RAPID CITY, S.D. — In a dominant performance at the Summit Arena, No. 3 Clark/Willow Lake (21-2) cruised past No. 6 Stanley County (20-3) 66-36 in the opening round of the Class A Boys Basketball State Tournament on Thursday night.
Clark/Willow Lake jumped out to a quick lead and never looked back, outscoring Stanley County 16-4 in the second quarter to take control. The Warriors showcased efficient shooting, hitting 52% from the field and out-rebounding Stanley County 42-31.
Chris Bevers led Clark/Willow Lake with 24 points, adding six rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Emmerson Larson contributed 18 points, while Sullivan Felberg added 12 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Bo Begeman chipped in 10 points with seven rebounds and four assists.
Stanley County struggled offensively, shooting just 22.2% from the field and 13.3% from three-point range. Paxton Deal led the Stallions with 15 points, while Eddie Duffy added six.
Clark/Willow Lake dominated inside the paint (44-18) and forced 11 turnovers while limiting Stanley County to just seven points off turnovers. The Warriors’ balanced attack and stout defense were too much for Stanley County, who managed only 36 points on the night.
The victory advances Clark/Willow Lake to the quarterfinals, where they will face No. 2 West Central at 7:45 pm CST.