The AHSTW Vikings picked up a huge Western Iowa Conference home win on Friday night over Audubon 71-65. The Vikings put out a very balanced effort with 5 guys dropping in 8 or more points. Freshman Raydden Grobe came off the bench to lead the team with 22 points, including 4 three pointers. Sam Porter was huge down the stretch dropping in 11 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter.

The Wheelers led 16-15 at the end of the first quarter and a late second quarter spurt gave AHSTW a 7-point halftime lead at 36-29. The Wheelers would erase that lead early in the third quarter and eventually lead by the end of the third 51-49. The Vikings were then able to make some big plays down the stretch. Grobe hit two fourth quarter threes and after the second one Sam Porter followed it with a wide open corner three to swing the game from a three point deficit to a three point lead at 62-59 for the Vikings. The game would get tied back up at 62 but the Vikings would never trail again. Sam Porter connected on two straight one-and-one free throw opportunities to increase a one point Viking lead to 5 and help secure the win.

AHSTW Head Coach GG Harris said their help defense was really good and helped them slow down the Wheelers’ stars.

Harris was impressed with the way his young team responded to Audubon’s good start to the second half.

The Vikings also got 11 points from Blake Osbahr and 8 apiece from Clayton Akers and Joey Cunningham. AHSTW improves to 6-4 and will next travel to Treynor on Tuesday.

The Wheelers were led by 27 points from Kaiden Smith and 19 from Lane Lawson. The Wheelers fall to 7-3 and will host Orient-Macksburg next on Monday.