MITCHELL — The Wessington Springs Spartans are hitting their stride.

In a season riddled with injuries and players shuffling in and out of the lineup, Class B No. 8 Wessington Springs won its fifth straight game in a 55-47 win over Class B No. 2 Viborg-Hurley at Saturday’s DWU/Culver’s Classic. 

“With being able to play a team of this caliber with what we have and in a weird year of adding guys throughout, it’s a huge win for us and just momentum going into these last few games,” Wessington Springs coach Joey Mitchell said.  

Wessington Springs all-state guard Parker Graff missed some games after coming back from last season’s ACL injury, while starter Logan Mebius wasn’t eligible for the first several games after transferring from O’Gorman. 

The Spartans (14-4) put it all together against Viborg-Hurley (15-3) at electric Corn Palace.  

“That’s huge,” said Wessington Springs senior forward Colby Flowers, who had 17 points and 12 rebounds. “We’ve had a couple losses that we should have won, and we were just kind of getting clicking with our new teammates, Parker coming back from his new injury. That was a huge win and some momentum to get it clicking going into the postseason.”

Flowers, who is battling a high-ankle sprain, rose to occasion in the waning moments on Saturday. The Spartans were clinging to a 47-44 lead with just under two minutes. 

Mebius extended the Spartan advantage to 49-44, and Flowers stole the ball on a Viborg-Hurley lob attempt at the rim. Mebius hit two more free throws, pushing the lead to 51-44 with 1:03 left. 

After a Flowers' block, a Mebius layup made it 53-44.

“Colby is a warrior,” Mitchell said. “I don’t know anyone that works harder than that kid. Late (in the game) he did shine. He got some big putbacks. He cleaned up some rebounds for us. He got an and-one there and the whole time battling an ankle sprain.”

Mebius finished with 19 points, while Luke Larson added 11 points. Graff scored eight points. 

For Viborg-Hurley, Jake Austin scored 23 points and hit four 3-pointers. Brady Schroedermeier had 12 points and 16 rebounds. 

Flowers said the physicality was on display in the Class B matchup, which featured six ties and 10 lead changes. 

“It was physical for sure,” Flowers said. “We knew it was going to be that way. Brady is a great player and athletic. He is strong, but we knew we had to shut down the interior.” 

The matchup also pitted two teams that made the Class B final four last season, and Mitchell knew the stakes were just as high on Saturday. 

“This was going to be like a state tournament game,” Mitchell said. “They were going to officiate it like that. We were ready for that and we have been preparing for that.”