The Spearfish Spartans season came to an end Saturday afternoon with a 66–56 loss to Tea Area in the Class AA SoDak 16 at Spearfish High School. Spearfish, the No. 8 seed, finished the year with a 15–6 record, while No. 9 Tea Area advances to the state tournament in Rapid City.
A year prior, the Titans fell short due to a late offensive run from Spearfish and a rocking hometown crowd. This season, the Titans knew what they were walking into and didn’t repeat the same mistakes that ended their season last year.
Spearfish opened the game with strong ball movement and early momentum, jumping out to a 10–2 lead behind a three-pointer from Kade Vavruska and another from Kamren Davis. The Spartans held a 13–9 advantage early in the second quarter after a three from Karsen Seyer, but Tea Area responded with a 9–1 run to take control, hitting multiple mid-range jumpers that established a rhythm that wouldn’t be stopped.
The Titans outscored Spearfish 20–9 in the second quarter and 19–13 in the third, building a 44–32 lead entering the final period. In total, Spearfish was outscored by 17 points across the middle two quarters, a deficit too large to overcome.
The Titans had answers to everything the Spartans threw at them. Tea Area’s shot-blocking ability kept Spearfish limited in scoring in the lane, forcing the Spartans to generate offense from the perimeter, where the Titans kept Spearfish cold.
Tea Area extended its lead to as many as 17 points, going up 55–38 midway through the fourth. Spearfish cut the margin to eight late, but the Titans maintained control down the stretch.
Vavruska led the Spartans with 19 points, while Davis added 13. Bennett Kortan and Karsen Seyer each scored eight, Cooper Gibbs added six, and Mason Southern finished with two.
Tea Area’s offense was powered by three players in double figures. Gavin Shawd scored a game-high 20 points, including three three-pointers. Lane Sieber added 17 off the bench, and Grifin Wiebenga contributed 16. The Titans matched Spearfish with seven made threes and went 11 for 16 at the free-throw line.
Spearfish finished with 20 made field goals and shot 9 for 17 from the line.
The loss closes the careers of six Spartan seniors: Samuel Marcus, Isaac Wilson, Cooper Gibbs, Ashar Hodgs, Bennett Kortan, and Kamren Davis. The group helped lead Spearfish to three straight SoDak 16 appearances and a state tournament berth last season.
Tea Area (13–8) advances to the Class AA state tournament, scheduled for March 19–21 in Rapid City. This is the Titans’ first Class AA state tournament qualification, achieved in only their second season at the Class AA level.
Replay: https://www.youtube.com/live/eROhrxjx77w?si=aHEWrY2X1ndy3LMN
