Seventh-seeded Valley City couldn’t build off its monumental upset of second-seeded Kindred, losing to third-seeded Oak Grove on Tuesday in the Region 1A Semifinals, 81-57.
Aidan Saunders supplied a game-high 21 points as the Grovers buried 10 threes in the contest. Ryder Soper added 14 points, including an emphatic two-hand slam. William Olson was a key piece defensively, swiping a game-high four steals.
Fresh off a 31-point double-double, Valley City center Jack Dieterle collected six points and four rebounds in the opening quarter, as the Hi-Liners tied the game 8-8.
Oak Grove came out firing in the second stanza, outscoring Valley City 28-10 to put the game away at the half. Dieterle was stifled down the stretch, closing the contest with eight points and seven rebounds.
Oak Grove kept their momentum in the second half, as sophomore James Chaffee drained a trio of triples to account for all nine of his points.
Jack Samuelson was a bright spot in the paint for Valley City, finishing with 13 points and eight rebounds after a sluggish offensive game in round one. Miken Mattson scored the bulk of his team-high 18 points in the second half, as the Hi-Liners improved their play in the fourth quarter.
Valley City will meet Wahpeton at 6 p.m. Thursday in the third-place game, with the winner heading to the state-qualifier round Saturday. You can hear the game on AM 1450 KBMW, AM 1490 KOVC and www.newsdakota.com.