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1994 NDHSAA CLASS A GIRLS BASKETBALL STATE CHAMPIONS: FARGO SOUTH BRUINS

Designed and Compiled by Tom Mix, NDHSAA Media Specialist

Volume IV (January 9, 2020)

In order to ascend to their second NDHSAA Class A girls basketball state championship in three seasons, the Fargo South Bruins needed to turn the tables and defeat two teams that had bested them previously during the 1994 season.

The Bruins sought out to prove their resilience at the 1994 NDHSAA Class A state tournament held at the Fargo Civic Center. Along with South, defending state champions West Fargo, Dickinson, Williston, Fargo Shanley, Bismarck St. Mary’s, Mandan and Grand Forks Red River made up the 1994 state tournament field.

South defeated St. Mary’s 57-45 in the quarterfinals to set up a meeting with Mandan in the semifinals. Mandan had defeated the Bruins 55-52 in the season opener for both squads. The Braves, one of the state’s best shooting teams, were the West Region’s top seed at state. South was able to keep the Braves well under their team scoring average (65.2 points per game entering the state tournament) and held on for the 45-44 victory.

West Fargo awaited the Bruins in the state championship game. The Packers – looking to repeat as champions – had split its two conference games with South during the regular

season defeating the Bruins 52-45 in the second meeting. West Fargo also had defeated South 47-42 in the East Region Tournament championship game a week prior to state.

Just as it had done with Mandan, South kept the Packers, who had averaged 59 points per game heading into state, out of rhythm on offense. The Bruins hit 11 of 14 free throws in the final four minutes of the title game to edge the Packers 41-34 and pocket the program’s third state championship and second of the 1990s. South senior Laura Kelly led the Bruins with 12 points.

The 1994 season was also one that saw the Bruins break 29 team records as South ended the season 22-3.

Kelly, Micaela Bentson and Brenda Baldner were named to the All-Tournament team following the championship game.Kelly, Bentson and Jenny Olsen were All-Eastern Dakota Conference selections for the Bruins. Kelly and Bentson were named to the Class A All-State team. Kelly, a North Dakota Miss Basketball finalist, finished her career with 1,104 points and became the program’s first player to score over 1,000 points.

Bruins best Packers in 'A' title game

Front Row (Left to Right): Julie Bentson, Lisa Heyer, Krista Salvatore, Jenny Olsen, Sara Weigel, Micaela Bentson, Amber Kocher. Back Row (Left to Right): Assistant Coach Terry Stargardt, Katie Kelly, Head Coach Craig Flaagan, Brenda Baldner, Renee Mund, Laura Kelly, Brein Olmstead, Steffi Backer, Assistant Coach Brent Parmer, Kristen Hetland, Assistant Coach Todd Henrickson, Marnie Kremer.