WESSINGTON SPRINGS - Avery Orth scored 25 for the Wessington Springs Lady Spartans as they claimed a 46-26 opening-game victory over the Wolsey-Wessington Lady Warbirds Tuesday in Wessington Springs

Replacing five seniors, four who started, from last season’s third place team in the Class “B” State tournament was obvious early on as the Lady Warbirds struggled with defensive shifting and ball rotation on offense.

The Lady Spartans struggled similarly, though, relying on 6-foot-2 senior center Orth early on, as she bucketed the first points of the game. She and Lady Warbird freshman guard Shae Uttecht went back and forth early as Uttecht hit on a drive and a three while Orth made a pair of buckets and a free throw.

Orth scored on back-to-back possessions to give Springs a 9-5 lead, all nine points scored by Orth. Kendall Uttecht sunk a pair of free throws for W-W to make it 9-7, but then Springs went on a long run that lasted until the middle of the second quarter, finishing a 9-2 run when Shae hit a pair of free throws.

The Lady Spartans continued to dominate the pace of play as Orth scored 18 in the first half and the home team took a 27-13 lead into half.

Neither team shot well in the second half, but the Lady Spartans were able to get five points early in the third quarter from Alyssa Grohs to push the lead out to 32-15. Orth’s 20th point of the game made it 37-17 Lady Spartans, and that’s where the third quarter ended.

Payton Kemnitz was able to drive to the hoop for the Lady Warbirds multiple times in the final quarter, but the game was too far gone at that point as the Lady Spartans claimed a 46-26 score.

Orth led the Lady Spartans (1-0) with 25 points. Three other players scored five points for Springs.

The Lady Warbirds dropped their first game despite 14 points from Kemnitz. Shae Uttecht scored eight points.

Springs heads to Faulkton Area Thursday, while the Lady Warbirds host De Smet Monday.

Wolsey-Wessington (0-1): Paytron Kemnitz 6 2-2 14, Maria Nelson 1 0-0 2, Shae Uttecht 2 3-8 8, Kendall Uttecht 0 2-2 2, Lainey Uttecht 0 0-1 0. Totals: 9 7-13 26.

Wessington Springs (1-0): Carissa Scheel 2 0-0 5, Mariah Messmer 2 0-0 4, Addyson Orth 1 0-2 2, Alyssa Grohs 2 0-2 5, Kerstynn Heim 2 0-0 5, Avery Orth 10 4-8 25. Totals: 19 4-12 46.