Pequot and Brainerd Dominate All-Area Girls Basketball First Team

No area teams reached the state tournament for the first time in four seasons.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 10:06pm

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The Brainerd Dispatch reported that for the first time in four seasons, no area girls basketball teams reached the state tournament. Little Falls, Pequot Lakes, and Pine River-Backus all came up just short by reaching the section finals, while Brainerd and Crosby-Ironton lost in the section semifinals.

Why it matters

Girls basketball is a major high school sport in the region, and the lack of state tournament qualifiers represents a shift in the local basketball landscape after several years of strong representation.

The details

Despite the lack of state tournament berths, several standout players from the Pequot Lakes and Brainerd programs were named to the All-Area First Team, highlighting the continued strength of those programs even without reaching the state tournament.

  • The 2026 girls basketball season concluded in March 2026.

The players

Little Falls

A local high school team that reached the section finals but fell short of the state tournament.

Pequot Lakes

A local high school team that reached the section finals but fell short of the state tournament.

Pine River-Backus

A local high school team that reached the section finals but fell short of the state tournament.

Brainerd

A local high school team that lost in the section semifinals.

Crosby-Ironton

A local high school team that lost in the section semifinals.

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The takeaway

While no area teams reached the state tournament, the continued strength of the Pequot Lakes and Brainerd programs suggests the local girls basketball landscape remains competitive, even if state tournament berths proved elusive this season.