VALLEY CITY, ND  (Ryan Cunningham, NewsDakota.com)  May-Port-C-G and Valley City moved to the finals of the Barnes County Boys Basketball Tournament Thursday night.

May-Port-C-G 68, LaMoure/Litchville-Marion 44

MPCG started the game by giving up the first bucket, then going on a 15-0 run to take a comfortable lead that would not slip.

The lead grew to 28 in the third quarter, but a stout comeback by the Loboes cut the lead to as few as 17 before the Patriots stretched to the finish.

Bricker Johnson led the Patriots with 19 points and nine rebounds.  Noah Djobonon added 17, and Samuel Weaver pitched in with a double-double, 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Gunner Thielges led the Loboes with 13 points, and Colby Thielges added 11.

Valley City 44, Wyndmere-Lidgerwood 42

Wyndmere-Lidgerwood came to play in the first half.  A 3-2 zone threw Valley City’s offense into a stall, and the Warbirds hit nine field goals in the second quarter, three more than Valley City had in the first half.  Jace Stenson’s three at the horn of the opening half built a 26-14 first-half lead for Wyndmere-Lidgerwood.

Valley City responded a 17-4 run that spanned the entire third quarter,, punctuated by three Miken Mattson threes after a 1-10 performance from the field.  The Hi-Liners led 31-30 after three.

Jack Dieterle hit a put-back to push the lead to four at 43-39 with 1:25 left, but Owen Laddusaw scored with 31. 7 remaining to cut the lead to 43-42.  The Warbirds got the ball back with 10 seconds left, but lost possession out of bounds, and the Hi-Liners escaped with the win.

Mattson led the Hi-Liners with 12, with Finn Docktor adding 11.  Sebastian Kackman led W-L with 12, with Jaxon Krier adding 11.