The EKM Rebels overcame a slow start to put away the Benson County Wildcats 59-40 to advance to the Class B State Tournament in Jamestown.

Early in the first quarter, it looked like the Rebels would make a quick night of the State Play-In game, only to watch as Benson County’s Kaitlyn Maddock handily kept her team in the game, scoring the entirety of her team eight points. For EKM, the offense was on cruise control until Mataeya Mathern picked up her second foul, which brought the offensive scoring to a screeching halt. Despite the less-than-stellar finish to the quarter, the Rebels still took a 12-8 lead into the first intermission. The second quarter would see the foul troubles of Mathern finally catch up to EKM as the duo of Maddock and Audrey Kenner for Benson Co. would carry them to a 26-23 halftime lead.

In the second half the Rebels would slowly start to work Mathern back into the game as she chipped in six points while also avoiding picking up another foul. Kenner would keep things competitive in the third for the Rebels, but as the whistle blew to end the quarter, the Rebels had recaptured a 37-35 lead. The fourth would be an absolute runaway for the Rebels as they dominated the quarter, outscoring Benson Co. 22-5 to take home a 59-40 victory. The Rebels were led in the quarter by Mataeya Mathern, who finished the game with 20 points, while Libby Mathern chipped in with eight of her own.