The Valley City Hi-Liners were their own worst enemies at times against the Wahpeton Huskies as multiple missed layups, turnovers, and missed three-pointers sent the Hi-Liners crashing to a 47-44 defeat to the Huskies.

The first quarter went as about as well as you could ask for Valley City, as Zach Sykora and Bryson Heck got the Hi-Liners going from the outside while Carson Eggert and Carver Pederson provided some solid defense. The Hi-Liners held a 15-8 lead late in the first quarter as they looked to close out the quarter with some momentum. But a late rotation on defense left Jack Gilbertson wide open from deep, and a seemingly innocuous three-pointer that cut the lead down to 15-11 would be instead the start of a rough stretch of basketball for Valley City.

The best thing that could be said about the second quarter for Valley City is that it eventually ended. While not dominant in the quarter, the Huskies’ offense efficiently stacked together 15 points in the second frame as Brayden Steffens led the way for Wahpeton with eight points at the break. Valley City, meanwhile, would only manage to cobble together five points in the quarter as turnovers and missed layups would plague the Hi-Liners in the second quarter. Even after their worst quarter of the season Valley City only found themselves trailing 26-20 at the break.

The third quarter would again be an offensive struggle for the Hi-Liners as they only managed to put away nine points in the frame. Fortunately for Valley City, the defense would hold the Huskies to only six points as they tried to mount a charge to get themselves back into the game.

Unfortunately for the Hi-Liners, both teams’ offenses would re-emerge from their slumber simultaneously. Both teams would trade and-one to start the quarter as Eggert tried to drag his squad across the finish line, finishing the game with 17 points. Brayden Steffens, though, would repeatedly shatter the Hi-Liner comeback hopes as he chipped in with seven points in the frame while setting up his teammates for timely scores. A late three-pointer by Heck would make things interesting, but a long inbounds pass by the Huskies would ice the game as Wahpeton walked out with the 47-44 win.

The Hi-Liners will take on the Central Cass Squirrels in the third-place game on Thursday at 6:00 pm, with the winner facing the loser of Thompson vs. Devils Lake.