JVC's Nathan Wedel, Adam Hofer and Andrew Ulvestad powered the Vikings to an 86-62 win over Arlington in the consolation semifinals of the State B boys' basketball tournament at Wachs Arena.
Wedel and Hofer shared game-high honors in points with 24 apiece, while Ulvestad added 21 points.
"We just talked in the locker room," JVC coach Darwin Hofer said, "we just said look at the 'three-headed monster' and what they were able to accomplish today."
The three-headed monster was missing one on Thursday, as Ulvestad was unable to play in JVC's overtime loss against Viborg-Hurley due to flu-like symptoms.
"I was upset that I didn't get to play last night, and that we lost," Ulvestad said, "but it was good to do what I could today and help my team."
Ulvestad finished 8-for-12 from the field, including 3-for-6 from the three-point line. Ulvestad scored 11 of his 21 points in the first half to help the Vikings stake a 36-25 halftime lead.
"It was a big difference," Arlington coach Michael Parry said about Ulvestad. "They were a different team than what they were last night with him. It hurt us."
Ulvestad did not start the game, but he started the second half. Then it was Wedel and Hofer's turn to carry James Valley Christian. Wedel netted 16 of his points in the second half, while Hofer tossed in 17 of his points in the second half.
"It gives us another player with that rebounding ability and scoring ability and by doing that it also opens up Adam and Nathan in there too," coach Hofer said. "That was definitely a nice little combination we had between those three."
The Cardinals were also paced by three players. Zach Warnke led Arlington with 17 points, while Tage Hargens added 16 points. Andrew King chipped in with 10 points and dished out nine assists. However, the undersized Cardinals couldn't keep the Vikings off the boards. Wedel grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds, while Ulvestad came up with nine boards. JVC out-rebounded Arlington 38-28.
"They had multiple opportunities with shots," Parry said. "You just can't give a team that is that good that many opportunities. Their size with Ulvestad back really hurt us. It is a hard matchup for us."
James Valley Christian averaged 74 points during the regular season, while Arlington scored 65 points a game. The two high scoring teams played back and forth for the opening moments of the game. The Vikings slowly built a double-digit lead after halftime and before you knew it, the lead ballooned to the 20 points. Wedel put an exclamation point on a fun game for the Vikings with a break away dunk early in the fourth quarter.
"They are a running team," Ulvestad said. "We were able to slow them down a little bit, hit some shots and build a lead and in the second half, we just kept pulling away."
Arlington (17-6) will play Potter County at noon today in the seventh place game of the state tournament.
"I have got a great group of seniors and we want to end the year on a win and we will come out and play hard," Parry said.
Coach Hofer would also like to send his seniors out with a victory, as JVC (23-2) will play Langford Area at 1:45 today in the consolation championship game of the state tournament.
"If they can end their senior season on a win," coach Hofer said, "that is something they will remember forever."
ARLINGTON: Lane Weber 3-11 1-2 9, Andrew King 3-8 2-2 10, Tage Hargens 7-16 0-0 16, Zach Warnke 6-8 5-7 17, Cole VanBockern 2-4 0-0 4, Parker Christeson 0-0 0-0 0, Tanner Lemme 2-4 1-2 5, James Kersting 0-0 0-0 0, Logan Kangas 0-2 1-2 1, Alex Heuer 0-0 0-0 0, Tomas Toucedo 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 23-54 10-16 62.
JAMES VALLEY CHRISTIAN: Donnie Decker 2-3 0-0 4, Leon Brondsema 1-2 3-6 5, Alex Waldner 2-3 0-0 4, Nathan Wedel 9-15 6-9 24, Adam Hofer 7-17 9-9 24, Cole Glanzer 0-2 0-0 0, Ben Loewen 0-0 0-0 0, Tim Wager 0-1 0-0 0, Jayden Waldner 0-1 0-0 0, Kellen Hood 0-2 0-0 0, Caleb Stahl 1-2 0-0 2, Andrew Ulvestad 8-12 2-2 21, Lincoln Witte 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 31-61 20-26 86.
Arlington (17-6) 11 26 43 62
James Valley Christian (23-2) 15 35 57 86
3-point field goals - Arlington 6-19 (Weber 2-5, King 2-5, Hargens 2-5, Warnke 0-2, VanBockern 0-2); James Valley Christian 4-17 (Wedel 0-2, Hofer 1-6, Waldner 0-1, Hood 0-2, Ulvestad 3-6). Total fouls - Arlington 19; James Valley Christian 14. Fouled out - None. Rebounds - Arlington 28 (Weber 8); James Valley Christian 38 (Wedel 12). Assists - Arlington 11 (King 9); James Valley Christian 15 (A. Waldner 4). Blocks - Arlington 2 (King 2); James Valley Christian 1 (Brondsema 1). Steals - Arlington 2 (King 1, Warnke 1); James Valley Christian 5 (Hofer 3). Turnovers - Arlington 11; James Valley Christian 7.