HURON — An exciting game throughout between the top two seeds in the 281 Conference led to an incredibly exciting girls’ title game, with the Wessington Springs Lady Spartans eeking out a 40-38 overtime victory over the Sanborn Central/Woonsocket Blackhawks Thursday at Huron Arena.

The two top seeds on the girls’ side of the bracket played nip-and-tuck throughout the first quarter until a quick 5-0 run by the Blackhawks allowed them to head to the first period break leading 15-10.

After 90 seconds without any scoring in the second quarter, Wessington Springs’ Alyssa Grohs opened second-quarter scoring with a three from the top of the key to bring the Lady Spartans within 15-13.

Liz Boschee drove hard into the lane for the Blackhawks to become the first player in double-digit scoring, giving SC/W a 22-15 lead with 3:30 left in the first half.

The two teams battled back and forth to end the first half, and when Kara Wormstadt missed a jumper to end the first half for the Blackhawks, Sanborn Central/Woonsocket went into half with a 24-20 lead.

Jaycee Baruth scored for the Blackhawks on a backdoor cut to open the scoring in the second half. As the Lady Spartans attempted to crawl back in the game, Boschee committed her fourth foul, sending her to the bench.

Carissa Scheel put in a short bucket with just under two minutes remaining in the quarter, giving her nine points in the quarter and tying the game at 29-29. That’s where the score sat as the two teams headed into the final quarter of play.

When Avery Orth missed a free throw and Scheel got the rebound and was fouled as well, Scheel hit pair of free throws to give Wessington Springs a 37-30 lead with 4:30 left in the game.

The Blackhawks narrowed the lead to 37-34, and then a pair of free throws from Boschee with 1:10 left in the game made it 37-36.

The Lady Spartans were able to secure the ball through the possession arrow with 21 seconds left in the game. A Raylee Fagerhaug free throw made it 38-36, and Kennadie Ochsner hit a long jumper at the buzzer to tie the game at 38 at the end of regulation.

With 33 seconds left in the extra period, Blackhawk coach Rob Baruth called timeout to set up a play, with neither team having scored to that point. After Boschee missed a long three, Fagerhaug grabbed the rebound, was fouled, and hit a pair of free throws for the Spartans.

Boschee missed a three as overtime expired, giving the Lady Spartans a 40-38 overtime victory.

The Lady Spartans were led by Carissa Scheel with 12 points. Kerstynn Heim grabbed 11 rebounds.

The Blackhawks were led by Liz Boschee with 18 points and eight rebounds.

Avery Orth of Wessington Springs was selected as the tournament most valuable player.

The Blackhawks will participate in the Bizzard Buster Classic against Elk Point-Jefferson Saturday while the Lady Spartans will travel to Andes Central/Dakota Christian on Tuesday.

Sanborn Central/Woonsocket (8-3): Jaycee Baruth 2 1-2 5, Kenna Ochsner 2 0-0 4, Liz Boschee 6 5-7 18, Kam Ochsner 2 0-0 4, Kali Hofer 2 1-4 7. Totals: 14 7-13 38.

Wessington Springs (8-2): Avery Orth 2 2-4 6, Alyssa Grohs 2 2-2 7, Ashlyn Weber 1 0-0 2, Carissa Scheel 3 4-6 12, Kerstynn Heim 1 0-0 2, Raylee Fagerhaug 2 5-6 9, Addy Orth 1 0-0 2. Totals: 12 13-18 40.

FG: SCW - 14/43 32.6%, WS - 12/51 23.5%. 3-pt FG: SCW 3/15 (Hofer 2, Boschee); WS 3/14 (Scheel 2, Grohs). Rebounds: SCW 23 (Boschee 8), WS 40 (Heim 11). Assists: SCW 9 (Boschee, KeOchsner 3), WS 9 (Grohs 6). Turnovers: SCW 12, WS 15. Fouls: SCW 15 (Baruth out), WS 14.