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GRAND FORKS — For the last five years, Mataeya Mathern has wreaked havoc on her Class B basketball opponents.
This year, they finally get a break from her.
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Mathern, a former all-stater out of Edgeley/Kulm-Montpelier’s program, is now in her inaugural season with the University of North Dakota women’s basketball team.
“My life pretty much is basketball,” Mathern said. “I usually get up between 4:45 and 5:30 a.m. every day for practice. We have a morning slot, so we practice between 6 and 10 a.m. Between lifting, practice, film and other workouts, basketball keeps me pretty busy.”
Mathern first began playing basketball in first grade when she would go to her brother Paxton’s 3-on-3 practices and try to dribble the ball in the corner of the gym.
“I started playing on a 3-on-3 team in second grade with my cousin Abby where we would play up a division with boys until we were able to make our own girls 3-on-3 team,” Mathern said. “I will always remember our Sunday evening practices that my aunt Heidi (Mathern) put on for our traveling team, they were the best.”
As her game continued to improve, Mathern quickly rose through the ranks at EKM. Mathern was on the varsity roster for EKM for five straight seasons.
“EKM basketball will always hold a special place in my heart,” Mathern said. “I’m so blessed that I was able to be a part of our two runs at the state tournament and it was an experience that was like no other.”
Edgeley/Kulm-Montpelier has been to the state tournament for the past two seasons. In 2022-23 the Rebels wound up placing fifth while last winter, Mathern helped lead the team to a spot in the state championship. EKM wound up dropping 55-41 to May-Port-C-G in the title game.
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“Making a run at a state title was a goal I set way back when I was in sixth grade and to see that come into reality felt like I was living a dream,” Mathern said. “Although we fell short in the state championship, I would not trade that experience for anything in the world.”
Mathern is the current Edgeley/KM career record holder with 1,629 points, 494 steals and 287 assists. The former Class B standout set the single-season record with 509 points, 148 steals, 118 assists and 251 rebounds.
The 2024 Miss Basketball finalist broke Edgeley’s single-game scoring mark with 31 points. She was a four-time All-Conference and All-District honoree.
“EKM basketball has helped me get to the next level by growing my love for the game of basketball,” Mathern said. “I’ve always been a competitive person but what EKM basketball showed me was that there is way more to the game than just winning and losing.
“Although my competitive side would tell you that losing is not an option, our team showed what it truly meant to buy in to a goal,” she said. “Our team was more than just a basketball team, we were a true family. I love every single player, coach and manager that was on our team and will forever have a cherished relationship with them.”
In her final year with the Rebels, Mathern was named to the First-Team All-State roster. She was also named the District and Region Senior Athlete of the Year. She was named to the All-State Tournament Team in 2023 and 2024. She was named the Rebels’ MVP four times. Prep Girls Hoops named Mathern as the Top Small-Town Player in North Dakota.
She credits her success in the sport to her town, community and team.
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“I would not have wanted to grow up any other way because the support that our small-town communities brought to our games meant so much,” Mathern said. “It was pretty amazing to look around the (Jamestown) Civic Center on the state championship night and see all the black and yellow packed to the top. I will forever be grateful to have grown up in Edgeley and will always be a Rebel at heart.”
Mathern’s commitment to the EKM program was what gave her options to play at the next level.
“From as long as I can remember I always had in my mind that I wanted to play college basketball but everything I did in the off-season was more focused on wanting to achieve the goal of making a run at state with my high school team,” Mathern said. “Throughout the process of working towards that, I was blessed to receive opportunities to play at the next level and it all fell into place with God by my side.”
Mathern received offers from some smaller colleges within the Midwest but was also in contact with Drake, Grand Canyon University and Furman. The final three schools that she was considering were UND, the University of Jamestown and Concordia College.
She received an offer to join the team at UND on her visit to Grand Forks in February of 2024.
“I was very excited and knew right away that that was where I was going to call my new home,” Mathern said.
Mathern officially signed with the Fighting Hawks in April.
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“Being up at UND has shown me lots of new things,” Mathern said. “Being away from family and friends has been an adjustment, but I have been able to create lots of great relationships with people and I really enjoy the community and support that UND brings.”
UND officially kicked off its season on Nov. 8 with a 66-63 win against Eastern Illinois. Mathern did not see time in the Fighting Hawks’ season opener but the freshman saw the floor in the team’s second game against Dickinson State. Mathern was credited with a block against the Blue Hawks.
“UND will continue to grow my game,” Mathern said. “Every day we show up to practice and compete with each other and it is just a great environment to make yourself and the team better. A big adjustment that I have faced is just the speed of the game now. Constantly being pushed every day has been good and has helped me to improve.
“I think our team has a lot of potential this season and we have big goals,” she said. “Whatever my role happens to be on this team, I’m going to put my all into it.”
She might be in the big leagues now, but Mathern is still a Class B kid at heart offering advice and well wishes to those still competing in North Dakota’s rural communities.
“I just want to wish everyone the best of luck this season and to remember that you need to cherish these moments because they will fly by,” she said. “Especially my home team EKM, I can’t wait to see what this season has in store for you guys, and I will always be supporting you guys from afar.”
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