KM girls lose opening tournament game

#2 Fergus Falls (29-1) defeated Kasson-Mantorville (25-6) 61-52 on Wednesday morning at Mariucci Arena on the campus of the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.

Fergus Falls led for the last 21-plus minutes of play but the game remained within reach for  Kasson-Mantorville as the Komets never trailed by more than 12 points. But the Otters kept just enough distance to hold a safe lead as the Komets never had a possession with a chance to tie or take the lead down the stretch.

Senior guard Bailey Strand scored 17 of her game-high 23 points in the first half as the Otters led by two at the break, 31-29. She added five assists and five rebounds in the game.

Kasson-Mantorville had a 12-rebound advantage (52-40) as freshman center Kristin Scott hauled in a game-high 17 rebounds, adding 12 points on 6-10 shooting and four blocked shots. Four Komets scored in double-figures led by junior guard Taylor Miller's 13 including perfect 3-3 shooting from the arc.

#2 Fergus Falls advances to the Class AAA Semifinals against the Chisago Lakes Area, Lindstrom/#3 Marshall winner on Thursday, March 20 at 2 p.m. at Williams Arena.

( courtesy of MSHL )