WILSON-Keeli Knobbe scored a game-high 26 points as the Sylvan- Lucas Lady Mustangs defeated Wilson 49-27 in Northern Plains League action Friday evening at Wilson Junior-Senior High School.
Wilson’s Cara Criswell opened the game with a three-pointer but after the Lady Dragons saw their lead cut to 3-2, Wilson would never lead again as Sylvan-Lucas finished the first quarter with a 15-2 run to lead 17-5 after the first eight minutes. The second quarter was even as the Lady Mustangs went into halftime with a 21-10 advantage. Knobbe fueled Sylvan-Lucas in the second half as the Lady Mustangs outscored their arch-rivals to the south 2817 to pick up their 13th win of the season.
Knobbe, who earlier this season eclipsed 1,000 career points, was the lone scorer in double figures for Sylvan-Lucas (13-4, 8-1 NPL) with Maggie Labertew’s eight points, the second highest scoring total on the team. Criswell led Wilson (12-5, 6-3 NPL) with 11 points as the Lady Dragons lost at home for the first time this season. Despite the loss, Wilson has sewn up the top seed in the upcoming Western Plains-Healy Sub-State Tournament and will be a heavy favorite to return to the Class 1A Division ll State Tournament for the first time since 2016.
In the Boys game, Senior Valden Dohl was the star of the show pouring in a career-high 32 points on the strength of six three-pointers as Sylvan-Lucas ran away with a 61-46 decision over Wilson. Wilson held their only lead at 4-3 early in the contest before Sylvan-Lucas went on an 11-7 surge to lead 14-11 after the first quarter.
Dohl scored 17 points in the second quarter alone as the Mustangs outscored the Dragons 21-9 in the period to coast to a 35-20 cushion at the break. Sylvan-Lucas outscored Wilson 16-6 in the third quarter to swell their lead to 51-26 before the Dragons closed the gap, outscoring the Mustangs 20-10 in the final quarter Joining Dohl in double figures for Sylvan-Lucas (13-4, 8-1 NPL) was Matthew Lawson with 10 points. Memphis Eberhart led Wilson (7-10, 5-4 NPL) with 20 points despite being in foul trouble for most of the game. Cade Brokes added 13 points for the Dragons.
The games were played before a packed house at the Wilson Junior-Senior High School gym with longtime teacher Deb Gould inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame between games and the crowning of the King and Queen of Courts at the conclusion of the Boys contest. Kylee Larson was crowned Queen and Christopher Drees was voted as King.
Both Sylvan-Lucas and Wilson will be home for their next doubleheaders on Tuesday, February 14. Sylvan-Lucas will play host to Osborne while Wilson will entertain Lakeside.
