LaMoure-Litchville/Marion cruise to regional finals with 46-15 victory over Sargent County

The Loboes outscored the Bulldogs 27-2 in the second half of the lopsided win.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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The LaMoure-Litchville/Marion Loboes shook off a slow first half to breeze through a semifinal win against the Sargent County Bulldogs 46-15 in the 2026 NDHSAA Region 1B Girls Basketball Tournament. The Loboes came out on a 10-3 run in the first five minutes of the game but the Bulldogs closed out the first quarter within two points. The Loboes led by six at halftime, but then outscored the Bulldogs 27-2 in the second half to cruise to the 31-point victory.

Why it matters

The win advances the Loboes to the 2026 NDHSAA Region 1B Girls Basketball Tournament finals, where they will take on Edgeley/Kulm/Montpelier on Thursday, February 26. This game is an important step for the Loboes in their quest to win the regional championship and advance to the state tournament.

The details

Through the first half, the Loboes only led by six points. But in the second half, the Loboes' lockdown defense forced 10 Bulldog turnovers that led to 5 points, and the Loboes outscored the Bulldogs 27-2 in the final two quarters to pull away for the lopsided victory. Loboes head coach Ben Holen said the team did a better job of getting into the paint in the second half, though he felt they could have done a better job of cleaning up the defensive glass.

  • The game was played on Tuesday, February 24, 2026.
  • The Loboes will play in the regional finals on Thursday, February 26, 2026.

The players

LaMoure-Litchville/Marion Loboes

The LaMoure-Litchville/Marion high school girls basketball team, the District 2 champions who advanced to the regional finals.

Sargent County Bulldogs

The Sargent County high school girls basketball team, who lost to the Loboes in the regional semifinal game.

Ben Holen

The head coach of the LaMoure-Litchville/Marion Loboes.

Mia Van Eeden

A senior guard for the LaMoure-Litchville/Marion Loboes who scored a game-high 11 points in the first half.

Mallory Bogart

A player for the Sargent County Bulldogs.

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What they’re saying

“We did a better job of getting into the paint in the second half. I wasn't upset by the threes we missed in the first half; they were open, they just weren't falling.”

— Ben Holen, Loboes head coach (jamestownsun.com)

“We didn't clean up the glass when they were missing shots. They had 13 in the first half, and I thought seven to nine of those points were things we could have cleaned up.”

— Ben Holen, Loboes head coach (jamestownsun.com)

What’s next

The Loboes will play in the 2026 NDHSAA Region 1B Girls Basketball Tournament finals on Thursday, February 26. The game will start 20 minutes after the completion of the third-place game, which begins at 6 p.m.

The takeaway

The Loboes' dominant second-half performance, where they outscored the Bulldogs 27-2, showcased the team's ability to make crucial adjustments and pull away for a convincing victory. This win puts them one step closer to the regional championship and a chance to advance to the state tournament.