Fergus Falls erased a year-old memory of being upset in the state quarterfinals with a 61-52 victory over Kasson-Mantorville on Wednesday in the Class 3A quarterfinals at Mariucci Arena.

Senior guard Bailey Strand led Fergus Falls with 23 points, as the Otters (29-1) led Kasson-Mantorville (25-6) most of the game.

For Fergus Falls, the victory came just over a year after a 79-78 double-overtime loss to Monticello in last year’s quarterfinals. The Otters were undefeated going into that game but lost a 15-point second-half lead.

Fergus Falls’ motto this season was “unfinished business,” and coach Brad Strand projected the score of last year’s upset on the team’s scoreboard sporadically throughout the season.

“It’s really great motivation for us,” Bailey Strand said. “We didn’t want to let it happen again.”

Strand ensured there would be no letdown Wednesday, scoring 17 points in the first half, including Fergus Falls’ first 11 points. She helped the Otters cope with the loss of their second-leading scorer, Anna Monke, who played just two minutes in the first half after picking up three fouls.

Fergus Falls led just 31-29 at halftime, in part due to Kasson-Mantorville’s 26-15 rebounding advantage. But Monke returned in the second half and anchored a Fergus Falls zone that allowed just two field goals in the first eight minutes of the half. 

The zone stifled Kasson-Mantorville’s offense and helped the Otters build their first double-digit lead with 7:05 left. Fergus Falls led by no less than seven the rest of the way.

Fergus Falls defeated Kasson-Mantorville 61-49 Wednesday morning in the Class 3A quarterfinals at Mariucci Arena.

Senior Bailey Strand led Fergus Falls (29-1) with 23 points, and senior Brianna Rasmusson added 16. Taylor Miller led Kasson-Mantorville with (25-6) with 13. 

The Otters will play in the Class 3A semifinals Thursday afternoon at Williams Arena.

Check back this afternoon for more on the game.