HARRISBURG, S.D. — The Spearfish Spartans Boys Basketball team battled through momentum swings and briefly reclaimed the lead in the second half, but ultimately fell 50–39 to the Harrisburg Tigers on the road Friday night.
Harrisburg struck first, but the Spartans responded quickly with a decisive 7–0 run. Kamren Davis ignited the surge with a corner three-pointer, Bennett Kortan added a driving layup, and Cooper Gibbs finished inside to give Spearfish early control.
The Tigers answered behind Stellan Larson, who connected from beyond the arc as part of his 15-point performance. Davis later added a fadeaway jumper late in the first quarter, and Kade Vavruska and Karsen Seyer each knocked down three-pointers to cap a strong opening frame that left the Spartans ahead 15–8.
Harrisburg seized momentum in the second quarter, opening with a 12–0 run fueled by Connor Clark, Cole Kooiker, Owen Sylliaasen, and Crayton Jibben. The Tigers’ defensive pressure and rebounding created second-chance opportunities, allowing them to flip the deficit into a lead. Harrisburg carried a 24–19 advantage into halftime.
Spearfish mounted another push early in the third quarter. Vavruska and Gibbs scored inside, while Davis converted two free throws to trim the deficit to one. Gibbs then hit a jumper from the free-throw line to give the Spartans a 31–30 lead — their first since the opening period.
The lead exchange proved brief. Myles Nour responded with a basket, and Harrisburg regained control at the free-throw line. Gibbs continued to answer, scoring inside to keep Spearfish within striking distance. Mason Southern later tied the game with a three-pointer after Harrisburg had built a small cushion.
In the closing minutes, Kooiker and Jibben converted key baskets for the Tigers. With the Spartans forced into foul trouble, Harrisburg capitalized at the line to secure the victory.
Gibbs led Spearfish with 12 points and seven rebounds. Davis added seven points, three rebounds, and two steals, while Kortan contributed six points, six rebounds, and four assists. Vavruska finished with eight points and four rebounds, Southern had three points, three assists, and four rebounds, and Seyer added three points.
Harrisburg was paced by Larson and Nour, who each scored 15 points, while Kooiker added eight.
Despite the loss, Spearfish showed resilience on the road, overcoming multiple deficits and competing into the final minutes against a balanced Tigers squad.