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(NewsDakota.com)- Central Prairie just flat out ran out of time in the nightcap of the first day of the District 5 tournament. They trailed PBK by 18 in the final quarter and nearly completed the comeback, losing 51-49. Eric Knodel put the Firebirds on his back with 18 second-half points.

After PBK’s Shawn Baker made one of two free throws with 3.8 seconds left, Knodel had a chance to steal the win. His half-court heave hit the heel preserving the win for the Rebels 51-49.

In the third quarter PBK had built a 23-point lead behind the sharpshooting of freshman Cole Diede (16 points) and Nicholas Blaskowski (17). But once Central Prairie found their grove the Rebels biggest ally was the clock.

It was the lone upset of the day, in the first two games both top-seeds advanced. Barnes County North beat Litchville-Marion-Montpeiler 50-32 despite a slow start. Setting up the Bison with a semi-final match-up with the top-seeded LaMoure Loboes.

Edgeley-Kulm took down Ellendale with relative ease in the second game 69-39. The Rebels had four players in double-figures Beau Diegel and Nathan Elhard lead the way with 16 a piece. 

Tomorrow’s three games will kick-off with Ellendale matching up with three-seeded Firebirds at 4:30pm.

The semi-finals will begin at 6:00pm; first game LaMoure vs. Barnes County North and Edgeley-Kulm vs. PBK.

Vance Stemen will call the action for you on KXGT Sunny 98.3 FM and streaming at NewsDakota.com