VERNDALE - Luke Wenigar's 16 points helped No. 8 Verndale eliminate No. 9 Hill City from the North Subsection 5-1 playoffs with Monday's 76-66 play-in victory.
James Kveton tallied 15 and Ethan Korfe scored 13 for the Pirates, who improve to 11-15 and will face top-seeded Nevis Thursday.
Hill City 31 35 - 66
Verndale 30 46 - 76
HILL CITY
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Eric Watkins 8, Mason Watkins 14, Marcus Wagner 13, Chris James 8, Kix Martin 8, Philip Niesen 13, Brady Kingsley , Alex Matson , Mark Meyer 2. FG 24-61 (39 percent), FT 10-19 (52 percent). 3-point 8-25 (32 percent).
VERNDALE
Ethan Korfe 13, Mitchell Blaha 5, Michael Kramer 2, Mac Schluttner 14, James Kveton 15, Nathan Sabinash 4, Jordan Brownlow 5, Zach Johnson 2, Luke Weniger 16. FG 28-57 (49 percent), FT 14-21 (67 percent). 3-point 6-14 (48 percent). Overall: 11-15. Next: at No. 1 Nevis in North Subsection 5-1A quarterfinals 7 p.m. Thursday.
Braham 78, Pierz 75
PIERZ - Aaron Weber posted 24 points and six rebounds and Robbie Skiba added 11 points and 11 rebounds, but the Pierz Pioneers fell to the Braham Bombers 78-75 Monday.
Pierz, which beat Braham 74-73 during the St. Cloud Cathedral Christmas tournament, trailed 42-34 at the half. The Pioneers outscored Braham 41-36 in the second half.
Noah Boser shot 5-of-7 from 3-point and finished with 16 points. Nick Herold added 14 points for Pierz, which finishes the regular season 13-13.
Braham 42 36 - 78
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Pierz 34 41 - 75
PIERZ
Michael Meyer 2, Nick Herold 14, Jonny Kasper ,6 Aaron Weber 24, Robbie Skiba 11, Noah Boser 16, Ethan Lochner 2. FG 26-54 (48 percent), FT 13-18 (72 percent). 3-point 10-20 (50 percent). Overall: 13-13. Next: hosts Staples-Motley in North Subsection 6-2A quarterfinals 7 p.m. Thursday.
