MAYVILLE (NewsDakota)- The Devils Lake Firebirds are the defending Class A state champions.  And for anyone who had forgotten that, the defending champs sent a loud reminder to their future opponents.

Using a dominant display of defense, the Firebirds won the 2025 Class A Region 2 Tournament with a resounding 65-31 win over the Carrington Cardinals at the Lewy Lee Fieldhouse on Thursday night to advance to the Class A State Tournament in Minot next week.

It started immediately with a 7-0 run before back-to-back threes by Cardinal freshman Aniston Hornaert, who led the team with 15 points, to cut the lead to 7-6.  But Devils Lake went on a 9-0 run and never looked back.

Carrington shot only 24% (10/42) and committed 23 turnovers in the loss.  The shooting percentage and total points were season lows.  Tylie Brodina led Devils Lake with 15.

Following the game, Edyn Hornaert (pictured above) was named Region 2 Senior Athlete of the Year, Coach Andy Braaten was named Coach of the Year, and Edyn, Isabel Wendel, and Marah Johnson were named to the all-region team.

Carrington will have another chance to advance to the programs first state tournament since 2021 on Saturday in a State Qualifier against the Kindred Vikings, who advanced to the game by defeating the Wahpeton Huskies 53-38 on Thursday in the Region 1 third place game.  Coverage on KDAK The Cardinal begins at 2:45 PM.

CHS            9            11            5            6                    31
DL             24           13           20          8                    65

CARRINGTON (16-7): Aniston Hornaert 15; Edyn Hornaert 4; Maara Kutz 3; Marah Johnson 2; Kaydence Van Ray 2; Sienna Topp 2; Brynn Smith 2; Harper Kollman 1

DEVILS LAKE (20-3): Tylie Brodina 15; Presley Brown 13; Torri Fee 9; Claire Heilman 7; Mia Elsperger 6; Kendra Eckes 4; Cabryn Fritel 3; Ava Beck 2; Anna Shock 2; Janae Martinson 2; Jolie Martinson 2

FULL ARCHIVE: