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CITY (NewsDakota.com)–After an emotional win at Fargo Davies a week ago and running with #4 Grand Forks Red River Tuesday, the Hi-Liner girls basketball team had momentum on it’s side at Fargo North Friday.

 

The momentum was gone in five minutes.

 

Fargo North, 4-11 on the season, took control of the game with a 16-2 run to start and scored over 70 points for the first time this season, beating the Hi-Liners 74-59 win at the Spartandome.

 

The win, worth two points in the Eastern Dakota Conference (EDC) standings, lands the Hi-Liners in a very difficult spot. North moved to 5-10 in EDC play, while the Hi-Liners dropped to 4-9, dropping from control of sixth place in the league to tied and down tie-breakers with North for seventh.

 

Kira Larson went off for 25 points for the Spartans, one of four Spartans in double figures. Kelsie Schmiess added 15, with both Emma Bergeron and Julia Dehne knocking in 12. Entering the night, Larson was averaging 13.8, Schmiess 5, Bergeron 6.9, and Dehne 5.6. North is averaging 50.1 points per game this season.

 

The Hi-Liners attempted to battle back, led by Allyson Suhr’s 14 points inside and Mariah Olstad’s three treys and 13 points. But problems that have plagued Valley City most of the year, including turnovers and go-to plays, re-emerged on a night vital to keeping the Hi-Liners out of play-in territory.

 

Valley City will now have to run their remaining EDC table to host a first-round tournament game. Their remaining schedule sends them against Devils Lake and Fargo Shanley at home, each game worth two league points, and at Wahpeton for the back half of a home-and-home.

 

A loss will end their chances of hosting in the first round. Two losses will likely force them into a play-in game.