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LAKE, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) The Valley City Hi-Liner boys were eliminated from the Eastern Dakota Conference on Saturday afternoon in a 58-50 loss to the Devils Lake 

A pair of three-point baskets from Frank Knowski put the Hi-Liners in a 11-0 hole early in the game. However, the Hi-Liners would draw back into it with strong post play from Jared Lentz, who tallied a team high 16 points, and Ian Schweitzer who drove to the rim for 10 points in the game.

At the end of the opening period, Valley’s Nate Rodriguez came up with a steal then took it down the court to cut the Firebirds lead to just two at the break. 

In the second half, the Hi-Liners would take their first lead of the game when Jared Lentz threw down a hook shot from under the rim. Unfortunately the lead was short lived after Jacob Mertens went back down the court and swished a shot from mid-range. The Hi-Liners would take the lead back once more,  but like the first time the Firebirds would immediately find an answer. 

Trailing by five in the final minutes of the game, Valley City was forced to foul allowing Devils Lake to take the eight point win. 

Mertens finished the game with 21 points, but it was Frank Knowski who did the most damage to the Hi-Liners hitting 7 three pointers for a game high 22 points. 

The loss ends the Hi-Liners regular season at 4-16 overall. Three players, Lentz, Schweitzer, and Michael Wendler will graduate from Valley City this spring. The Hi-Liners will return three of their five starters next season.