Hi-Liner boys late rally falls short against Grand Forks Central

A close game early and late, Valley City’s late run was not enough as Grand Forks Central picked up a crucial two-point win in the Eastern Dakota Conference standings, 68-55 over the Hi-Liners in Grand Forks.

Valley City led 7-4 early on a three-pointer by Carson Eggert, a steal and layup by Carver Pederson and a inside bucket by Talon Larson. But Central would go on a 12-2 run to take a 16-10 lead. Valley City would tie the game at 9 on a bucket inside by Larson off a nice touch pass by Calahan Burchill with 13:25 to go in the half.

A long two pointer by Cole Wilber gave the Knights the lead back at 13:01. The Knights would lead the rest of the game, but not without a fight by the Hi-Liners.

That basket by Cole Wilber started a 16-3 run by the Knights as they would expand the lead to 13 at 25-12 with a three-pointer by Ross Wilber.

Zach Sykora followed that up with six straight points to cut the lead back to seven at 25-18 with 7:00 to go. Sykora would have a three-point play and a threepointer to get the Hi-Liners back into the game.

A three-pointer by Kendall Kjonaas with 3:27 to go, would give the Knights that 13 point lead back at 3623.

But the Hi-Liners would score the next five points and a turn around jumper by Will Eggert with 1:33 to go, would cut the lead back down to eight at 36-28. But Cole Wilber’s three-pointer with 29 seconds to go. would get that lead back to double figures at 39-28 at the break.

The second half was a game of runs by both teams. Early on the two teams would exchange baskets with Central taking a twelve point lead at 46-34 with 14:12 remaining in the half. That’s when the Hi-Liners would have their first run, this one was 9-0. The first seven by Carver Pederson and then a nice spin move in the lane by Zach Sykora made it 46-43 Knights with 11:36 remaining.

Back came Central, more specifically, Erick Paye. He would score eight points leading the Knights on a 10-0 run to reg*ain a 13 point lead 56-43 with 7:39 to go.

Calahan Burchill ended the run with his only basket of the second half. That also ended a scoring drought by the Hi-Lines that reached 4:34.

The points by Burchill started the Hi-Liners on a 12-0 run that cut the Knight’s lead to one. Sykora made two free throws with 4:16 to go to make it 56-55. That would be the final points for the Hi-Liners as the Knights ended the game on a 12-0 run. The Hi-Liners would miss their last nine shots.

In the second half, Valley City scored 27 points, 25 of them came from Sykora and Pederson.

Sykora scored 13 of his team high 19 in the second half while Pederson scored twelve of his 15 in the second 18 minutes. Pederson added seven rebounds and Sykora had five boards and three assists. Talon Larson scored eight points, all in the first half. Carson Eggert had six points and led the team with eight rebounds and five assists. Burchill added four points and five rebounds.

Valley City falls to 0-10 in the EDC and 1-10 overall.