MAYVILLE (NewsDakota)- They are still the champs until someone knocks them off, but perhaps Valley City fans wouldn’t mind a little less drama.

Katie Burchill completed a three-point play with under ten seconds left and, after inexplicably tossing away a ten point lead with less than three minutes left, the Valley City Hi-Liners advanced to their third consecutive state tournament with a 60-59 win over Carrington at the Lewy Lee Fieldhouse on Saturday afternoon.

The opening half was extremely similar to the game on February 13th in Carrington, with Dacota Potratz leading Valley City (19-4) with nine points and Cardinal sophomores Aniston Hoornaert and Marah Johnson combining for fifteen as the Hi-Liners led 26-22 at the break.

Burchill and Skye Nielsen helped extend Valley City’s lead in the third quarter and despite heroics from Johnson and Hoornaert, Carrington (20-5) trailed 54-44 with 2:41 remaining.

And then the impossible nearly happened.

Hoornaert got a layup (54-46), the Hi-Liners then took a quick three that was missed and Hoornaert nailed a short jumper (54-48), and after a pair of free throws and a bucket by freshman Mya Neis of a turnover and a three by Hoornaert, it was 55-54 Cardinals.  After Burchill tied it with a free throw, Neis buried a right-wing three and Carrington had a 58-55 lead.  But Burchill scored consecutive baskets, the second a three-point play and Valley City led 60-59.  Hoornaert’s last second shot fell off the rim and the defending champs had survived.

Valley City will open the Class A State Tournament at the Jamestown Civic Center against Devils Lake on Thursday, with coverage on KOVC beginning at around 2:30pm.