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Bemidji Today
By the People, for the People
Northome/Kelliher Girls Basketball Falls Short in State Tournament Debut
Despite the loss, the Mustangs' historic season ends with pride and promise for the future.
Mar. 13, 2026 at 8:52pm
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The Northome/Kelliher girls basketball team's first-ever state tournament appearance came to an end on Friday with a 70-67 loss to Mayer Lutheran in the Class A consolation semifinals. Trailing by 12 points at one point in the second half, the Mustangs' five seniors led a spirited comeback that fell just short. Though disappointed with the result, head coach Kevin Waldo praised his team's effort and the legacy left by the program-changing senior class.
Why it matters
Northome/Kelliher's state tournament berth was a historic milestone for the small-town program, which had never before reached that level of competition. The Mustangs' gutsy performance against a tough Mayer Lutheran squad showed their ability to compete with the state's elite teams, laying the groundwork for future success.
The details
Northome/Kelliher senior Kate Thayer scored 24 points and had 11 steals in the loss, while fellow seniors Kylee Binkley and Charli Hallstrom added 9 points each. The Mustangs trailed by as many as 12 points in the second half but fought back to within 2 points in the final minute before Mayer Lutheran held on. Despite the defeat, Waldo praised his team's effort and the legacy left by the senior class that helped the program reach the state tournament for the first time.
- The Northome/Kelliher girls basketball team fell to Mayer Lutheran 70-67 on Friday, March 13, 2026 in the Class A consolation semifinals at the Gangelhoff Center in Concordia-St. Paul.
- Northome/Kelliher was making its first-ever state tournament appearance.
The players
Northome/Kelliher
A small-town high school girls basketball program making its historic first state tournament appearance.
Kate Thayer
A senior leader for Northome/Kelliher who scored 24 points and had 11 steals in the team's state tournament loss.
Kylee Binkley
A senior for Northome/Kelliher who scored 9 points in the team's state tournament game.
Charli Hallstrom
A senior for Northome/Kelliher who scored 9 points in the team's state tournament game.
Kevin Waldo
The head coach of the Northome/Kelliher girls basketball team, who praised his team's effort and the legacy of the senior class.
What they’re saying
“It's so hard as a coach to see it end. I've been coaching some of them since (they were in) seventh grade. They've just been a staple in the gym and you know it. You really don't want it to end, but you know it's going to end because that's what high school sports is about.”
— Kevin Waldo, Head Coach
“They showed everyone they aren't here to just roll over and quit. They work their butt off, they work hard. … They were able to just fight through it and try to punch back, and in the end it just didn't work out.”
— Kevin Waldo, Head Coach
The takeaway
Despite the disappointing end to their historic season, the Northome/Kelliher girls basketball team and its five impactful seniors have left an indelible mark on their program and community. Their gutsy performance at state demonstrated their ability to compete with the state's elite, laying the foundation for future success and inspiring the next generation of Mustangs.
