Warbirds need OT to claim 281 Conference boys’ title

HURON - A game worthy of the finale of the 281 Conference Tournament went to overtime before the Wolsey-Wessington Warbirds claimed the boys title over the Sanborn Central/Wessington Blackhawks 57-51.
The first quarter was very high-intensity, with two long runs. Wolsey-Wessington jumped out to a 7-0 lead to open the game before the Blackhawks stormed back to tie the game. The Warbirds got the last two buckets of the quarter to finish with a four-point lead in the opening frame.
The second quarter was more of the same with runs from each team, but neither really gaining full control of the momentum. Wolsey-Wessington led by as many as seven during the quarter, but a five-point run by the Blackhawks to close things out left the Warbird lead at just two at halftime, 20-18.
The Blackhawks opened the second half with a three-point basket that gave them their first lead of the game, though that lasted roughly 30 seconds as the Warbirds put in two quick buckets to jump back out in front. Sanborn Central/Woonsocket answered with a big run that saw them up by as many as seven points to close the third quarter.
Wolsey-Wessington stormed back to tie the game at 39 early in the fourth quarter, and that’s when the championship atmosphere really kicked in. Wolsey-Wessington would make a bucket, then Sanborn Central/Woonsocket would answer with a three-point basket, and on it would go. The teams traded buckets, with the Warbirds taking their first lead of the final quarter with just a little more than one minute remaining on a Tristan Abbott three-point bucket.
Fittingly, the game could not be decided in regulation. In the overtime period, two three-point baskets for the Warbirds gave them the advantage and forced the Blackhawks into fouling. While both teams struggled from the line early in the overtime period, the Warbirds stepped up in the final minute of overtime, hitting three key free throws to close out the game.
The Warbirds remain undefeated at 10-0 behind a huge game from Tristan Abbott, who scored 20 on the night. He also hit four 3-point baskets in the game. Payson Gohn pitched in 15 points and grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds. Jake Williams also reached double figures with 10 points, including eight in the fourth quarter.
Noah Dickson scored 13 points to lead Sanborn Central/Woonsocket, who drops to 7-5 on the season with the loss. Dickson also led the Blackhawks with 11 rebounds. Tryce Slykhuis added 11 points, including three 3-point baskets, in defeat.
The Warbirds tip off next against Potter County Saturday afternoon in Wolsey. Sanborn Central/Woonsocket laces up next at home in Forestburg against Hanson on Tuesday.

Sanborn CentWoon. 7 18 37 47 51
Wolsey-Wessington 11 20 30 47 57
Sanborn Central/Woonsocket (7-5): Noah Dickson 4 4-5 13; Tryce Slykhuis 4 0-0 11; Cayden Slykhuis 3 0-0 8; Malachi Bruce 1 4-6 7; Tater Moody 2 4-4 9; Brady Larson 1 1-2 3. Totals: 15 13-17 51.
Wolsey-Wessington (10-0): Skylar Zomer 1 2-2 4; Jake Williams 3 3-5 10; Brevan Hooks 2 0-0 6; Tristan Abbott 8 0-3 20; Payson Gohn 6 3-5 15; Ethan Nelson 0 2-4 2. Totals: 20 10-19 57.
FG: SCW 15-49 31%; WW 20-50 40%. 3-pt FG: SCW 8-28 (T.Slykhuis 3, C.Slykhuis 2, Dickson, Bruce, Moody); WW 7-15 (Abbott 4, Hooks 2, Williams). Rebounds: SCW 35 (Dickson 11); WW 36 (Gohn 12). Turnovers: SCW 14, WW 13. Fouls: SCW 14 (Dickson out), WW 14.

Iroquois/Doland 64, Highmore-Harrold 61
HURON - Despite a valiant comeback by the Highmore-Harrold Pirates, the Iroquois/Doland Chiefs claimed third place in the 281 Conference Tournament with a victory Thursday by a final of 64-61.
While Highmore-Harrold continued to make runs at the Chiefs, they could never get closer than two possessions, spending much of the third quarter around a 6-8 point deficit. A strong open to the final quarter brought the Pirates within a point at 57-56. They were within a point a number of times in the final frame, but could never climb all the way back.
Brandon Decker led a balanced Iroquois/Doland attack featuring four in double figures in scoring. Decker finished with 14 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Reilyn Zavesky and Keistan Dubro each added 12 points and Colton Nelson pitched in 10 in the victory as the Chiefs evened their record at 4-4.

Highmore-Harrold fell to 2-8 on the season with the loss despite a strong effort from freshman Remington Paynter, who led all scorers with 21 points. The Pirates’ lone senior, Dylan McDonnell finished with 15 points, and Payton McDonnell dropped in 11.  Paynter also grabbed six rebounds to lead the team.
The Pirates are back in action Tuesday as they host James Valley Christian in Highmore, while Iroquois/Doland hosts Great Plains Lutheran in Doland on Friday.

Highmore-Harrold 16 30 43 61
Iroquois/Doland 23 39 53 64
Highmore-Harrold (2-8): Grady Aasby 1 0-0 3; Payton McDonnell 4 1-2 11; Dylan McDonnell 5 4-5 15; Remington Paynter 8 4-7 21; Owen Fritzsche 1 0-0 2; Telson Cowan 2 1-3 5. Totals: 22 11-19 61.
Iroquois/Doland (4-4): Shawn Diehl 2 0-0 5; Reilyn Zavesky 4 2-2 12; Brandon Decker 6 2-6 14; Keistan Dubro 6 0-0 12; Logan Pesky 2 0-0 4; Adam Maas 0 0-1 0; Colton Nelson 3 3-4 10; Tayrn Wipf 2 4-7 8. Totals: 25 9-14 64.
FG: HH 22-56 39%; ID 25-52 48%. 3-pt FG: HH 6-17 (P.McDonnell 2, D.McDonnell, Aasby, Paynter, Beckler); ID 5-11 (Zavelsky 2, Decker 2, Nelson). Rebounds: HH 31 (Paynter 6); ID 37 (Decker 10). Turnovers: HH 9, ID 12. Fouls: HH 15, ID 20 (Diehl, Wipf out).

