Vikings spoil home opener for Indians

By MATT KING
Daily Journal Sports Writer

BISMARCK — The Valley Vikings surrendered just two points in first quarter, and snapped a five-game losing streak with a 50-24 victory at Bismarck, as both teams opened MAAA Small-School conference play on Friday night.

Sophomore Logan Midgett set the scoring pace for Valley (2-6) with 14 points, and Jacob Kearns finished with 13. Matt Pierce added 11 points and Kenny Milam grabbed a game-high nine rebounds off the bench.

Valley also improved its overall control of the basketball with 14 turnovers. Midgett tallied the first eight points of the contest including a pair of threes, and Pierce capped a 12-0 start for the Vikings with a quick steal and layup.

Playing its first game in two weeks, Bismarck (2-4) struggled mightily at the offensive end, and was shut out until junior Ethan Graham sank two free throws with 14 seconds left in the first quarter.

The Vikings corralled a series of offensive rebounds in the second quarter, leading to second-chance baskets. Midgett and Kearns scored back-to-back three-point plays, and a late putback by Milam made the halftime lead 29-8.

The Indians shot 2-for-20 from the field and 4-for-10 at the line in the first half, but more than doubled its scoring output in the third quarter after Midgett opened the stanza with his third triple of the night.

Valley built a 26-point advantage and threatened to induce an eventual running clock, but Bismarck senior Kyle Cole answered with two straight threes from opposite corners. Josh Turner added a baseline jumper just before the third quarter expired to make it 41-20.

Cole scored nine points to lead Bismarck, which honored its past and present all-state athletes from all sports in a pre-game ceremony.

The Vikings pulled farther away at the outset of a low-scoring fourth. Ethan Schrum hit a running bank shot while drawing a foul, and Pierce was left open along the right wing for a true three-pointer.

Valley will return to the home court on Tuesday to face Kingston. Bismarck will continue its current homestand against Potosi on Monday and Arcadia Valley on Tuesday.

Valley  12  17  12   9 - 50

Bismarck   2   6  12   4 - 24

SCORING:

Valley - Midgett 14, Kearns 13, Pierce 11, Schrum 7, Milam 4, Civey 1.

3-point FG - Midgett 3, Pierce.

Bismarck - Cole 9, McCarty 4, Graham 4, Turner 3, Franklin 2, Politte 1, Green 1.

3-point FG - Cole 2.