Stutsman County Teams Compete in 2026 NDHSAA Region Basketball Tournament

Medina-Pingree/Buchanan and Edgeley/Kulm/Montpelier are set to tip off tonight, Thursday, March 12, at the Hi-Liner Activity Center in Valley City for the 2026 NDHSAA Region 1B Boys Basketball Tournament championship, the culmination of a bracket that knocked out several Stutsman County-area programs along the way.

Both programs advanced through semifinal play to reach the regional final. Edgeley/Kulm/Montpelier's path through the bracket began in dominant fashion on Monday, March 9, when the Rebels dismantled the Sargent County Bulldogs 51-28 at the Hi-Liner Activity Center. The Rebels built a 10-6 lead after the first quarter and pushed the margin to 19 points by halftime, eventually holding Sargent County to single-digit scoring in all four quarters. EKM's aggressive defense forced 21 turnovers, including 14 steals, while the Bulldogs shot just 24 percent from the field and connected on only 1 of 19 three-point attempts.

Junior guard Brogan Young paced the Rebels with 12 points, seven rebounds and a game-high six steals. Sargent County junior guard Tristen Peterson led the Bulldogs in every major statistical category despite the lopsided result, finishing with eight points, six rebounds, two assists and three steals. No other Bulldog reached double figures; Hans Hanson added five points, Andrew Lagow four, and Skylar Peterson and Cole Fyre three apiece.

Kidder County also punched its ticket to the semifinals with a 50-45 win over Oakes. The Cowboys led 14-10 after the first quarter but found themselves trailing after Oakes outscored them 13-10 in the second and 16-13 in the third to take a narrow edge heading into the fourth. Kidder County then closed the game with a 13-6 final quarter to secure the five-point victory. Grady Larson led the county team with 16 points and Bryce Larson added 11. Preston Fisher and Quincy Welder each contributed eight points. For Oakes, Beau Thorpe carried the offense with 22 points, knocking down four three-pointers. Jyles Miles added eight points and Jack Thorpe six.

With EKM and Medina-Pingree/Buchanan both advancing through their semifinal matchups, the regional title is on the line tonight at Valley City. One team's season ended with a 19-4 record and a 2026 Division B District 1 Boys Basketball Tournament championship to its credit, a résumé that underscores the level of competition these programs brought into the regional round.