ABERDEEN — The Wessington Springs Spartans came back after giving up a large lead in the first half of the fourth quarter, to defeat the Gregory Gorillas 55-51 and claim the fifth-place, consolation championship at the Class “B” State boys’ basketball tournament Saturday afternoon.

Wessington Springs used a mixture of good offense - passing and moving without the ball - and suffocating defense to forge a 29-21 lead at the half.

An 8-2 run to open the second half for the Spartans pushed the lead to 14 points and Wessington Springs maintained that edge and led by 15 points, 42-27, with one quarter to play.

Noah Bearshield and Daniel Mitchell led the Gorillas back, however, and after a bucket by Cole Serr, Gregory was down by only six.

Mitchell scored on a long two-pointer, Cruz Klundt hit a pair of free throws and then scored on a short jumper off a Mitchell steal.

Blake Larson hit a short shot in the lane and a deuce from Parker Graff pushed the Spartans’ lead back to four points, at 53-49.

Serr scored for Gregory with 13 seconds to play, and Wessington Springs turned the ball over, but Bearshield missed a free-throw-line jumper and Ryder Michalek hit two free throws to give Springs the victory.

Graff led Wessington Springs with 17 points, while Colby Flowers netted 14 and Larson had 11.

Michalek had seven rebounds for the Spartans (24-2).

Bearshield and Mitchell each scored 15 points for the Gorillas (20-6).

Gregory 11 21 27 51
Wessington Springs 15 29 42 55

GREGORY (20-6): Noah Bearshield 6 1-2 15; Cruz Klundt 3 3-4 9; Daniel Mitchell 7 1-1 15; Lincoln Juracek 0 0-2 0; Cole Serr 3 0-0 7; Colt Keiser 1 0-0 2; Jackson Bolander 1 0-0 3. Totals: 21 5-9 51.

WESSINGTON SPRINGS (24-2): Blake Larson 5 0-1 11; Parker Graff 7 0-0 17; Brock Krueger 2 0-0 5; Colby Flowers 5 4-5 14; Ryder Michalek 2 4-6 8. Totals: 21 8-12 55.

FG: G - 21-52 40%; WS - 21-40 53%. 3-pt FG: W - 4-14 (Bearshield 2, Serr, Bolander); WS - 5-15 (Graff 3, Larson, Krueger). Rebounds: G - 27 (Bearshield 6); WS - 26 (Michalek 7). TO: G - 13; WS - 16. Assists: G - 10 (Klundt 4); WS - 9 (Krueger 3, Michalek 3). Fouls: G - 13; WS - 9.