Blooming Prairie coach John Worke knew that if his team held its opposition to 40 points or fewer the Blossoms girls' basketball team would have a chance to win.

Unfortunately he was right.

The Blossoms limited visiting Kasson-Mantorville to 40 points in Saturday's season-opener for both teams, but Blooming scored just 35 in a 40-35 non-conference tilt in Blooming Prairie.

Blooming Prairie trailed 26-19 at the half but held the KoMets to just four points in the third quarter. Unfortunately the Blossoms managed just five points of their own and could not complete the comeback down the stretch.

"I think we did some things well," Worke said of the season-opener. "We would've liked to get a win in the home-opener though."

Andrea Rumpza led the Blossoms with nine points, while Lisi Ingvalson scored seven points from the post.

Kasson-Mantorville attempted two fewer shots from the floor and seven less at the free-throw line, but Blooming Prairie's 26 percent field-goal shooting was enough to keep the KoMets on top. K-M shot 41 percent from the field and won the war on the boards by a narrow margin.

"We're young, we have a lot to learn yet," Worke said. "We'll just go on from here."

The Blossoms committed 26 turnovers in the loss.

Calla Swenson contributed five points, including a successful three-pointer on the team's only attempt from beyond the arc. JoAuna Iacovino, Angela Noble and Diana Strand each added four points and Kristin Lueth chipped in two.

Strand led the Blossoms with eight rebounds.

Blooming Prairie continues its non-conference schedule with a trip to Glenville-Emmons Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m.

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