MINOT (NewsDakota)- On the first day of the Class B State Girls Basketball Tournament, the defending champs showed why they are just that, while a stunning comeback lifted LaMoure-Litchville/Marion to the semifinals.

BENSON COUNTY 65 EDGELEY/KULM/MONTPELIER 46

Aubrey Kenner, the Wildcats all-time leading scorer, poured in 32 points and the Rebels, playing without Jaelyn Bertsch, fell to the defending champions.  Kenner was 11-for-13 from the field, including 6-for-7 from three while adding five rebounds and three assists in the win.  Mazie Tjernlund turned in an 8 point, 14 rebound performance for the Rebels in defeat.

LAMOURE-LITCHVILLE/MARION 43 WASHBURN 37

A game-ending 20-2 run in the final 4:14 meant that despite shooting 10/45 from the field (22.2%) the Loboes advanced past the Cardinals.  Onika Lesko made her return in the third quarter from an ACL injury suffered less than four weeks ago and sparked the comeback.  The Loboes shot 23-for-28 from the free throw line while Washburn was 3-for-12 on free throws.  Addison Smith had 21 points while Nora DeLaBarre scored all eleven of her points after halftime along with collecting twelve rebounds for a double-double.

FRIDAY ON KDDR THE TORNADO & THUNDER COUNTRY 98.3:

Class B State Semifinal: (3) LaMoure-LM vs (2) Benson County- 12:40pm

Class B Consolation: (7) Edgeley/Kulm/Montpelier vs (6) Washburn- 6:10pm