Sports Spotlight: Mataeya Mathern

LAMOURE COUNTY, N.D. (KFYR) – One member of this year’s Lions All-Star team is not new to playing in big games. Mataeya Mathern helped lead EKM to a state tournament berth in back-to-back seasons, taking the Rebels all the way to the championship game this spring.

“My high school career is definitely something that I will always cherish the memories we made,” said Mathern. “I know earlier seasons we didn’t have as much success as we wanted, but we definitely used that to our benefit, and we put in the extra work. And then falling short in that first game of the state tournament my junior year, it definitely motivated us to want to get farther in the state tournament the next year. And then Ultimately letting us get to the state title game, which is an experience that we’ll always remember.”

Keenan Konschak is a coach on this year’s A/B All-Star team. He’s the head coach at May-Port-CG, who faced Mathern and the Rebels in the B title game.

“Obviously, one of the best players in the state. I thought we had a pretty solid game plan and it turned out that we put Riley Satrom on her, our best athlete, and she got her in foul trouble. Her best skill is driving to the basket, her right hand drive is very strong,” said Konschak.

Many of the athletes who have played with Mathern would say she’s a glue girl on the team.

“Oh, she’s great. She’s so funny. I know our AAU team, we’re all pretty close and she’s definitely someone that has helped pull us together. And like now, on our first day, she’s pulling a lot of us together that are from different places and different classes,” said Jessica Mogen, 2024 Lions A/B All-Star.

“She is a hard-nosed, hardworking girl. She doesn’t quit if things aren’t going her way, she’s still going to try her hardest and that’s what I love about her and that’s what we had on our AAU team with her. We were down or weren’t doing well, she was there like, ‘Come on guys, keep pushing.’ She would always never quit and that’s what we needed,” said Kylie Simpson, 2024 Lions A/B All-Star.

Mathern’s future in the sport will continue on the D-1 level. She’ll be heading to Grand Forks to play for the Fighting Hawks.

“When I went on my visit there, it felt like home, and I really liked the atmosphere. Getting to play for my home state was also a big factor in my decision. They want to turn the program around and have a winning culture and bring the energy in practice. That really excited me, and I wanted to be a part of this, trying to turn the program around and have a winning season,” said Mathern.

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