Valley City led Beulah after every quarter except the one that mattered most, as Braylen Schirado’s 24-point fourth-quarter explosion lifted the Miners to a 75-64 comeback win.

Valley City showed balanced scoring early, with four players finishing in double figures and Miken Mattson leading the Hi-Liners with 20 points. The Hi-Liners jumped out quickly, with all five starters contributing in the first quarter. Meanwhile, Schirado kept Beulah within striking distance with 11 first-quarter points.

In the second quarter, Beulah’s Tucker Keller added nine points to keep the game close as the lead changed hands multiple times. Valley City countered with Mattson, Bryson Heck, and Finn Dockter, who combined for 16 of the team’s 18 points in the frame, giving the Hi-Liners a 37-32 lead at halftime.

The Miners opened the third quarter with a 10-0 run, briefly taking the lead before Valley City tightened its defense and reclaimed a narrow 48-47 advantage entering the final period.

The fourth quarter, however, belonged to Schirado. The junior guard caught fire, draining six three-pointers in the final frame to more than double his point total from 19 to a game-high 43. Despite Valley City cutting the lead to single digits late, Beulah sealed the win with free throws.

The Hi-Liners will look to bounce back on Tuesday, Jan. 28, when they host the Wahpeton Huskies.