Winners of five straight, the Otters (12-7) will play Hawley at 1:00 p.m. Saturday afternoon in Fergus Falls. The Nuggets advanced after getting by Bagley 53-48.

The Otters jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead as Kaden Conklin scored inside on an assist from Chance Fazio who added a pair of inside baskets. Adam Oberlander got the Cardinals on the                   scoreboard with a three, but the Otters kept expanding their lead. Dominic Aguilar had a slow start but added a late trey and a pair of charity tosses to total 11 points in the opening half as Fergus Falls took a 35-15 halftime lead.

Fergus Falls was hot from the floor in the opening half connecting on 61% of their shots (14-23), while Staples made just 29% (6-21).

The Cardinals opened scoring in the second half as Lyle Brownell dropped in a pair of free-throws. The Otters then went on a 14-point run to take a commanding 49-17 advantage with 13:00 to go. Isaiah Schultz snapped the run for the Cardinals with a trey, but the Fergus Falls lead grew to as much as 44 points (70-26) and sent the game into running time. The Otters unloaded their bench with Dallas Barry, Owen Hanson, and Abe Hylden all scored their first varsity points.

As well as Fergus Falls shot the basketball in the first half, they were even better in the second, scorching the nets as they connected on 14 of their first 15 attempts, before finishing                 15-of-23 and 63% for the game. The Cardinals finished at 37% making 18-of-49. 

Sivert Klefsaas led Staples-Motley on the scoreboard pouring in a game-high 23 points, 18 of which came in the second half.  Oberlander and Isaiah Schultz added 9 each for the Cardinals who finish their season with 5-14 mark. Aguilar topped the balanced Fergus Falls attack with 21 points. Fazio and Abel Aho were also in double figures with 12 and 10, respectively and Luke Newman and Conklin adding 8 each.

Fergus Falls              35 41--76

Staples-Motley       15-32--47

Fergus Falls--Aguilar, 8 3-3 21; Aho, 4 0-0 10; Barry, 2 0-0 6;   Conklin, 3 2-2 8; Fazio, 6 0-0 12; Hansen, 0 1-2 1; Hylden, 0 2-2 2; Newman 3 1-2 8, Pribbenow, 2 0-0 5; Rinke, 0 0-2 0; Vogl, 1 1-1 3. Totals:  29 (8) 10-14 76

Staples-Motley--Brownell, 0 2-5 2; Klefsass, 9 1-2 23; Oberlander, 3 0-0 9; Schultz, 4 0-0 9.; Strickland, 2 0-0 4.  Totals:  18 (8) 3-7 47