Team Photo By Alexis Petersen
The No. 2-ranked Grafton Spoilers (20-4) erased an early 9-0 deficit to defeat Wahpeton (16-9), 48-36, in Saturday’s Division A boys basketball state-qualifier game at the Scheels Center in Fargo.
Four quick points by Jayden King, a three from Landon Ralph and a jumper by Brayden Steffens gave Wahpeton a 9-0 lead to open the action.
The Spoilers responded with seven straight points. Braylon Baldwin hit a three from the wing to tie the game at 17-17 with 5:01 left in the half. Tony Villarreal scored his 12th point of the game moments later to give Grafton its first lead.
Cooper Klosterman stopped the Spoilers’ momentum with a three-point play inside as Wahpeton regained a 20-19 lead. Grafton used another scoring spurt to hit the half with a 28-23 advantage.
Grafton extended its lead while holding Wahpeton scoreless for three minutes to start the second half. Bjorn Kubela stopped the bleeding with a three at the 4:41 mark to make the score 32-26.
Wahpeton wouldn’t get closer, as Grafton controlled the tempo and disrupted the Huskie offense to win by a dozen.
Villarreal dropped 21 points in the win and Baldwin added 11.
Steffens led Wahpeton with 10 points. Cooper Klosterman and Jayden King scored seven apiece in their final game as Huskie hoopers.