Fifth place
Wessington Springs 46, Hitchcock-Tulare 36
HURON - The Wessington Springs Spartans took a 14-point lead at the half and held off a determined comeback effort from Hitchcock-Tulare, to pull out a 46-36 win in the boys’ fifth-place game at the 281 Conference Tournament Thursday afternoon.
The first half was on the sloppy side for both teams, with plenty of missed opportunities for easy buckets and errant passes along the way. The Spartans had much more luck at the hoop, however, leading to a 24-10 halftime lead.
Wessington Springs came out of the half playing much sharper and jumped to a 20-point lead in the first few minutes of the third quarter, but Hitchcock-Tulare came storming back, getting it down to a two-possession game at one point, but they could never break all the way through.
After a fast-paced fourth quarter that saw the teams exchange three-point baskets four trips up and down the court, the Spartans took hold of the lead and never let the Patriots get within double-digits again over the final four minutes of the game. Mason Schelske scored 12 points and Dylan Schimke added 11 to pace the Spartans. Jacob Messmer had a game-high 11 rebounds for Wessington Springs, which improves to 7-4 with the victory.
Logan Gilbert led all scorers with 16 points for Hitchcock-Tulare, which falls to 1-10 with the loss. TJ Salmen came off the bench to claim eight rebounds for the Patriots, who return to action Thursday when they host Sully Buttes in Tulare.
The Spartans travel to Dakota Christian Tuesday to battle Andes Central/Dakota Christian.

Hitchcock-Tulare 610 22 36
Wessington Springs 12 24 33 46
Hitchcock-Tulare (1-10): Logan Gilbert 5 5-6 16; Bailey Binger 0 0-2 0; Titus Waldner 0 1-2 1; Jack Boomsma 1 1-2 4; Kyle Hamilton 1 0-0 3; Cody Wright 1 0-0 2; Zach Gilbert 1 0-0 3; TJ Salmen 3 0-2 6; Alex Clark 0 1-2 1. Totals: 12 8-16 36.
Wessington Springs (7-4): Tyler Kole 1 2-2 4; Lane Olinger 1 0-0 2; Dylan Schimke 3 2-2 11; Mason Schelske 4 3-4 12; Jacob Messmer 4 0-0 8; Gerritt Brandenburg 1 0-0 2; Cade Mohling 1 0-0 3; Draven Thompson 2 0-0 4. Totals: 17 7-8 46.
FG: HT - 12-52 18%; WS - 17-48 34%. 3-pt FG: HT - 4-22 (L.Gilbert, Boomsma, Hamilton and Z. Gilbert); WS - 5-18 (Schimke 3, Schelske and Mohling). Rebounds: HT - 29 (Salmen 8); WS 31 (Messmer 11). Turnovers: HT - 13: WS - 9. Fouls: HT - 13; WS 11(Kole out).

Seventh place
Sunshine Bible Academy 61, James Valley Christian 55
HURON - The Sunshine Bible Academy Crusaders fought back from trailing in the first half to claim the seventh-place crown in the 281 Conference Tournament on Thursday at the Huron Arena with a 61-55 victory over James Valley Christian.
The Vikings came out strong, led by three-point shooting, as the team netted four deep balls in the first quarter en route to an 18-13 lead. Landon Wallman scored eight points to lead James Valley Christian in the quarter.
Sunshine Bible Academy took the lead on the first bucket of the second half and didn’t look back, though the Vikings did make a final run as Wallman again had eight points in the final quarter to spur James Valley, though they fell short of their first victory of the season.
The Crusaders (3-7) were led by big man Jade Burma, who netted 20 points and grabbed a game-high 17 rebounds. EJ Big Eagle scored 14 of his 19 points as Sunshine Bible Academy stormed to a lead in the second half.
Wallman used his big first and fourth quarters to score a game-high 22 points to lead the Vikings, who fell to 0-10 on the season. He was joined in double figures scoring by Richard Rink with 18 points. Karlus Waldner grabbed seven rebounds to pace James Valley Christian.
The Vikings return to action Saturday afternoon as they travel to play Ipswich. The Crusaders travel Tuesday to Wolsey to take on Wolsey-Wessington in a 281 Conference regular season tilt.

James Valley Christian 18 30 40 55
Sunshine Bible Academy 13 28 46 61
James Valley Christian (0-10): Zach Kleinsasser 2 0-0 5; Samuel Pichura 0 1-2 1; Richard Rink 8 1-1 18; Karlus Waldner 1 0-0 2; Landon Wager 0 0-2 0; Elijah Hamilton 2 1-2 7; Landon Wallman 8 0-0 22. Totals: 21 3-7 55.
Sunshine Bible Academy (3-7): EJ Big Eagle 8 1-3 19; Dylan Has 2 1-2 6; Nolan Triebwasser 1 5-8 8; Jade Burma 9 1-2 20; Bradley Hunter 3 0-1 8. Totals: 23 8-16 61.
FG: JVC 21-58 36%; SBA 30-48 63% 3-pt FG: JVC 10-30 (Wallman 6, Kleinsasser 2, Hamilton 2); SBA 7-14 (Hunter 2, Big Eagle 2, Hass, Triebwasser, Burma). Rebounds: JVC 26 (Waldner 7); SBA 50 (Burma 17). Turnovers: JVC 9, SBA 18. Fouls: JVC 17, SBA 8.