Senior class leads Elk River to brink of state tournament
26 | Saturday, March 28, 2026 Elk River Star News
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The Elk River boys basketball team finished the 2025-26 season with a record of 14-15 on Thursday, March 5, at Alexandria High School. Elk River finished as the Section 8-4A runner-up, losing to Alexandria 64-58.
Elks fall one win shy of state after late-season surge
Senior class leads Elk River to brink of state tournament
ERIK NELSON Sports Reporter
After a 64-58 loss to Alexandria in the Section 8-4A championship game March 5, Elk River players were left in tears.
But the result did not overshadow what the Elks accomplished during the 2025-26 season.
Elk River came within one win of its first state tournament appearance since 2006 and reached the section title game despite finishing below. 500. The Elks closed the season 14-15 overall and 6-10 in Northwest Suburban Conference play.
“ The run we made in the last half-month of the season is something we’ ll remember forever,” head coach Ryan Servaty said.“ Making a run to the section championship and having a great game in the final— that’ s what stands out.
“ I’ ll remember this senior group for what they brought every day and how they changed the culture and trajectory of our program. I’ ve known many of these kids since second or third
““ We’ ll remember that run forever.”
Ryan Servaty, Elk River boys basketball head coach
grade. It’ s a special group, and a big senior class we’ ll miss.”
Servaty said the Elks executed much of their game plan against Alexandria.
“ We wanted to hold them to 60 points or fewer, and we did that,” he said.“ For the most part, we handled their full-court pressure. They run a 1-2-2 with good athletes up front, and we were able to limit that.
“ We controlled the tempo and made it more our style. Our size inside helped us do that.”
The Elks graduate nine seniors: guards Levi Harris, Aiden Powell, Nick Rebrovich and Chase Sheldon, and forwards Jackson Boll, Amani Kuhl, Henry Rosenthal, Brody Thompson and Dominic Webster. Harris scored his 1,000th career point in the section final.
“ They’ re a group that loves being in the gym, loves the game and loves being around each other,” Servaty said.“ That’ s what made us the team we were and gave us the ability to make this run.
“ They were selfless and
FILE PHOTO
Elks senior Chase Sheldon dribbles the ball during the first half of Elk River’ s 70-61 win over Rogers on Tuesday, Feb. 17, at ERHS. Sheldon and the Elks lost the Section 8-4A championship game to Alexandria on Thursday, March 5, 64-58, at Alexandria Area High School.
bought into celebrating each other’ s success as much as their own. That’ s something I’ ll always appreciate. Every day in the gym was a joy with this group.
“ Hopefully the younger players returning will learn from that and carry it forward.”
Expires 4 / 30 / 26