VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – West Fargo ended the game on a 22-6 run to pick up a hard fought 90-75 win over Valley City in high school boys basketball Tuesday night at the Hi-Liner Activity Center.

The start of the game was all West Fargo, the top ranked team in class A. The Packers started the game on a 19-5 run for their biggest lead with 13:22 to go in the first half.  But the Hi-Liners would storm back to get to within two at 21-19 with a 14-2 run capped off by Adam Bitz’s three-pointer with 9:58 to go. Each team would go on five point mini runs to make it 26-24 Packers.

The Hi-Liners took their first lead at 34-32 with 4:58 to go in the first half on two free throws by Calahan Burchill. Carter Birrenkott tied it at 34, then the Hi-Liners would take the lead back on Bitz’s three-pointer from the left wing with 3:48 to go in the first half.

That lead would get to be as big as 13 for Valley City at 49-36 following a three-pointer by Andrew Berntson with 2:00 to go. West Fargo would end the half on a 6-1 run to make it 50-42 at the break, home team.

The lead would get to nine twice at 63-54 Valley City after Adam Bitz stole an inbounds and made a layup with 10:25 to go. And then 65-56 after an Eggermont put back after he missed a dunk with 9:35 to go.

But West Fargo would chip away at the lead and take their first lead since 32-29 in the first half when Carter Birrenkott scored inside to make it 68-67 with 7:03 to go. Valley City would get the lead back at 69-68 on Peyton Zaun’s 15 foot jumper with 6:25 to go.

West Fargo would take the lead back for good on Joel Pease’s two free throws to make it 70-69. The Packers would lead 72-69 on a Limke long two pointer. Birrenkott would make it 74-69 on two free throws with 5:16 left. The Hi-Liners would get to within  74-71 on Eggermont’s inside bucket with 5:00 to go. But that would be as close as Valley City would get. The Packers ended the game on a 16-4 run for the final margin of victory 90-75.

Carter Birrenkott scored 19 of his 28 in the second half. Joel Pease added 28 points, 15 in the second half. Birrenkott also added 10 rebounds.Pease had 8. Parker Nelson scored 11 points and Brett Limke had 10 and a game high six assists.

Valley City was led by Jared Eggermont and Peyton Zaun with 22 each. Eggermont had the double-double with eleven rebounds. Calahan Burchill had ten points, eight rebounds and four assists. Zaun also had four assists and three steals.

Valley City falls to 2-7 in the Eastern Dakota Conference and 2-8 overall. West Fargo improved to 8-0 in the EDC and 9-0 overall.

Valley City will host Fargo North on Thursday. That game can be heard on 1490AM/96.3 FM KOVC and video streamed live at https://newsdakota.com

Watch the Packer game here: