H-BC, W-WG win South Sub-Section 3A quarterfinals

Top-seeded Patriots and No. 5 Chargers advance in Minnesota girls basketball tournament

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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The top-seeded Hills-Beaver Creek Patriots and No. 5 seed Westbrook-Walnut Grove Chargers both won their quarterfinal games in the South Sub-Section 3A girls basketball tournament on Saturday. H-BC overcame a slow start to defeat Tracy-Milroy-Balaton 75-40, while W-WG pulled away in the second half to beat Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 52-40.

Why it matters

The wins by the Patriots and Chargers set up a semifinal matchup between the two teams on Tuesday, February 24th, as the Minnesota high school basketball playoffs continue. H-BC is the top seed in the tournament and looking to make a deep run, while W-WG pulled off a mild upset as the 5-seed.

The details

For H-BC, junior Brynn Bakken led the way with 18 points and numerous steals, while Olivia Deelstra added 14 points and 10 rebounds. The Patriots used their full-court pressure defense to force 24 turnovers. For W-WG, senior center Leah Carter dominated with 25 points and 22 rebounds, taking over in the second half to lead the Chargers to victory. Leah VanDeWiele also hit three 3-pointers for W-WG.

  • The South Sub-Section 3A girls basketball tournament quarterfinals were played on Saturday, February 23, 2026.
  • The semifinal matchup between H-BC and W-WG will take place on Tuesday, February 24, 2026.

The players

Brynn Bakken

A junior star for the Hills-Beaver Creek Patriots who is also a standout track and field athlete, winning the 100 and 200 meters at the Class A State meet last spring.

Olivia Deelstra

A junior forward for the Hills-Beaver Creek Patriots who scored 14 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the quarterfinal win.

Leah Carter

A senior center for the Westbrook-Walnut Grove Chargers who dominated with 25 points and 22 rebounds, taking over in the second half to lead her team to victory.

Leah VanDeWiele

A junior guard for the Westbrook-Walnut Grove Chargers who hit three 3-pointers in the quarterfinal win.

Dylan Gehrke

The head coach of the Hills-Beaver Creek Patriots, a 2014 graduate of the school who is in his fifth season leading the team.

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What they’re saying

“I think we have it in us. If we keep the pedal down I think we can go far.”

— Brynn Bakken, Junior star (dglobe.com)

“We're well-balanced. The girls spend a lot of time in the off-season, hitting the weight room, working on their strength and their explosiveness, and it shows.”

— Dylan Gehrke, Head coach (dglobe.com)

“Leah was a force. She went the full 36 minutes. She was just a warrior, especially in the second half when we needed rebounds. She really brought it today.”

— Dan Klumper, W-WG head coach (dglobe.com)

What’s next

The semifinal matchup between top-seeded Hills-Beaver Creek and No. 5 seed Westbrook-Walnut Grove will take place on Tuesday, February 24, 2026 at the Trojan Fieldhouse in Worthington.

The takeaway

The wins by the Patriots and Chargers set up an intriguing semifinal showdown between the tournament's top seed and a lower-seeded team that pulled off an upset. The game will feature a clash of styles, with H-BC's full-court pressure defense against the dominant inside presence of W-WG's Leah Carter, making for an exciting matchup as the Minnesota high school basketball playoffs continue.