Valley City bounced back in a big way from its disappointing loss to LaMoure-Litchville/Marion last Friday, rolling to a convincing 74-56 win over the Kindred Vikings.

The first quarter was played at a frantic pace, as both teams raced up and down the floor trying to break each other’s full-court press. Kindred’s Sierra Nipstad benefited early, piling up points in the opening frame. The Hi-Liners countered with a balanced effort from Katie Burchill, Skye Nielson, Dacota Potratz and Maddy Frieze, who each scored at least three points in the quarter. Valley City controlled much of the early action, but Kindred closed the quarter on a 7-0 run over the final 50 seconds to trim the Hi-Liners’ lead to 21-20.

The second quarter was a tightly contested affair, as the Kindred duo of Nipstad and Liza Trenbeath went head-to-head with Valley City’s tandem of Burchill and Potratz. With the game tied at 30 and 2:30 remaining in the half, the Hi-Liners made their move. A Burchill and-one sparked a late run, giving Valley City a three-point edge, and Kinslee Glandt capped the surge with a late 3-pointer to send the Hi-Liners into the break with a 39-32 lead.

The third quarter marked Valley City’s most dominant stretch of the season. The Hi-Liners poured in 22 points while holding the Vikings to just 11, fueled by Burchill’s inside presence and a suffocating defensive effort that limited Nipstad’s opportunities. A late free throw by Skye Nielson made it 61-43, and despite having more than 30 seconds to work for a final shot, Kindred was again smothered defensively and unable to get an attempt off before the horn.

The fourth quarter required patience from Valley City, as the Hi-Liners struggled early to replicate their third-quarter offensive rhythm. A combination of missed opportunities and turnovers allowed Kindred to cut the deficit to 12 with two minutes remaining. Valley City responded with one final push, closing the game on a 6-0 run to put the finishing touches on the 74-56 victory.

Burchill recorded a 20-point, 14-rebound double-double to lead the Hi-Liners. Kindred was paced by Nipstad and Trenbeath, who combined to score more than two-thirds of the Vikings’ 56 points.

Next up for Valley City is a Region 1 showdown against Wahpeton at 6 p.m. Dec. 22. The game will be broadcast on 1490 AM/96.3 FM KOVC, online at NewsDakota.com and on the KOVC Live YouTube channel.