The Spearfish Spartans (5–0) posted their highest scoring output of the season Thursday night, defeating the Hill City Rangers (3–5) 72–54 to remain unbeaten.
Junior guard Mason Southern led Spearfish with a career‑high 15 points, adding several assists to earn Superior Performance honors. Kade Vavruska also reached double figures and continued to solidify himself as one of the state’s top all‑around players.
Spearfish controlled the game from the opening tip, building a 17–5 lead after one quarter and extending the margin to 36–15 at halftime. Hill City, typically a high‑scoring team, struggled to find rhythm until the final period. Leading scorer Zane Messick, averaging 17.3 points per game, was held to six points in the first half.
The Spartans continued to dominate in the third quarter, attacking the paint behind senior forward Cooper Gibbs, who scored in double digits with most of his production coming in the period. Gibbs and Hill City’s Brensen Veneklasen battled on the boards throughout the night; Veneklasen finished with four points, including a highlight dunk in the fourth quarter.
Spearfish guards Kamren Davis and Bennett Kortan each added nine points and contributed defensively with steals and assists that helped fuel the Spartans’ transition offense.
Hill City mounted a late push in the fourth quarter as Messick scored nine points—mostly from beyond the arc—and senior Dax Frandsen added to the surge. Both Rangers finished with 18 points, tying for the game high. However, the late scoring run was not enough to overcome Spearfish’s early lead, and Hill City dropped its fourth straight road game.
The Rangers, who finished 20–6 last season, fall to 3–5 and return home next Friday to host defending Class A state champion Sioux Falls Christian. The game will stream on the Hill City Ranger Athletics YouTube page.
Spearfish, ranked No. 4 in the latest South Dakota media poll, travels to Box Elder next Friday to face the Douglas Patriots. Coverage will air on KDSJ 980 AM, 103.5 FM, kdsj980.com, and KDSJ‑TV on YouTube and Facebook.
Rewatch the game here: https://www.youtube.com/live/0GXezrQtTAs?si=_j_FuU-3_ubq85QY
