Central Cass, Kindred Advance to Region 1A Girls Basketball Final

Central Cass upsets Valley City, Kindred cruises past Wahpeton in semifinal matchups

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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In the semifinals of the Region 1A girls basketball tournament, the Central Cass Squirrels pulled off a stunning upset over the Valley City Hi-Liners, while the Kindred Vikings cruised past the Wahpeton Huskies to set up a championship showdown.

Why it matters

The Region 1A tournament is a highly anticipated annual event that determines which teams will advance to the state tournament. The results of these semifinal games will have major implications for the teams and their communities as they vie for a spot in the state tournament.

The details

In the first semifinal, the Central Cass Squirrels, who had lost to Valley City by over 30 points earlier in the season, delivered a remarkable shooting performance, knocking down 12 3-pointers to defeat the Hi-Liners 65-59. The Squirrels erased an early 10-point deficit and tied the game at halftime before pulling away in the second half. In the other semifinal, the Kindred Vikings relied on the dominant scoring duo of Sierra Nipstad and Liza Trenbeath, who combined for 62 of the team's 69 points in a 69-53 victory over the Wahpeton Huskies. Kindred's full-court pressure defense set the tone early, leading to a 17-point halftime advantage that the Huskies could not overcome.

  • The Central Cass-Valley City game was played on February 24, 2026.
  • The Kindred-Wahpeton game was also played on February 24, 2026.
  • The Region 1A championship game between Central Cass and Kindred will be played on February 27, 2026.
  • The third-place game between Valley City and Wahpeton will be played on February 27, 2026 at 6 p.m.

The players

Central Cass Squirrels

The Central Cass girls basketball team, who pulled off a stunning upset over the previously dominant Valley City Hi-Liners in the semifinal round of the Region 1A tournament.

Valley City Hi-Liners

The Valley City girls basketball team, who were upset by Central Cass in the semifinal round of the Region 1A tournament after defeating them by over 30 points earlier in the season.

Kindred Vikings

The Kindred girls basketball team, who cruised past the Wahpeton Huskies in the semifinal round of the Region 1A tournament to advance to the championship game.

Wahpeton Huskies

The Wahpeton girls basketball team, who were defeated by the Kindred Vikings in the semifinal round of the Region 1A tournament.

Skye Nielson

A standout player for the Valley City Hi-Liners, who scored 11 points in the first quarter of their semifinal game against Central Cass.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“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 Region 1A championship game between Central Cass and Kindred will be played on February 27, 2026. The third-place game between Valley City and Wahpeton will also be played on February 27, 2026 at 6 p.m. Both games will be broadcast on KOVC 1490 AM/96.3 FM and streamed online at NewsDakota.com.

The takeaway

The semifinal results of the Region 1A girls basketball tournament showcase the unpredictability and excitement of high school sports, as the underdog Central Cass Squirrels pulled off a stunning upset over the previously dominant Valley City Hi-Liners. The championship matchup between Central Cass and Kindred promises to be a thrilling conclusion to the tournament, with both teams vying for a spot in the state tournament.