Marshall senior Emily Buysse is used to going to state tournaments.

As a member of Tigers teams that earned state volleyball and basketball tournament bids her sophomore and junior season, Buysse has reached state four times. 

A another trip proved elusive this fall for Buysse, an outside hitter, as Marshall failed to make it to the volleyball tournament for first time in 14 years.

But Buysse still may make a fifth state appearance with the Tigers basketball team positioned for a successful season. 

Buysse scored 14 points as Marshall captured its first win of the season with 61-56 victory over Kasson-Mantorville in the Breakdown Sports USA Tip Off Classic at Hopkins High School on Saturday.

Buysse said it would have been nice to go to the state volleyball tournament as a senior, but not making it back to St. Paul's Xcel Energy Center in November hasn’t affected her approach to basketball in December.

“The goal is to work hard for the full season and do the best we can do,” she said.

Marshal girls basketball coach Dan Westby, who is also the school's volleyball coach, said he also missed taking the state trip, but added that he is confident his basketball team can make a return. The Tigers lost to Park Center 52-45 in last year's Class 3A title game.

“This group is pretty focused, and it’s certainly a goal to get back to that final,” Westby said.

Buysse may be the spark Marshall needs to get through the tough times during the season, something she showed Saturday against the KoMets.

“Emily’s a hardworking kid. When we were stagnant, she got us going a little bit,” Westby said.

The Tigers, ranked No. 6 in Class 3A by Minnesota Basketball News, is also finding offensive assistance from sophomore guard Maddie Marks.

“She provides a lot for our team,” Buysse said.

Marks exploded in the second half, scoring nine of her 12 points in the final 18 minutes.

“Maddie got a couple big shots and one where we didn’t even want a shot,” Westby said.

With a mix of young and old talent, Marshall is ready to make this season successful.

Buysse wants to cap her senior year with one final state tournament appearance.

“We’re trying our best,” she said. 

Senior forward Lexi Saugstad had 18 points, helping Marshall capture its first win of the season with a 61-56 victory over Kasson-Mantorville as part of the Breakdown Sports Tip Off Classic at Hopkins High School on Saturday.

After struggling in the paint, senior forward Emily Buysse drained a three-point shot to put the Tigers on top 9-6 early in the first half. Buysse finished the game with 14 points, going 4-for-6 in field goals and making 3 of 4 three-point attempts.

Kasson-Mantorville, ranked No. 7 in Class 3A by Minnesota Basketball News, accumulated five blocks in the first half.

KoMets senior guard Maddie Worden had a steal and a basket to close the gap to 25-22 at the end of the first half. Worden finished with 12 points.

Marshall sophomore guard Maddie Marks scored nine of her 12 points in the second half, keeping the Tigers ahead. 

Solid free-throw shooting down the stretch from Saugstad helped No. 6-3A Marshall hold the lead.

Junior center Kristin Scott led Kasson-Mantorville with 15 points and had six of the team's eight blocks. 

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