March 19–21, 2026 | Barnett Center – Aberdeen
The 2026 Class B State Tournament delivered everything expected — upsets, comeback wins, and a championship decades in the making.
Freeman captures long-awaited title
Second-seeded Freeman was the story of the weekend, rallying from double-digit deficits in both the semifinals and championship game to claim its first state title since 1975.
The Flyers erased a 13-point second-half deficit to defeat defending champion Castlewood 61-53 in Saturday’s title game. David Walter led the way with 22 points and 12 rebounds, while Freeman dominated the second half, outscoring the Warriors 41-23.
Freeman finished 24-2 and won its final 22 games, capping a remarkable turnaround for a program that had struggled just a few seasons ago.
Castlewood falls short of repeat
Fifth-seeded Castlewood made a strong run back to the championship, highlighted by a dominant semifinal win over Lyman.
Kamden Keszler was one of the tournament’s top performers, scoring 24 in the title game and consistently leading the Warriors offensively. But after building a double-digit lead, Castlewood couldn’t hold off Freeman’s second-half surge.
Lyman’s upset sparks tournament
The biggest early headline came Thursday, when No. 8 Lyman stunned top-seeded Viborg-Hurley 49-44 in the opening round.
The Raiders rode that momentum to the semifinals before eventually finishing fourth, showing they could compete with anyone in the field.
Freeman’s comeback identity
Freeman’s path to the title was defined by resilience:
- Trailed Wall by seven entering the fourth quarter in the semifinals before winning 74-70
- Trailed Castlewood by double digits in the championship before rallying
The Flyers consistently delivered in clutch moments, using balanced scoring, rebounding, and free-throw shooting to close games.
Wall rallies for third
Sixth-seeded Wall capped its tournament with a 58-55 comeback win over Lyman in the third-place game.
Emmet Dinger and Teelan Kjerstad each scored 16 points, with Dinger hitting the go-ahead three late. Wall used rebounding and second-chance points to overcome late-game turnovers.
De Smet finishes strong
After an opening-round loss, De Smet responded with back-to-back wins to take fifth place, beating Aberdeen Christian 56-45.
The Bulldogs leaned on strong rebounding and a fourth-quarter surge in both consolation games.
Viborg-Hurley rebounds for seventh
Top-seeded Viborg-Hurley never fully recovered from its opening-round loss but closed the tournament strong with a 72-53 win over Sully Buttes.
Jake Austin and Brady Schroedermeier combined for 50 points in the finale.