ABERDEEN –– A 7-0 run to end the first half translated into a dominant second half as the Wessington Springs Spartans won their first-round game over the Wall Eagles, 74-52, at the South Dakota Class B Boys’ State Tournament at Don Meyer Court at Barnett Center in Aberdeen.

Wall was able to get a turnover on an errant Spartan pass and found Emmet Dinger at the end of a break for the first points of the game, giving Wall a 2-0 lead.

Ryder Michalek took the ball down the middle of the lane with a bucket for Springs. Dinger answered with a long three from the top of the key to give Wall a 5-2 edge with a little more than a minute off the game clock.

Colby Flowers got a putback for Springs, but Dinger had a release in transition and scored a layup.

Flowers got a seal on an inbounds pass and put in a short bucket and was fouled. He missed the free throw. On the ensuing possession, Michalek found Sam Poncelow on a cut through the lane to give Springs their first lead, 8-7. That was the score at the first media break.

After a drought of more than two minutes for both teams, Flowers got a putback basket under the hoop to make it 10-7 Spartans. On the fourth shot of the possession, Dinger nailed a long three from the top of the key to tie the game at 10.

Teelan Kjerstad hit a baseline jumper for the first points for an Eagle not scored by Dinger, making it 12-10 with 1:45 left. Michalek was fouled and hit one of two to bring it to 12-11 Wall.

Flowers missed a pair of free throws for Springs. At the end of the quarter, Dinger flattened Karter Mebius, and Mebius made one of two free throws to make it a 12-12 tie at the end of one quarter.

Luke Larson got a putback bucket to open the scoring in the second quarter. Dinger got a quick-trigger basket off the inbounds play to keep it tied 14-14.

Mebius drove in for a bucket, but Dinger responded immediately with a drive to the hoop of his own. Mebius then hit a three from the wing to make it 19-16 Springs with six minutes remaining.

The Eagles found Chase Carlbom on a screen-and-roll for a basket, then Kjerstad got a steal and found Jace Mohr as Wall took a 20-19 lead.

Flowers found Mebius for a short basket for the Spartans. Springs would take a 21-20 lead to the second quarter media break.

Kjerstad hit a teardrop baseline jumper, but Michalek answered with a strong move inside to keep it 23-22.

Flowers was able to break deep for a release layup to make it 25-22 with three minutes remaining.

Kjerstad made one of two free throws and then got a steal, with a layup by Dawson Handcock to end the play, bringing the game to a 25-25 tie with 2:10 left.

Wesley Molnar was left wide open and nailed a wing three for Springs to give the Spartans a 28-25 lead with one minute remaining. A baseline drive by Michalek made it 30-25 with 30 seconds remaining. An up-and-under move by Michalek made it 32-25 Spartans at halftime.

After each team had an empty possession, Mebius hit for two for the Spartans for the first points of the second half. Teelan Kjerstad would get a rebound and go coast-to-coast for two and then on a second chance bucket, Handcock cut the Springs lead to 34-29. That would be as close as the Eagles would get the rest of the game.

Michalek hit one of two free throws, but Flowers got the rebound from his free throw and got the putback and was fouled, hitting the free throw to make it 38-29.

Michalek dialed in from three, and Kjerstad immediately responded with a basket. Dinger launced a three to make it 41-34 with 3:50 remaining.

Flowers got a putback bucket, and Jace Mohr responded with a basket for Wall to cut the lead to 43-36 with 3:16 remaining in the quarter. That would be the final points for Wall in the period.

The Spartans would go on a 13-0 run to close out the third period to take a 56-36 lead into the final frame.

With 3:27 remaining and a 72-42 lead, Wessington Springs coach Joey Mitchell pulled his starters to close out the game.

The Spartans move to 22-2 behind 24 points and 16 rebounds from Colby Flowers. Mebius added 20 points and Michalek chipped in 19 while handling the primary ball-handling duties with Parker Graff out due to injury.

Michalek would also haul down 11 rebounds.

Wall falls to 17-7 despite 19 points from Dinger. Kjerstad added 13 points. Trevor Shulz came off the bench to secure five rebounds.

Wall 12 25 36 52
Springs 12 32 56 74

Wall (17-7): Emmett Dinger 8 0-0 19, Dawson Handcock 2 0-0 4, Jace Mohr 2 0-0 4, Teelan Kjerstad 6 1-2 13, Carter Sundall 3 0-0 7, Chase Carlbom 1 0-0 2, Riley Gay 1 0-0 2. Totals: 23 1-2 52.

Wessington Springs (22-2): Karter Mebius 8 3-5 20, Wesley Molnar 1 0-0 3, Sam Poncelow 1 0-0 2, Colby Flowers 10 4-8 24, Ryder Michalek 5 8-10 19, Luke Larson 2 0-0 4, Grady Gran 1 0-0 2. Totals: 28 15-23 74.

FG: W - 23/68 34%; WS - 28/48 58%. 3-pt FG: W - 5/32 (Dinger 3, Sundall, Gay); WS - 3/7 (Mebius, Molnar, Michalek). Rebounds: W 22 (Schulz 5), WS 47 (CFlowers 16). Assists: W 10 (TKjerstad 3), WS 12 (Michalek, Larson 3). Steals: W 12 (TKjerstad), WS 3 (Poncelow 2). Turnovers: W 14, WS 22. Fouls: W 22 (Handcock out), WS 8.