Perham Celebrates Kaia Anderson's Final Game with 3rd-Place Medals

Regan Hemberger catches fire in the second half to lead Perham to victory over New London-Spicer

Mar. 15, 2026 at 7:48pm

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The Perham girls basketball team celebrated a third-place finish at the Class AA state tournament, led by a strong second-half performance from sharpshooter Regan Hemberger and a memorable final game for senior Kaia Anderson. The Yellowjackets overcame a halftime deficit to defeat New London-Spicer 66-52, capping off a successful season that saw them prove doubters wrong.

Why it matters

Perham's third-place finish at state is a significant accomplishment for the program, which was not expected to be a top-three team in Class AA this season. The victory also provided a fitting sendoff for senior leader Kaia Anderson, who has been the heart and soul of the Yellowjackets over the past few seasons.

The details

After New London-Spicer took a 46-42 lead early in the second half, Hemberger caught fire, draining three 3-pointers to spark a 24-6 run that sealed the win for Perham. The Yellowjackets also got strong contributions from Ashtyn Kunza, Lauren Gjerde, Olivia Phillips, and Nora Rosenthal, showcasing the team's depth and balance. Head coach TJ Super praised his team's defensive effort and unselfishness, which allowed them to overcome their early shooting struggles.

  • The Yellowjackets secured their first quarterfinal win at the state tournament earlier in the week, despite losing two key players.
  • Perham went on to seemingly outplay the eventual Class AA champions, Providence Academy, in the first half of their semifinal matchup.
  • Saturday's third-place game marked the final high school contest for senior Kaia Anderson.

The players

Regan Hemberger

A sharpshooter for the Perham Yellowjackets who caught fire in the second half to lead her team to victory.

Kaia Anderson

The lone senior on the Perham team and the heart and soul of the Yellowjackets, who was celebrated by her teammates and coaches after the third-place win.

TJ Super

The head coach of the Perham Yellowjackets, who praised his team's defensive effort, unselfishness, and the amount of work they put in throughout the season.

Ashtyn Kunza

A top freshman for Perham who stepped up with two 3-pointers in the first half to help the Yellowjackets build an early lead.

Lauren Gjerde

Perham's center, who went a perfect 5-of-5 from the field in the second half and finished with 16 points.

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What they’re saying

“The first half, I was really thinking about my shot because I just got it in my head. Then in the locker room, Super was saying, 'Don't think about your shot.' I hear those words a lot from my dad, so it really meant a lot to like hear that again. And then I just got in the zone again and got out of my head.”

— Regan Hemberger

“I'm really excited for the girls to be able to play on Saturday and be one of the final four teams playing in the state. Then to go out and get to end the season on a win, which, you know, not many teams ever get that opportunity to do, is pretty awesome.”

— TJ Super, Head Coach

“We're just really excited about her (Anderson) and the way she played. She was just phenomenal all tournament, all playoffs and all season. But there were a lot of girls today who just played really well. So overall, we're just excited for the team to be able to end like that.”

— TJ Super, Head Coach

“I'm just so grateful. I just think it's so cool because even our coaches were saying they've never been a part of a team that's ended a season on a win, and that's just a really special feeling. No matter what the outcome would have been, it still would've been a special feeling to be here and be at the state tournament and win with this team. It's just so amazing.”

— Kaia Anderson, Senior

“Rookie's an incredible leader. I know I do and definitely some other girls look up to her. She's just an awesome person in general. She's just like the kindest person I've personally ever met. She's so different from every single one, and I just love that.”

— Regan Hemberger

What’s next

The Perham Yellowjackets will look to build on their third-place finish at state and make another deep tournament run next season, with the goal of capturing the Class AA state championship.

The takeaway

Perham's third-place finish at the state tournament is a testament to the team's resilience, depth, and commitment to playing unselfish, team-first basketball. The Yellowjackets proved the doubters wrong and sent their beloved senior leader Kaia Anderson out on a high note, providing a glimpse of the program's bright future.