IPSWICH – Warner used defense and hot shooting Thursday night as the Monarchs raced past Herreid-Selby Area 61-47 in a Class B girls SoDak 16 contest. As result, Warner earned a spot in the Class B State Tournament next week in Rapid City where it will face Centerville in the final opening round game on Thursday.

Warner senior Kyra Marcuson said the drive to qualify for the state tournament helped fuel the Monarchs.

“We really, really wanted to go to state,” Marcuson said. “Last year, we came up a little short, so we really wanted it, so I feel like that pushed it.”

The Monarchs jumped out to an early 12-3 first-quarter lead, thanks to stellar shooting by Marcuson and her twin sister Lauren, as well as fellow senior Ava Nilsson. Warner also locked down defensively on the Wolverines.

“We had scouted for a few days now and we knew they were pretty good shooters, so we really wanted to lock down on their wings,” Lauren Marcuson said. “They have two huge posts, which we’ve got some big ones too, so we were like, as long as we can get around them and get some steals, we’ll be good.”

Warner coach Tina Winter said the team executed the defensive game plan to near perfection, taking away key scorers for the Wolverines, including 6-foot sisters Jada Rossow and Jordyn Rossow.

“We kind of centered around taking their middles away and then (Katie Allbee) is a great shooter,” Winter said. “So, we kind of focused in on these three cannot get the ball, and rotate, help each other, just like we have all season, and they did it perfectly.”

Limiting the Wolverines’ scoring opportunities led to turnovers, which led to offensive baskets for the Monarchs throughout the game, something Herreid-Selby Area coach Ryan Yackley said his team saw on film.

“We scouted Warner as a transitional team,” Yackley said. “We knew they could hit the shots, but we knew that if we took away their transitional defense, we would have a chance of staying with them, and initially we did.”

However, the second quarter proved to be the difference as the Monarchs outscored the Wolverines 26-11, thanks in part to hot shooting, especially from beyond the arc.

Warner nailed six 3-pointers in the quarter, including four by Lauren Marcuson, to pull away and take a commanding 18-point lead into the halftime break.

“We were just trying to look for some open shots down there (in the post),” Lauren Marcuson said. “As long as we could swing it and then try to look around and bring it back out, that’s really what we were looking for.”

Meanwhile, no matter what the Wolverines tried, they could not get the looks they wanted in the post for much of the night.

“We were trying to just get a good pass down low or even drive and dish right away just to get them off their feet a little bit,” Jada Rossow said. “It was pretty difficult. We worked on different plays to try to get it to work, but it just didn’t happen tonight.”

Although the Wolverines outscored the Monarchs 27-23 in the second half, Warner’s second-quarter scoring barrage proved to be too much to overcome.

“They hit some shots that were good,” Yackley said. “Credit to them, they put in shots that we were like well, that’s what good teams do.”

Jada Rossow, who was one of three seniors (along with Mya Ebel and Sophia Ritter) playing in their final game for the Wolverines, scored five points, and said it felt good to wear the Herreid-Selby Area uniform. She also had a message for the returning players for next year.

“I just wish the best of luck to the rest of the team next year,” Rossow said.

Taryn Hettick led Herreid-Selby Area, which finished its season with a 15-8 record, with 12 points, while Stephanie Allbee had 11. Jordyn Rossow followed with 10 points, while Ebel contributed six points and seven rebounds.

While Yackley said the seniors will be missed, he also noted that the future looks bright for his team.

“Those three seniors did their job; they set a path for the kids to say this is the standard, this is what we have to do,” Yackley said. “I think, yes, we’re feeling pretty tough right now, but I honestly think that this was good for us moving forward into our program.”

Lauren Marcuson led Warner with 20 points, while Kyra Marcuson had 15. Nilsson totaled 12 points and six rebounds, while Kyleigh Schopp and Sophia Hoeft each added six points.

The Monarchs (21-2) will now prepare for the state tournament next week. Kyra Marcuson said the Monarchs will need to continue to focus on teamwork as they prepare for the tourney.

“I feel like in practice we’ve worked on sharing the ball and trying to get everyone the points and rebounds,” she said. “Everyone has a role, and we’re just trying to focus on each of our roles.”

Winter said the Monarchs will need to keep doing what has gotten them to this point in the season in order to succeed next weekend.

“I told them before this game, guys you play your best, we’re having fun, you’re playing together, and you’re playing loose,” Winter said. “If they can just keep doing that and just enjoy the moments that they’re getting together here, then we’ll be fine.”

HERREID-SELBY AREA (15-8): Stephanie Allbee 5 0-0 11, Jordyn Rossow 4 2-3 10, Katie Allbee 1 0-0 3, Mya Ebel 1 3-4 6, Jada Rossow 1 3-4 5, Taryn Hettick 4 0-0 12. Totals 16 8-11 47.

WARNER (21-2): Kyra Marcuson 5 4-5 15, Ava Nilsson 4 3-3 12, Kyleigh Schopp 2 2-2 6, Sophia Hoeft 2 0-0 6, Lauren Marcuson 7 2-4 20, Stacia Carda 1 0-0 2. Totals 21 11-14 61.

Herreid-Selby Area 9 20 36 47

Warner 12 38 51 61

3-point field goals – Hettick (4), S. Allbee, K. Allbee, Ebel; L. Marcuson (4), Hoeft (2), K. Marcuson, Nilsson. Total fouls – Herreid-Selby Area 17; Warner 9. Rebounds – Herreid-Selby Area 33 (Ebel 7); Warner 29 (Nilsson 6). Turnovers – Herreid-Selby Area 17; Warner 16. Assists – Herreid-Selby Area 14 (S. Allbee 3, Jada Rossow 3, Hettick 3); Warner 20 (Hoeft 6). Steals – Herreid-Selby Area (12 (Jordyn Rossow 3); Warner 11 (L. Marcuson 3).