The AHSTW Vikings just kept grinding and found a way to edge out a very game Tri-Center squad 52-50 on Friday night in Avoca.

Tri-Center controlled the game in the first half and led 26-15 at the break. Michael Turner had 10 points in the second quarter to push the Trojans out front. AHSTW started to chip away in the second half and got within 35-34 late in the third before Isaac Wohlhuter hit a high arcing two to make it 37-34 Trojans heading to the fourth. The Vikings were able to tie the game at 46 and then finally grabbed the lead on a fourth chance put-back by Brayden Lund with about 2:13 left in the game to make it 49-48. Lund would hit a jumper on the next possession to push the lead to three. Tri-Center got a tip in on an inbound to Christian Dahir on the next possession to cut it to a one point game. After a stop Tuner got a chance to give the Trojans the lead but Kyle Sternberg blocked his driving runner attempt and Lund was fouled on the rebound. He made one of two free throws to make it 52-50 with 3.5 seconds left. Kyle Sternberg blocked away the first inbound attempt by the Trojans so they couldn’t run the baseline on the next attempt. Isaac Wohlhuter’s baseball pass up the floor hit the ceiling supports and the ball turned over to the Vikings to seal the game.

AHSTW head coach GG Harris was really proud of the way his team kept battling through a night when they didn’t play their best.

Brayden Lund finished with 20 points, 17 of those in the second half. Lund said it was a great game to experience and he knew he knew he needed to step up in the second half.

Kyle Sternberg added 17 points and the Vikings helped themselves out by going 15-20 from the free throw line on the night, including 11-13 in the third quarter to claw back in. Coach Harris said this was a great learning experience.

Tri-Center was led by 19 points from Michael Turner and 12 from Kent Elliott. The Trojans gave a heck of an effort but fall to 6-4 on the season. The will face Logan-Magnolia next Tuesday.

AHSTW improved to 9-0 on the season and earned back to back tough WIC wins over Treynor and Tri-Center. The Vikings will square off against a tough Ballard team on Saturday afternoon and then host Riverside on Tuesday.