CUSTER, S.D. (Feb. 12, 2026) —The Spearfish Spartans boys basketball team delivered a commanding performance Thursday night, defeating the Custer Wildcats 58–38 at the Armory in Custer. With the win, Spearfish improved to 13–2 on the season, while the Wildcats fell to 5–13.
Spearfish wasted no time asserting control. Kade Vavruska opened the scoring with a layup off an assist from Bennett Kortan, igniting a fast start. Moments later, Cooper Gibbs found Mason Southern in the corner for a three-pointer to push the early run to 5–0. Kamren Davis then sliced through the defense for a layup, and Gibbs added another inside basket after a feed from Vavruska as the Spartans surged ahead 9–0.
Custer finally broke the run when Mason Dirkes connected with Brady Virtue on a cut to the basket. Spearfish answered immediately. Gibbs scored again inside off an assist from Karsen Seyer, and Davis knocked down a corner three to extend the lead. Virtue responded with a strong drive and layup, and Dirkes buried a deep three to trim the margin to 14–7. Layups from Thomas Hughes and Davis helped Spearfish close the opening quarter with an 18–7 advantage.
The Spartans continued to pull away in the second quarter. After Regan Sorenson scored for Custer, Vavruska went coast-to-coast following a defensive rebound. Davis then found Seyer for a bucket before Seyer drilled a corner three off a Gibbs steal, capping a 7–0 run.
Custer briefly steadied itself with free throws from Virtue, but Spearfish responded with another decisive surge. Southern assisted Vavruska on a basket, Kortan knocked down two free throws, and Vavruska added a steal and layup. Kortan followed with a layup of his own, and Hughes pushed the ball in transition to find Ashar Hodgs for two, stretching the run to 10–0. The Spartans carried a commanding 35–13 lead into halftime.
Spearfish maintained control in the third quarter. After Sorenson opened the scoring for Custer, Vavruska answered with a basket before Zachary Cooper scored for the Wildcats. Davis converted an and-one opportunity, Kortan punctuated a steal with a dunk, and Southern fed Seyer for an easy finish. Davis later assisted Hughes for another layup as the Spartans kept their foot on the gas.
Following three free throws by Custer’s Cheydon McPhee, Hodgs scored inside and added a free throw on the next possession. Seyer then knocked down his second three-pointer of the night and later assisted Hodgs for another basket during an 8–0 stretch. Virtue’s three-pointer halted the run, but Spearfish still entered the fourth quarter ahead by 31.
Custer made one last push early in the fourth behind baskets from Dirkes and Cooper, who scored on a layup and a three. Cooper also assisted Jaden Chee-Fisher for another three, and Sorenson added one from deep. However, the Spartans maintained control, and a pair of free throws from Isaac Wilson helped seal the 58–38 victory.
Spearfish returns to action Tuesday, February 17, against Rapid City Christian.
Player Statistics
Full Box Score
Spearfish Spartans — Player Stats
Kade Vavruska
10 points • 5 rebounds • 2 assists • 1 steal
5/7 FG • 0/1 3PT • 0/2 FT
Karsen Seyer
10 points • 2 rebounds • 2 assists • 1 steal
4/5 FG • 2/2 3PT
Kamren Davis
8 points • 2 rebounds • 2 assists
3/5 FG • 1/2 3PT • 1/1 FT
Bennett Kortan
6 points • 3 rebounds • 1 assist • 4 steals
2/2 FG • 2/4 FT
Ashar Hodgs
7 points • 2 rebounds
3/3 FG • 1/2 FT
Thomas Hughes
4 points • 3 rebounds • 1 assist • 1 steal
2/6 FG • 0/2 3PT
Cooper Gibbs
4 points • 1 rebound • 2 assists • 1 steal
2/3 FG
Mason Southern
3 points • 1 assist • 1 steal
1/3 FG • 1/1 3PT • 0/2 FT
Tucker Olson
2 points
1/2 FG
Isaac Wilson
2 points • 1 rebound
0/4 FG • 2/2 FT
Samuel Markus
1 rebound
Eisner
1 steal
Ozuna
1 rebound
Custer Wildcats — Player Stats
Brady Virtue
11 points • 2 rebounds • 2 assists • 2 steals
4/15 FG • 1/5 3PT • 2/2 FT
Dirkes
7 points • 3 rebounds • 1 assist • 1 steal
3/11 FG • 1/7 3PT
Zachary Cooper
7 points • 1 rebound • 1 assist • 1 steal • 1 block
3/6 FG • 1/4 3PT
Sorenson
5 points • 5 rebounds • 2 steals
2/7 FG • 1/2 3PT
McPhee
3 points • 1 rebound • 1 assist • 1 steal
3/3 FT
Jaden Chee-Fisher
3 points
1/3 FG • 1/3 3PT
Johncour
2 rebounds • 1 assist
Noem
2 rebounds • 1 steal
Schiffer
2 rebounds