The 2025-26 winter season has been one to remember at Maranatha Christian Academy, as both the boys and girls basketball programs captured Skyline Conference championships and now turn their focus toward Section 5AA postseason play.
Boys Basketball Claims Perfect Skyline Title
Under the leadership of first-year head coach Al Harris, the Mustangs boys basketball team completed a dominant run through the Skyline Conference. Maranatha secured the conference championship in emphatic fashion with an 84-22 victory over Nova on February 20.
The Mustangs followed that performance with an impressive 81-65 win over Breck in the regular season finale, finishing a perfect 16-0 in Skyline Conference play and 23-3 overall. The victory over Breck also secured a top-four seed in the Section 5AA Tournament, positioning the Mustangs for a strong postseason run.
Section seeding will be finalized over the weekend, but Maranatha is expected to receive a first-round bye and host a quarterfinal matchup at home at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 7. With balanced scoring, strong defensive pressure, and steady leadership from Coach Harris, the Mustangs enter section play with confidence and momentum.
Girls Basketball Wins Back-to-Back Titles
On the girls’ side, the Mustangs, led by Hall of Fame head coach Faith Johnson Patterson, secured their second consecutive Skyline Conference championship. In her third year at Maranatha, Coach Johnson Patterson has continued to elevate the program to championship standards.
The Mustangs clinched the conference title with a commanding 79-17 win over Nova on February 20. They closed out the regular season with a 73-61 victory over Dassel-Cokato on February 23, finishing 15-1 in Skyline Conference play and 23-3 overall.
That win secured the No. 2 seed in the Section 5AA Tournament. The Mustangs will host a section quarterfinal game at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 28, in the Stable against the winner of Dassel-Cokato and Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted. With a win, Maranatha will advance to the semifinals for another home game at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 3.
The Section 5AA girls basketball championship game will be held Friday, March 6, at 7:00 p.m. at Augsburg University, providing a championship stage opportunity for the Mustangs to continue their postseason run.
Both programs have demonstrated consistency, discipline, and a commitment to excellence throughout the season. With identical 23-3 overall records and conference championships secured, the Mustangs now shift their focus to section play, where the goal remains the same: to compete at a high level and continue building a championship legacy for Maranatha basketball.
Mustang fans can look forward to an exciting postseason as both teams prepare to defend their home court and pursue a Section 5AA title.