MOORHEAD -- East Grand Forks Senior High came back from a double-digit, first-half deficit in the Minnesota Section 8AA quarterfinals last Saturday against Hawley.
Doing it again in the section semifinals against Pelican Rapids was too much to ask.
Pelican Rapids 6-foot-7 junior Jack Welch scored 19 points and sophomore guard Ethan Isaman scored 18 points as the No. 4 seed Vikings beat No. 1 seed East Grand Forks 62-49 at Concordia College.
The Green Wave, who lost to Pelican Rapids in the section semifinals for the second year in a row, end the year at 19-9.
East Grand Forks played without 1,000-point scorer Austin Rusling, who tore his ACL earlier in the year. Rusling made a brief appearance in the section quarterfinals, finishing with one basket and a key assist.
Pelican Rapids started to build a lead midway through the first half.
The Vikings ended the first half on a 10-3 run, capped by Isaman 3-pointer for a 34-21 lead.
Although Pelican Rapids pushed the lead out to 21 points with eight quick points to start the second half, the Green Wave made a push midway through the second half.
After Isaman hit another 3-pointer to give the Vikings a 45-23 lead, the Green Wave went on a run.
Spencer Larsen hit a couple of baskets inside and Carson McDonald scored off a steal to highlight a 10-0 run.
Free-throw shooting woes for Pelican Rapids would later open the door for the Green Wave to cut the lead as low as nine.
After a long scoreless streak for both teams, Pelican Rapids iced the win with a dunk from Welch for a 57-44 lead with 2:25 to play.
Brody Knutson led the Wave with 13 points, while McDonald chipped in 12 and Chase Lindgren had 11.
Thief River Falls' underdog run in the section semifinals came to a close against Barnesville in the other semifinal at Concordia.
The Prowlers were the No. 7 seed in the tournament. No. 3 Barnesville advances to face Pelican Rapids in Friday night's section title.
Grant Quiggle, a 6-foot junior guard, scored a game-high 27 points to lead Barnesville, which led by 15 points at halftime and kept the Prowlers at arm's length most of the second half.
Thief River Falls junior Bridger Wilcox had 25 points to pace the Prowlers.