BY PLAINSMAN STAFF
The Wolsey-Wessington Warbirds stormed back into the championship game of the 281 Conference boys’ basketball tournament Tuesday night, while the Wessington Springs Spartans had to post an heroic second-half comeback to punch their ticket to the title tilt.

Wolsey-Wessington 83, James Valley Christian 35
WOLSEY — The top-seeded Warbirds sprinted to an early lead and kept up the pace, downing the James Valley Christian Vikings 83-35 in one of the championship semifinal games. Wolsey-Wessington had a 22-8 lead after one quarter and were up 43-22 at the half en route to the win.

Tristan Abbott led the way for the Warbirds, topping a list of five double figure scorers, with 27 points and also claiming a game high eight rebounds. Corbin Haarmeyer netted 13 for W-W, while Payson Gohn added 12, and Marty Gohn chalked up 10, as did Blaze Herdman.

Landon Wager was the lone Viking to dent double figures, scoring 15 points in the game.

For Wolsey-Wessington, now 8-1 on the season, the win puts them back in the tournament title game Friday night, where they are the defending champion after an overtime win last year over Sanborn Central/Woonsocket.

James Valley Christian, which falls to 1-9 on the year, will play for third place on Friday at Highmore-Harrold.

James Valley Christian (1-9): Wyatt Schweigert 1 0-1 2; Landon Wager 4 5-6 15; Landon Wallman 2 0-0 8; Isaac Korell 1 0-0 2; Brennen Hood 1 0-0 3; Ethan Bartholow 2 1-1 5. Totals: 12 6-8 35.

Wolsey-Wessington (8-1): Corbin Haarmeyer 5 0-0 13; Tristan Abbott 12 2-2 27; Ethan Nelson 1 2-2 4; Payson Gohn 5 2-2 12; Carson Zomer 1 0-0 2; Marty Gohn 4 1-2 10; Blaze Herdman 4 0-0 10; Kaden Krutzfeldt 1 0-0 3; Grant Timm 0 2-2 2. Totals: 33 9-10 83.

Wessington Springs 57, Highmore-Harrold 44
HIGHMORE — The fourth-seeded Wessington Springs Spartans posted a huge second half comeback to overtake and pull away from the No. 2 seeded Highmore-Harrold Pirates 57-44 in a championship semifinal game of the boys’ 281 Conference Tournament Tuesday night.

More information on this game was not available at press time.

Tryce Slykhuis scored 12 points, passed out five assists and had seven rebounds in the game for the Blackhawks, who also got 12 points from Toby Kneed and 11 from Andrew Lindgren. Hayden Beigh also claimed seven boards for SC/W.

Nolan Treibwasser scored eight points and had a game-high eight rebounds for the Crusaders, in the team’s first game of the season. Owan Watson chipped in six points for SBA.

Sanborn Central/Woonsocket will host the consolation championship on Friday night, while Sunshine Bible Academy will be on the road to play for seventh place.