PHOTO BY MIKE CARROLL/PLAINSMAN
Shawn Diehl of Iroquois puts up a shot over Ethan Nelson of Wolsey-Wessington during the semfinals of the 281 Conference Tournament on Tuesday at Huron Arena.
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Plainsman staff
HURON — The Wolsey-Wessington Warbirds got rolling early Tuesday afternoon, in the championship semifinals of the 281 Conference Tournament, racing to a 20-point lead after the opening period and cruising to a 64-38 win over the Iroquois-Doland Chiefs.
Wolsey-Wessington was led by Jake Williams’ 16 points and nine rebounds, while Ethan Nelson came off the Warbirds bench to notch 15 points and lead all rebounders with 11. Tristan Abbott added 12 points for Wolsey-Wessington, which will carry a sparkling 9-0 record into the conference title game Thursday night against Sanborn Central-Woonsocket or Highmore-Harrold, in a game scheduled to tip off at 7:30 p.m. at Huron Arena.
The Chiefs were led by Keistan Dubro’s 13 points. Cole Nelson added 11 and Shawn Diehl snagged a team-high eight boards.
Iroquois-Doland will play for third place on Thursday, with a scheduled 4:30 p.m. game against Sanborn Central-Woonsocket OR Highmore-Harrold
Sanborn Central/Woonsocket 64, Highmore-Harrold 31
HURON - The Blackhawks of Sanborn Central/Woonsocket made it look easy in advancing to the championship game of the 281 Conference Tournament with a 64-31 victory over Highmore-Harrold on Tuesday night.
The Blackhawks moved to 7-4 on the season with the win behind 17 points from Malachi Bruce. Tater Moody had 14 points and 10 rebounds while Noah Dickson had 12 points and 12 rebounds for Sanborn Central/Woonsocket.
The Pirates fell to 2-7 on the year as Remington Paynter led the way with nine points.
Sanborn Central/Woonsocket will face Wolsey-Wessington for the 281 Conference Tournament championship Thursday while Highmore-Harrold will face Iroquois/Doland in the third place game.
Consolation
Hitchcock-Tulare 38, Sunshine Bible Academy 36
HURON - In upset style, the eighth-seeded Hitchcock-Tulare Patriots boys won their first game in the second round of 281 Conference Tournament action, defeating Sunshine Bible Academy 38-36 on Tuesday night at James Valley Christian.
Fifth-seeded Sunshine Bible Academy fell to 2-7 with the hard-luck loss despite leading at every quarter break until the Patriots powered through with a 9-2 fourth quarter to take the victory.
The Crusaders were led by EJ Big Eagle with 13 points, including three 3-point baskets. Jade Burma pitched in 12 points. Dylan Hass and Jade Burma each grabbed eight rebounds to lead Sunshine Bible Academy.
Hitchcock-Tulare bumped their season record to 1-9 with the hard-fought victory. Logan Gilbert played a big part in that victory, scoring a game-high 19 points as the only Patriot in double figures in scoring. Gilbert also grabbed eight boards to lead the team.
The Patriots next take the court in the fifth-place game of the 281 Conference Tournament on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. at the Huron Arena. Sunshine Bible Academy faces off in the seventh place game earlier in the day at 10:30 a.m.
Wessington Springs 57, James Valley Christian 51
The Wessington Springs Spartans will play for fifth place in the boys’ 281 Conference Tournament on Thursday, with a 57-51 win over the James Valley Christian Vikings in the final consolation round game of the day.
Jacob Messmer scored 20 points and had 16 rebounds in the game to pace the Spartans’ effort. Mason Schelske added 17 and 11 as Wessington Springs, now 6-4, will play Hitchcock-Tulare for the consolation championship on Thursday afternoon.
James Valley Christian, which falls to 0-9 with the loss, was led by Richard Rink’s 15 points, while Landen Wallman and Zach Kleinsasser each netted 12. Rink and Kleinsasser each had six rebounds.
JVC will play Sunshine Bible Academy on Thursday morning for seventh place.