The Ipswich boys' basketball team rallied from an early 13-3 quarter deficit, but it fell just short, resulting in a razor-thin 37-36 win by the Wolsey-Wessington Warbirds over the Tigers during the Big Bo Classic action in Wolsey last Wednesday. It immediately followed a girls' game there that was won by Ipswich 55-45.

The Tigers narrowed their halftime deficit to 19-15 with a six-point second-quarter scoring edge, trailing just 19-15 at the half. Ipswich also continued that momentum in the third quarter for a 28-25 lead of its own. But the hosts regained control in the final quarter for their narrow win. The score was tied five times and the lead changed hands four times.

Ipswich was led by Josh McQuarie with 12 points, all from beyond the trey arc. The second leading scorer for the Tigers proved to be Eric Severson with seven points, followed by Taylor Thorson and Matt Hettich with six points apiece. Hettich included one trey. And Ty Kadlec ended up with five points, also including a trey.

The hosts were led by Tristan Abbot's game-high 18 points.

Ipswich made 14 floor shots in 43 tries and that included those six treys. The Tigers were 2-5 at the charity stripe. The Warbirds made 15 baskets two of which were treys and were 5-9 in free throw tries.

Ipswich collected 38 rebounds and Wolsey-Wessington, 29. The Tigers were paced by Kadlec with nine. Ipswich had 16 turnovers; the hosts, 17. So that was about as close as the scorebook. And each team forced six turnovers with steals.

That left the Tigers at 4-2 at that juncture of the season. They were to play at Northwestern on January 5 and will co-host Warner with the IHS girls on January 7. The Ipswich boys will also host Sully Buttes on the 12th.