MPB Thunder Defeat Hankinson in Overtime, Advance to State Tournament

The Medina-Pingree/Buchanan Thunder are headed to the Minot State Dome after defeating the Edgeley/Kulm/Montpelier Rebels 52-46 on Thursday, March 12, at the Hi-Liner Activity Center in Valley City to claim the 2026 NDHSAA Region 1B Boys Basketball Tournament championship.

Terek Kinzell led all scorers with 18 points, connecting on four 3-pointers, while Chase Ova added 14. Gage Hofmann chipped in nine, Drew Hofmann scored five, Trevin Behm four, and Kysen Uehran two as the Thunder finished 19-of-48 from the field and 8-of-13 at the free throw line.

The Thunder's third quarter was the turning point. MPB outscored EKM 21-15 in the period to build the cushion they would need down the stretch. Even a late rally from the Rebels could not close the gap: with 40 seconds remaining, Edgeley/Kulm/Montpelier junior guard Brogan Young drained a deep 3-pointer to cut the Thunder's lead to 47-43, but the Rebels ran out of time and were forced into the foul game. Young finished with a game-high 19 points and five steals, and the 52 points the Rebels defense held MPB to represented the Thunder's third-lowest point total of the season.

"The job is not done," said MPB head coach Jeremy Weinmeister. "We not only want to go to state but make an impact at state."

The 2026 NDHSAA Division B Boys Basketball State Tournament opens Thursday, March 19, and runs through March 21 at the Minot State Dome in Minot. The Rebels, despite the loss, will have another chance, as Edgeley/Kulm/Montpelier is scheduled to play in the NDHSAA Division B State Qualifiers on Saturday, March 14.