Minot's Maggie Fricke (2) drives toward the basket past Grand Forks Red River's Taylor Hodny (11) during a Class AA state quarterfinal game at the Bismarck Event Center on Thursday, March 12, 2026. Tanner Ecker/The Bismarck Tribune

The Minot High Majettes opened up their 2026 bid for the 2026 NDHSAA Division AA Girls Basketball State Championship with a commanding performance on the court in Bismarck on Thursday afternoon, Mar. 13. Senior Maggie Fricke led the charge with a whopping 33 individual points on the game.

After missing most of the last regular season and all of last year’s state tournament due to a torn ACL, Fricke worked hard to get back on the court early this season.

Since rejoining the rest of the Majettes on the court, Fricke has helped lead her team through a near-flawless season. The Majettes won all but a single game during the regular season and swept through their post season, earning the WDA title just the week prior.

With their ticket punched to the State Tournament and the wind at their backs, the Majettes traveled to Bismarck to open their first round of competition play against the Grand Forks Red River Roughriders.

Out of the gate, the Majettes demonstrated their on-court prowess that gave them such a successful season.

The First-seeded team from the West took charge early and kept it through the entirety of the first half.

The Majettes more than doubled their opponent’s score multiple times over the course of the 18 minutes of play. By the time halftime rolled around, the Majettes had a dominant 50-22 lead over the Roughriders.

The Majettes put up high numbers through the first half of play, with Maggie Fricke hitting four of seven free throw attempts. Senior Leelee Bell, who crossed 3,000 career points during the WDA Tournament, was just as strong on the court, securing seven of nine two-point shots and two of three three-pointers in the first half.

The Majettes’ starting five players were the only ones to take shots at the basket in the first half, and thoug more players took shots in the second half, Fricke and Bell helped carry the Majettes over the finish line.

Minot’s quarterfinal ended with their fourth post season victory this year with a decisive 87-37 score over the Roughriders.

The Majettes will face off against Mandan High School beginning at 1 p.m. on Friday, Mar. 13.