Boys Basketball
Having received votes in the most recent Class B poll and moving to 8-1 on the season, the Wessington Springs Spartans defeated the Sanborn Central/ Woonsocket Blackhawks 76-61 Monday at Huron Arena, earning them a spot to take on top seed Wolsey-Wessington in the championship game Thursday in Huron at 7:30 p.m.
The Spartans were led by 35 points from Colby Flowers with Karter Mebius adding 22 points.
Kicking off the 281 Tournament last week, The Spartans trailed after one quarter but charged full speed ahead in the second quarter, emerging with a 69-35 victory over the Hitchcock-Tulare Patriots Friday in Wolsey.
Wessington Springs had four players in double figures: Karter Mebius and Colby Flowers each had 16 points with Branden Flowers having 13 and Grady Gran with 12.
Girls Basketball
On Tuesday, the Wessington Springs Spartan basketball teams traveled to Plankinton to take on the Mt. Vernon/ Plankinton Titans in a doubleheader. The Spartan girls gave a spirited effort but came up short losing to MVP by a score of 53-43. The game started out even with MVP leading 12-10 after one quarter of play. Both teams scored 13 points in 2nd quarter and MVP led 25-23 at halftime. MVP got off to a hot start in 3rd quarter and built a 12 point lead. However, before end of quarter the Spartans started a run and cut the lead to 39-33 going into 4th quarter. In the final quarter the Spartans were able to cut the lead to 2 points, but could not get closer and went cold at end of game and MVP pulled out the victory. The Spartans were led in scoring by Kenzie Kolousek with 11 points. Ashlyn Weber had 10 points, Addy Orth had 9 points and Kerstynn Heim chipped in 8 points.
The Spartan girls JV team dropped their first loss of the season by a score of 39-37. The JV team was down 9 with 1:30 left in the game and made a furious comeback but were unable to overtake the lead from MVP.
On Thursday the girls basketball 281 tournament began in Wolsey. The Spartan girls go into the tournament as the #4 seed and faced off against the #5 seed Wolsey-Wessington in the first round. The Spartans got off to a good start and led 11-7 after one quarter of play. The Spartans continued in 2nd quarter and increased that lead to 12 points in 2nd quarter. Going into halftime the Spartans led 28-18. The Spartans struggled some in 3rd quarter and only led 34-32 heading into the 4th quarter. After exchanging some baskets, the Spartans were able to hold the lead and then increase the lead back to 12 points and came out with a 48-38 victory. Kendall Kolousek led the scoring with 14 points. Addy Orth had 12 points. Kerstynn Heim had 9 points.
Monday’s 281 Tournament play, found the Spartans facing off against the Sanborn Central/Woonsocket Blackhawks with a tough loss 68-38.
Kerstynn Heim led the Lady Spartans (4-6) with 1, 5 points. Kenzie Kolousek added 10.
Wessington Springs will play Hitchcock-Tulare for third place at 3 p.m. Thursday at Huron Arena.