RAPID CITY – Warner fought back multiple times Thursday night, but in the end couldn’t quite keep up with Centerville.

The Tornadoes used an aggressive offensive attack and were able to hold off the Monarchs 59-50 for an opening round win during the Class B Girls’ State Basketball Tournament at The Monument.

“The kids played a heck of a game,” Warner coach Tina Winter said. “We knew it was going to be a battle and it went about exactly like I thought it would, we just unfortunately came up a little shorter in the end.”

After Warner scored the game’s first two baskets, the Monarchs quickly found themselves trailing as Centerville settled in and began a scoring surge that consisted of attacking the basket early and often, going on an 18-6 run that extended into the second quarter. Despite the deficit, Warner fought back with an 11-3 run of its own to tie the game at halftime.

Throughout the contest, the Monarchs had trouble slowing down Centerville guard Althea Gust, who consistently slashed her way through the Warner defense to get to the basket for lay-ups.

The junior led all scorers with 25 points, including 11 in the third quarter. Gust’s 3-pointer with 2:12 remaining gave the Tornadoes a 41-32 advantage and it appeared that Centerville was on the verge of breaking the game open.

“Centerville is a very athletic team and they used that to their advantage tonight with Gust,” Winter said. “She had a good game offensively for them.”

However, the Monarchs fought back as Sophia Hoeft answered with a basket before Jordyn Jensen drilled a buzzer-beater from just inside half court to end the third quarter, cutting the deficit down to four heading into the final period.

Winter was proud of the efforts of Hoeft and Jensen.

“Sophia had her best offensive game of the season,” Winter said. “And Jordyn came off the bench and brought a spark when we needed it.”

A Kyra Marcuson 3-pointer to begin the fourth quarter cut the deficit down to one, but once again, Centerville pulled away, this time for good. The Tornadoes answered with an 11-0 run to build a 52-40 lead with 3:20 remaining as Gust and eighth-grader Izzie Eide went back to work, driving through the Warner defense and essentially shutting the door on the Monarchs’ hopes of another comeback.

Warner was able to cut the margin down to six points in the final minute on a basket by Lauren Marcuson with 36 seconds left, but could not slice the deficit any further.

Eide totaled 14 points for the Tornadoes (22-2), who will play Lyman in the semifinals at 7:45 p.m. MST tonight. Emma Marshall added 12 to the Centerville total.

Hoeft led Warner with 13 points, while Kyra Marcuson and Lauren Marcuson each had nine. Kyleigh Schopp totaled eight, and Jensen added seven. Ava Nilsson had a team-leading 11 rebounds.

The setback was Warner’s first loss to a Class B team this season. The Monarchs, which fell to 21-3, will play Harding County in the consolation semifinals at 1:45 p.m. MST today. Winter said the team will look to come back and compete hard in today’s contest.

“I’m proud of all the girls and how they played and responded to the pressure,” Winter said. “And they’re ready to get back at it (Friday) because we’re not done yet.”

WARNER (21-3): Kyra Marcuson 3 1-2 9, Ava Nilsson 1 0-0 2, Kyleigh Schopp 3 2-7 8, Sophia Hoeft 6 0-0 13, Lauren Marcuson 4 0-0 9, Stacia Carda 1 0-0 2, Jordyn Jensen 3 0-0 7. Totals 21 3-9 50.

CENTERVILLE (22-2): Althea Gust 9 5-6 25, Lillie Eide 1 2-4 4, Emma Marshall 5 2-4 12, Brea Austin 1 0-0 2, Izzie Eide 6 0-0 14, Kiylee Westra 1 0-0 2. Totals 24 9-14 59.

Warner 8 21 37 50

Centerville 12 21 41 59

3-point field goals – K. Marcuson (2), Hoeft, L. Marcuson, Jensen; Gust (2), I. Eide (2). Total fouls – Warner 14; Centerville 9. Rebounds – Warner 36 (Nilsson 11); Centerville 31 (Marshall 6). Turnovers – Warner 17; Centerville 13. Assists – Warner 14 (L. Marcuson 4, Hoeft 4); Centerville 6 (L. Eide 2). Blocks – Warner 1 (L. Marcuson); Centerville 4 (Marshall 3). Steals – Warner 4 (K. Marcuson, Nilsson, Schopp, L. Marcuson); Centerville 9 (Makayla Heesch 3).