Minot's Maggie Fricke (2) hugs her teammate Sisi Stevick (22) after winning a Class AA state semifinal game against Mandan at the Bismarck Event Center on Friday, March 13, 2026. Tanner Ecker/The Bismarck Tribune

The Minot High Majettes have just one more game to make the perfect ending for their storybook season.

After a full season of hard work and domination on the court, the Majettes continued to work their magic through this year’s postseason. The Majettes tore through the 2026 NDHSAA Division AA, West Region Girls Basketball Tournament, claiming the WDA Championship title and punching their ticket to the state tournament.

The first round of the state tournament once again proved why the Majettes deserved to be there. Minot secured their quarterfinal win against the Grand Fork Red River Roughriders 87-387 and advanced to the state semifinals.

The state semifinals on the afternoon of Friday, Mar. 13, set the Majettes up for a rematch against the only team to beat them on the court this season; the Mandan Braves.

In their first meeting this season on the evening of Feb. 17, the Braves took charge early in the first quarter, leading the Majettes by as many as 25 before halftime. As the game wore on, the Majettes settled into their groove, but by the time the final buzzer sounded, it was too late. The Majettes’ flawless record was shattered that night, but their drive carried them through the rest of the season.

Now, back in the state tournament semifinals against the only team to best them this season, the Majettes were not going to let their past mistakes cloud their drive.

But the Braves would not give in easily.

The Braves took an early lead over the Majettes, maintaining a multi-possession deficit until Minot took their first lead at 13-12. The Majettes were not able to hold long onto that lead, as the Braves immediately took back control. The Braves kept control of ball through most of the rest of the first quarter, working their way up to a seven point lead at 23-30 with less than five minutes remaining in the first quarter.

The Braves continued to lead, widening the score to 27-36 with just 210 seconds on the clock. It looked as if the Majettes would have their first losing half in the post season, until Minot freshman guard Selia Stevick sank a three-point shot that kick-started a scoring run that gave the Majettes their lead back. A quick two-point layup by senior Leelee Bell officially put the Majettes over the top, giving them the lead at 37-36, but they were not done yet.

The Majettes went from a one point lead to a six point lead in just the last minute of play. The halftime buzzer sounded just after senior Maggie Fricke scored two free throws for the Majettes, giving Minot their 43-36 lead at the end of the first half.

Coming out of halftime, the Majettes were just as strong.

Minot scored three more points right out of the gate, increasing their lead to the double digits for the first time all game. For the Majettes, that kind of comfortable lead is where they thrive.

The Majettes worked their tough offense that got them to this point in the postseason all the way up to a 21 point lead at 72-52.

Minot found their way up to a final score of 84, finishing off their run with a completed free throw by junior Kinley Bartsch with just over two minutes to go.

In the last two minutes of play, the Braves scored seven more unanswered points, but at that point in time, the Majettes were already so far ahead that it didn’t matter.

The Majettes avenged themselves against their only loss all season with their 84-73 victory over the Mandan Braves.

“I’m kind of speechless,” said Leelee Bell. “We’ve lost so many years and I was sick of it, so I’m glad that we could get back to this title game and ready to do what I can to win.”

The Majette’s victory on Friday sends them back to the NDHSAA Division AA Girls Basketball State Championship for the first time since their victory over Bismarck Century High School in 2022.

The Majettes will face off against the East Region’s first-seeded Fargo Davies Eagles beginning at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Mar. 14.