The 2026 All-District 4 girls’ basketball team.
North Star and Nelson County took losses in the region qualifier round of the District 4 girls’ basketball tournament on Monday in Maddock.
The following players were selected to the All-District 4 team:
- Aubrey Kenner – Benson County (Senior Athlete of the Year)
- Addisyn Faul – Benson County
- Kaitlyn Maddock – Benson County
- Lacie Fautsch – Benson County
- Hilary Haaven – Langdon Area/Munich
- AryAnna Schaefer – Langdon Area/Munich
- Kenley Blasey – Nelson County
- Ava Peterson – New Rockford-Sheyenne
- Ella Pederson – North Prairie
- Jaydee McCloud – St. John
Benson County head coach Bryan Kenner was named District 4 Coach of the Year, while Langdon Area athletic director was named the District AD of the Year.
A rundown of the two region qualifier games that preceded Monday’s championship, which Benson County won 53-51 over LA/M:
Region Qualifier 1: (6) North Star 33, (4) St. John 49
The Bearcats’ season ended one win short of the region tournament. Their final record was 9-12.
North Star got off to a quick 4-0 lead but struggled to score for much of the first quarter. St. John also had trouble executing plays offensively.
In the first half, Blake Nicholas had eight points on three field goals — each of which gave North Star the lead. But St. John’s Kalli Keplin scored seven straight for the Woodchucks, and Aubree Fox hit St. John’s third triple, as North Star went to the locker room facing a 22-18 deficit at halftime.
The Woodchucks missed seven of their first 12 free throws, but their penchant for getting to the line still made a difference. They went 19-for-22 the rest of the way, finishing 24-for-34 overall.
St. John only had one field goal in the fourth quarter, which came with less than a minute to go. But an 11-for-13 free throw shooting performance in the quarter got the Woodchucks to the finish line. Keplin and Aubree Fox each had a game-high 14 points.
North Star only made five field goals in the second half and went 4-for-10 from the stripe.
Region Qualifier 2: (5) Nelson County 59, (3) North Prairie 69
Nelson County saw its season end with a 6-15 record.
The first half was a tale of two quarters for North Prairie. The Cougars exploded for a 14-0 run in the first, leading as large as 25-10. They capitalized on turnovers and got ahead in transition against the Chargers.
Then, they nearly went the entire second quarter with just two points. The Cougars got sloppy around the rim and struggled to finish the same types of shots they were making in the first quarter.
Nelson County hit six triples in the first half, with two each from Kenley Blasey and Aubree Christinson. Cara Sateren added five points. The Chargers went on a 12-2 run to get within five.
North Prairie made two baskets in the final minute of the half to hold onto a 31-24 lead at halftime.
The Chargers cut their deficit to 37-33 after a drive by Blasey, and 43-38 after a three by Blasey.
But North Prairie got 10 points in the third quarter from 6-foot-2 freshman center Olivia Berginski, extending its lead back to double digits by the end of the quarter.
Berginski led the Cougars with 28 points.
Blasey hit two triples in the fourth quarter to finish with a team-high 21 points. Sateren had 13.
Eight points from Berginksi in the final quarter helped keep the Cougars’ lead in double digits, and they held on to advance and eliminate the Chargers.
