MITCHELL — Viborg-Hurley played as a team for its former teammate on Saturday.

The Cougars outlasted Wall in a marquee Class B boys basketball matchup at the second annual Midwest Miracles Classic, an event organized by Viborg-Hurley graduate Kobee Sherman. Sherman died on Nov. 5, 2025, after a bout with osteosarcoma cancer. 

On Saturday, the Cougars withstood a late Wall rally and scored the final 11 points for a 61-51 win at the Corn Palace, which was full of “Kobee Strong” apparel and Sherman’s presence strongly felt in the venue. 

“We all played as a team for Kobee,” said Viborg-Hurley senior Brady Schroedermeier, who scored a game-high 27 points and grabbed 12 boards. “We all had blood, sweat and tears out for him.”

After the top-10 Class B match — Viborg-Hurley is ranked No. 3 and Wall is No. 7 — the Cougars gathered in the victorious locker room and could be heard shouting “Kobee!” in the Corn Palace back hallway. 

“We just wanted to emulate what Kobee was,” Viborg-Hurley coach Shane Warwick said. “He was always about somebody else. So I said ‘What a way to live your life for us to emulate the way he lived.’ He was always about somebody else. That’s not only about tonight. But a life lesson that we wanted to carry on Kobee’s legacy of the kind of person he was. It was good to pull that out for the family, the community.”

The Cougars (6-0) shot 12-of-21 from the field in the first half, sparking a 31-19 halftime lead over the Eagles. But Wall (4-3) used a 17-9 third-quarter margin to get within striking distance, setting the stage for an entertaining fourth quarter. 

The Eagles, who received 16 points from Teelan Kjerstad, took a three-point lead with four minutes remaining. 

Wall was clinging to a 51-50 lead with 2:30 left, but the Cougars scored the final 11 points as the Eagles went scoreless down the stretch. 

“Wall is naturally really, really good,” Warwick said. “So a lot of things went our way tonight. They are going to be there in the end, no doubt.”

Schroedermeier started the 11-point surge with a field goal, while Braydyn Morrison buried a pivotal 3-pointer and Jake Austin added a field goal as part of the spurt.  

“We were down three points and there was no quit,” Warwick said. “I am really proud of them.”

The Cougars controlled the glass, out-rebounding the Eagles by a 36-19 margin. The boards helped offset Viborg-Hurley’s 18 turnovers compared to three by the Eagles.  

“We knew we had to limit our turnovers,” Schroedermeier said. “In the first half we had 11. I think the second half we had a little more. But we out-rebounded them by a long way. That was the key.” 

Schroedermeier finished 10-of-13 from the field, with most of his damage on actions around the rim. 

“Brady had a big game naturally,” Warwick said. “But I would also say his teammates found him with some nice passes. I feel like we are making strides on that part, too. Brady hit some big shots and really it was everybody contributing and doing the things they can do to come out on top.”

Morrison and Austin added nine points apiece, with Morrison drilling three 3-pointers. Wall’s Dawson Handcock and Trevor Schulz scored 10 points apiece.

Kjerstad, who recently scored his 1,000th career point, finished 7-of-18 from the field and 1-of-7 from the 3-point line.  

“He’s a phenomenal player,” Warwick said. “I watched him all summer. He’s special. He probably won’t have 16 ever again this year. He’s that good.” 

Up next, Wall will host Jones County on Jan. 9. Viborg-Hurley, meanwhile, will play at Elk Point-Jefferson on Jan. 6. 

“It’s a big win for us,” Schroedermeier said. “Now we have to go on to the next.”