WATERTOWN – It was only fitting that Aberdeen Christian’s first state basketball tournament victory Friday afternoon came via the team’s season-best strengths.

From a dominant inside performance to solid ball movement to a strong defensive effort, the Knights had it all working in a 60-56 win over Wall during consolation round action at the State B Girls’ Basketball Tournament at the Watertown Civic Arena.

The Knights were able to work the ball around to find open shooters who then finished off possessions.

“That’s what you like to see. There were a few possessions in there that were perfect,” said Christian coach Michael Rohrbach. “How we really tried to play all year where we just move it. We know that if we move it, you’ll get the shot that you want. There was a group in there that really, really did that well there.”

An example of Christian’s unselfish play occurred on back-to-back-to-back possessions in the third quarter. Joy Rohrbach found Mallory Miller for an inside hoop, then spotted Grace Kaiser for a basket in the lane. Kaiser then returned the favor on the following possession by kicking out to Rohrbach for a three-pointer.

“It was a team effort,” Kaiser said. “Even though we were tired and sore we still came together and got the team win.”

Miller was her usual strong presence in the lane. Despite attracting a crowd every time she touched the ball, the junior still finished with a game-high 24 points.

She said she is used to all the extra attention in the paint.

“I usually just try to get the ball and score. I’m used to being doubled teamed so it’s not too different,” Miller said. “Some teams are more scraggly than others, but when I’m getting double-teamed or triple-teamed I just look for someone else.”

Unlike Thursday’s opening round loss when Christian trailed down the stretch, the Knights owned the lead the entire way against the Eagles.

Christian made six of its first seven shots to start the game and bolted out to a 15-1 advantage in the opening quarter.

“We definitely got off to a good start. We were able to get some buckets in transition to get us going early,” Coach Rohrbach said. “It’s nice to play with the lead. It got a little bit scary there down at the end, but the girls made enough plays and pulled it out for the win.”

The Knights owned a double-digit lead for the majority of the contest until Wall made things interesting in the closing minute. The Eagles made two three-pointers to cut the gap down to 57-53 with 55 seconds left.

Wall did get Christian to miss a free throw only to have Miller grab the rebound and score to help put the finishing touches on the win.

“Once you get a couple of those threes to fall at the end, the momentum swings and you really find yourself in a little bit of a dogfight,” Coach Rohrbach said. “It got a little nerve-wrecking there, but just glad that we had enough of a lead to hold it off.”

As a result, Christian recorded its first state tourney win in school history.

Kaiser has been a member of past teams who went through growing pains to get to this stage.

“It’s a really good feeling to have worked for something so long,” Kaiser said of the milestone win.

Joy Rohrbach finished with 16 points and Kaiser 12 to help take some of the pressure off of Miller in the middle.

“A lot of the girls are playing their best this time of year,” Miller said. “This is when you want to be peaking, so that’s good.”

Wall received 16 points from Paige Kjerstad, 11 from Ava Dinger, 10 from Nora Dinger, and nine from Alexis Stephan. The Eagles face White River in the seventh place game at noon today.

Christian, 21-4 on the season, meets Aberdeen Roncalli in the fifth place contest at 1:45 this afternoon. The two teams played last month and know each other well.

“They’re very good. We definitely have to come ready to go,” Coach Rohrbach said. “Hopefully, we have our legs under us. We’re just going to have to hit some shots.”

WALL (21-4): Nora Dinger 4 1-2 10, Paige Kjerstad 5 6-7 16, Ava Dinger 4 3-7 11, Keaunna PoorBear 0 1-2 1, April Schulz 2 1-2 6, Skylie Wagner 1 0-0 3, Alexis Stephan 3 0-0 9. Totals 19-51 12-20 56.

ABERDEEN CHRISTIAN (21-4): Joy Rohrbach 5 5-10 16, Kaylee Block 1 0-0 2, Hanna Miller 2 0-0 4, Mallory Miller 11 1-3 24, Grace Kaiser 5 2-2 12, Chloe Bosma 1 0-0 2. Totals 25-48 8-15 60.

Wall 5 17 34 56

Aberdeen Christian 15 30 49 60

3-point field goals – N. Dinger, Schulz, Wagner, Stephan 3; Rohrbach, M. Miller. Total fouls – Wall 14; Aberdeen Christian 15. Rebounds – Wall 31 (A. Dinger 9); Aberdeen Christian 27 (H. Miller 6, M. Miller 6). Turnovers – Wall 17; Aberdeen Christian 12. Steals – Wall 5 (N. Dinger 3); Aberdeen Christian 10 (Rohrbach 4).