The game opened with Little Eight Light seizing control, forging ahead to two 7-point leads in the first half. The offensive charge was spearheaded by stellar performances from Dylan Debilzen of Parkers Prairie, who racked up 11 points (ultimately totaling 16), and Jake Norby of Ashby, contributing 8 early points. Hudson Versteeg also made his mark, notching 9 of his impressive 23 points in the initial half.

However, Little Eight Dark refused to be overshadowed, mounting a comeback to close out the first half with an impressive 18-8 run. As the halftime buzzer sounded, Little Eight Dark found themselves holding a slim lead of 48-45. Luke Christensen of Hillcrest showcased his scoring prowess with 9 points in the first half and a remarkable total of 30 points by the game's conclusion. Noah Brumfield chipped in with 10 points, while Lucas Fuller showcased his accuracy from beyond the arc, tallying 12 points on four 3-pointers.

During the game, Public Address Announcer, Brandon-Evansville's assistant basketball coach Adam Wagner, dropped in some additional highlights about the players - where or if they are going to school next year, what major they are pursuing, memories from their high school experience and more.

The intensity escalated in the second half, with Little Eight Dark extending their lead to 10 points at 64-54. However, Little 8 Light rallied back, narrowing the deficit to just 2 points at 78-76 with three minutes remaining, thanks to a barrage of 3-pointers from Hudson Versteeg and Noah Link.

In a dramatic final three minutes, Little Eight Dark surged ahead, clinching the regulation period with a commanding 93-78 lead, with Noah Brumfield exploding for 19 of his 29 points in the second half.

The climax of the showcase saw the implementation of the ELAM ending, adding an extra layer of excitement to the proceedings. Little Eight Dark maintained their momentum, ultimately sealing a convincing 103-86 victory.

In addition to the on-court action, Dylan Debilzen showcased his sharpshooting skills by winning the 3-point contest, prevailing over contenders Liz Lukken and Noah Brumfield.

So many of the parents express their appreciation after these games thanking us for taking the time to celebrate the high school careers of their kids. And that's what it's about!

Next year's Senior Showcase, scheduled to take place on Sunday, April 13th, 2025 at Hillcrest.