VALLEY CITY, N.D. – The Kindred Vikings reinforced their standing as the No. 1 team in Class A basketball, dominating Valley City 80-48 on Tuesday night.

The Vikings set the tone early, racing out to a 23-6 lead behind a balanced offensive attack. Four different players tallied at least four points in the opening frame, a trend that continued throughout the game as Kindred placed four scorers in double figures.

Miken Mattson and Bryson Heck carried the Hi-Liners in the first half, combining for 21 of Valley City’s 26 points. However, Kindred’s depth proved overwhelming, with Karson Ouse and Brooks Bakko controlling the game inside and out. The Vikings took a commanding 46-26 lead into halftime.

The third quarter was the most competitive stretch of the game, as Valley City found success from beyond the arc. Heck knocked down a pair of three-pointers on his way to a team-high 20 points. But every Hi-Liner run was answered by Kindred, with Bakko adding eight points in the quarter to maintain the lead.

Kindred closed out the game in dominant fashion, with Bakko finishing with 20 points, Ouse adding 15, Lukas Starcevic contributing 14, and Gabe Whipple scoring 11 off the bench.

Valley City returns to action Thursday for a road doubleheader at Northern Cass. The girls’ game tips off at 6 p.m., followed by the boys’ game at 7:45 p.m. Both games can be heard on 1490 AM/96.3 FM KOVC and streamed online at NewsDakota.com.