TOWER CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Carson Hovelson scored 17 of his game high 22 points in the second half, leading Maple Valley to a 66-62 come-from-behind win over Griggs County Central Monday night in boys basketball

Hovelson hit five three pointers in the second half, including one with 41 seconds left in the third quarter as part of a 15-2 run by the Raiders to turn a six point deficit into a seven point lead. Hovelson also had a 4 assists.

Jacob Johnson had 12 of his 20 points in the first half for Maple Valley. Grady Karges had 13 points and six rebounds. Connor Drogen led the Raiders with nine rebounds.

First year head coach Ethen Preston says the play of Drogen will go unnoticed in the stat sheet, but not by the coaches.

 

 

The Cougars had a chance to take the lead with 24.8 seconds remaining when Jonah Ringstad came up with a steal and a layup to tie the game at 62. But he missed the free throw on the three point play opportunity. When the rebound was tied up, the ball stayed with Griggs County Central. But Grady Karges stole the in bounds setting up the fast break resulting in a Hovelson layup to give the Raiders the 64-62 lead. Johnson sealed the win with two free throws with 6.3 seconds to go.

Hunter Gronneberg led the Cougars with 19 points, 13 coming in the first quarter when he hit four three pointers. He would be held to just two free throws and a field goal in the second half

Coach Preston says the outside shooting may have caught his team by surprise in the firt half, but they adjusted in the second half.

 

 

Isaac Smith had 18 points and nine rebounds. Trevor Gravseth had 11 points and Ringstad finished with 10 and five assists.

The Raiders are now 2-0 on the season and will host Kindred next Monday. The Cougar are 0-1 and will host Cavalier on Thursday.