Ava Beck dribbles downcourt in the Firebirds’ final game of the 2025-26 season at the Jamestown Civic Center. (Photo by Cameron Carlson)
JAMESTOWN — Scoring had been a grind for Devils Lake in the state tournament.
After Friday’s consolation semifinal loss, head coach Justin Klein said his team was a “mess” offensively.
On Saturday, with one last chance for this group to play together, they came out ready to play.
“We knew we didn’t want to lose on the last game of the season,” senior Presley Brown said. “So we came out fired up, and the ball movement was really good.”
Devils Lake (16-12) opened on a 17-2 run, scored 40 in the first half and buried Watford City (19-9) by a 76-54 final in the state seventh-place game at the Jamestown Civic Center.
“We felt loose,” Klein said. “We knew we needed some redemption because we weren’t happy with the last two days.”
The Firebirds concluded their third consecutive trip to state with a win. They’ve finished first, fourth and seventh in Division A over the last three years.
One of the truest signs of how well things were clicking for the Firebirds: 36 of their first 38 points were scored by players other than Tylie Brodina. The scoring was spread out.
“That’s really huge,” Klein said. “That’s when we’re really good, and I think that’s what you saw today. It just doesn’t always happen like that.”
The Firebirds shot 17-for-28 from the field in the first half. Five different players made triples: Mia Elsperger, Ava Beck, Tenley Triepke, Jenae Martinson and Emma Hofstad.
“I think we all just wanted to come out and have fun because it’s our last game,” Martinson said. “And these last couple days, we haven’t been playing our best. So to come out today felt really good.”
Elsperger led Devils Lake with nine points in the first half. Beck had eight, Brown had six and Triepke had five. Eight players reached the scoring column in the half.
“The biggest thing is just the ball in the hole,” Klein said. “I mean, we got some shots to fall. And I think anytime a team can get shots to go in early, it just boosts your confidence.”
Watford City didn’t score until there was 3:35 left in the first quarter.
The Wolves had a better second quarter, scoring 14 after just eight in the first. Salil Shoemaker scored nine off the bench in the first half. But Devils Lake’s offense didn’t slow down, with a 40-22 lead at halftime.
Brown scored 14 in the second half to finish with 20 points in her final game as a Firebird.
“Everybody was scoring,” Brown said.
Elsperger hit her second triple of the game early in the third quarter. She scored 16 in her last game suiting up for Devils Lake. She shot 7-for-8 from the field.
“That was one of Mia’s best games,” Klein said. “She was lights-out.”
Devils Lake finished 30-for-49 from the field overall. The Firebirds made nine triples. Beck scored 12 points, fueled by a 2-for-3 performance from three-point range. Brodina finished with 10 points after making 2-of-5 triples in the second half.
Watford City’s Bailey Mattson made three triples after halftime, leading the Wolves with 14 points.
Watford City never got closer than a 19-point margin in the second half. Devils Lake had an early 10-0 run in the third quarter and never really took its foot off the gas pedal offensively.
The Firebirds were presented with a seventh-place trophy after the game. They posed on the court for a team picture.
“Anytime you can end on a win at the state tournament, that’s a good feeling,” Klein said.
