PCT Photo Rugby High freshman Avery Santjer looks to pass the ball in the Panthers’ Region 3A title defense game against the South Prairie-Max Royals on Thursday, Feb. 26, at the MSU Dome.

The Panthers’ hard-fought run through the 2026 NDHSAA Region 3A Girls Basketball Tournament ended with a loss in their title-defense game against the South Prairie-Max Royals 35-69.

Though the Panthers fell in their region championship match, they took home the runner-up plaque and still had the chance to earn their way to a state tournament invite.

The Panthers were scheduled to take on the Region 4A third-seeded Dickinson Trinity in their 2026 NDHSAA Division A Girls Basketball State Qualifiers on Saturday, Feb. 28, at Century High School in Bismarck.

The low-scoring game ended with the Panthers securing their spot in the 2026 State Tournament with a 29-25 win.

The Panthers entered the 2026 NDHSAA Division A Girls Basketball State Tournament as the seventh seed and were scheduled to play against the second-seeded Thompson High School Tommies in the first game of the tournament on Thursday, Mar. 6, beginning at 1 p.m.

At deadline, the 2026 State Tournament had not yet begun play. Check the next edition of the Pierce County Tribune for the tournament recap.