District 2 Boys Basketball Tournament Kicks Off With Dramatic Games

Top seeds advance, but some close matchups force overtime in opening round

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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The opening night of the District 2 B Boys Basketball Tournament in Jamestown, North Dakota featured several close games, including one that went to overtime. Top-seeded Linton-HMB cruised to a big win, while #4 Kidder County and #3 EKM also advanced. The #3 Ellendale Cardinals edged the #6 LaMoure-LM Loboes 54-52 in overtime.

Why it matters

The District 2 tournament is a key event leading up to the state championships, with teams battling to keep their seasons alive. The close games and dramatic finishes highlight the competitive nature of high school basketball in North Dakota.

The details

In the opening game, #1 Linton-HMB defeated #9 South Border 73-36 behind strong performances from Brody Richter, Isaac Silvernagel, and Justin Bosch. #5 Medina Pingree Buchanan (MPB) defeated #4 Kidder County 61-41, led by 19 points from Gage Hoffman. #3 EKM topped #6 Napoleon-GS 57-40 with balanced scoring. And in the closest game of the night, #3 Ellendale edged #6 LaMoure-LM 54-52 in overtime, with Devin Waldo hitting the game-winning shot for Ellendale.

  • The District 2 B Boys Basketball Tournament is taking place in Jamestown, North Dakota.
  • The opening round games were played on February 27, 2026.

The players

Brody Richter

A player for the #1 seed Linton-HMB Lions.

Isaac Silvernagel

A player for the #1 seed Linton-HMB Lions.

Justin Bosch

A player for the #1 seed Linton-HMB Lions.

Cam Kemmet

The main offensive weapon for the #9 seed South Border Mustangs.

Gage Hoffman

Scored 19 points for the #5 seed Medina Pingree Buchanan Thunder.

Grady Larson

Scored 13 points for the #4 seed Kidder County Wolves.

Brogan Young

Scored in double digits for the #3 seed EKM Rebels.

Jaden Brandenberg

Scored in double digits for the #3 seed EKM Rebels.

Brady Hansen

Scored in double digits for the #3 seed EKM Rebels.

Drew Nitschke

Scored in double digits for the #3 seed EKM Rebels.

Jackson Piatz

The lone player in double digits for the #6 seed Napoleon-GS Imperials.

Devin Waldo

Hit the game-winning shot in overtime for the #3 seed Ellendale Cardinals.

Mason Warcken

Had a big game and hit clutch 3-pointers to force overtime for the #6 seed LaMoure-LM Loboes.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The tournament will continue on Monday, February 28th, with the semifinals and championship games to follow later in the week.

The takeaway

The opening round of the District 2 tournament featured some thrilling games that showcased the competitive spirit and talent of high school basketball in North Dakota. As the tournament progresses, fans can look forward to more exciting matchups and dramatic finishes as teams fight to advance to the state championship.