HIGHMORE – The Highmore-Harrold Pirates survived an intense second half that saw the game tied multiple times and down to a one-point deficit with seconds remaining to emerge as the 281 Conference tournament girls champions Thursday night with a 45-42 victory over the Sanborn Central/Woonsocket Blackhawks in Highmore.

The Pirates held a lead of eight early in the third quarter, but the Blackhawks’ tenacious full-court trap press defense led to numerous turnovers, which allowed Sanborn Central/Woonsocket to climb back into the game. While the Blackhawks never led in the second half, they tied the score multiple times and kept the game close from the point halfway through the third quarter when the score first was knotted up.

With 12.4 seconds remaining, Haley Husted calmly sank a pair of free throws to give Highmore-Harrold a three-point lead. The Pirates used the advantage they had with fouls to give to prevent the Blackhawks from getting a clean look with two fouls to force a fast catch-and-shoot by Sanborn Central/Woonsocket, which missed, giving the Pirates the victory.

Highmore-Harrold is back in action hosting Wolsey-Wessington Thursday. The Blackhawks host Hanson Tuesday in Forestburg.

Hitchcock-Tulare 50, Wolsey-Wessington 36
WOLSEY — The Hitchcock-Tulare Lady Patriots claimed the third-place trophy in the girls’ 281 Conference Tournament Thursday night, overwhelming the Wolsey-Wessington Lady Warbirds 50-36.

The fourth-seeded Lady Pats outscored No. 2 Wolsey-Wessington by eight in the opening quarter and by six in the third to claim the win.

Ashley Masat scored 20 points and had 10 rebounds for the double-double to lead Hitchcock-Tulare to the win, while Dannyn Peterson added 14 points, as the Lady Pats moved to 5-4 on the season.

For Wolsey-Wessington, which falls to 6-4, Mya Boomsma led the team with 14 points in the game.

The Lady ‘Birds are back in action Saturday when they host Potter County, while Hitchcock-Tulare travels to Redfield on Tuesday night.

Hitchcock-Tulare     17 29 43 50

Hitchcock-Tulare (5-4): Kenidee Enander 1 4-5 6; Madion Hofer 3 0-0 8; Ashley Masat 8 4-5 20; Dannyn Peterson 5 4-5 14; Katelyn Schroeder 1 0-0 2. Totals: 18 12-18 50.  

Wolsey-Wessington (6-4): Leah Williams 4 1-2 9; Macie Luce 1 0-0 2; Mya Boomsma 5 4-7 14; Faith Nelson 1 0-0 2; Hailey Clarke 2 0-2 5; Alyssa Hiles 0 0-3 0; Taylor Horn 0 2-2 2; Lainey Uttecht 1 0-0 2. Totals: 14 7-16 36.

James Valley Christian 51 , Wessington Springs 29
HURON — The James Valley Christian Lady Vikings raced to the consolation championship of the girls’ 281 Conference Tournament Thursday night, on the legs of a 16-1 onslaught in the first quarter that propelled the Lady Vikes to a 51-29 win over the Wessington Springs Lady Spartans at the JVC gym.

Karilyn Wieting notched 23 points and Kerstyn Fast added 12 as JVC moved to 8-6 on the season.

For Wessington Springs, Alyssa Grohs led the scoring columns with seven points. The Lady Spartans fall to 2-10 with the loss.

JVC is back in action on Saturday when the Lady Vikings host Ipswich, while Wessington Springs hosts Andes Central/Dakota Christian on Tuesday.

Wessington Springs       1   8 20 29
James Valley Christian 16 31 47 51

Wessington Springs (2-10): Alyssa Grohs 2 3-5 7; Angie Paulson 1 1-2 3; Avery Orth 2 0-2 4; Harlee Heim 3 0-0 6; Kirstie Munsen 2 0-0 4; Carissa Scheel 2 0-0 5. Totals: 12 4-9 29.

James Valley Christian (8-6): Karilyn Wieting 9 1-2 23; Kerstyn Fast 4 2-2 12; Emily Hasart 1 1-2 3; Brenna Held 4 1-2 9; Kaylie Robinson 1 0-1 2; AbbyKate Hamilton 0 0-1 0; Tessah Cronin 1 0-2 2. Totals: 20 5-12 51.

Iroquois/Doland 58, Sunshine Bible Academy 25
IROQUOIS — The Iroquois/Doland Lady Chiefs powered to a 30-5 lead after the first quarter of play, en route to a 58-25 win over the Sunshine Bible Academy Crusaders in the seventh-place game of the girls’ 281 Conference basketball tournament Thursday night.

Katie Dubro and Anna Decker led a quartet of Lady Chiefs in double-figure scoring with 13 points each. Harley Nelson added 11 and Kaycee Schneider netted 10 in the win, which moves Iroquois/Doland to 4-6 on the season. Dubro and Nelson each claimed five rebounds in the game.

For Sunshine Bible Academy, which remains winless at 0-10, Taylor Nelson scored a game-high 15 points.

The Lady Chiefs are on the road Monday, at Oldham-Ramona/Rutland, while SBA will look to break into the win column Saturday when they host Lyman.

Sunshine Bible    5 12 19 25
Iroquois/Doland 30 48 58 58

Sunshine Bible Academy (0-10): Abby Haun 2 0-1 4; Taylor Nelson 5 5-8 15; Jakki Burma 1 0-1 2; Kennedy Keck 1 0-0 2; Anna VanZee 1 0-0 2. totals 10 5-10 25.

Iroquois/Doland (4-6): Katie Dubro 5 1-3 13; Anna Decker 6 0-0 13; Harley Nelson 4 2-2 11; Caycee Schneider 5 0-0 10; Kaitlyn Maas 3 1-2 7; Jorja Huls 2 0-0 4. Totals: 25 4-7 58.