ABERDEEN — The Wessington Springs Spartans rebounded from a cold shooting day in the opening round of the Class “B” State boys’ basketball tournament Thursday with a solid performance Friday, emerging with a 52-36 win over the Viborg-Hurley Cougars in a consolation semifinal game at the Barnett Center.

The Spartans and Cougars exchanged the lead throughout the first half of play and Wessington Springs held a slim 36-33 lead after three quarters of play.

V-H scored the first four points of the final period, as Nick Hanson got a bucket in the paint, the Brady Schroedermeier hit two free throws to put the Cougars ahead 37-36.

But then the wheels fell off for Viborg-Hurley and the Spartans kicked it up a gear.

Blake Larson scored to put Wessington Springs up by one at the 6:22 to play, and touched off what would turn out to be a 13-0 run for the Spartans, over a six minute period. By the time Schroedermeier scored to break the streak, there were only 15 seconds to play and Wessington Springs coach Kenny Huether had cleared his bench.

Parker Graff and Ryder Michalek did most of the damage for the Spartans on the streak, causing turnovers and converting to baskets on the offensive end.

Graff led the Spartans with 18 points, while Blake Larson added 16 points and Michalek chipped in 11 points. Brock Krueger grabbed eight rebounds and passed out four assists for Wessington Springs which will take a 23-2 record into today’s fifth-place, consolation championship against Gregory.

Schroedermeier scored 17 points and had four assists for Viborg-Hurley. Hanson added 15 and had nine rebounds. The Cougars, now 18-7, will take on Leola/Frederick in the seventh-place game.

Wessington Springs 14 22 36 52
Viborg-Hurley 14 20 33 39

WESSINGTON SPRINGS (23-2): Blake Larson 5 5-6 16; Parker Graff 7 0-2 18; Brock Krueger 1 2-4 5; Colby Flowers 1 0-0 2; Ryder Michalek 4 3-7 11. Totals: 18 10-19 52.

VIBORG-HURLEY (18-7): Brady Schroedermeier 5 7-9 17; Nick Hanson 7 1-4 15; Bryson Morrison 1 0-0 3; Owen Niederbaumer 1 1-2 4. Totals: 14 9-15 39.

FG: WS - 18-44 41%; VH - 14-37 38%. 3-pt FG: WS - 6-16 (Graff 4, Larson, Krueger); VH - 2-14 (Morrison, Niederbaumer 1). Rebounds: WS - 23 (Krueger 8); VH - 33 (Hanson 9). TO: WS - 11; VH - 22. Assists: WS - 7 (Krueger 4); VH - 10 (Schroedermeier 4). Fouls: WS - 14; VH - 18.

Gregory 65, Leola/Frederick Area 64
The Gregory Gorillas held off a furious fourth-quarter comeback attempt by the Leola/Frederick Area Titans, en route to a 65-64 win Friday afternoon in the consolation round of the Class “B” State boys’ basketball tournament.

Daniel Mitchell and Cruz Klundt both scored 18 points for the Gorillas, who improve to 20-5 with the win, and Klundt added 10 rebounds and six assists in the contest.

Braydon Sumption scored 18 points for the Titans and Noah Kippley chipped in 16. Milo Sumption led L/F with eight rebounds.

The Titans fall to 22-3 and will face Viborg-Hurley for seventh place at noon today, while Gregory will battle for the consolation title against Wessington Springs at 1:45 p.m.

Gregory 16 31 49 65
Leola/Frederick Area 14 27 46 64

GREGORY (20-5): Noah Bearshield 4 0-3 9; Cruz Klundt 8 1-2 18; Daniel Mitchell 7 3-4 18; Jackson Bolander 1 0-0 2; Cole Serr 2 0-0 4; Colt Keiser 4 0-0 8; Nick Kenzy 1 0-0 2; Rane Kenzy 1 2-2 4. Totals: 28 6-11 65.

LEOLA/FREDERICK AREA (22-3): Braydon Sumption 3 9-12 18; Gavin Nickelson 2 0-0 4; Noah Kippley 6 3-4 16; Milo Sumption 1 4-4 6; Ethan Petrich 0 2-4 2; Westyn Thorpe 0 2-4 2; Taylor Himanga 1 0-0 2; Winston Clark 5 0-2 12; Titus Kippley 0 2-2 2. Totals: 18 22-32 64.

FG: LF - 18-53 34%; G - 28-57 49%. 3-pt Fg: LF - 6-19 (B. Sumption 3, Clark 2, N. Kippley); G - 3-14 (Bearshield, Klundt, Mitchell). Rebounds: LF - 36 (M. Sumption 8); G - 35 (Klundt 10). TO: LF - 14; G - 18. Assists: LF - 4; G - Klundt 6. Fouls: LF - 16; G - 25 (Serr out).