royals faced off against the fourth-seeded Bottineau Stars at the MSU Dome in the first semifinals match of the 2026 NDHSAA Region 3A Girls Basketball Tournament. Right away, the Royals showed why they entered as the tournament favorites.

The Royals’ offense quickly went to work, earning the team 21 points in the first quarter while their defense kept the Stars at just eight points. The second quarter of the game was much the same. The Royals continued to dominate offensively and defensively, entering half time with a lead of 40-15.

The Royals finished up their master class with a victory over the Stars at 72-38. Senior forward Brianna Rose led the Royals in points for their victory, followed close behind by senior Skotti Beck at 13 and junior Rylee Routledge ended the night with 11 points.

With the Royals’ victory they improve to a record of 22-1, earning their 22nd win in a row after their loss in Carrington in their season opener.

The Royals will take on the Rugby Panthers in the region championship after the third-seeded Panthers took down the second-seeded Turtle Mountain Community High School Braves 52-36.

The Braves led the Panthers at the conclusion of the first quarter at 11-15, but the second quarter of the game saw massive gains for the Panthers. Rugby scored 22 points in the second quarter alone, including five three-point shots. The Panthers also played a strong defense in the second quarter, allowing the Braves to earn just six points, giving Rugby the lead heading into half time at 33-21.

Both teams earned 12 points each in the third quarter, giving them a score of 45-33 heading into the last quarter.

The Panthers ended the game with a victory of 52-36, outscoring the Braves once again 7-3 in the last eight minutes of play.

Rugby junior Marly Santjer and senior Sara Schmaltz led the Panthers in points on Tuesday night with 14 each. Junior Samantha Blessum also finished with double digit point earned for the Panthers with 10 on the night.

The Stars and the Braves will face off in the third-place match of the region tournament at the MSU Dome starting at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 26. After winning the region title last year, the Panthers will have the chance to defend as they take on the Royals in the tournament championship match, set to begin 20 minutes after the conclusion of the third-place game on Thursday, Feb. 26.